“The great demonstration of 22 July 1943 against the planned expansion of the Bulgarian occupation zone”
– Panagiota Stathopoulou (17-year-old EPON member): stood in front of a tank, attempting to stop it with her body. She was struck, injured—or possibly killed—by the crew.
– Koula Lili (19-year-old student at the French Academy): climbed onto the tank and attacked the driver with her heel. She was shot and died fighting courageously.
– Thomas Chatzithomas (Polytechnic student): tried to break through the cordon of soldiers and vehicles to push forward. He was fatally shot in front of the Athens Eye Hospital.
Estimates vary, but it’s believed that around 50 people were killed (other sources cite between 15 and 30), roughly 300 were injured, and more than 500 were arrested.
This extraordinary act of mass resistance forced the German authorities to abandon their plan to expand the Bulgarian occupation zone by handing over Western Macedonia. The plan was indefinitely suspended.
(Source: Eleni Nikolaidou)
“Panic peaked when an armored vehicle rammed into the demonstrators, striking Panagiota Stathopoulou and then running over her, crushing her body. At that moment, Thomas Chatzithomas dashed toward the sidewalk in front of the Athens Eye Hospital, trying to shield himself behind a wall. A burst of gunfire hit him in the chest, killing him on the spot.
Within minutes, the occupiers and their collaborators, shooting to kill, murdered at least 13 demonstrators—all members of the EAM—and wounded more than 60.”
(Source: Menelaos Charalampidis)
This was the largest demonstration during the Occupation. The determination and bravery of the Athenians played a key role in preventing the possible entry of Bulgarian troops into Thessaloniki.
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