The story of OXI Day and why it still inspires today
Every year on October 28th Greece remembers its entry into World War II and the moment in 1940 when it refused to surrender to Mussolini’s Italy, choosing to fight for independence and against fascism. Greek resistance to fascist Italy and then Nazi Germany inspired many in occupied Europe, and came at a time when the Axis seemed invincible. This year’s commemoration comes as people across the world - from Ukraine to Iran - are fighting against the odds for their independence, their democracy, and their human rights. Professor Roderick Beaton joins Thanos Davelis to break down the significance of OXI Day, and look at how this story continues to inspire today.
Professor Beaton is the Emeritus Koraes Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature at King's College London. His recent work includes authoring the acclaimed books The Greeks: A Global History and Greece: Biography of a Modern Nation.
You can acquire Professor Roderick Beaton’s latest books here:
Greece: Biography of a Modern Nation
You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:
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