On October 28, 1940, Mussolini, with an ultimatum delivered by the Italian ambassador Emanuele Grazzi at 03:00 to the governor of Greece Ioannis Metaxas, asked for a "passport" for his own immortality, he asked for the surrender of eternal Greece, without conditions, she was asking for her glorious past to be erased, ignoring her history.
Italian ambassador Grazzi wrote in his book "The beginning of the end - The operation against Greece": "As soon as we sat down, and as the time was a few minutes after three, I immediately told him that my Governess had commissioned me to personally handle a text, which was nothing else than the ultimatum of Italy to Greece, with the which the Italian Government demanded the free passage of its troops into Greek territory, from 6 a.m. of 28/10/1940.
Metaxas began to read it. Through his glasses, I could see his eyes watering. When he had finished reading he looked me in the face, and in a sad but firm voice said to me: "Alors, c'est la guerre" (Well, we're at war). " Grazi: "Pas nécessaire, mon excellence" (not necessarily Your Excellency). Metaxas: "Non, c'est nécessaire". (no, it is necessary).
This NO of the prime minister became a flag, a symbol, a cry in the mouths of all Greeks and was transformed into the slogan "AIR" during the counterattacks of the Greek Army on the Epirus front, in the course of a magnificent victory, with catalytic developments, of unparalleled importance for the allied forces and the final outcome of the war, which we will refer to below.
The crash of fascism
On October 28, 1940, fascism, identified with the concept of obscurantism and oppression, was knocking on Greece's door. He asked for "land and water". He wanted to subjugate the proud Greek soul, to destroy the eternal virtue of the Greek. Then, as always, there was no dilemma. When the fascist attack came, the Greek people, united and united, poured into the streets with power, with passion, with enthusiasm.
The Greek patriots raised their chests to foreign fascism and justified their NO forcefully and victoriously, writing the glorified epic of Albania. The Greek people, then defying numerical proportions and realistic calculations (as today some invoke for Turkey) recognized the glorious past and the greatness of the race. He confirmed once again that greatness in peoples is measured by the fighting spirit, the decision to sacrifice and "the fire of the heart".
The yacht "AERA" scattered, like autumn leaves, five of the nine Italian well-equipped Divisions, the two Army Corps, the XXV Military Corps of Tsamouria and the XXVI Military Corps of Kortsa. Of these, about 14.000 fell dead on the frozen mountains, 18.000 were injured and disabled by frostbite, and 13.000 were taken prisoner. They were the first victories of the free world, the beginning of the crushing of fascism.
From the Greek side, the heroic Epirus VIII Infantry Division, reinforced with various Units and Groups, which had in its sector the entire front of Epirus, with Major General Charalambos Katsimitros as its Commander. The Greek losses were 7.989 dead. It should be mentioned that Greece regularly deployed a defense along its entire border from Epirus, to Macedonia and Thrace, with 5 Army Corps, two to three Infantry Divisions, a total strength after the recruitment of approximately 300.000 men. On the front of Epirus and Thessaly was the 10st Military Corps with the XNUMXnd-XNUMXrd and XNUMXth Divisions, which faced five Divisions out of the XNUMX Divisions of the Italians.
Findings and conclusions
Analyzing the military operations and their results, the following can be found:
Firstly, the choice of the General Staff of the "Elea-Kalamas" defense location was successful.
Secondly, the Italian plan of operations against Greece, as a strategic conception, was masterful. During its implementation, however, it failed, due to errors and omissions of its leadership.
Thirdly, the main error of the Italian administration was its over-optimism and at the same time the underestimation of the opponent, as well as the capabilities of the Greek Army. Thus he committed the following disastrous mistakes:
- They staged the attack on the eve of the winter season, resulting in a reduced performance of both air force and tanks.
- He did not dedicate the main effort in Epirus with similar forces, having only five of the ten Divisions.
- The reinforced Italian forces had at the start of operations 10 Infantry Divisions, one Armored Division, one Cavalry Division, four Versailles Regiments and eight Albanian Battalions. The Greek First Army Corps had three Infantry Divisions.
- The Italian leadership and troops were greatly surprised by the astonishing resistance of the Greek forces, as the belief and the climate of optimism that possessed everyone was that it was a healthy march and in two or three weeks they would be at Athens.
- Fatal mistakes of the Italians
Fourth, a fatal error for the Italian administration was the rigidity of the plan of operations, in contrast to the Greek plans, which were flexible, adaptable to the demands of the struggle and implemented with great success. The Italian administration insisted on the main direction, on the central Kalpaki-Ioannina axis and did not take advantage of the success of secondary directions, resulting in constant wear and tear and ultimately defeat.
The Southern coastal axis was successful and advanced, while the Northern axis split with the Julia Division in the area of Metsovo, as a result of which the Cavalry Division decisively intervened and, after fierce battles, finally intercepted it, advanced and marked the beginning of November first victory against the Axis, in Europe. And this victory was Greek.
Fifth, the attacking Italian forces attempted to break up the Kalpaki site into marching rather than attacking formations, thus making themselves an excellent target for the excellent Greek artillery, with its amazing accuracy and effective fire.
Sixth, it is amply demonstrated that material power alone is not sufficient to defeat a Nation, which rises up together and decides voluntarily to secure its freedom.
Seventh, the myth that the Italians did not fight bravely and that is why the Greek Army won should be dispelled. On the contrary, both the Italians and the Greeks fought bravely, fought fierce battles, and the battle on the hill 731 was the modern Thermopylae of Hellenism and this is proven by the large number of dead and wounded on both sides.
On the occasion of the anniversary
On the occasion of the anniversary of NO and the epic of 1940, let us look with optimism to the future. With optimism and love for the country, uncertainties become opportunities. Let us be responsible successors of our heroic ancestors. We are accompanied by the invisible shadows of our heroes, the total of 13.936 dead and 41.217 wounded and missing. And an urgent need to find all our 7.989 dead who fell in Northern Epirus.
Very few are today buried in only two organized Greek Military Cemeteries that exist in Vouliarates and Kleissoura and let us honor them as the morality of every people, but also the Greek tradition, dictates. 80 years and still thousands of heroes are buried in mass graves, in many places in Northern Epirus. As an Epirotian and as a Greek, I cannot accept the excuse that Albania did not allow us for so many years.
Sources: With information and data from the archives of the Directorate of Army History of the GES.
photo xadartstudio, Image license by freepik.com
