Calamos Supports Greece

World War II

The German Soldier Who Saved a Greek Town from Destruction

Josef H. Blechinger was a German soldier who turned out to be one of the greatest heroes of the Greek resistance and saved a town from destruction. Blechinger came to Greece as a conqueror with the German army. A few...

The Greek Peanut Vendor of the White House

A Greek peanut vendor who set shop outside the White House became famous in the US in the first half of the 20th century. Nicholas Stefanos “Steve” Vasilakes emigrated from Ligerea, Laconia, Greece, to the United States in 1910 and...

Australia’s First Battle of Crete Memorial Gets Green Light to Proceed

Work on the Battle of Crete Memorial at Kings Park in Perth, Western Australia is underway after many years of planning, negotiating, and fundraising. Battle of Crete Memorial in Australia to Be Unveiled Later This Year When complete, the memorial will...

The Brave Greeks Who Saved the Jews of Zakynthos

The Jews of Zakynthos, Greece's beautiful Ionian island, owe their survival during the dark days of the German occupation to two brave Greeks. Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is famous worldwide for its splendid natural beauty and the incomparable hospitality...

When the Heroic Greek Evzone Was Featured in Life Magazine

A Greek Evzone was featured on the cover of the American magazine Life, honoring the heroic battles of Greek soldiers against the invading Italians in 1940. The issue was published in mid-December 1940 approximately fifty days after Mussolini's forces attacked...

Dekemvriana: The Clashes Between Greeks that Led to the Civil War

December 3, 1944 saw one of the bloodiest and most polarizing incidents in the history of the Greek civil war. Known as "Dekemvriana" (from December, the month it began),the Athens tragedy has come to characterize the period of horrific...

What Was the Churches’ Stance on Nazi Germany?

Nazi Germany was responsible for countless atrocities within its own country and others. Of course, the Nazi government was primarily responsible for these terrible actions. However, what role did religion play? After all, Nazi Germany was overwhelmingly an ostensibly...

Sofia Vembo, the Singer of Greek Victory

Sofia Vembo – The famous Greek singer of the 20th century, became synonymous with the epic Greek victories against the fascist Italian troops in 1940 and 1941 during the Greco-Italian war along the Albanian front. Born in Gallipoli in Asia...

OXI: How Greece Delayed the German Attack on Russia

Greece's contribution to World War II was far greater than simply defeating the Italian army and shaming fascist leader Benito Mussolini by saying "OXI," or "no" to his demand to allow Italian troops into the country. The Greek army fought...

Heroes Fight Like Greeks: When the World Bowed to the Spirit of Soldiers

Greek soldiers gained fame around the world in modern times for their incredible courage and fierce resistance against the Italian and German invasions in 1940 and 1941 and also during the brutal years under Axis occupation. Historical figures have long...