The Ministry of National Defence, in cooperation with the Cross-party Parliamentary Committee for the Claim of German Reparations to Greece and the National Council for Claiming German War Reparations to Greece, co-organise an event concerning the German reparations, under the title: “World War II – Greece – Occupation – Resistance: Historical Memory – Claim – Justification”, which will take place in Athens, at the Hellenic Armed Forces Officers Club (Rigillis 1 & Vasilissis Sofias), on Monday April 27 2015, the day the German Forces entered Athens.

The beginning of the event is at 20.00 (admittance until 19.45).  

Programme of the event

The programme of the event, which will be presented by the actor Giorgos Kimoulis, includes:

A speech on the day’s chronicle, by the Brigadier General Nikolaos Delatolas, Director of the Army History Directorate.

A projection of audio-visual material on the day’s chronicle, produced by the War Museum.

A speech on the “Documented briefing on German Reparations to Greece” by Stelios Perrakis, Professor of International and European Institutions at the Panteion University, member of the National Council for Claiming German War Reparations to Greece.

The Hellenic Air Force band will present two songs from the set of songs “The Ballad of Mauthausen”, the poetry of which was written by Iakovos Kambanellis and the music by Mikis Theodorakis, which will be performed by Rita Antonopoulou.

The actor and General Secretary of the National Council for Claiming German War Reparations Stefanos Linaios will recite the poem “Blare the trumpets forth” which was recited by Angelos Sikelianos at the funeral of Kostis Palamas in 1943.

The event will be addressed by the Vice-President of the German Left Party “Die Linke” Wolfgang Gehrcke. In addition, the German History of Law professor at the University of Bremen and ardent supporter of the Greek positions Christoph Schminck-Gustavus will also address the event.

The address by the child-symbol of the Distomo massacre, Argiris Sfountouris, who will be offered an honorary plaque, is expected to be a very moving moment. Living members of the resistance will also be honoured.

THE ACCREDITED REPORTERS ARE KINDLY INVITED TO INFORM THE DIRECTORATE OF PRESS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OF THE MOD IF THEY WISH TO COVER THE EVENT, SO AS TO BE GIVEN THE RELATIVE PASS.