In the dark early hours of October 28, 1940 , Greece found itself facing a decisive moment in its history . Italy, represented by its ambassador Emmanuele Grazi , delivered an ultimatum to Ioannis Metaxas at his prime ministerial residence. The fate of the country hung on a single word from the decision of one man, Ioannis Metaxas .
There was no referendum , there was no public consultation . The people, in their “sleep” , had no possibility to answer at that moment. The historical truth is clear: NO (or even more emphatic, so we have a war ) was said by Metaxas , a man who transcended his personal preferences by putting the interests of the homeland above all else.
This decision was certainly not a product of sentimentality , nor a random reaction. It was the result of deep strategic thinking , knowledge of the international situation and a deep awareness of the dangers if Greece granted the passage of Italian troops, the country would be in immediate danger of dismemberment . Metaxas , knowledgeable of internal political balances and international alliances, acted with boldness and determination , sending a message that will resonate for centuries: “Well, we have a war” .
The attempt of some (un)historical and ideological currents to shift the responsibility or the honor of the decision to the “popular mind” does not withstand logical analysis. It is a symbolic construction , an attempt to equate the then required authoritarian regime with the national soul, a narrative that silences the importance of personal responsibility and historical insight . Greece, like every nation, needs leaders who dare to stand in the face of danger, not just the collective spirit in later anniversary representations.
I should add here that this “NO” was not without consequence. It was the spark that ignited the spirit of the Greeks , that highlighted national unity in a struggle that will remain unsurpassed in History .
In conclusion, the truth is simple, Metaxas said NO and through this, Greece said its own NO to subjugation , dismemberment , and foreign imperialism . History cannot be altered by ideological constructions , nor can the epic of 1940 be set aside to serve political interests . The magnificent moment of October 28 is intertwined with the determination of a leader who dared to say NO for all Greeks and this truth remains indestructible in time, as much as some known and unknown people try to make black and white every year at the same time…
PS Let’s assume that Ioannis Metaxas had said “pass freely” that night, then Greece would never have woken up free . The people who today boast about the epic of Pindus would then have woken up to an enslaved homeland . Let the graphic sly ones who attempt to rewrite history from the safety of their couch remember this because if there had been no “we are at war” by Metaxas , there would not have been even the NO of the Greek people .
STYLIANOS KAVAZIS
