30 October 2025

We are glad to announce the successful organization of the “Countries, peoples, and persons who said NO to the Axis powers during World War II!“ event, held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Athens Institute, under the auspices of the Athenian Academic Periodical. The program is available at: www.atiner.gr/athacpe/30october2025-en.pdf

The event brought together distinguished scholars who shared their expertise on various aspects of resistance and defiance to the Axis Powers during World War II. Nicholas G. Nikoloudis, Research Fellow at the Athens Institute, opened the discussion with The Venizelist Officers’ “NO” to the Axis, offering insights into the political and military figures who stood against totalitarianism. George Archontakis, Philologist–Historian, former Principal of the Ionideios School of Piraeus, and President of the Association of Smyrnians, examined The Conditions That Shaped the Greeks’ Negative Stance Towards the Axis Powers, analyzing the historical and social background of Greece’s collective refusal to yield. Utku Ozer, Research Fellow at the Athens Institute, presented Turkey in World War II: Diplomacy, Economy, and the Press, shedding light on the country’s delicate position between neutrality and geopolitical pressure. Ioannis-Dionysios Salavrakos, Assistant Professor at the Hellenic Army Academy, discussed German Grand Strategy 1939–1942: From Local to Global War, exploring the transformation of Hitler’s war strategy into a global conflict. Panagiotis K. Gerontas, Lieutenant–Historian of the Hellenic Navy History Department and PhD Candidate at the University of the Peloponnese, spoke on The Preparation of Greece for World War II at the Diplomatic and Military Level, revealing how Greece anticipated and organized its resistance. Gregory T. Papanikos, President of the Athens Institute, examined The Effects of World War II on Per Capita GDP, highlighting the long-term economic consequences of the war. Panagiota Bletas, Research Fellow at the Athens Institute, reflected on The Spiritual Root of World War II, discussing the moral and intellectual dimensions of conflict, while Despoina N. Koutsari, Writer and Economist, shared the story of Trypi, Laconia: Resistance of a Mountain Village During the Occupation, a moving account of local defiance.

Extending the perspective beyond Greece, Hemmat Safwat, Deputy Director of the Engineering Division at the Athens Institute, presented Some Thoughts on the World War II – Egypt, exploring Egypt’s wartime experience. Fulya Aksu, Associate Professor at Altınbaş University, Türkiye, analyzed Nazi Propaganda and Turkish Foreign Policy through the Lens of “Die Türkische Post”, offering a nuanced look at media and diplomacy. Elena Ene Draghici-Vasilescu, Professor at the University of Oxford, discussed Jean-Paul Sartre’s Thoughts about the War, examining the philosopher’s moral reflections during the conflict. Daphne Vidanec, Professor, and Bruno Raguž, Lecturer, both from the University of Applied Sciences Baltazar Zaprešić, Croatia, presented The Case of Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac Within the Context of World War II: Onward Insights and Reflections, exploring questions of faith and resistance. Elena Rovenko, Researcher at the Serge Rachmaninoff Conservatory in Paris, highlighted Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Charitable Work During WWII, revealing the composer’s humanitarian contributions. Alejandro Gutierrez Leon, Researcher at the University of Valencia, discussed The Long Fight of Spanish Anti-fascism through the Figure of Francisco Largo Caballero, while Domenico Maddaloni, Professor at the University of Salerno, analyzed The Italian Contribution to the Anti-Fascist Struggle. Alexandru Socaciu, Military Priest at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Justinian the Patriarch,” University of Bucharest, spoke on Personalities During World War II: The Sacrifice in the Face of War, reflecting on moral courage. Finally, Krasimir Kutsarov, Independent Researcher from Bulgaria, concluded with Greece and Bulgaria: Two Acts of Defiance, comparing two parallel paths of national resistance.

The event concluded with questions and comments from the audience, emphasizing the continuing relevance of the historic “NO” to tyranny and the universal struggle for freedom and human dignity.