The Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis travelled to Egypt on Saturday 17 October 2026 to mark the 84^th Anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein.

He visited the Greek War Memorial at El Alamein, where a memorial service and a roll call of the fallen was held; he then delivered a commemorative speech and laid a wreath at the memorial to the Greek soldiers who fell in the Battle of El Alamein.

Also present were the Greek Ambassador to Egypt Nikolaos Papageorgiou, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Elena Rafti, the German Ambassador to Egypt Jürgen Schulz, the Chief of Staff HNDGS Lieutenant General Konstantinos Bouzos, as well as representatives of the Greek Diaspora, Diaspora schools, Scout Associations and others.

In his speech, the Deputy Minister mentioned, amongst other things:

“Today we stand here with a sense of deep reverence and national pride at this sacred site in the Egyptian desert. At this sacred place where Greek virtue, indomitable spirit and self-sacrifice made their mark on World History.

84 years ago, when war engulfed the European continent and our homeland was being severely tested under the weight of the triple Occupation, the flame of Greek freedom did not go out. It was passed on here, in the Middle East.

From the training centers and bases in Egypt and the wider Middle East, by the volunteers of the Egyptian community, as well as by the hundreds of officers and soldiers who crossed the sea amidst countless dangers, thus was the Greek Army of the Middle East formed.

The 1^st Greek Brigade, under Colonel Pafsanias Katsotas, our Navy and our Air Force, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Allies.

In October 1942, during the epic battle of El Alamein, the 1^st Greek Brigade – part of the 8^th British Army, was not merely a bystander.

The toll was heavy: 89 officers and soldiers of the 1^st Brigade lost their lives, including Second Lieutenant Theodoros Tourlomousis from Mani, whilst a further 228 were wounded.

Today, we pay our humble tribute at the Memorial. We assure them that their sacrifice was not in vain. It heralded the Allies’ victory and marked the beginning of humanity’s liberation from totalitarianism.

The lesson of El Alamein remains as relevant as ever. Our country’s Armed Forces, drawing inspiration from the legacy of the Greek Army of the Middle East, continue to be the unwavering guarantor of our national independence, our territorial integrity and the security of Hellenism.

Immortal are the fallen of El Alamein! Long live the Nation! Long live the Greek Armed Forces!”