‘Ohi’ means ‘No’ in Greek. It was a response by the then Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas. The 28 October is but one of many days in modern Hellenic history where the Greek flag will be found to fly from balconies of every home.

A day embedded deeply within the Greek consciousness. An emotion of triumph of struggle and the ‘will’ to remain free from tyrannical forces bent on enslaving a nation.

I do not use the word ‘will’ lightly for truly it was a struggle for a nation seeking peace from tyrannical forces sweeping Europe during WW2.

Up until that period, no Allied battles had been successful against Nazi Germany, the Blackshirts of Italy’s Mussolini or Emporerer Hirohito’s Knights of Bushido.

Men, women and children were involved in this epic battle against Mussolinis alleged elite mountain brigades. They fought in the high mountains of Albania against overwhelming forces. Outgunned but not out maneuvered, the Greeks forced back the invading forces embarrassing the boasting Mussolini and his brigades of blackshirts.

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The Greeks fighting in the snow, aided by supply trains made up of women, old men and children fought on against numerical forces.
Very few in the free world knew of the unsung heroes who brought ammunition, food, clothing, equipment as well as clearing the snow from the roads. It was the women, old men and children involved that undertook such arduous tasks and history has not forgotten them. \

These supply lines stretched over mountain passes, valleys, snow drifts avalanches from time time to time with a cold so bitter and callous that people froze in their tracks.

Yes the Greeks won their battles against Mussolini and their courage under fire gave the Allies hope that if a tiny nation like Greece can put up a stiff resistance and win then not all was lost.

The battle for freedom became untenable once Greece was invaded by Hitler and his axis allies from the North. Fighting on two fronts against superior forces weighed heavily upon the Greeks and they were forced to surrender.

By this time the Prime Minister Metaxas who spoke the word OXI (OHI) to the Italian Ambassador had passed away. Yet his immortal response lives on in the memory of all freedom loving people.

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In the North, the Nazis found it difficult to overcome one particular Fort that held out and when the formal surrender finally came, the Nazis could not believe that a small group of soldiers could hold out against their superior forces. Such actions by the few encouraged other nations to keep the resistance against the Axis and subsequently the battles for freedom.
(Winston Churchill from the Allies point of view said, “Hence, we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks.”

Hitler on the Axis side could not believe that his superior forces were held back by the fledging small Greek forces and Hitler is alleged to have said: “The Greek soldier, above all, fought with the most courage.”)

Therefore on reflection, is it not true that by saying ‘NO’ to an aggressor, is the first step to declaring freedom from tyrannical forces. We have much to learn from history and only a fool would fail to learn from it.

On a personal note, people who read my posts from time to time may begin to understand the passion and pride that I have as an Australian. Someone born in Greece, raised in Australia, served the nation and proud of my heritage.
That is one of the many reasons that the Hellenic ANZAC Memorial was created in my place of birth – PELLANA. To me it represents much and the word Freedom comes to mind.

As always, I wish you well, be of good cheer, fight the good fight and don’t let the bastards get you down.
Peter Adamis