What historical event fascinates you the most?
OXI Day meaning in English NO Day. Now it may seem funny if you have no clue what this is or why someone or some country will celebrate a day of NO. Oxi day is celebrated in Greece on October 28 in remembrance of the historical event that took place on October 28, 1940. Greece might be a small country, but everyone knew especially back then you do not touch Greece. Oxi Day is the day the Greeks rejected the request of the Italians. Its defiantly a day that will never be forgotten. Greece’s motto was “The little country that taught the world to live, will now teach it how to die!” Have you ever heard of Oxi day (anniversary of the NO)?
A little background history.
Back in 1940 Adolf Hitler was conquering the Jews and taking over Germany. Italian prime minister Benito Mussolini allied with Hitler. Mussolini publicity praised Hitler for his power but in private had looked down on him and his party. Mussolini thought with as much power as Hitler had he could take over all of Europe and expand into conquering the world. As Hitler had a plan to take over Europe, he was leaving Greece for last. Mussolini couldn’t figure out why Hitler wanted to leave a small country alone when they could just walk in and take it over.
OXI!
Mussolini had enough and wanted to take over the small country Greece. At 3:00 am on October 28, 1940, he went behind Hitler’s back and sent a messenger to the Greek dictator Ioannas Metaxas that he had an ultimatum to make. The ultimatum was to surrender Greece over or at 5:30 am an Italian army will come in and slaughter every one of the Greeks. Metaxas without hesitation said one word “OXI!” (meaning NO!) to the messenger. The messenger delivered that message to Mussolini which infuriated him.
The land background.
The land of Greece is not flat there are as over one thousand islands, and the land is anything but flat. Most of the bigger land and bigger islands are very rocky and mountainy. This gives the upper hand to the natives who know the land and how to bombard their enemies. This making it very difficult for someone to attack Greece unless they know the land.
The battle.
Mussolini furious wanted to show how easy it will be to take over the little country Greece that has disobeyed his orders. He sent seventy thousand troops into the small populated thirty thousand Greece. Everyone in Greece was prepared to fight and die for their country including women. As the famous battle begins it ends up lasting exactly two years. On October 28, 1942, the Greeks celebrate the victory of push the Italians out of Greece. But it does not fully end there! The Greeks keep pushing their way in to Italy and conquering the land of Italy.
Mussolini Begs Hitler for help!
Mussolini cannot believe this little country of Greece has pushed their way into Italy and are not stopping. Mussolini Begs Hitler to help him. Mussolini states to Hitler he does not understand how his huge army is being defeated by this little country of Greece and they are now taking over Italy. Hitler furious with Mussolini, now must pull his troops out of Soviet Union, Germany and other parts of Europe to keep the Greeks from taking over Italy. After World War II Greece and twenty other countries write off a large chunk of the German loans. If it wasn’t for the Greeks Hitler might have actually succeeded in taking over Europe.
Remembrance.
United States President Frankin D. Rosevelt Acknowledge the Greeks for their determination to battle the Italians. Greeks around the world now celebrate Oxi Day! on October 28 to remember those that lost their lives fighting and for Greece fighting back and keeping its land. Many countries till this day still cannot believe such a small country with a small population defeated such a huge army. The army that was taking over Europe was hinder and stopped due to Greece. This is a day all Greeks should be proud of!
Could you imagine 30,000 people defeating 70,000 people?
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