History of Europe

When the Greeks weren't burning the flag, they were raising it in the faces of their enemies

Once upon a time, even in the midst of the horrible German, Italian and Bulgarian occupation, Greek children did not occupy, did not hold demonstrations in favor of murderers, did not burn the Flag, the sacred symbol of the Nation. This is a story about those Greek children, of war and occupation, the truly brave and responsible for their actions who were not even afraid of the weapons of the enemies.

Florina was occupied by the Germans in April 1941. Almost immediately after its occupation, it was claimed by the Bulgarians who collaborated with the "Macedonian" separatists before the latter joined Tito. The Bulgarians had sent a liaison officer to the German garrison in the city. In August 1941, the Bulgarian executioner Anton Kalchev arrived in the city causing terror. Many separatists in Florina then raised Bulgarian flags in the city with the aim of convincing the Germans of the "Bulgarianness" of the city.

But the enemies counted without the children, the Greek children of Florina. The children, led by Avraham Sakalis, formed themselves into a military force. One day the children went to the city's state nursery and asked permission to cut down a young poplar tree. The guard asked why and when they explained this to him he helped them.

The next day, the trunk of the young poplar tree had turned into a web and the Greek flag was flying proudly on it! The children had raised the flag in a normal military ceremony, with one of them playing a trumpet and the others holding wooden "rifles". The event caused a terrible impression in the city and gave courage to the Greeks, but also provoked the rage of the Bulgarians and the "Macedonians".

But the children continued as normal. One afternoon a German vehicle appeared. "We do our job guys. Let the Germans see that we are Greeks and Florina is Greek!", they said. A German officer got out of the car. The little trumpet player was playing the sound signal of the lowering of the flag at this time and the other children stood at attention. The German passed in front of them giving a military salute as if he were inspecting a military unit, patted the child on the head who was now holding the folded flag and left.

Some sources state that he was the city guard. The incident was used by the Germans as a pretext to repel the Bulgarian request to hand over Florina to them. However, the Italians also tried to intervene but the children, with the "Air" yacht and stones, chased them away!