Annual OXI Day Commemoration: “Greece’s Defiance That Changed the Course of World War II” Webinar скачать в хорошем качестве

Annual OXI Day Commemoration: “Greece’s Defiance That Changed the Course of World War II” Webinar

Join us for EMBCA’s Annual OXI Day (October 28, 1940) Commemoration: “Greece’s Defiance That Changed the Course of World War II” Webinar Panel Discussion on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 2 P.M. EST/ 8 P.M. Athens EEST. The panel discussion will be introduced and moderated by Lou Katsos EMBCA’s President. The distinguished panel, currently in formation, will include Author/Poet Nicholas Alexiou, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Hellenic American Project at Queens College; Author/Writer/Clemson University Lecturer and EMBCA Director Alexander Billinis; and Peter Stavranidis, PhD. OXI Day (October 28, 1940), a national Hellenic holiday, marks the moment when Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas, awakened in the early hours by Italian Ambassador Emanuele Grazzi, rejected Mussolini’s ultimatum demanding free passage for Axis troops through neutral Greece. Metaxas’s reply—“Alors, c’est la guerre!” (“Then it is war!”) and the resounding “OXI!” (“NO!”) of the Hellenic people the next day ignited a struggle of immense consequence for Hellas, Europe, and the free world. The ensuing Greco–Italian War (October 28, 1940 – April 23, 1941) was the first Axis defeat in Europe. Against all expectations, Hellenic forces stopped the Italian invasion, counterattacked, and pushed deep into southern Albania. Hellas resisted for 219 days, longer than any other European nation under Axis assault, before Germany intervened on April 6, 1941. This diversion delayed Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union, contributing to the Nazi failure in the Russian winter. Italy’s invasion, launched from occupied Albania, was poorly planned and met with fierce Hellenic resistance in the mountains of Epirus. The campaign’s three phases included: 1. The failed Italian offensive (Oct. 28–Nov. 13, 1940) 2. The Hellenic counter-offensive and advance into Albania (Nov. 14, 1940–Jan. 6, 1941) 3. The stalemate until the German invasion (Jan.–Apr. 1941) Italian forces suffered over 154,000 casualties, while Hellenic losses exceeded 90,000. Despite ultimate occupation by Germany, Italy, and Bulgaria, Greece’s defiance inspired the world and boosted morale across occupied Europe. The background to war included Italy’s annexation of Albania in 1939 and its growing hostility toward Greece. On August 15, 1940, the Feast of the Dormition, the Italian submarine Delfino sank the Hellenic cruiser Elli at Tinos, foreshadowing the coming conflict. When Germany invaded on April 6, 1941, overwhelming the northern front through Bulgaria, Athens fell by April 27. Greece endured a brutal occupation until late 1944, with massive civilian suffering and resistance movements that continued the spirit of “OXI.” Beyond the battlefield, OXI Day transformed perceptions of Hellenes abroad. In America, the courage and sacrifice of the Hellenic people helped shift views of Hellenic immigrants from being seen as outsiders to being embraced as part of the American story. OXI Day thus stands as more than a date in Hellenic history; it symbolizes a universal declaration of dignity, freedom, and resistance to tyranny echoing far beyond Hellas to the world. Donate: https://embca.com/event/annual-oxi-da...