Greek Resistance to WWII Axis Forces Longest in Europe

Greek soldiers successful the Greco-Italian War. Credit: Greek Foreign Ministry/CC BY-SA 2.0

Greek absorption to the Axis powers during the Second World War was the longest of each the nations of Western Europe, with the objection of the U.K., which was ne'er occupied extracurricular of the Channel Islands.

According to humanities records, Greece resisted for a full of 219 days against Italy, Germany, Bulgaria and Albania betwixt October 1940 and April 1941, erstwhile Nazi Germany launched a final, monolithic onslaught done Bulgaria.

By comparison, the federation of Norway resisted for 63 whereas France, which was a subject superpower astatine the time, managed to clasp the Axis powers for lone 43 days.

During that time, Greece recorded 13,325 deaths, 62,663 wounded, and 1,290 missing successful action. British, Australian and New Zealander troops, who fought alongside the Greeks, suffered 903 casualties and 1,250 wounded portion 13,958 of their men were captured by the Axis powers.

Days of Greek and European absorption to Axis powers

Greece 219 days
Norway 61 days
France 43 days
Poland 30 days
Belgium 18 days
Holland 4 days
Yugoslavia 3 days
Czechoslovakia 0 days
Denmark 0 days

Lasting lone astir six hours, the German crushed run against Denmark, a tiny federation with astir each its territory astatine oversea level, was 1 of the shortest subject operations of the Second World War.

Greeks were honored warring against the Axis powers

Greeks gained fame astir the world successful modern times for their unthinkable courageousness and fierce absorption against the Italian and German invasions successful 1940 and 1941 arsenic good arsenic besides during the brutal years nether Axis occupation.

Historical figures person agelong praised the Greeks for their spot and committedness to justness and freedom.

The iconic British statesman Winston Churchill, who led the United Kingdom during World War II, famously praised the Greek radical successful a BBC code during the archetypal days of the Greco-Italian War stating, “Until present we utilized to accidental that the Greeks combat similar heroes. Now we shall say: Heroes combat similar Greeks.”

In different connection astatine the House of Commons connected April 24, 1941 helium said, “The connection heroism I americium acrophobic does not render the slightest of those acts of self-sacrifice of the Greeks, which were the defining origin successful the victorious result of the communal conflict of the nations, during WWII, for the quality state and dignity. If it were not for the bravery of the Greeks and their courage, the result of WWII would beryllium undetermined.”

Leaders from astir the satellite acknowledged Greece’s “underdog” quality, admiring the country’s resoluteness and indomitable courage.

American President Franklin Roosevelt honored the Greeks lone a fewer months aft the Axis invasion, noting that their courageousness inspired each of America. He said:

The heroic conflict of the Greek radical to support their liberties and their homes against the aggression of Germany aft they had truthful signally defeated the Italian effort astatine penetration has stirred the hearts and aroused the sympathy of the full American people.