By Catherine Tsounis
“Until now we used to say that the Greeks fight like heroes. Now we shall say: The heroes fight like Greeks.” – Winston Churchill Radio broadcast October 1940
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, considered one of the two greatest American presidents, said “The heroic struggle of the Greek people… against Germany ‘s attack, after she so thunderously defeated the Italians in their attempt to invade the Greek soil, filled the hearts of the American people with enthusiasm and moved their compassion.” (US Congress, April 25, 1941).
President Roosevelt, in another quote explained “On the 28th of October 1940 Greece was given a deadline of three hours to decide on war or peace. But even if a three day or a three week or a three year were given, the response would have been the same. The Greeks taught dignity throughout the centuries. When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the German menace raising against it the proud spirit of freedom.” (US Congress, June 10, 1943).1
With the passing of the WWII generation and baby boomers, Greece’s heroism in WWII is not remembered by many, except in our Greek American schools. They were the motive for the revolution in former Yugoslavia. They held the Germans in the mainland and Crete for six weeks. The Lithographs celebrated the spirit, passion, and fortitude of the Greek people to defend their freedom and ideals. Greece, a small nation was the only European nation to state No! The aggressors were the Axis Powers of Italy and Germany.
The military triumphs of the Greek army gained admiration and praise from people around the world. During a visit to the Grand Meteora monastery, a genuine color lithograph exhibit showcasing Greece’s military history was on display. Notably, a section of the exhibit was titled “The Epic Struggle of 1940–41 as Depicted in Popular Art.”
Illustrations depicting Greek territories were presented, compelling the enemy to cross the Kalimantan River, with an image of Panagia Mary in the background. Numerous lithographs celebrated the Greek victory in the Pindus Mountains. Special artwork highlighted the patriotism of the Greek people in Epirus, Northern Greece, and Northern Epirus in Albania.
Men, women, and children from Epirotan villages ascended the peaks of the Pindus Mountains, bringing arms and food to support the Greek troops. A poem was dedicated to the women of the 1940s who left their village looms to carry supplies and weapons to the fighting Greek soldiers. One engraving was titled “The Heroines of the 1940s.” The propaganda press of the Axis powers from 1941 to 1942 was shown publishing articles under fascist pretenses, claiming significant victories on the Greek front to mislead and misinform the peace-loving Italian people.
An impressive illustration shows a German soldier taken down and falling in an on successful attempt to raise the swastika flag on the Rocky Magali Agia precious of the Meteora monastery. The valor and heroism of the Greek Air Force and Navy were also highlighted in the exhibit, which included a timeline of battles. The liberation of Argyrokastro and Korytsa in northern Albania by Greek forces was featured prominently. Greek Northern Epirus was returned to Albania in 1944. What remains unspoken is understood.
A detailed poster on the Battle of the Metaxas Line, known in Greece as the Battle of the Forts (Μάχη των Οχυρών), highlights the first battle during the German invasion of Greece in World War II. While the Germans succeeded in capturing several individual forts, they ultimately failed to breach the fortified Metaxas Line as a whole. The 2nd Panzer Division (XVIII Mountain Corps) executed an enveloping maneuver, crossed the Yugoslavian border, overcame both Yugoslav and Greek resistance, and captured Thessaloniki on April 9. This capture forced the Greek East Macedonia Army Section to surrender on April 10, marking the end of the Battle of the Metaxas Line.
German General List, commander of the German forces attacking Greece, admired the bravery and courage of these soldiers. He refrained from taking the Greek soldiers prisoner. He stated the army was free to leave with their war flags, on condition that they surrender their arms and supplies. He also ordered his soldiers and officers to salute the Greek soldiers (Beevor 2005, p. 20) .3 My Father-in-law George Panagiotis Siolas was one of the captured Greek troops in former Yugoslavia, who walked back to his town of Palaiopyrgos, Arcadia in the Peloponnese.4
This epic lithograph exhibit was one of the best I have seen on WWII Greece. Socrates said it best in this quote: “Has a philosopher like you failed to discover that our country is more to be valued and higher and holier far than mother or father or any ancestor, and more to be regarded in the eyes of the gods and of men of understanding?”, said Socrates (469-391 B.C.) in “Crito,” dialogue by Plato.5
All exhibit photos by Catherine Tsounis
References:
1. https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/10/28/greeks-fight-like-heroes-ww2/
2. https://hellenicnews.com/october-28th-greece-celebration-in-wwii-its-link-to-russian-invasion-by-catherine-tsounis/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Metaxas_Line
4. https://thearcadianexperience.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/remembering-the-contribution-of-arcadians-during-the-200th-anniversay-of-greece-independence-george-panagiotis-siolas/
5. https://greekreporter.com/2014/09/12/heroes-of-the-moment-the-greek-americans-in-wwi/
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_rankings_of_presidents_of_the_United_States- greatest American presidents
