October 28, 1940: The heroic "NO" of Greece in Italy

The Italian government has sent Greece an ultimatum, and required the free passage of the Italian army from the Greek-Albanian border in order to occupy some strategic parts of Greece. The Metaxas government's response to the ultimatum was negative.

The consequence of this refusal was the entry of our country in the Second World War and the beginning of the Greek-Italian war of 1940. This date is established to be celebrated every year in Greece as an official national holiday and public holiday.

Essentially, the 28th October, Greece celebrates its entry into the war, while most other countries celebrate the end date of the war.

For the first time the anniversary was celebrated officially in 1944 with a military parade, in front of Prime Minister George Papandreou.

Every year, this day, is held in Thessaloniki a military parade, in which are attended the President of the Republic and other officials, which coincides with the celebration of the liberation of the city in the First Balkan War and the memory of the patron saint of Thessaloniki, St. Demetrius.

In Athens and other cities are taking place student parades and public and private buildings fly the Greek flag.

There are also taking place celebrations and tributes of memory, with particular reference to the "singer of victory" Sofia Vempo, who with its patriotic songs encouraged our soldiers and conveyed the excitement of advancing the Greek forces in Northern Epirus.

The introduction of the commemoration

The anniversary of the "NO" was celebrated for the first time in years of occupation. In the main building and in the courtyard of the University of Athens held the first celebration on October 28, 1941.

There were speeches by students and the Professor Konstantinos Tsatsos, who refused to teach during the anniversary, thus he was dismissed from the University.
On the second anniversary (28/10/1942), the celebration took place in Syntagma Square at the initiative of organizations PEAN and EPON. There was concern about how will react the Italian occupation forces, but they did not intervene. Events and demonstrations that day were held in other cities.

In Piraeus took place many gatherings of few people, were making a short speech, and then were leaving, to avoid military interference by the Carabinieri.
There is little information about what happened on 28 October 1943. According to Elias Venezis, the anniversary was celebrated in the building of the National Bank in Kotzia Square (Venezis was then an employee of the bank).

But then arrived the Germans, who had the responsibility of policing, forcing participants to stand with their hands up until the evening, and sent twenty of these people in concentration camps. Some did not return.

The Official first anniversary took place on October 28, 1944 with a parade before Prime Minister George Papandreou.

The history

It was about 3 o'clock in the morning of October 28, 1940 when Mussolini sent Greece an ultimatum, and required the free passage of the Italian army from the Greek-Albanian border in order to occupy some strategic parts of Greece (ports, airports, etc.). for supplies and other needs of facilitation in subsequent promotion in Africa.

The ultimatum was given in the hand of Ioannis Metaxas, at his home in Kifissia by the Italian Ambassador in Athens, Emanuele Grazzi.

After reading the text Metaxas turned his gaze to the Italian Ambassador and replied in French (official diplomatic language) the historic phrase: «Alors, c'est la guerre», (Well, this means war), thereby demonstrating his negative position on the Italian insolent demands.

Grazzi in his memoirs, released in 1945, describes the scene: "I have been ordered Mr. Prime Minister to ask you a notice and I gave him the letter. I watched the emotion in his hands and in his eyes. With a firm voice and looking me in the eyes, Metaxas told me: this means war. I replied that this could be avoided. He replied NO. I added that if the General Papagos ... Metaxas interrupted me and said NO! I gave a deep bow, leaving with the deeper respect, this elder, who preferred to be sacrificed instead of enslavement."

Metaxas that time expressed the Greek popular sentiment, the denial of allegiance, and this refusal was passed to the then Greek press with the word "NO". The word "NO" was first presented as a title in the main article of the newspaper "Greek Future" of N. P. Efstratios on October 30, 1940.

The war

Two hours after the ultimatum, the Greco-Italian War began with the invasion of the Italian troops in Epirus and Greece defending itself, was involved in the war.
The 'Epic of 1940," which followed, and the great victories of the Greek army, against the Italians, established to be celebrated every year on 28 October, the date of service of the Italian ultimatum and the refusal of Metaxas to consented.
The Church of Greece decided, in 1952, the Feast of the Holy Protection of the October 1, to be transferred on October 28, on the grounds that Mary helped the Greek Army in the War of Albania.
Sofia Vembo sings
Lyrics: George Thisvios
Music: Theophrastus Sakellaridis
Duce puts on his uniform
and his tall cap,
with all the feathers,
and one night with moon
he sets on to invade Greece,
the poor guy!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh.

In the mountains he meets with
our brave man, the evzone
and he shocks the master
who's a spaghetti eater.

Ah, Ciano, I 'll get mad Ciano,
who ordered me to get in mess with the evzones?

AAAAAAAAAAAAh..

He sets off the next day
but he hears again "Aera"
from the evzone,
he walks road after road
and jumps the river;
he knows the business.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh.

He receives the bullets like a hail storm from the evzone,
and changes always generals, to get his work done.

Ah, Ciano, I 'll get mad Ciano
and send me quickly the black clothes, to wear them.

AAAAAAAAAAAAh..

The new Napoleon sends
divisions of hungry men
up in the mountain,
only to meet with their devil
and our army drags
lots of prisoners.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh.

And the poor Centaurs,
what a pity,
unfed and fainted
fall inside the water.

Ah! Grazzi, never come to me again, Grazzi,
because I 've seat on burning coal

AAAAAAAAAAAAh..

They run like crazy towards the rocks
and either from us or from the Allies
they receive the kick,
and without many words
Greek brave men have entered
Korytsa.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh.

The chino has entered Argyrokastro
and there now waves a Greek flag.
Ah! Ciano, I 'll die, Ciano,
because in a while I 'll lose even Tirana.

And the poor have suffered
a big disaster,
and Rome awaits
its turn.

AAAAAAAAAAAAh..