Cyprus-Forum.com

[DT.]

Take a look at these muppets. Someone's told them there's a bunch of Italians coming this summer to the occupied areas and all the English on the forum are getting excited.

Its a bit like reservations at Faulty Towers. They're talking about having to clean up the "trnc" and tidy it up a little

One of them's going on about watching out for those Valentiiinose. I've been pissing myself laughing, its like a carry on film.

http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/29042.asp

I bet they'll have the Lapta expats brass band to greet them at the airport.

[paliometoxo]

italiens.. gotta love them they are the ones who gave us the ferrari and lamborghini.. love the italiens.

[CBBB]

According to the Italian tour operator's website they fly their punters into Larnaca and bus them to the occupied area.

[denizaksulu]

italiens.. gotta love them they are the ones who gave us the ferrari and lamborghini.. love the italiens.

Italians re goumbare Italians......not IT.aliens

I hope they arent Venetians...........they might want Cyprus back.

How large is this IT contingent?

[Get Real!]

We can always get the driver to divert to Paphos and the carpet-pats will be waiting at the roadblock with flowers in their hands and tears in their eyes singing… “We shall overcome!”

[bill cobbett]

According to the Italian tour operator's website they fly their punters into Larnaca and bus them to the occupied area.

...and prob staying in Stolen Hotels? What a bunch of bleeding idiots we are (sometimes) !!!!!!!

[Oracle]

Italians!

They've never forgiven us for beating them, time and time again. All they are famous for is spreading Hellenic ideals (albeit tainted by their mad Emperors and debauched pontiffs).

Prada carpetbaggers ....

[Svetlana]

Well, let's see; last Century they invaded: Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Libya. Yugoslavia and many other places I cannot recall - not very sucessfully - well at least they will find the coffee cheap copmpared to Roman pavement cafes!

[Svetlana]

An amazing statistic from Italian invasion of Greece; around five times as many Greek civilians were killed in WW2 - as British civilians were killed in the Blitz - an incredible figure. But even this does not compare to the millions of Russian civilians killed, of course.

Around 3500 British and ANZACs (sons of sheep stealers!) wre killed fighting alongside their Greek colleagues agaisbnt the Axis forces.

[Paphitis]

An amazing statistic from Italian invasion of Greece; around five times as many Greek civilians were killed in WW2 - as British civilians were killed in the Blitz - an incredible figure. But even this does not compare to the millions of Russian civilians killed, of course.

Around 3500 British and ANZACs (sons of sheep stealers!) wre killed fighting alongside their Greek colleagues agaisbnt the Axis forces.

Greece's contribution is immeasurable. No one knows this more than the 9,000 Australian Troops that remained in Crete until all other Allied Troops were evacuated. After all other Allied Troops were evacuated, it was then time for the Aussies and also any Greek Army volunteers to also be evacuated to Egypt, from behind enemy lines.

The acts of heroism of the Cretans and their self sacrifice was something that can't be described. What the Greeks did, to assist the Aussies, was truly unbelievable.

As a soldier of the 2/11th Battalion Australian Army, I found myself in April 1941 at the foot of snow clad Mt. Olympus trying to help the Greeks hold back the whole might of the German Army and Air Force. Greece, despite overwhelming odds was writing another page in its long glorious history by refusing Hitler's demands to allow his forces through so they could reach the rich oil fields of the Middle East. Hopelessly outnumbered, poorly equipped to fight such a mechanised army and under constant bombing we were forced through Larissa, Lamia and Thermopylae (Thermopylae Pass where 26 centuries before Leonidas had held the narrow pass) which became an ideal target for the Stukas dive bombers, and then back to Bralos and Corinth.

During this retreat many British, New Zealand and Australian troops were cut off and found themselves far behind the German lines. They were fed, sheltered and helped to escape to the free world by the Greek people, just as I was helped a few weeks later on Crete when Hitler landed his elite force the paratroopers who, after a bitter but costly struggle, gained control of the island.

I was left behind and taken prisoner at Sfakia on the south coast then marched back to a P.O.W. camp near Souda where, with a friend Bill McCarrey, watched the movements of the German sentries for a few nights and took a chance to escape through the barb wire. Then began the long trip back through the mountains to the south coast.

Being defeated we were doubtful about getting much help from the local people and in fact the first night we stole some food rather than contact them, for they were also under threat of death if caught helping British Commonwealth troops. But our fears were unfounded. We were fed by the villagers and guided through mountains by the shepherds. Some people even gave us money, but it was never needed as no one would take money for food, shelter and help provided. Eventually, we reached the Preveli Monastery where the head monk AGATHANGELOS LAGOUVARDOS and the resistance leader Michael Papadakis had organised shelter in the surrounding villages for hundreds of British Commonwealth troops and even though they faced the death penalty for helping us, it made no difference to these brave, courageous Cretan villagers. As the Germans sent out patrols, so they shifted us from one area to another.

Bill McCarrey& Geoff Edwards

Most of us were taken off Crete by British submarines "Thrasher" and "Torbay". We left the beautiful rugged island of Crete richer in feelings and memories of those indomitable Cretan people. We had been defeated in the field of battle and had nothing to offer them yet they risked their all, their very lives to help us when we badly needed help. They had so little yet gave so willingly. For this the men, women and children were to pay a terrible price in savage reprisals by the enemy.

Men like interpreter Vassilakis who, facing the firing squad, refused to be blindfolded and went to his death singing the Greek National Anthem - no wonder the island was never completely subdued. And now with the building of the white chapel on the hill overlooking the ocean and the village of Prevelly in the south west corner of Australia, we can pay tribute to these courageous Greek people, making sure their sacrifice was not in vain and their heroic deeds will live for ever more.

Geoff Edwards, 1979.
Australian 2/11th Battalion