Μια φορά και ένα καιρό!

Odessa, Ukrainian SSR. Once upon a time...

 - Socialism eller Barbari / Σοσιαλισμός ή Βαρβαρότητα / Socialism or Barbarism -

                               To those who were murdered by the Ukrainian neonazis in the Labor Union House, Odessa, 2.5.2014.

The Execution

"1st of May. Goodbye. We are all going into battle" 

was written in the small note of Kostis Tsirkas (Κωστής Τσίρκας), one of the executed of that day...  

V. Semertzidis, 1st of May 1944

It was early in the morning, Monday, 1st of May 1944. Ten tracks full of prisoners started their deadly route from the German prisoners camp in Chaidari to the execution place, the heroic neighborhood of Athens, Kaisariani. 200 prisoners, 200 communists, 200 heroes. All of them were imprisoned or exiled since the years of Ioannis Metaxas' dictatorship (1936-1940). The Greek fascists delivered them directly to their fellow German companions when they took over the administration of Greece in May of 1941. 

They were the price that Greek resistance movement had to pay. Three days earlier, on 27.4.1944, guerrillas of ΕΛΑΣ (ELAS, Greek People's Liberation Army) had killed in an ambush near the village of Molai in Laconia a German general and three German officers among others. 

On their way to the firing squad none of them yielded, none of them showed fear. In their last notes you could see only the need to say one last goodbye, to ask for revenge...

"I never forgot you. For you and for the Greek people i gave my life. Today, 1st of May 1944, i kiss you for one last time" writes one of the prisoners who signs only with the letter A

"It's better for a man to die fighting for freedom than live as a slave" Nikos Mariakakis (Νίκος Μαριακάκης)

"My beloved ones, my death should not make you sad, but it has to "steel"/strength you more in this fight you are engaged in. "Tight" your hearts and come out stronger from this new trial. That's the best way to honor us. When man gives his life for higher ideals he never dies. With lots of love. I kiss you, Dimitris Rempoutsikas" (Μήτσος Ρεμπούτσικας)

The place of execution, Kaisariani May 2005

"Dear father, i am going to be executed. Be proud for your one and only son. To love and adore your little daughter, my sister, both of them great people. Goodbye, goodbye father" 

That was the last goodbye of the hero Napoleon Soukatzidis (Ναπολέων Σουκατζίδης), member of the KKE (Communist party of Greece), prisoner in Akronauplia before the war. He was a very noble and educated person and highly appreciated among the others prisoners. Because he knew the German language, Nazis were using him as an interpreter.

Napoleon was the number 71 out of the 200. The German officer who was in charge of the camp, while reading the list of the ones who were about to be executed, offered him his life. "Napoleon no, not you". "I accept only if no one else replaces me" Soukatzidis replied. Germans denied so he consciously took his place in front of the firing squad among his comrades. Free.

The place of execution, Kaisariani May 2005

The 200 are Immortals. They were executed but they didn't die. Til our days, 70 years after, we hear them saying:

"Here is where we fall. Children of the People. You know why. Naked, covering our flesh only with flags, Hellas sewed them out of sky and white Cabot. You heard the broadsides in the secret-lighted dawns  of Attica. You saw the birds flying against the bullets, touching the rising sun with their wings. You saw the windows of the neighborhood being wide open to the future. We, didn't ask a share... Nothing... Only remember this: If freedom dοn't follow the footprints of our blood, here they will kill us every day. Goodbye."

1st of May 1944. Engraving, of A. Tassos

Εδώ πέσαμε. Παιδιά του λαού. Γνωρίζετε γιατί. 

Γυμνοί, κατάσαρκα φορώντας τις σημαίες, η Ελλάδα τις έρραψε με ουρανό και άσπρο κάμποτο. Ακούσατε τις ομοβροντίες στα μυστικόφωτα αττικά χαράματα. 

Είδατε τα πουλιά, που πέταξαν αντίθετα στις σφαίρες αγγίζοντας με τα φτερά τους, τον ανατέλλοντα πυρφόρον. Είδατε τα παράθυρα της γειτονιάς ν’ανοίγουνε στο μέλλον. 

Εμείς, μερτικό δε ζητήσαμε...Τίποτα...

Μόνον θυμηθείτε το: Αν η ελευθερία δεν βαδίσει στα χνάρια του αίματός μας, 

εδώ θα μας σκοτώνουν κάθε μέρα. Γεια σας. 

Γιάννης Ρίτσος "Σκοπευτήριο Καισαριανής"

The Moral of Life!

The first night they are approaching 

and they steal a flower from our garden

and we say nothing.

The second day they are not hiding anymore,

they are walking among the flowers

they kill our dog

and we say nothing.

And all of a sudden it comes a day 

- the most clear of all- 

when they get easily into our home

they steal our moon

because they know our fear 

which chokes the voice in our throat

And because we said nothing

we can't do anything anymore!

V. Mayakovsky "Freedom of expression"

Vladimir Mayakovsky, 19.7.1893 - 14.4.1930

Τη πρώτη νύχτα πλησιάζουνε

και κλέβουν ένα λουλούδι

από τον κήπο μας

και δε λέμε τίποτα.

Τη δεύτερη νύχτα δε κρύβονται πλέον

περπατούνε στα λουλούδια,

σκοτώνουν το σκυλί μας

και δε λέμε τίποτα.

Ώσπου μια μέρα

-την πιο διάφανη απ’ όλες-

μπαίνουν άνετα στο σπίτι μας

ληστεύουν το φεγγάρι μας

γιατί ξέρουνε το φόβο μας

που πνίγει τη φωνή στο λαιμό μας.

Κι επειδή δεν είπαμε τίποτα

πλέον δε μπορούμε να πούμε τίποτα

Β. Μαγιακόφσκι "Ελευθερία Έκφρασης"

The Moral of Life: No Compromise!

78 Days...

"The Rambouillet text, which called on Serbia to admit NATO troops throughout Yugoslavia, was a provocation, an excuse to start bombing. Rambouillet is not a document that an angelic Serb could have accepted. It was a terrible diplomatic document that should never have been presented in that form".

Henry Kissinger, Daily Telegraph, 28 June 1999

In the end, on 18 March 1999, the Albanian, American and British delegation signed what became known as the "Rambouillet Accords" while the Serbian and Russian delegations refused. The accords called for NATO administration of Kosovo as an autonomous province within Yugoslavia; a force of 30,000 NATO troops to maintain order in Kosovo; an unhindered right of passage for NATO troops on Yugoslav territory, including Kosovo; and immunity for NATO and its agents to Yugoslav law.

It was 20:00 at night of the 24th March of 1999 when the first bombs delivered in the body of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia... It was exactly 15 years ago when NATO's "Merciful Angel" was launched! For the next 78 days the people of FR Yugoslavia were the living target of NATO killing machine, participating in the biggest European conflict after the WWII!!! More than 1100 air fighters lifted off from 59 bases in 12 different countries in order to operate around 2300 air raids against Yugoslavia. The results of NATO's "humanitarian intervention" were the killing of almost 3000 people (2000 of them civilians) and the injuring of another 6000! The damage in the infrastructure of the FR Yugoslavia estimated up to 100 billions dollars (including heavy damages of road and rail network, factory facilities, schools even monasteries!  NATO (19 countries participated in the campaign, most of them members of E.U too) celebrated with this unique way its 50th anniversary! The damages would be much higher if the people didn't protect bridges and other facilities (like the Zastava factory in Kragujevac) by using their own bodies as human shields!

"Beware Greeks! NATO killers set Balkans on fire!" Front cover of Rizospastis newspaper, 24.3.1999

"NATO & European Union are the pillars of power and prosperity for Greece"

Kostas Simitis (Greek Prime Minister), Thessaloniki 3.9.1999

NATO troops landing in Litochoro Beach, N. Greece, June 1999

NATO troops landing in Litochoro Beach, N. Greece, June 1999

Every single moment during these 78 days the Greek people showed actively, with every possible way, its solidarity with the people of Yugoslavia. Countless were the demonstrations organised by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and other anti - imperialistic and peace organisations all over the country. Blockades of facilities (like the port of Thessaloniki, NATO's military bases operate in Greece, railways etc), solidarity concerts in many cities , delegations of trade union members who visited the neighbor country during the air raids, even a friendly football game between the teams of AEK Athens and Partisan Belgrade took place in Belgrade! Beside the fact that almost the 90% of Greek people were against the NATO bombings as well as any involvement of the Greek armed forces in the operations, the Greek social-democrat government of PASOK made whatever was asked by the NATO and US officials participating also in the crime!

Members of the KKE blocking train heading to Kosovo, Thessaloniki, April 1999 

Protesters burning an E.U flag outside the NATO base in Aktio, W. Greece, May 1999

Demonstration of Greek Communist Youth (KNE) in the Thessaloniki port, 11.7.1999

Demonstration of Greek Communist Youth (KNE) in the Thessaloniki port, 11.7.1999

"None Greek soldier in Yugoslavia" Athens, 7.4.1999

15 years after we don't forget, we don't forgive...

ps. Dedicated to Jens Stoltenberg NATO's new general secretary.

The Mountain Goverment!

"Ορκίζομαι ότι θα εκτελέσω πιστά τα καθήκοντά μου σαν μέλος της Πολιτικής Επιτροπής Εθνικής Απελευθέρωσης, έχοντας σαν γνώμονα το συμφέρον της πατρίδας μου και του ελληνικού λαού, ότι θα αγωνιστώ με αυτοθυσία για την απελευθέρωση της χώρας μου από το ζυγό των κατακτητών, ότι θα υπερασπίζω παντού και πάντοτε τις λαϊκές ελευθερίες και θα είμαι παραστάτης και οδηγός του λαού στον αγώνα για τη λευτεριά του και τα κυριαρχικά του δικαιώματα". 

Viniani Euritanias at 1944, The capital of Free Greece.

It was 10th of March 1944 in Viniani Euritanias (Βίνιανη Ευρυτανίας), a small mountain village in central Greece, when the Political Committee of National Liberation (Πολιτική Επιτροπή Εθνικής Απελευθέρωσης, ΠΕΕΑ) was established. PEEA was the outcome of the massive and heroic struggle of the Greek resistance movement during the period of Axis occupation. Under the control of the provisional government were approx. the 2/3 of the country, which had been already liberated by the resistance organisations of EAM/ELAS. One of the first acts of the government was to prepare and organize national elections for the formation of the National Council. In the elections that took place 23 - 30 of April voted 1.800.000 citizens, including women for the first time in Greek history. 184 representatives from all over the country were elected in the National Council. The first historical session of the council took place in Korisxades (Κορυσχάδες), another village of Euritania region (14 - 27.5. 1944).

Women vote, Free Greece April 1944

General Stefanos Sarafis, military leader of  ELAS attending a meeting of the provisional government. Viniani 1.5.1944.

Euripidis Bakirtzis, President of Mountain government followed by Petros Kokkalis, secretary of Social Welfare. Viniani 1.5.1944.

First session of National Council, Korisxades May 1944 (The sign on the wall writes: Death to Fascism)

National bond issuance, June 1944

Death is afraid of Leningrad...

Defend Leningrad

...I came in and said: Papa i won't eat my bread ration. If i will stay alive i want to saw 

to post generations what kind of bread we had to eat during the siege. My father said 

"You 'll die". I said if i eat it, i still may die and perhaps even if i don't eat it i may still 

stay alive. It was so terrible. That's why i wanted to keep that bread, so the children 

could see and know how we lived. It's hard to imagine now what we had to endured 

during the block period to survive...

...Above all when you recall it you are astonished by the strong belief people had in 

their victory. At the time when things were so harsh there were no ground at all for 

such a relief. Take evacuation for instance. It was a much more difficult problem than 

trying to get supplies to the front line. It was hard to persuade people to leave the 

city, they just wouldn't move, they said: "we 'll win, we 'll beat the enemy soon, i am 

not moving any place" Even today i can't really understand some things...

Youth of the City of Lenin!Let our selfless work help the Red Army to crush and destroy the enemy!

... In those days you needed greater courage to live than to die! People worked long 

shifts. 16, 20 hours per day despite the hunger and cold. As Leningrad's history put it: at 

night the occasional flicker of fires and the red flash of exploding artillery shells were 

the only source of light into the darkness! But Leningrad was seemed to possessive 

an indestructible will to survive...

Leningrad is not afraid of death they said. Death is afraid of Leningrad!

872 days under siege, the city of Lenin never surrendered. It was 27th of January 1944 when the Soviet Red Army managed to lift the blockade (started 8th of September 1941) and push back the Nazi forces. 

In memory of Volodya

«Ωρα, βροντά τα συνθήματά του κεραυνούς -

μήπως θα το ρίξουμε στα κλάματα;

Λένιν ζωντανότερος κι απ' τους ζωντανούς

Είναι η γνώση μας, η δύναμη και τ' άρματα»

Vladimir Mayakovsky, "Εκλογή"

A million arms,

a sudden forest, 

the forest waves.

Red Square becomes a living red flag.

The line of march is its living staff.

From the immense living folds once more

Lenin living speaks:

"Draw up proletarians for the final clash,

slaves stiffen your backs, straighten your knees!"

Vladimir Mayakovsky, "V.I.Lenin" 1924 

On this day 90 years ago Vladimir IIyich Ulyanov passed into eternity.

Det som engang var...

Fattigmannen, 1894 - 96

Pesta farer landet rundt, | The Plague Hag is sweeping the land

i by og bygd, hus og hytte. | town and villages, house and cottages.

Hun raker i hundrevis, | She brooms hundreds,

soper i tusenvis. | sweeps thousands.

Skaadden vælter i vældige flak, | The fog is coming

over fjord og fjeld. | over the fjords and mountains.

Lægger sig dødningeklam | Clammy like a ghost

over alt. | everywhere.

Hun farer landet rundt, 1894-96

Illustrasjon til Svartedauen, 1894-96

Pesta med sin sopelime skaaner ingen. | The Plague Hag with her broom spares no one.

Soper den som træt af livet, | Sweeps the one who is tired of life,

knækt af kummer og af smærte, ber om døden. | broken of pain, begs for death.

Soper den som ber om livet, | Sweeps the one asking for life,

den som først i rædselen i sit sidste øieblik, | the one who in the horror of his last moment,

hykler for et gudebilled. | hypocrites for a idol.

Soper alle uden skaansel, ind i døden. | Sweeps them all, into death.

Illustrasjon til Svartedauen, 1894-96

Høstkveld, 1894-96

Pesta drager. | The Plague Hag is leaving
Stille, stille | Quiet, quiet
vil jeg fare. | I will go.

Sungen er sidste tone | Sung is the last tone
af en gravsang. | of a grave song.

In remembrance of Norwegian artist Theodor Kittelsen, who died on this day 100 years ago... 

The Confession

"If you don't want to be the anvil, you must be the hammer!" 

Georgi Dimitrov, Leipzig 16.12.1933

Reichstag in flames. February 27, 1933

On the evening of February 27, 1933, the Reichstag was set on fire. The alleged arsonist was Marinus van der Lubbe (1909-1934), a young Dutch, proclaiming himself as left-wing radical. Van der Lubbe was arrested on the spot and immediately claimed sole responsibility for the crime. But the Nazi leadership planned to make use of the case for its own ends. Contrary to all evidence, the Nazi press stated that the Reichstag fire had been meant as the signal for a "Bolshevist revolution" – one that the Nazi leadership had fortunately managed to thwart at the last moment. A large-scale show trial was supposed to prove that the German Communist Party (KPD) was behind the affair...

The Reichstag building on the morning after the fire, Berlin, February 28, 1933.

In July 1933, the German communist Ernst Torgler together with the Bulgarian communists Georgi Dimitrov, Blagoi Popov and Vasil Tanev were indicted on charges of arson and attempt to overthrow the German government (NSPD had won the elections few months ago in March 1933). The trial took place in the city of Leipzig from September 21 to December 23, 1933 and stayed in history mainly because of the stance of  Dimitrov in front of his judges. He had previously gave up his right to a court-appointed lawyer and defended himself successfully. During the trial Dimitrov not only denied and stood against all the accusations but managed to reverse the roles and prove that the arson of Reichstag was a well organised provocation by the Nazi government. The outcome of the trial was the collapse of all the accusations towards the four communists... 

The Leipzig Trial 21.9 - 23.12 / 1933

On that day, 80 years ago, Georgi Dimitrov made his famous final confession

 in front of the Reich's highest court.

 ... President (interrupting Dimitrov): It is none of your business to criticize us here.

Dimitrov: I admit that my tone is hard and grim. The struggle of my life has always been hard and grim. My tone is frank and open. I am used to calling a spade a spade. I am no lawyer appearing before this Court in the mere way of his profession

I am defending myself, an accused Communist.

I am defending my political honour, my honour as a revolutionary.

I am defending my Communist ideology, my ideals.

I am defending the content and significance of my whole life ...

Front cover of the Greek newspaper "Rizospastis", 22.12.1933

... Dimitrov: A time will come when such proposals will have to be settled, with interest. The elucidation of the Reichstag fire and the identification of the real incendiaries is a task which will fall to the People's Court of the future proletarian dictatorship.

In the 17th century the founder of scientific physics, Galileo, was arraigned before the stern Court of the Inquisition which had to condemn him to death as a heretic. With profound conviction and determination lie exclaimed:

"Eppur si muove!"

This scientific law later became known to all mankind.

President (curtly interrupts Dimitrov, rises, collects his papers and prepares to leave)

Dimitrov (continues): No less determined than old Galileo we, Communists, declare today:

"Eppur si muove!"

The wheel of history moves on towards Soviet Europe, towards a World Union of Soviet Republics.

And neither any measures of extermination, nor prisons or death sentences will be able to stop this wheel, driven by the proletariat under the leadership of the Communist International. It moves and moves towards the final victory of Communism...

(The police seizes Dimitrov and forcefully compels him to sit down in the dock of the defendants

The President and the Court retire to deliberate on whether Dimitrov should be permitted to continue his speech. After deliberation, the Court returns and announces that Dimitrov is forbidden to speak further).

Front cover of the Greek newspaper "Rizospastis", 24.12.1933

Georgi Dimitrov 1882 - 1949

Γίγας στους γίγαντες...

Adrift

Though I dissolve

I am not afraid

For from whence we came

We shall return

My waters are one with this

There is no separation

My waters are one with this

There is no separation

I am the ocean

I rise and fall

This suffering

Sleeps within me

I am the ocean

My blood is the well

The currents cradle

Suffering and death

In remembrance of this night...