The excitement from the victorious battles in the Greco-Italian war, the faith in the final victory, the animation of the relatives who are in pain, the descriptions from the war front, but also the hospitals, dominate the letters sent by the Achaean soldiers to their families, in the late 1940s. But in addition to the soldiers' letters, there is also a letter from a father to his enlisted son, informing him that his brother has been killed and asking him not to be sad, but to remain cool and faithful in the homeland.
Excerpts from these letters, presented today by the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, were published in the newspaper "Neologos" of Patras in November and December 1940. The archive of the newspaper, which has been digitized, is kept in the Press Museum of the Union of Daily Newspaper Editors Peloponnese Epirus Islands, in Patra.
The letters
At the beginning of November 1940, the soldier Kyriakos Mexis, sent a letter from the front to his parents saying characteristically that "you should be proud that both of your children are fighting at the moment".
"Dear parents. Do not be sad that we are at war, for our country and for our honor and we will fight to one and you must boast of it, where both your children are fighting at this time against the barbarian raider, where he wanted to insult the honor and the freedom of our country, for that you should not cry. Think, if these barbarians fall, what disgrace will prevail in society, what we want life, it is now useless to us and it is better that we all die, than submit to the violence of the barbarous Italian race, for this I want you to do steel heart and don't be intimidated by the war, because either we will have freedom or I will all turn to ashes.
"So let's all go forward together to crush the barbarian raiders, where they wanted to enslave us. Long live Greece with the immortal history and with the fearless lavenders. And you, father, don't forget that we are the descendants of a young man who fought and took an oath of allegiance in the heroic Revolution of 1821, for this Nikos and I must prove ourselves worthy descendants. This is what I have to write to you about, and God is great. I embrace you the right and good retribution. Your son Kyriakos Mexis".
A few days later, the soldier Spilios Latsinos, sent the following letter to his mother and his siblings, where, among other things, he expresses his optimism for the outcome of the war.
“My dear mother and dear brothers... As things are going things look good for our army and I shall be very glad once we have been given the honor of being the first of our regiment to take part in the battles. I address my whole family, that is, all that I hold dear in this world, and I will always beseech you to wish more to God that our army may be victorious, than that I should be saved, and that we should become slaves to the murderous Italians. And now, especially to my brothers, who must know why we took the rifle to the shoulder, our mother may cry that she lost one of her children to be killed for the country, you must give her courage and tell her that we will return with laurels from Epirus. Here you are fighting in the fire. I send you many kisses and may God be with us I kiss you, Spilios Latsinos".
At the end of November, Ath. Kourouklis, sends the following letter to his son, who is serving in the Navy, informing him that his brother was killed. "Andrea, we are fine. Our beloved child, Christos, was killed. My child, your mother wishes you not to be sad at all. Stay true to the oath of your country and be patient. I, although I am old, take into account that I am very patient, you may be well and God will help us... My child, stay cool and loyal to your country. I kiss you, your father Ath. Kourouklis".
A few weeks later, the soldier N. Sakoyiannis, sends a letter from the military hospital to his family, reassuring them about the course of his health, while at the same time describing the battles he fought.
"My dear parents and siblings. I tried a little while ago to write you a few words of my military life, but I did not get the chance, for I was going back up the impregnable snow-covered mountains of Albania, where the cannon thundered hard to beat the hideous and immoral Italian invader. I hadn't forgotten you, nor am I forgetting you. I think of you every day and every moment wishing to the Most High that you are well at home.
"But my parents, love for the country, love for the village and love for our home, made me devote myself strongly to the rifle and rush after my other colleagues, marching day and night up the cloudy and snowy mountains of Albania, fulfilling the military oath to the last drop of our blood, defending our endangered homeland, Greece. But at the moment we are marching on the occupied heights of 1,700 I suffered a military accident, certainly not too serious and the first practical help was provided to me by my colleague and patriot Nikos Katsanos, who led me to the snow-covered back tent.
"I thank him and thank him. The next day he was taken to the military hospital where I am being treated. Your wish to the Most High helped me and continues to help me, as well as our neighbor Saint Nikolaos. Don't worry about me. I am having a good time. I am treated by distinguished military doctors, combined with the loving care of sister nurses. A large number of men and women visit us daily with various gifts in their hands and with tears in their eyes, asking if we are hurt and if we are in pain. Again I repeat to you to pray to the Most High that we may be victorious and may we return to our former position." I embrace you, your son and brother Nikos".
During the same period, the reserve second lieutenant, George Spiliotakopoulos, sent the following letter to his father and asks them not to be upset if they learn that he was killed. "Dear father, I salute you. I'm absolutely fine and don't worry at all. If any day you learn that I have been killed or wounded, I do not want you to be sad at all but to rejoice and be merry, for your child has shed his blood for the freedom of the country. For, dear father, there is no better thing to die for one's country than to live and be a slave. I greet you all Your child Georgios Dim. Spiliotakopoulos Reserve author".
The soldier, N. Triantafyllopoulos, in the letter he sent to his sister, Chara Vassilopoulou, after expressing the belief that the Italians will be thrown into the sea, adds:"... Help as much as you can and knit as much as you can. I gave my blankets discarded flannel and sweaters...".
The non-commissioned officer, Yiannis Giokas, in the letter he sent to his sister, Paraskevi, informs her that he belongs to a phantom artillery, which, as he says, is the terror of the Italian artillery. "My dear Friday. As you see, with God's help we are moving forward and very soon the macaroni will take their winter bath in the Adriatic... Surely you would read in the newspapers about an artillery, a ghost, the terror of the Italian artillery. So know that your brother also belongs to this artillery and that every shell he sends sends terror to the enemy... I kiss you, your brother Giannis Giokas".
SOURCE:APE-ME