78th anniversary of Athens’ liberation from Nazi occupation
The hated swastika atop the Acropolis was hastily taken down by a German soldier, with the Greek flag hoisted shortly after.
The Nazi regime and its Axis partners would have another eight months of existence before their unconditional surrender to the Allies.
Hundreds of tourists were impressed by the ceremony, the traditional costumes and of course the Evzones, constantly taking videos and photos with their mobile phones.
Anniversary raising of the Greek flag for the 78 years since the liberation of the city of Athens from the Nazi occupation troops, took place on Wednesday – in a special ceremony – at the emblematic site of the Holy Rock of the Acropolis.
The evacuation of the Greek capital by the German troops took place on October 12, 1944 and is considered the official end of the occupation period.
At the ceremony, the government was represented by the Deputy Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Angelos Syrigos, while the regional governor of Attica, Giorgos Patoulis, representatives of the Armed Forces, the Parliament of the Hellenes, as well as party representatives were present, among others.
The mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyiannis, in his speech, said that “Even today, the Liberation of 1944 teaches us a lot. It teaches us to consider nationally what is true. It teaches us that the new patriotism is also the new humanitarianism. It teaches us that we must all work together to pave the way for the everyday, for the continuous defense of our Republic, not with words but with deeds. With our example. Because the ethics of politics also become the ethics of society. And, of course, we all owe it over and above parties and factions and ideologies to resist those who indulge in a cheap instrumentalisation of historical events, those who like vote-hunting adventurism, those who throw fireworks of populism and divisive discourse” .
The mayor of Athens in his speech also underlined that “October 12, 1944 is indeed a landmark date and what preceded it, but also what followed is the map, the road map that we have at our disposal today. Certainly on this day as well, but you will allow me to say that every day, we remember with admiration and gratitude Manolis Glezos and Lakis Santas, slipped like shadows up here to bring the blue and white flag back to its rightful place. Odysseus Elytis remains always relevant not only every October 12th, in the saying of “Greeks in the dark are showing the way to Freedom”, concluded Kostas Bakoyannis in his speech.
Source: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
