The Italian invasion in Greece (1940)

Ιn 1940 the world lived the tragedy of a great war. Germany, with Hitler as its leader, along with ally Italy, led by Benito Mussolini, managed to conquer most of European countries. The Italian dictator decided to conquer small and as it seemed impossible to resist, Greece. So he started the challenges.

On 15 August 1940, an Italian submarine sank the Greek warship "Ellie". At dawn on 28 October 1940, the Italian Ambassador arrives in Athens and wakes up the Greek Prime Minister, Metaxas. The Italian Government demands to be granted ports, roads, railways, and sites for camps. Demands, in a few words, the surrender of Greece. The answer could

not have been anything else but: No. In the morning the Italians began to bombard the Greek outposts located on the tops of the mountain range of Pindos. After the bombing the Italian troops crossed the borders. The invasion began. In Athens and other cities people woke to the sound of sirens. Mobilization was declared. The festivities in the streets resembled moments of happiness rather than war. Everybody run to join the army in order to fight. 

By early November the Italians constantly attacked, but they didn’t succeed in breaking the Greek lines. The Greek army launched a counter-attack which

made them liberators in cities of Albania where Greeks lived: In Koritsa, in Agious Saranta, Permeti, in Argyrokastro. The small army that Mussolini thought as an easy opponent not only endured but stalked Italians in Albania.

The severe winter, freezing cold and snow that brooded over the mountains of Pindos, deeply tormented soldiers of both opponents. The frostbites and deaths from cold were constant. Despite all the hardships, the Greek

soldiers fought heroically and

managed the impossible. In the spring of 1941 the

Italians tried to attack again. The result was the same: failure. The solution was given by the Germans, the allies of Italy. On 6 April 1941, they attacked the northern border of Greece. The most efficient war machine of the era fell on the depleted by the war, Greek army.

On 27 April 1941 the German troops entered Athens and in a few days arrived in southern Peloponnese. The “black” period of subjugation started. The Greeks, throughout slavery, hadn’t stopped fighting. Armed resistance was immediately organized. People suffered from starvation and thousands died helplessly in the streets. The efforts of the Red Cross made the situation more bearable. 

The blessed hour of liberation arrived on 12 October 1944. The epic struggle of the Greeks in the mountains of Pindos remains in history as a point of reference and glory. A phrase in an

article which was published in an English newspaper is really characteristic (4.4.1941): “From now on we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks”.

1. Based on the above text, complete the following table by choosing the exact date and fact that occurs to each picture:

Dates Facts Pictures

2. Read the following sentences and decide whether they are True (T) or False (F).

In 1940, the Italian dictator, Moussolini, decided to conquer Greece. ( )The Prime Minister of Greece, Metaxas, accepted the demands of Moussolini. ( )Moussolini was afraid of the Greek army. ( )Greeks and Italians fought in Albania. ( )Germans helped the Italians to conquer Greece. ( )Greeks accepted the slavery and didn’t fight at all. ( )

3. Find the missing word (the text will help you):

Germany, with …………………… as its leader, managed to conquer most of European countries.

On 15 August 1940, an Italian submarine sank the Greek …………………… "……………….". The festivities in the streets resembled moments of ………………………… rather than war.The severe winter over the mountains of …………………, deeply tormented soldiers of both ………………………….The most efficient ……………… machine of the era fell over the depleted by the war, ……………………… army.“From now on we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that ……………… fight like Greeks”.