Home Community Pappas Leads Hellenic Caucus in Introducing OXI Day Resolution

Pappas Leads Hellenic Caucus in Introducing OXI Day Resolution

WASHINGTON, DC –

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), co-chair of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus, is leading bipartisan members of the Hellenic Caucus in introducing a resolution to designate October 28th as Oxi Day.

On October 28, 1940 Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas refused to surrender to Axis forces, answering “Oxi!” – or “No!” – to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s 3 A.M. ultimatum that he allows Axis forces to freely enter Greece or face war. Prime Minister Metaxas’ refusal to relent to fascism sparked a national resistance movement and Greece ultimately became the first country to repel the Axis invasion. Greece’s resistance required Nazi forces to delay their invasion of Russia to intervene in the Greco-Italian War, a delay which caused the Nazi regime to face a brutal Russian winter which hindered their advance and ultimately led to their eventual defeat.

“84 years ago, the Greek people demonstrated unprecedented bravery and determination in their refusal to bow to the Axis Powers during World War II. Decades later, we continue to recognize how this monumental decision shaped history,” said Congressman Pappas. “As a proud Greek-American, I’m honored to lead this resolution to honor Greece’s role in defending democracy during World War II and our shared commitment to standing up to those that violate another nation’s sovereignty.”

“Thank you, Congressman Chris Pappas and the Hellenic Caucus, for reminding America and the world about one of the most courageous and valuable events in modern history – Greece’s WWII Oxi Day.  President Franklin Roosevelt described that moment well by saying “the world had lost hope…about…the invincibility of the German monster.”  Yet Greece, standing essentially alone, gave the Axis Forces their first defeat.  That threw off the timing of Hitler’s planned invasion of Russia well before their brutal winter.  Adolph Hitler’s Chief of Staff, Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel said, `The Greeks delayed by two or more vital months the German attack against Russia; if we did not have this long delay, the outcome of the war would have been different,’” said Andy Manatos, Founder and President of the Washington OXI Day Foundation.