Title: Expressing support for the designation of October 28 as "Oxi Day" to commemorate the anniversary of Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas' answer of "Oxi!" or "No!" to surrender to the Axis forces, inflicting a fatal wound that helped save democracy for the world.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution supports the designation of Oxi Day in commemoration of Greece's refusal to submit to the Axis Powers during World War II and notes that this resistance likely led to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany. (Greece's Prime Minister at the time, Ioannis Metaxas, had responded to Italy's demand for surrender with the single word Oxi! or No!)

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 644 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 644

Expressing support for the designation of October 28 as ``Oxi Day'' to 
 commemorate the anniversary of Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas' 
    answer of ``Oxi!'' or ``No!'' to surrender to the Axis forces, 
   inflicting a fatal wound that helped save democracy for the world.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 18, 2019

Mr. Pappas (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, and Mr. Sarbanes) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                               and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of October 28 as ``Oxi Day'' to 
 commemorate the anniversary of Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas' 
    answer of ``Oxi!'' or ``No!'' to surrender to the Axis forces, 
   inflicting a fatal wound that helped save democracy for the world.

Whereas the National Fascist Party, headed by Benito Mussolini, imposed 
        totalitarian rule over Italy from 1922 to 1943;
Whereas Fascist Italy, in alliance with Nazi Germany, formed the Axis forces and 
        sought to promote fascist and racist policies throughout Europe in the 
        World War II era;
Whereas, on October 28, 1940, the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini delivered a 
        3 a.m. ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas, demanding he 
        allow Axis forces to enter Greece or face war;
Whereas Prime Minister Metaxas answered the Axis force's request for surrender 
        with one word: ``Oxi!'' or ``No!'';
Whereas Italian troops attacked the Greek border hours later, marking the 
        beginning of Greece's involvement in World War II;
Whereas that same morning, thousands of Greek citizens took to the streets, 
        chanting ``Oxi!'', in honor of Prime Minister Metaxas' refusal to relent 
        to fascism;
Whereas after the world watched the Axis forces overwhelm 15 countries in less 
        than a year, Greece became the first to repel the Axis invasion, leading 
        United States President Franklin Roosevelt to say, ``When the entire 
        world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the 
        invincibility of the German monster, raising against it in the proud 
        spirit of freedom'';
Whereas British Prime Minister Winston Churchill observed of the Greek people's 
        courageous actions, ``Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like 
        heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks'';
Whereas Nazi forces had to delay their invasion of Russia to intervene in the 
        Greco-Italian War to ensure the ultimate surrender of Greece and the 
        Greek people's spirited resistance;
Whereas this delay caused the Nazi regime to face a brutal Russian winter which 
        hindered their advance and ultimately led to their eventual defeat;
Whereas the Greek people's bravery changed the trajectory of the war, leading 
        Hitler's Field Marshal and Chief of Staff Wilhelm Keitel to say, ``The 
        Greeks delayed by two or more vital months the German attack against 
        Russia; if we did not have this long delay, the outcome of the war would 
        have been different'';
Whereas Prime Minister Churchill concluded that ``if there had not been the 
        virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of 
        World War II would have been'';
Whereas this was a consequential victory for freedom and democracy in the modern 
        world and, at the time, an act that inspired and gave hope to the free 
        world;
Whereas, since 1942, ``Oxi Day'' has been celebrated in Greece and Cyprus on 
        October 28, commemorating Greece's refusal to submit to fascism; and
Whereas, October 28, 2019, would be an appropriate date to designate as ``Oxi 
        Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``Oxi Day'' in 
        commemoration of Greece's refusal to submit to the Axis Powers 
        during World War II, noting that this resistance likely led to 
        the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to support 
        and participate in appropriate ceremonies, programs, and other 
        activities in observance of such a day of remembrance.
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