In 1939 the Italians under Mussolini issue an ultimatum to the
Greeks demanding they allow the Italian Army to cross into and
occupy Greece. It is modern Greece's finest moment and the Greek
response inspired the world. It is the beginning of the Second
World War and the Axis powers seem unstoppable as one country
after another falls. Mussolini feeling a bit outplayed by Hitler
and wanting to show that he too is a great leader decides to
attack and occupy Greece, believing that it will be an easy
target. First the Italians torpedo the Greek cruiser Elli in the
harbor of Tinos with much loss of life. Then on October 28th the
Italian minister in Athens brings the written ultimatum which
basically demands that the Greeks let the Italian army enter and
occupy the country or face their wrath. Metaxas, who had hoped
to remain neutral in the war, rejects the ultimatum and in just
a few hours Italian troops are pouring into northern Greece from
Albania. This is to be another one of those Hellenic moments
like Salamis