Interview of Marissa Chmiola, Sponsorer of The Oxi Day Foundation
1. What is your opinion on the idea of Greece being a turning point in World War II?
"I think Greece’s initial victory over the invading Italian forces was a turning point of World War II. Up until that point, the Axis Forces had marched through Europe with country after country surrendering with little or no resistance. The Axis Forces appeared unstoppable. Then they got to Greece, who refused to surrender and put a successful fight. The Greek victory over the Italian invasion was the first significant Allied victory of World War II. It represented a turning point in the war because it (1) gave hope and inspiration to the Allied countries and (2) because it forced Hitler to divert additional troops and resources to defeating Greece, which delayed the invasion of the Soviet Union into the Russian winter. This gave the Soviet forces more time to prepare and created conditions that favored them."
"Leaders like Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, America’s Sumner Welles and even Adolph Hitler’s Chief of Staff, Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel, credit Greece with bringing about Hitler’s eventual defeat. Winston Churchill said, “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.” Keitel said, “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.”'
2. In your own words, how would you describe World War II before Greece became involved because of Italy's invasion? How would you describe the war after Greece became involved?
"Before Greece became involved in World War II, the Axis forces appeared unstoppable and unbeatable. Greece proved they were not. Greece’s victory inspired and gave hope to people across the globe. President Franklin Roosevelt said, “When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the German monster raising against it the proud spirit of freedom.”
3. In what ways do you think Greece helped contribute to the outcome of World War II?
"Greece’s victory over the Italians and its continued resistance following the German invasion was inspiring to a lot of people and boosted morale among those soldiers fighting in the war. On the tactical side, Hitler was expecting that Greece would either immediately surrender or quickly fall to the Italians who invaded in late October 1940. When Greece did not surrender and successfully pushed the Italians back into Albania, Hitler had to divert German troops to finally defeat the Greeks. The Germans invaded Greece in early April 1941 and conquered Greece by late May. Many historians believe the German diversion of resources in to Greece delayed the German invasion of the Soviet Union by at least a month. This gave the Soviet more time to prepare for the invasion and pushed back the fighting into the Russian winter, which favored the Soviet soldiers."
4. How would you describe Operation Barbarossa and how it led to the downfall of Hitler?
"Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union in WWII. It was the largest military operation in human history. Hitler’s plan was to conquer the Soviet Union including the capital city of Moscow. Hitler had grown overconfident because of his success in Western Europe and expected the victory over the Soviet Union would last only a few months. The Soviet Forces put up a stronger fight then Hitler had anticipated. Although the Germans successfully captured many parts of the Soviet Union, they failed to successfully capture Moscow. Soviet troops who were well supplied drove the Germans back as winter began to advance. Having expected the conquer of the Soviet Union to take only a few months, the Germans did not prepare to get adequate supplies to their forces in the Soviet Union to withstand the winter."
"As fighting continued the German forces grew weaker. Germany was not prepared for a long war in the Soviet Union and after three years of fighting, the Soviets finally defeated the Germans in summer 1944, which marked the beginning of the end of the war for Germany. About one year later, Germany surrendered."
5. Do you believe the delay of Operation Barbarossa by a month because of Hitler's involvement in Greece was important?
"Yes I do. The delay gave the Soviets greater time to prepare for the invasion. As well it reduced the window during which the Germans could fight before the notorious Russian winter set in. The winter conditions highly favored the Soviet soldiers who were accustomed to fighting in the weather and had weaponry suited for the conditions. The Germans were not prepared for the harsh conditions. They didn’t have adequate warm weather gear and had problems with the functioning of their weapons, tanks and transportation in the harsh cold and muddy conditions. These factors favored the Soviets."
"I think Greece’s initial victory over the invading Italian forces was a turning point of World War II. Up until that point, the Axis Forces had marched through Europe with country after country surrendering with little or no resistance. The Axis Forces appeared unstoppable. Then they got to Greece, who refused to surrender and put a successful fight. The Greek victory over the Italian invasion was the first significant Allied victory of World War II. It represented a turning point in the war because it (1) gave hope and inspiration to the Allied countries and (2) because it forced Hitler to divert additional troops and resources to defeating Greece, which delayed the invasion of the Soviet Union into the Russian winter. This gave the Soviet forces more time to prepare and created conditions that favored them."
"Leaders like Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, America’s Sumner Welles and even Adolph Hitler’s Chief of Staff, Field Marshall Wilhelm Keitel, credit Greece with bringing about Hitler’s eventual defeat. Winston Churchill said, “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.” Keitel said, “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.”'
2. In your own words, how would you describe World War II before Greece became involved because of Italy's invasion? How would you describe the war after Greece became involved?
"Before Greece became involved in World War II, the Axis forces appeared unstoppable and unbeatable. Greece proved they were not. Greece’s victory inspired and gave hope to people across the globe. President Franklin Roosevelt said, “When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the German monster raising against it the proud spirit of freedom.”
3. In what ways do you think Greece helped contribute to the outcome of World War II?
"Greece’s victory over the Italians and its continued resistance following the German invasion was inspiring to a lot of people and boosted morale among those soldiers fighting in the war. On the tactical side, Hitler was expecting that Greece would either immediately surrender or quickly fall to the Italians who invaded in late October 1940. When Greece did not surrender and successfully pushed the Italians back into Albania, Hitler had to divert German troops to finally defeat the Greeks. The Germans invaded Greece in early April 1941 and conquered Greece by late May. Many historians believe the German diversion of resources in to Greece delayed the German invasion of the Soviet Union by at least a month. This gave the Soviet more time to prepare for the invasion and pushed back the fighting into the Russian winter, which favored the Soviet soldiers."
4. How would you describe Operation Barbarossa and how it led to the downfall of Hitler?
"Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union in WWII. It was the largest military operation in human history. Hitler’s plan was to conquer the Soviet Union including the capital city of Moscow. Hitler had grown overconfident because of his success in Western Europe and expected the victory over the Soviet Union would last only a few months. The Soviet Forces put up a stronger fight then Hitler had anticipated. Although the Germans successfully captured many parts of the Soviet Union, they failed to successfully capture Moscow. Soviet troops who were well supplied drove the Germans back as winter began to advance. Having expected the conquer of the Soviet Union to take only a few months, the Germans did not prepare to get adequate supplies to their forces in the Soviet Union to withstand the winter."
"As fighting continued the German forces grew weaker. Germany was not prepared for a long war in the Soviet Union and after three years of fighting, the Soviets finally defeated the Germans in summer 1944, which marked the beginning of the end of the war for Germany. About one year later, Germany surrendered."
5. Do you believe the delay of Operation Barbarossa by a month because of Hitler's involvement in Greece was important?
"Yes I do. The delay gave the Soviets greater time to prepare for the invasion. As well it reduced the window during which the Germans could fight before the notorious Russian winter set in. The winter conditions highly favored the Soviet soldiers who were accustomed to fighting in the weather and had weaponry suited for the conditions. The Germans were not prepared for the harsh conditions. They didn’t have adequate warm weather gear and had problems with the functioning of their weapons, tanks and transportation in the harsh cold and muddy conditions. These factors favored the Soviets."