Heroes Fight Like Greeks Hardcover - 2009

From the publisher

In this powerful and engaging historical narrative, decorated combat veteran and critically acclaimed author Ronald J. Drez unfolds the astounding tale of the arduous Greek Resistance against the Axis Powers in World War II. Along with Great Britain, Greece was the only country to stand against the Pact of Steel and the dreaded Nazi and Fascist regimes of Hitler and Mussolini. Although Greece technically fell to Germany in 1941, the indomitable spirit and courage of the Greek people never did. Indeed, the Nazis feared the fierce Greek Resistance fighters so much that Hitler was never able to seize control of any Greek land. Weaving through political intrigue at the highest levels, this compelling narrative tells the stories that made up this oft-forgotten part of World War II history: Italian Dictator Benito Mussolinis obsession for military dominance and desire to be Adolf Hitlers equal; Greek leader Ioannis Metaxass indefatigable leadership and cry of OXI! (NO!) when presented with the Italian ultimatum to surrender Greece or be invaded; the tale of one the great sabotage events of World War II, Operation Harling, the demolition of the Gorgopotamos viaduct, which was the main German supply route for their forces in Egypt; and the extraordinary story of Dennis Georges, just nineteen on the day of the German invasion, Georges left Athens, setting out for the family farm in Arfara where he became part of the Greek Resistance. In this meticulously researched volume, Drez has succeeded in shining a light into one of the most overlooked aspects in the great annals of World War II history. Packed with personal testimony and many rare photographs and illustrations, Heroes Fight Like Greeks is an indisputably important report on one of the most harrowing stories of World War II. Foreword by Douglas Brinkley