Gus Bilirakis: “I rise proudly to celebrate ``oxi'' day. The historical significance of this day and what it meant to the outcome of…”

“I rise proudly to celebrate ``oxi'' day. The historical significance of this day and what it meant to the outcome of World War II cannot be overstated. By October of 1940, World War II had begun and the Nazi war machine was already in high gear. Along with Hitler's ally, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the German and Italian forces were threatening the whole of Europe. European nations were bowing to tyranny and destruction as the Germans and the Italians marched through Europe. Great Britain endured German's aerial bombardment, forcing Hitler to seek another avenue to subdue the British. Hitler intended to eliminate British operations in the Mediterranean in order to weaken their ability to deter German advances. To achieve this, Hitler needed the Axis powers to strike at British forces in Greece. By conquering Greece, Hitler would gain access to an important connecting link with Italian bases in the Dodecanese Islands. This would give the Italians a stranglehold on British positions in Egypt where British forces were already facing attack from the Italian Army in North Africa. The British considered the defense of Egypt vital to Allied positions in the oil-rich Middle East. On October 28, 1940, the Italian ambassador in Athens presented an insulting ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister Metaxas, demanding the unconditional surrender of Greece or Italy would declare war and invade Greece. Mussolini had given the Greek Prime Minister Metaxas 3 hours to reply.”