Greece Marks WWII Entry Anniversary With Military Parade

Greek military officers hold Greek flags during a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, on Oct. 28, 2021. Giannis Papanikos/AP Photo

THESSALONIKI, Greece—Fighter jets flew over the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Thursday as parachutists landed and troops marched in the city’s center to mark a national holiday commemorating Greece’s defiance of Italy that forced it to enter World War II.

Greece’s Oct. 28 national holiday, known as Ochi Day, or No Day, marks the day in 1940 when Athens rejected a pre-dawn Italian ultimatum to allow its forces to enter Greek territory and take control of parts of it.