Melbourne marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete
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Earlier this month, Melbourne commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, with a number of events.
The Battle of Crete was one of the most dramatic battles of the Second World War. Over 12 days in May 194, a mixed force of New Zealanders, British, Australian and Greek troops desperately tried to fight off a huge German airborne assault. Despite suffering appalling casualties, the parachutists and glider-borne troops who led the invasion managed to secure a foothold on the island and eventually gained the upper hand. The battle ended with the evacuation to Egypt of the bulk of the Allied force.
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The Organisational Council for Greek National Day is made up of representatives from all of Victoria’s major Greek Organisations and has been busy planning and programming the events to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution.
The 25 March 1821 commemoration is of religious and national importance for Hellenism. Greeks around the globe celebrate the Annunciation of Our Lady (Evangelismos) as well as the proclamation of the Modern Hellenic State 200 years ago – a very important milestone.
This Commemoration of the Bicentenary of Modern Greece gives the Greek Australian community of Victoria, the Paroikia, the opportunity to promote, educate and enhance the knowledge and understanding of what happened in 1821 to our third, fourth and subsequent generations of Greek Australians. In this way, we can ensure the significance of the important historical event is not lost.