The ultimatum, which was presented to Metaxas by the Italian ambassador in Greece on October 28, 1940, at dawn (04:00 am), after a party in the German embassy in Athens
demanded that Greece allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and
occupy certain unspecified "strategic locations" or otherwise face war.
It was allegedly answered with a single
laconic word:
όχι (No!) However, his actual reply was,
Alors, c'est la guerre (Then it is war).
In response to Metaxas's refusal, Italian troops stationed in Albania, then an Italian protectorate, attacked the Greek border at 05:30 am—the beginning of Greece's participation in World War II.
On the morning of October 28 the Greek population took to the
streets, irrespective of political affiliation, shouting 'ochi'. From
1942, it was celebrated as Ohi Day.
The Greek island of
Poros decorated in recognition of Ohi Day
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