President Prokopis Pavlopoulos hailed on Saturday the spirit of the “Ochi Day” for Greeks, which commemorates Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas‘s rejection of an Italian ultimatum demanding a right of passage through the country on October 28, 1940, saying it serves as a beacon during turbulent times.

Early in the morning of October 28th, 1940, the Greek Prime Minister was awoken to respond to a series of demands from the ambassador of Fascist Italy which would have allowed Italian troops free reign in Greece. His response was simple, yet firm: “Oxi” — No.

How Greece Entered WW II
A debate has always been smoldering among Greek historians as to the who precipitated the refusal to Italian demands that forced the Greek entry into World War II.