World
War II was an awful time to be a European. Hitler famously ruled
Germany, and Benito Mussolini ruled Italy; the two made a pact with
Japan that made them allies (nations acting together in a war) called
the Axis powers. Hitler had already taken over Austria and had
attacked and occupied Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, Denmark,
Holland, Belgium, and even France. The Axis powers were at war with
Britain.
On
this date in 1940, Mussolini gave an ultimatum to Greece: Allow Axis
forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain strategic
locations, or else.
That's
what an ultimatum is: an “or else.”
And
of course, in this case, the “or else” means “we will attack
you, we will kill your people and burn your buildings, we will occupy
you you, we will take over your country.”
The
Greek ruler, Ioannis Metaxas, is widely believed to have answered the
ultimatum by simply saying, “No,” but he really said, “Then it
is war.” And sure enough, Italian troops attacked just about an
hour later. Greek people took to the streets yelling the Greek word
for “No!” – which is spelled “ohi” (or "oxi" or “ochi”) in the
English alphabet.
During
the war, Greece's brave refusal to cooperate with the Axis powers was
celebrated in Greece and Cyprus and in Greek communities around the
world.
Ohi Day became a public holiday after the war was over. It is commonly celebrated with parades and exhibitions.
Also
on this date:
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