October 28th
Ohi day
"Heroes Fight like Greeks"
W. Churchill, 1941
Ohi day was the day that Greece said NO to submission, sending the message that when one fights with one's soul, when one fights for one's freedom, no matter how great the obstacles, no matter how many sacrifices are required, in the end, a winner will emerge.
In fact, the celebration concerns October 28th, 1940, the day that Greece entered WW II and the whole epic of 1940 and the successes of Greece in the Second World War.
The historical facts
On the morning of October 28, 1940, the Italian Ambassador to Athens, Emanuele Grazi, personally handed over to the Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas, at his home in Kifissia, an ultimatum demanding the free passage of the Italian army from the Greek-Albanian border to strategic points of the Hellenic Kingdom (ports, airports, etc.), for the needs of supply and other facilities for its subsequent promotion in Africa.
The answer was "No" and so Italian military forces began military operations to invade Greece through the Greek-Albanian border.
Mussolini, with 100,000 troops stationed in Albania, believed that he would conquer Greece with ease. But while at first, the Greeks withdrew from the border and the Italians occupied small Greek areas, on November 14 the counterattack begins and the Greek troops experience great success, as in the battle of Pindos, Epirus and western Macedonia, liberating almost all of the North. Epirus: Agioi Saranda, Pogradec, Argyrokastro, Chimarra.
An attack by the Italians in the spring had no effect. The Greeks fought like lions.
When Mussolini realized that there was no salvation for his army, he sought the help of his ally, Hitler. Thus, in April 1941, Nazi Germany attacked Greece. In this second invasion, the Greeks answered "NO" again, this time writing the epic of the Fortress of Metaxas along the border in Macedonia.
The Germans broke the lines of defense of the Serbs, arrived in Athens and only then, surrounded and commanded by the Command of the disbanded Greek Army, the fighters of the forts surrendered (not conquered in battle) with their heads held high.
The Rupel fort on the Greek-Bulgarian border (Serres area)
The Metaxas Line (1936-1941) was a chain of 21 fortifications constructed along the line of the Greco-Bulgarian border, designed to protect Greece in case of a Bulgarian invasion.
The 1940 Epic
When Greece was called upon to fight the Italian onslaught in 1940, "The Women of Pindos" represent a pinnacle of bravery in the highlands of Northern Epirus.
A side of the war that many people are unaware of is the contribution, the spontaneous and unplanned offering, and the self-sacrifice of the Greek women of the Epirus region.
The women of Epirus welcomed the Greek warriors inside their homes, providing them with some brief respite and warmth.
From their own supply, they provided food, blankets, and many types of clothing. For the battling soldiers, they crocheted socks, shirts, and food in their limited spare time.
The women traversed distances of two to three days while carrying supplies of ammunition, food, and clothes while navigating treacherous terrain and defying extremely unfavorable weather conditions.
Additionally, instances involving transportation and detachable cannons that were carried by individuals in dangerous terrain are mentioned. In addition to providing goods, they also transported the injured, aiding the ambulances' efforts and giving the wounded courage. Young and old girls in endless phalanxes scaled heights of well over 2,000 meters to the most remote locations while enduring nonstop rain, snowstorms, and north winds. and they brought the wounded with them when they went back.
They took part in both the building of roads and their opening and maintenance.
In fact, according to testimonies, a group of women from Pindos entered the water while being tightly held by the shoulders in order to create a human embankment that would interrupt the momentum of the river when the bridge builders of the Engineer were unable to connect the Vogiousa river at one point due to the rapid current of its waters.
The bravery, faith, perseverance, and endurance of the women who so valiantly supported the opposing armies while defying death will never be forgotten.
In fact, according to testimonies, a group of women from Pindos entered the water while being tightly held by the shoulders in order to create a human embankment that would interrupt the momentum of the river when the bridge builders of the Engineer were unable to connect the Vogiousa river at one point due to the rapid current of its waters.
The bravery, faith, perseverance, and endurance of the women who so valiantly supported the opposing armies while defying death will never be forgotten.
The celebration
This date was established to be celebrated in Greece and Cyprus every year as an official national holiday with student parades and the raising of the Greek flag in every public and private building.
Every year in Thessaloniki, the official holiday is celebrated with all splendor, in the presence of the President of the Republic and other officials, with a large military parade, which coincides with the celebration of the liberation of the city during the First Balkan War and the memory of the patron saint of St. Demetrius