In the episode of “Historical Walks” airing on Saturday, October 26, 2024, historian and author Menelaos Charalambidis engages in a discussion with Marilena Katsimi, focusing on the significance of national anniversaries and their political importance as living tools of memory, in light of the upcoming October 28 celebrations.
They explore several thought-provoking questions, such as:
- Why does Greece commemorate the beginning of World War II instead of its conclusion, unlike other European nations?
- Why is the liberation of Athens on October 12th often overlooked in commemorative practices?
- What accounts for the absence of monuments honoring the resistance or the thousands who perished from famine in the early years of occupation?
- What role does the state play in shaping collective memory, and how do historians influence this narrative?
Menelaos Charalambidis, renowned for his studies on the 1940s, addresses these inquiries and more, providing insights into how history is remembered and memorialized.
Additionally, the episode features rare recordings of songs from the wartime period, curated by researchers Kostas Giannakopoulos and Panos Zervas.
Broadcast: Saturday 26 October 2024, 13:00-14:00 Athens time
Produced and presented by Marilena Katsimi, journalist
