Today is the anniversary of No Day (OXI Day), one of our two national holidays. On October 28th, 1940 we refused Mussolinis ultimatum and entered WWII, scoring the first victory of the Allies against the Axis forces. Though Im swamped with work (hence the delay in updates as well), I felt the need to commemorate this day by creating something for it to share with you- and I thought a picture of Basil at the front, fighting at Pindos in late 1940 would be best! I picked a moment where hes pensive, just after he got his face scars, rather than a pic where hes attacking or feeling particularly victorious, because for us Greeks right now, OXI Day is a day of rallying, bracing and bitter rage. Because we find ourselves having to fight for basically the very same things, only in different forms- not yet with rifles and grenades. Because the whole world still finds itself resisting, battling, fighting for the very same rights, against the very same forces while our ancestors who shed their blood for them so we wont have to, are standing in their graves, demanding that their sacrifice not be in vain. So a pensive Basil it is. I hope you like it nonetheless! If you want to know more about Greeces fight against Italy, click on History and enjoy! Alternatively, I found this little documentary for you, from National Geographic:
Honour to our fallen, that stood against Fascism for our sake. Updates to come soon!
Those dark days of October 1940 when London bore the onslaught of the German Luftwaffe. And the Italians picked on Greece and readied an assault into Egypt. The Italians were about to lose big time and Hitler would have to leap to Mussolini's aid in both places.
"Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But who was he really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten, but 400 years later, an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed first hand the power of ideas, I've seen people kill in the name of them, and die defending them... but you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it... ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love... And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man... A man that made me remember the Fifth of November. A man that I will never forget."
Tantz_Aerine at 1:51PM, Oct. 28, 2015
Honour to all our fallen. And let's give them rest by putting an end to this endless repetition of the same struggle, in the way they sang and wanted.
bravo1102 at 1:23PM, Oct. 28, 2015
Those dark days of October 1940 when London bore the onslaught of the German Luftwaffe. And the Italians picked on Greece and readied an assault into Egypt. The Italians were about to lose big time and Hitler would have to leap to Mussolini's aid in both places.
tupapayon at 12:37PM, Oct. 28, 2015
"Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot. I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot... But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes and I know, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. But who was he really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten, but 400 years later, an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed first hand the power of ideas, I've seen people kill in the name of them, and die defending them... but you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it... ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love... And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man... A man that made me remember the Fifth of November. A man that I will never forget."
Tantz_Aerine at 11:34AM, Oct. 28, 2015
This is the URL to the youtube clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD-xrJbuwDc