HRES 840119th CongressIn Committee

Expressing support for the designation of October 28 as "Oxi Day" to commemorate the anniversary of Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas answer of "Oxi!" or "No!" to surrender to the Axis forces, inflicting a fatal wound that helped save democracy for the world.

Introduced: Oct 28, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-New Hampshire)

Defense & National Security

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The resolution expresses support for designating October 28 as 'Oxi Day' to commemorate Greece's 1940 refusal to surrender to Axis forces, emphasizing how Prime Minister Metaxas' 'No!' response initiated Greek resistance that delayed Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union and critically altered World War II's trajectory toward Allied victory.

Key Points

1Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected Mussolini's 3 a.m. ultimatum with 'Oxi!' on October 28, 1940, triggering Greece's entry into World War II against Axis forces.
2Greece's successful resistance forced Nazi Germany to postpone Operation Barbarossa, causing them to confront the brutal Russian winter which significantly hindered their military campaign.
3Historical figures including Churchill and Roosevelt explicitly credited Greek bravery with changing the war's outcome, with Keitel confirming the two-month delay proved decisive for Nazi defeat.

Impact Areas

Greek-American community and diasporaU.S.-Greece bilateral diplomatic relationsAmerican citizens observing historical commemorations

Generated by legislative-analyst-v1 on Nov 3, 2025