History of Europe

The "germanophile" Metaxas had said NO "before the people"... as early as 1938!

Much has been said against Ioannis Metaxas regarding the Greco-Italian War of 1940-41. According to a comparative view Metaxas was just a "germanophile" who wanted to say YES to the Italian ultimatum, but the Greek people said no. This view emanating from left-wing circles that became dominant in Greece in the disastrous - according to the writer - decade of the 1980s, aimed to cancel given historical constants.

Much can be said about Ioannis Metaxas. There is only one thing that can characterize him – a fool! Metaxas had experienced the National Divide. He knew that Greece had no hope of survival unless it joined forces with the naval forces of Europe (Britain) and not the continental ones (Germany). His aim since at least 1938 was not just rapprochement with Britain, but alliance with Britain. This alone proves that he was determined to fight against the – as everything seemed to be – Axis. His perspective was strengthened even more after the occupation of Albania by Italy in April 1939.

Metaxas's conversation with the then British ambassador in Athens (in the period 1933-39) Sir Sidney Waterlow on October 3, 1938, a few days after the signing of the failed Munich Agreement that sacrificed Czechoslovakia, is indicative:"That which want is an alliance with Great Britain. And why not; We must accept as a fact that in the event of a European war the use of the Greek islands and ports will be essential for Britain's fleet and air force... In no case can you ignore the geographical facts. Certainly Greece is a power that will be valuable to you as an ally and even from now on...", Metaxas said and emphasized that under no circumstances would Greece ally with Italy.

Shortly after the occupation of Albania by the Italians, in his new conversation with the British ambassador, Metaxas emphasized again that:"Greece will resist to the end in the event of an Italian invasion, preferring complete destruction to dishonor." Later, after the NO vote, he declared:"There is no question of defeat or victory, Greece is fighting to survive as a state." Otherwise, Metaxas was "obliged" to say NO, as he was a "Germanophile" but on that fateful Monday, October 28, 1940 Eight million Greeks visited the Italian embassy and said a resounding no to the Italian ambassador Grazzi, who had left, of course, humiliated from the house of Metaxas a few hours earlier than when the cannon was heard thundering in Epirus, with a NO in his briefcase.