28th OCTOBER 1940

While trying to return umpteen of decades back to the first years of my long life, I had flashes of memories that have been deeply impressed on my mind.

British India

I was born in British India of Greek parentage and I consider myself very fortunate as I had loving parents and a very happy childhood.

P&O Vessel Strathaird

Every two and a half years, we used to go on home leave, so each time we boarded an Anchor Line or a Peninsular and Orient (P & O) vessel and sailed for Greece.  That is exactly what happened in 1940, in late February we sailed for Greece, with the intention of returning to India in November of the same year.

Countries Occupied by the Axis and their Allies during World War II

Meanwhile, a terrible war was raging in Central Europe between England, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg on the one hand, and nazi Germany and fascist Italy, on the other.  It was a devastating war which is still considered “the deadliest combat in human history”.

Almost everybody in Greece was, then, living in a fool’s paradise because they were certain that our country couldn’t possibly be attacked by the Germans and the Italians.   This was most improbable, as any possible problems could, definitely, be solved through diplomatic channels, they hoped.  Wishful thinking….

On the 28^th October 1940, Mussolini issued an ultimatum to Greece demanding the session of Greek territory, which the Greek prime minister, Ioannis Metaxas, rejected.  “Alors, c’est la guerre” he told the Italian ambassador Grazzi, who had conveyed the message.  At the time, Metaxas expressed the Greek popular sentiment which was a definite denial of allegiance.  This denial was strongly expressed by the Greek press with the word OXI (no).  Incidentally, OXI was first presented as a title of the main article of the newspaper “Greek Future” of N. P. Efstathiades, on the 30^th October 1940, according to EXPATgr.

The Italian army invaded Greece on the 28^th October 1940, before their ultimatum expired but was stopped by the brave, robust and persistent resistance of the Greek troops who, moreover, conquered part of Albania.  “The Italian army failed to achieve its objectives and lost prestige in this war.  As the Greek independence and national sovereignty were at stake, the Greeks were determined to drive the invaders outside the borderline.  In contrast, the Italians fought because the Mussolini regime sent them to fight a war of aggression.  Needless to say, that the average Italian soldier saw no reason at all to fight and die while conquering Greece.”  According to the British historian, Professor Mark Mazower, “It was the first Axis setback in the entire war”.  


It was an ugly war, fought under atrocious weather conditions, in a very difficult terrain.

Greek Flag Over the Academy in Athens

Each year, in Greece and Cyprus, the 28th of October is celebrated with pride and enthusiasm.  It is a national holiday, and everything is closed, except for cafés and restaurants.   Military and school parades take place and all public buildings and private residences are decorated with Greek flags.  OXI Day is, also celebrated by the large Greek communities in Canada, the USA and Australia with parades and patriotic zeal!!  ZETO I HELLAS!!

        

(I wish to thank the newspapers Estia, Kathimerini, also Wikipedia, professor Max Mazower and the blog EXPATgr for the valuable information for this post.) 

  

In Memory of the Dead of World War II

As vegan cooking is all the craze lately, I shall give you three recipes for vegan cakes which I hope you will prepare and enjoy.

                                                 VEGAN BANANA CAKE

This is a fantastic vegan cake.

3 large, overripe bananas

75 g sunflower oil and extra for greasing the baking tin

100 g brown sugar

225 g plain flour

3 heaped tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon

50 g dried fruit or nuts, optional

Heat oven to 180 C (350 F).  Mash the bananas and mix well with sunflower oil and brown sugar.  Add the flour, baking powder and cinnamon and stir to combine.  Also fold in the dried fruit or nuts, if using.

Bake in the greased loaf tin for 20 minutes.  Check and cover with foil if the cake is browning. Bake for 20 minutes more or until a skewer inserted in the of the middle of the cake come out clean.   Cool before slicing.

    

                                                      VEGAN APPLE PIE

Vitam, a Greek Vegetable Margarine

This is one of the best apple pies.  Use hard, juicy, aromatic apples.  As the ingredients are measured by volume and not by weight, I use a 250 g (½ lb) margarine tub and use the same tub to measure the sugar and flour.

6 apples, peeled, cored and diced

the juice of 1 lemon or more, if preferred

Crust:

1 tub margarine

1 tub sugar

1 tub self-raising flour

A pinch of salt

Sprinkle the apples with lemon juice and arrange them evenly into a pyrex dish.    Whip the sugar and margarine together until light and fluffy and fold in the flour.   This is a batter, so spoon it carefully over the apples, without leaving gaps, and level the surface with a wet spoon.

Bake the pie in an oven preheated to 180 C for 45-50 minutes or until the surface is crisp and golden.

                                           VEGAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

My dear friend Gustle Konig gave me the recipe for this delicious chocolate cake.

250 ml (1 cup) coconut milk +

1 tbsp vinegar

2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 ¾ cups sugar

¾ cups cocoa

1 tsp salt

125 ml (½ cup) sunflower oil

186.5 ml (2/3 cup)  apple sauce

Vanilla

250 ml (1 cup) boiling water

Icing:

450 g (15 oz) icing sugar, sifted
4 tbsp cocoa powder
3 tbsp margarine
1 tsp vanilla extract

125 ml (1/2 cup) coconut milk

(Whip everything, except the coconut milk well together, then add the milk by the spoonful and keep on whipping, each time, until the preferred thickness is achieved)

Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) and grease a baking tin with sunflower oil and line the base with greased baking parchment.

Place the coconut milk with the vinegar and set aside to curdle.

  

In a large bowl add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk to combine.  Then add the oil, applesauce, vanilla, coconut milk/vinegar mixture and stir until combined.  Pour in the boiling water and stir well together.

Pour the runny batter into the greased tin and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes and reverse on a dish to cool.

Cut the cake in half and spread one piece with 1/3 of the chocolate icing.  Place the second piece of cake exactly on top and spread the remaining icing, evenly, over the surface and sides of the cake.

by Stephanie Birdsall