Greece's 1940 rejection of the Italian ultimatum

On October 28, 1940, Greece rejected an ultimatum from Fascist Italy, an event commemorated annually as ‘Oxi’ Day. Historical accounts highlight the role of the Athenian newspaper ‘Ellinikon Mellon’, published by Nikos P. Eustratiou, which featured the iconic three-letter headline ‘OXI!’ (NO!) on its front page following the Italian invasion.

While the term ‘Oxi’ has become synonymous with the national refusal to surrender, historical testimonies suggest a different verbal exchange. Italian Ambassador Emanuele Grazzi reported that when delivering the ultimatum at the residence of Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas in Kifissia, Metaxas responded in French with ‘Alors, c’est la guerre’ (‘So, it is war’), rather than a dramatic shout of ‘No’.

The Italian ultimatum demanded unimpeded passage for military forces through the Greek-Albanian border, occupation of strategic positions, and guarantees of neutrality in the Mediterranean. Metaxas’s decision to reject these terms led to the Greco-Italian War, a conflict that significantly altered the strategic landscape of the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe during World War II.