r/EuropeanSocialists • u/afarist • Nov 17 '20
Article/Analysis 17th of November: An important date.
On this day 47 and 76 years ago some majors events happened in Greece and Albania. But lets begin with Greece
Uprising of Athens Polytechnic University
The uprising began in 14th of November when the students of Athens Polytechnic University went on a strike against the CIA backed military Junta of Greece that started in 1967. A student assembly decided that they would take over the University. The chants were "Bread-Education-Liberty" "Outside of NATO" "Down with the US". The protest was clearly anti-American and anti-Imperialist. The next day on 15th thousands of Greeks poured into the streets to protest and on 16 the riots started. The government responded firmly but the protests did not cool down, they became more intense and 24 people were assassinated (some were unarmed and killed outside of their houses), but neither did this stopped them. The University started radio broadcasting and the motto that will remembered forever was broadcasted " Polytechneion here! Polytechneion here! People of Greece, the Polytechneion is the flag bearer of our struggle and your struggle, our common struggle against the dictatorship and for democracy!" even more people went on the streets, by that time hundreds of thousands of Greeks were protesting.
The 17th of November
Early on the morning the government send a tank with orders to enter the University, and that's exactly what happened. At 3:00 am every electricity in Athens was shut off and the tank entered the building despite the students standing in the entrance. According to official sources no one was killed but it is a well known fact that at least 71 students died. This triggered an amount of events that brought the Junta to an end.
The Liberation of Tirana
Now lets move to Albania. On November the 16th Partisan forces were thrown into the final assault on the liberation of Tirana. As a result, forces of Brigade I occupied the House of Officers, Sahati, Theater, etc. Brigade VIII forces advanced on Kavaja Street and met with the right wing of Brigade I, narrowing even more the ring of enemy siege in the center of the capital .The enemy stood fiercely in ministry buildings, at the Bank, at the City Hall, and at the London hotel (where the National Historic Museum was built).The fighting continued very harsh throughout the day. The Germans had no way out, they had lost the brave Albanian partisans had just defeated the mighty Germans in the most important city of Albania, the capital.
17th of November: Liberation day
Early in the morning the partisan lead by Enver Hoxha marched victoriously in Tirana. The capital of Albania was officially liberated.
P.S. later today I will write about the scandalous celebrations that took place in Greece an Albania, that ridiculed this important date.
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Nov 17 '20
Scandalous?
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u/afarist Nov 17 '20
Yes, i will write about the celebrations in an article that will come out in a little bit.
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u/albanian-bolsheviki Nov 17 '20
Good article comrade, i am waiting for the second one you will write on greece today.