70 year anniversary of “NO!” ~ Oxi Day in Athens

This morning the cannons on Lycabettus served as an alarm clock for the whole city. October 28th is a special day in all of Greece because it signifies the neutral territory’s entrance into the Second World War.

The legend goes like this:

70 years ago on October 28, 1940, the Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas, was awoken from his sleep by a sharp knock on the door. It was Emmanuele Grazzi, the Italian Ambassador to Greece, with a letter from Mussolini. In short, it was an informative statement on why Italy will be needing to occupy “strategic, unspecified points” throughout Greece to continue the battle against Britain.

Metaxas said “Oxi,” and oxi means, no.

Ioannis Metaxas

Things to Do In the Spirit of Oxi Day

If you’re in Athens, here are some things that are appropriate to do to commemorate a day that is strongly remembered in Greek history:

See the Phaleron War Cemetery along the coastline where nearly 3,000 identified and unidentified servicemen who died in Greece during the Second World War lay at rest.

Visit the Jewish museum and the special exhibit “Sylvia” showing photographs of the concentration camps in Poland where most of Thessaloniki’s Jewish population were sent by the Nazis. Only thirteen percent of the prewar population of Greek Jews survived the decimation caused by the Holocaust in spite of valiant efforts by the Orthodox Greeks to protect their neighbors.

Viktor Koen presents photographs of concentration camps in Poland in "Sylvia," the name of his maternal grandmother and Auschwitz survivor.

Walk through the lobby of the Grand Bretagne, the city’s most important historical hotel. From the time of the German invasion it was used as headquarters for the Third Reich. Hitler and Rommel were there on the eve of the invasion of Russia. After they left, Winston Churchill held conference with Prime Minister George Papendreau as the country was reformed in the aftermath.

The salon of the Grand Bretagne in Syntagma Square.

Pay tribute to the Greek guard, Konstantinos Koukidis, who defiantly wrapped himself in the Greek Flag and threw himself down the side of the Acropolis rather than offer it to the Nazis upon their demand. The memorial stands at the entrance of Anafiotika.

The memorial (unfortunately tagged) at the entrance of Anafiotika

Watch the Change of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of Parliament. It’s there to honor all who have fallen for Greece’s freedom.

Other museums that can help you understand the Greek struggle during the years 1940-1945 are the War Museum and the National History Museum.

Suggested Reading

Written On the Knee: A Diary from the Greek-Italian Front : A touching set of letters from an enlisted Greek soldier fighting on the Albanian front who is desperately missing his new bride.

Athens by John Tomkinson reports several lesser known stories of what occurred in the city during the German occupation.

Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis deBernieres. A love story between an Italian officer and a Greek woman during the beginnings of the War. Also in a soupy-sweet movie form with Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz.

All of the readers of NileGuide would be delighted to know if you have any unique suggestions or stories to honor Greece’s involvement in the Great War. Please add your suggestions here.

Photo Accreditation: gringaespanola, Paige Moore