[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 21750-21751] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CELEBRATING ``OXI'' DAY ______ HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS of florida in the house of representatives Friday, September 29, 2006 Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, we often refer to the World War II generation as ``the greatest generation,'' not only because of their [[Page 21751]] bravery in times of economic depression and war, but also because of their strength, their moral fortitude, and their commitment to advancing the cause of freedom both here and abroad. We celebrate the accomplishments of their generation and respect them for who they are and the lessons they impart, as we rightly should. My primary purpose today, in addition to honoring our American World War II heroes, military and civilian alike, is to celebrate the courage of Greece's ``greatest generation,'' those citizens who, on October 28, 1940, stood up to the Axis powers and said ``no'' to the spread of fascism and hate. The significance of ``oxi'' day and what it meant to the outcome of World War II cannot be overstated. On that fateful day in October, the small, battered and courageous nation of Greece made a firm stand against the aggression of Italy and Germany. And by doing so, the people of Greece disrupted Nazi Germany's war plans and ensured that freedom would live another day. By October 1940, World War II had begun, and the Nazi regime already was operating in high gear. Under Aolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini, German and Italian forces were threatening the whole of Europe. In fact, Hitler intended to eliminate British operations in the Mediterranean in order to weaken their ability to hinder German advances. To achieve this objective, Hitler needed the Axis powers to strike British forces in Greece. By conquering Greece, Hitler hoped to gain access to the important connecting link with Italian bases in the Dodecanese islands, giving Italian forces a stranglehold on British forces in Egypt where they were already under attack. The defense of Egypt was vital to Allied positions in the oil-rich Middle East. On October 28, 1940, the Italian Ambassador in Athens issued an ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Metaxas, demanding the unconditional surrender of Greece and threatening Italy's declaration of war. Mussolini gave Prime Minister Metaxas only three hours to reply. Mussolini obviously underestimated the resolve of the Greek people and their passion for liberty. In what has now become one of the most celebrated actions of World War II, Prime Minister Metaxas responded with the word ``oxi,'' which means ``no'' in Greek. This statement, which embodied the true spirit of the Greek people, demonstrated undeniable courage and strength in the face of imminent invasion by Italian forces. ``Oxi'' echoed the same devotion and love of country that Greek patriots exhibited during their war of independence against the Ottoman empire when they defiantly shouted ``liberty or death.'' The Prime Minister's actions marked the beginning of one the world's most heroic efforts to combat tyranny and oppression. Knowing that Greece would not give in to its demands, Italy invaded. Greece went into battle as the clear underdog. In addition to having a population seven times smaller than Italy, the disparity in the nations' armed forces was even greater. Italy enjoyed ten times the firepower of Greece in its army and navy and seven times the number of troops. Italy's command of the air gave Greece little hope of success. However, despite their lack of equipment and smaller numbers, the Greek army proved to be well-trained and resourceful. Within a week of the invasion, the Italian forces were suffering serious setbacks. On November 14, 1940, the Greek army launched a counteroffensive and quickly drove the Italian forces back into Albania. By December, the Greeks had captured the town of Pogradec in eastern Albania, where the fighting continued for several months. It became very clear that the Greeks were not going to stand for defeat. In a last ditch effort to bring the skirmish to a close before they would be forced to ask Hitler to intervene, the Italian armed forces launched another assault on March 12, 1941. It took only six days for them to concede that German intervention was necessary. Hitler ordered the German invasion of Greece on April 6, 1941, but it took the Germans five weeks to finally end the conflict. This delay proved critical to the outcome of the entire war. Italy's inability to capture Greece enabled the British to win major victories against Mussolini's forces in North Africa, solidifying their positions in the region. This delay also contributed to the failure of the German Barbarossa campaign to conquer Russia. Because he was forced to capture the Balkans, mainly Yugoslavia and Greece, Hitler had to delay his plans to invade and capture the Soviet Union before the winter of 1941. The Greek resistance, both in Albania and in another famous battle in Crete, altered the time table of the planned Barbarossa invasion by at least six months, proving a favorable development for Allied Forces. Perhaps the most important effect the Greeks' unyielding stand had on World War II was guaranteeing that the Germans would not gain the advantage against the British. Although Germany had conquered much of Europe, Hitler's inability to decimate British and Russian forces early in the War would eventually prove fatal. Thanks to Prime Minister Metaxas saying ``oxi'' and inspiring the heroic Greek resistance, the war tide was permanently changed. The Allies gained tremendous advantages by the stubborn and proud resolve of the Greek armed forces, but the Greeks themselves suffered loss and sacrificed much. Nearly one million Hellenes died during this time, roughly 14 percent of the population in 1940. And yet, the entire Western world, discouraged and fearful of the Axis powers and increasingly ugly war, were inspired by the Greeks' incredible victories. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill honored these acts of heroism, declaring that ``Today we say that Greeks fight like heroes; from now on we will say that heroes fight like Greeks.'' Mr. Speaker, ``Oxi'' Day continues to serve as an inspiration to all those in this world who cherish democracy and freedom. It marks defiance of fascism and ongoing commitment to doing what is right. As a Greek-American, I am proud to honor the memory of those brave patriots who fought for the freedom of their country and in so doing, helped secure it for the entire free world. Today freedom-loving nations are battling a new enemy, not defined by nation but by hatred of freedom and love of fear and oppression. As we continue to fight the Global War on Terror, we should take a page from Prime Minister Metaxas and the Greek people and echo their resolute ``no'' to those who threaten liberty. By doing so, we honor the spirit of ``Oxi'' Day and all those who have sacrificed to defend freedom. ____________________