The Nexus
- see footnote below*
Όχι! Ochi! No! Our Hellenic Resolve and our 28th October 1940 epos
Σημ. Tόν Ελληνικόν χαιρετισμόν μας παραθέτωμεν εν κατακλείδι παρακάτω. Λόγω δεοντολογίας τά κυριώτερα γράφωμε Αγγλιστί, ως ακολούθως –
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Our dear fellows at HEC’Gr, AHI, and dear synanthropoe (fellow-humans)
Our message today, 28th October 2005, is in memory of that same date back in 1940, when our very Hellenic Ochi! (NO!) bravely rejected the “otto millione bayonette” and the “mare nostrum” backed Mussolini’s strong ultimatum on the peacefully unprepared Hellas demanding her unconditional surrender to his “imperio”
What followed was an overwhelming surprise that jolted the world. Heroic Hellenes, faithful to their historical past, again abided with their duty and thoughtlessly brave gave no inch of their Patris to the insolent enemy. Fundamentally then, Hellenes saved world democracy from destruction by Fascists and Nazis. That astoundingly brave Hellenic rejection dramatically started the eventual defeat of the Axis conquering monster at the very desperate period for the survival of the Allies; it had decidedly sealed the Axis' final death
Poland had already been overrun and France resisted six weeks only. Britain was in a state of imminent despair. Military operations in the Middle East and in Northern Africa were desperately ominous. Through the bleakness of the horrible war, there shone this bright beacon of the unequipped Hellenes, their patriotic resolve to stand against the monstrous barbarians. It served a momentous Hellenic boost to the fighting morale of the Allies
Furthermore, not only did Hellenes not give an inch, but victoriously drove the enemy off their border, over the Pindus mountains, deep into Albania, pin-downing Mussolini’s grand forces for six months until Hitler’s Nazis came to their rescue (bypassing the Hellenes through the quisling Vardaria borders). These Hellenic victories, over the superior Axis powers, were for the Allies their only stimulating morale. A then elated Winston Churchill declared “Hitherto it is said that Hellenes fight like heroes; from now on it shall be that heroes fight like Hellenes!”. French patriots were so over-carried by the Hellenic thrust that they erected signboards at their frontiers over-emphasising "Hellenes stop; Here you enter French territory". Even Hitler was that much overawed and taken by that Hellenic resolve that, for respect and admiration toward the Hellenes’ fighting patriotism, he subsequently ordered that Hellene soldiers should not be taken prisoners but rather be assisted to return back to their homes. Many other leaders heaped praises on Hellas
Hellenes gave to their Allies and to the world generally, another of our Hellenic Firsts; the FIRST ALLIED VICTORIES sustained six months, when everything around was collapsing. They saved world democracy. The Allies named this awesome phenomenon the catalystic “turning point”, which headed the analysis in the war book “The five fatal mistakes of the Axis”
For the benefit of all, the Axis was an unholy war alliance comprising partners-in-crime Germany (the 2nd Reich), Italy with Albania and other colonies, Bulgaria and their kins-people Vardarians, Rumania, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Vichy French, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Turkey (partly). Turkey had actively sided with Germany in the previous WW1
The lesson from Hellas to the Allies and to the nations was its own brave war footing, and that there still was little time for emergency war preparations while Hellas is thwarting the Axis’ conquest plans. The consequences from our Hellenic regard are listed as follows –
- By underestimating the Hellenic resolve, Mussolini damaged the Axis’ rapid advance into, and their capture strategy of, Russia. Thus their strategy received an unexpectedly severe delaying setback, not only during the war in Albania, but further many months later with the battle of Crete; and with further pin-downing of large forces in constant battles with Hellenic resistance forces engaging all during some five years of occupation
BRITAIN, the Middle East, and Northern Africa, were spared. Nazis and Fascists by large were obstructed to an un-strategic war in Hellas. Emboldened Europeans heavily engaged the occupying enemies by their guerrilla resistance forces. Inspired Britons encountered their terrifying Battle of Britain. Hellenes also from Egypt, from the Patris, and abroad, formed the Dodecanese Army and took to the turn around battle of El Alamein. Their warships and submarines successfully engaged the enemy in the Mediterranean, and their air force flew the sorties and missions. Finally Hellenes accepted the surrender of the very Italian town of Rimini
RUSSIA was spared. From their planned quick thrust Eastward to Russia, Nazis had to divert South to rescue their war in Hellas. Thus they missed their planned timing for the 1941 summer months and later fell victims in the dreaded Siberian winter. Britain used the relief time to send streams of marine supply convoys to Russia via the Persian Gulf and then onwards by road convoys. Russians were given enough time to prepare for the battle of Stalingrad, which heavily decimated the Nazi forces in that dreadful winter
USA which hitherto was unconcerned, was jolted out of its complacency by this Hellenic epos, and set its mighty war and armaments industry in full products operation. USA very enthusiastically formed a force especially comprised by Hellenes of America, and issued post-stamps depicting that force marching with their proudly waving flags of USA and Hellas. It was timely, for Japan viciously drew USA into the WW2 fray
saved world democracy. Question: Had that Hellenic 1940 epos not taken place, would all the current leaders be free to brag about democracy? - Would there be democracy in the world now (UNO, EU, Commonwealth, etc)?
Currently the warmongers bark out their contentions championing “democratising the nations and the world” and attack them, turn them into killing fields, and affix them to their totalitarian and imperialistic reign (or reins). Yet, all need to learn what Hellenic democracy entails primarily in their own countries before enforcing it on others. About complete democracy one needs to think in Hellenistic terms; - on this we shall continue on some other opportunity
May the spirit of that Hellenic 28th October 1940 live for ever
* G.Eleftheriades
Convener
The Nexus, encompassing the:
- Justice Nexus for Cyprus, - Australian Citizens Committee for Civil Concerns, - Saint Nicholas Australian Settlement Union (New South Wales Premierʼs Community Award, March 2003), - Socio-educational Society of the Former Athenaeum Communiversity (Australiaʼs Bicentennial Endorsed Activity Certificate, awarded 1988), - MACEDONIA NEXUS - MAKEDONIA THE GLOBAL IDENTITY OF HELLENES, - Hellenic Advancement Council, Hellenic Community Care Committee, - Australian Hellenes & Europe Nexus, - Hellenic Genocides, Genocides Cultural, Criminal Holocausts, International, - Britons Australia & UK Nexus, - Hellenes (Suezians, Aegyptiots, UnLtd) Sydney, - Sydney Hellenic Orthodox Nexus for Scouts & Guides, - and other community nexuses
C/- 49A Tramway Street, Rosebery, New South Wales, Australia 2018
Ph 9667 3045. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
George Savva Eleftheriades, OAM, JP
