2025 House Resolution 198

Whereas, Oxi Day honors the valor of heroic Greek struggle against Axis military forces which began on October 28, 1940, and marked a turning point in the fight against fascist aggression. The resistance forged on Oxi Day helped lead to the subsequent Allied and Greek victories over Italian and German Axis forces; and

Whereas, Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Italy, in alliance with Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, formed the European Axis powers and sought to promote fascist policies throughout Europe before and during the World War II; and

Whereas, On October 28, 1940, the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini delivered an ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas, demanding he allow Italian military forces to enter and occupy Greece or face war; and

Whereas, Prime Minister Metaxas answered Mussolini’s demand for surrender with one word: “Oxi!” or “No!;” and

Whereas, Italian troops invaded Greece hours later; and

Whereas, That morning, thousands of Greek citizens took to the streets, chanting “Oxi!,” in honor of Prime Minister Metaxas’ refusal to relent to foreign fascist aggression; and

Whereas, Though the Italian army enjoyed a firepower advantage ten times greater than that of the Greek military, Greece repelled the Italian offensive and initiated a counter offensive that liberated its territory; and

Whereas, The courageous resistance of the Greeks demonstrated to the world that the fascist Axis militaries could be defeated as these battles marked the first allied victories of the war and helped stem the tide of fascism in Europe; and

Whereas, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill observed the Greek people’s brave and determined actions and noted, “Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks”; and

Whereas, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, awestruck at the Greek victories, stated: “When the entire world had lost hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the German monster, raising against it the proud spirit of freedom;” and

Whereas, Greek victories compelled the German Army to come to the aid of Italy, intervene in the Greco-Italian War, and launch its own invasion and occupation of Greece; and

Whereas, The German invasion of Greece forced Hitler to redeploy vital troops meant for Operation Barbarossa and delay his invasion of the Soviet Union; and

Whereas, This delay helped force the German army to face a brutal Russian winter at the gates of Moscow which hindered their advance and ultimately led to their eventual defeat; and

Whereas, British 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”; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes the cultural impact of Greek-Americans in Michigan and therefore acknowledges the historic and courageous significance of Oxi Day; and

Whereas, The state of Michigan values the traditions and contributions of citizens who hold Greek heritage, who have made an impact not only in Michigan and the United States, but in the wider world as well; and

Whereas, Since 1942, “Oxi Day” has been celebrated in Greece and Cyprus on October 28, commemorating Greece’s refusal to submit to Italian and German fascism; and

Whereas, Greek-American cultural associations and community organizations across Michigan continue to preserve and share the history and traditions of Oxi Day, strengthening the bond between American and Greek republics; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare October 28, 2025, as Oxi Day in the state of Michigan. We recognize Greek heroism and their resistance to Italian and German fascism which began when Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’ answered “Oxi” to Italian dictator Mussolini on October 28, 1940, and sparked a continental struggle which played an important role in the victory of the Allies, the defeat of European fascism and the preservation of democracy in Europe.