by Giorgos Anagnostou

In sight of the National Anniversary of the 28th of October, we'll once again be hearing the typical tales of how the great OXI (NO) was said ... by the Greek people and various oblations written about how "although the country was unprepared for the coming storm, the Greek people triumphed in Albania and at 'Roupel' (not, God-forbid, the "Metaxas Line")".

No one disputes the heroism that the Greeks displayed, but it's contemptous that such open disregard be shown primarily towards the personage of Ioannis Metaxas and naturally to King George II and Commander in Chief Alexander Papagos, as well as Alexander Koryzis, the second and last prime minister of the "4th of August" regime, who, after rejecting the German ultimatum of 6th April 1941 (the second but not lesser "OXI" of that period), committed suicide on 18th April 1941 so as not to endure the sight of the German occupation of Athens.

But why are the aforementioned names and Metaxas' in particular suppressed? Because Metaxas was a dictator? In my opinion, no. The names of Metaxas and all of the rest are suppressed because it isn't in the interests of today's leaders, who are especially agreeable to any would-be invader and gladly say YES (e.g. Imia, S-300, Madrid, Helsinki, concessions of Aegean airspace, the retention of only 6 nautical miles around our islands instead of the 12, the bargaining over the name of Macedonia, etc.) to remember figures like the those.

But unfortunately for today's politicians, who try to adjust History to their own accommodations, the words of Napoleon shall ring true: "As much as my enemies loathe my name, they will be forced to come across it whenever they look through the glorious pages of French History". So may the calumnies that now cover the heroes of 1940 be light. Greece and the Greek people will forever be in their debt and shall honor the memory of those whose memory is trying to be obliterated.

P.S. For the best information for the uninformed, I suggest an article from "Kathimerini" (link 27/10/2002) and one from "To Vima" (link 3/3/2002). The former is dedicated to the perception, but also pragmatism, of Ioannis Metaxas, while the latter is about the "Metaxas Line", perhaps the best anti-artillery stronghold of Europe.