Anzac Day

[TheBurningCat]

Lest we forget....

[Toadman]

I hate being another Yank ignorant of World Culture, so I had to google ANZAC Day. Lest we forget.......... and thanks, BC.

[TheBurningCat]

I thought about adding a google link but i decided that it wouldn't really be, you know, right.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by Toadman
I hate being another Yank ignorant of World Culture, so I had to google ANZAC Day. Lest we forget.......... and thanks, BC.

And thank you both.
There was a terrific movie "Gallipoli", which memorializes this.

[MegalosSkylaki]

I was going to Post Anzac Day myself this morning.
You will allow me the priviledge to post these links.

The Australian --New Zealader troops have a special place in the hearts of Greeks following their joining Greece in its Battle against Nazi Germany.

Many Historians of the Second World War believe that Hitler being forced by Mussolini's rash attempt to invade Greece --Which gave rise to Oxi Imerah[NO DAY] in Greece wherein Gen. Iannis Metaxas responded "Oxi"["No"] to an Ultamatum from Fascist Italy. Mussolini needed to be bailed out , following the first major defeat of a Fascist Army during the War.

The subsequent Nazi Germany invasion of Greece which was unplanned and delayed the attack on the Soviet Union by some three weeks may have been a major factor in the Battle of Stalingrad.

Anzac troops played a major role in the defense of the Eastern Mediterranean. It has been said, "Before Tobruk there where no Allied Victories in North Africa. After Tobruk, No defeats."

Yet the Battle of Crete was a Pyrric victory for Nazi Germany and due to the loss of thousands of paratroopers, Hitler raged at Gen. Student that there would be no further major airborne offensives.

The strategy behind seizing Crete was to use it as a stepping stone for an airborne invasion of Cyprus, which would have placed the whole Eastern Mediterranean with striking range. Nazi Germany losses in Crete now prevented that.

There had been earlier an arguement between War Minister Sir Anthony Eden and Brithish High Commander Gen. Wavell as to whether to intervene in Greece at all. Gen. Wavell feared another Dunkirk--impossible to defend, impossible to evacuate. Minister Sir Anthony was convinced that Britains then only ally needed to aided. Anzac troops were prominant in this assistence.

Churchill ultimately decided with Eden. The rest is tragic history. The Anzac troops are dear to the hearts of Greeks as is Anthony Eden, who was instumental in their assistence. Greece lost a quarter of its population during the war.

Yes, Anzac Day is well to be commerated.

MegalosSkylaki

[TheBurningCat]

Every student at my school is made to watch Gallipoli at least once in there schooling life.

I think Anzac Day is a day for all Australians (and everyone else as well ) to remember how, despite overwhelming odds and even defeat, victory can come.

Thanks for helping us remember, TBC.

Cheers
Mick

[RustyGT]

Anzac Day, is the anniversary of the landing on the Gallipoli peninsular.

But means a lot more than that. To Australians.

Mick, There was no victory.

There was only senseless death.

WW1. Set back Australia a generation.

Billy Hughes strutted around claiming fame.

Send some more lads.

Of the 60,000 Australians that died in WW1, 42,000 died on the Somme. Died fighting in the mud of germany and france. Yuck.!!

60K Young men from a 2M total population.

Nation building they say? No.

Our duty under the colonial structure cost us more harm than it ever did us good.

Mind having said that the only verified Gallipoli vet still alive is Eric Abraham 103yrs, lives in Hobart.Tas. Aus.

And at the going down of the sun,
and in the morning.
We will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET.

[RustyGT]

OK. Having done the lest we forget bit.

WW1 crueled our emerging nation.

Yes, I will be a dissenting voice.

It wasn't so long ago that the RSL in Aus would not let the Vietnam Vets into their precious clubs.

Grudgingley gave them room in the march.

Now they are calling kids up to wear the medals and march.

My PGFa fought in WW2 and it killed him.

Slowly. Afterwards.

Last Gasp R

[MegalosSkylaki]

Sorry about your grand father, Rusty GT .

As for the Colonial Structure of the British Empire , I have some knowledge of that as my parents were British subjects in there own country, which was the Crown Colony of Cyprus.

Sixty-thousand in two wars out of 2 million is a lot.

So is two million out of eight million in Greece.

My Father returned from WWII also disabled.

However, these losses to Australia perhaps might be viewed in the context of what would hve happened had the Axis Powers won the Second World War.

Gandhi opposed the Indian participation in that War on moral grounds --and was placed under arrest of the Raj in some sort.

When asked , "What would happen if Japan invaded India and India did NOT fight, Gandhi acknowledged that m-o-r-e would die at the hands of Bushido-["The Way of the Sword"] under Japponese Occupation. His stand was a moral stand in his view and he owned up to the consequences.

Had Australia fallen to Japen in WWII, is there any doubt as to the consequences ?

In a World War, participation anywhere, helps along the line. The Greeks who fell in the mountains fighting the Germans, Italiens, Bulgarians helped the Red Army in the East and the Anglo-American forces to the West.

I don't think those Australians died in vain.

Best wishes,

MegalosSkylaki