Greek Resistance

A pallbearer, wearing a protective face mask and gloves, carries a cross and a photo of late World War Two Greek resistance hero and politician Manolis Glezos, during his funeral attended only by few people as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Athens, Wednesday. Glezos died of heart failure at the age of 97. [Reuters]

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) said on Monday that "fascists" had vandalized the entrance to the premises of a foundation in the Athens suburb of Aghios Dimitrios which offers shelter and care to veterans of the National Liberation Front (EAM) - the movement of the Greek Resistance during the Axis occupation of Greece in World War II.

Resistance fighter, lawyer and writer Vardis Vardinoyiannis died on Wednesday, aged 97.

Vardinoyiannis had joined and played a leading role at the Cretan Resistance in the Second World War, fought in the Greek Civil War and joined the resistance during the military dictatorship of 1967-1974.

Themis Marinos, a Greek Army reserve officer who took part in the destruction of the Gorgopotamos railway bridge in 1942, hampering supplies to Germany's Afrika Korps, has died.

Aris Velouchiotis and Apivita are worlds apart. The Second World War Greek resistance fighter and the natural cosmetics company are simply two very different brands. The former belongs to a dark past that we are trying to finally put behind us, while the latter represents a brighter future for crisis-wracked Greece.

A bust in Exarchia of Lela Karayianni, a heroine of the Greek resistance during the Second World War, was decapitated by vandals early Monday, sparking public outrage. The marble bust, sculpted by Loukia Georganti, has been located on Tositsa Street since 1963. The City of Athens described the act as an affront to all thinking citizens.

“I fully understand the reasons that prompted you to take the decision to impose an embargo on EU agricultural products. However, on behalf of the Greek people, who are going through a period of extreme hardship, I appeal to your humane feelings to think again over your decision toward the Greek farmers.”