The ancient world ignites children’s imagination with its heroes, endless armies, and epic battles, often blurring the lines between history and mythology.
A broad range of Greek history for kids publications often focus more on Ancient Greece, the city-states, the Peloponnesian and Persian wars, and the conquests of Alexander the Great. However, Greek history for kids should also cover Byzantine times and recent wars such as the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire and the Greco-Italian War, also known as the “Epic of ‘40.”
Why a public holiday?
A public holiday in Greece and Cyprus, the “Epic of ‘40”- also known as “OXI Day”- is observed by Greeks all over the world on the 28th of October. It commemorates Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’s rejection of Italy’s ultimatum to Greece to surrender the country on the 28th of October 1940, and the beginning of the Greco-Italian War. In the months following, fierce Greek resistance in Epirus stunned the Italian forces resulting in their failure to invade, forcing Germany to send troops to join the invasion.
Greek history for kids should note the importance of the “Epic of ‘40”, not only for its acts of bravery but also how it affected the outcome of WWII. Hitler claimed Germany’s failure to invade the Soviet Union was the result of Italy’s failure to invade Greece. Some historians believe the casualties the Greek resistance inflicted upon the Axis, not only inspired the world by proving the Axis was not invincible but also had serious consequences for Germany’s operations in other regions. These include German forces having to face the harsh Soviet winter in the subsequent attempt to invade the Soviet Union, as well as serious consequences in North Africa, all of which proved to be critical in the Allies winning WWII.
