Children, children of Hellas (Παιδιά, της Ελλάδος παιδιά)
Lyrics: Mimis Traiforos
Music: Mihalis Souyioul
First version: Sofia Vempo
Today is a national holiday in Greece, the “Anniversary of the ‘No’” that marks the beginning of the WWII for Greece, and I want to share a special song that is related to the successful defense of the Greek army and the beginning of a love affair!
But pastellarts, WAIT A MINUTE!
Why would a country celebrate the outbreak of a war?
“15. Greek soldiers on their way to the Greco-Italian front”
On the night of 28 October 1940, Emanuele Grazzi, the Italian ambassador to Greece during World War II, visited the residence of Ioannis Metaxas, the authoritarian Prime Minister of Greece. The purpose of his visit was to deliver Benito Mussolini's ultimatum demanding the cession of Greek territory. Metaxas rejected it and curtly replied in French, "Alors, c'est la guerre" ("Then it is war"). A few hours later, Italy invaded Greece from Albania and started the Greco-Italian War. This local war began the Balkans Campaign of World War II between the Axis powers and the Allies. It turned into the Battle of Greece when British and German ground forces intervened early in 1941.
Clockwise: Italian bombers over Greek territory, Italian soldiers during winter in Albania, Greek soldiers in Gjirokaster, Greek soldiers during the Italian Spring Offensive
The invasion was a disaster, the 140,000 troops of the Italian Army in Albania encountering an entrenched and determined enemy. The Italians had to contend with the mountainous terrain on the Albanian–Greek border and unexpectedly tenacious resistance by the Greek Army. By mid-November, the Greeks had stopped the Italian invasion just inside Greek territory. After completing their mobilization, the Greeks counter-attacked with the bulk of their army and pushed the Italians back into Albania - an advance which culminated in the Capture of Klisura Pass in January 1941, a few dozen kilometers inside the Albanian border. The defeat of the Italian invasion and the Greek counter-offensive of 1940 have been called the "first Axis setback of the entire war" by Mark Mazower, the Greeks "surprising everyone with the tenacity of their resistance".
The Greco-Italian War is viewed as a triumph in Greece and often referred to as "the Epic of 40" ("Το Έπος του '40") and 28 October, the day Metaxas rejected the Italian ultimatum, is a national holiday known as Ohi Day (Greek: Επέτειος του Όχι, "Anniversary of the 'No'").
So, what has the song have to do with all these? And where is the love?
Sofia Vempo started her career in 1933 by singing love songs of the era and due to her baritone voice the success came fast. In 1940, she was already a big name and asked for songs that she could perform to uplift the spirits of soldiers. She became the voice that motivated all Greeks, soldiers and citizens. Many of these songs had well known melodies, but lyrics were changed to make them patriotic as well as satiric against the Italian army and soldiers.
Sofia Vempo between Mihalis Souyioul (left) and Mimis Traiforos (right).
One of these commissioned writers was Mimis Traiforos. In an interview of 1959 he recalls how the song was made:
Sofia asked me to write to write a ‘war song’, based on the melody of Zehra, written by Mihalis Souyioul. You do realise how moving this was for me. Sofia was already an established performer and I was just beginning my career. I looked her from head to toes, then lifted my head to look into her eyes and told her: “Thank you for granting me with such an honour…”
She just smiled and went to her changing room. I tried to concentrate and work something out. The news from the frontline were overwhelming. The valiance of the Greeks contributed to many tales of national triumph. My soul soared from enthusiasm and patriotic passion. I had to write something good. But I felt feeble to respond to the demands of the theme and to Sofia’s trust. In the end, I managed to deliver something. I wrote
“Children, children of Hellas
Who are fighting a tough war on the mountains…”
I read it to her. She got excited. I watched her stare. I saw emotion in the form of tears in her eyes. When the draft was ready, she grabbed it and appeared on stage. I watched from the sidelines. Sofia, visibly moved and in tears started to sing the lyrics from the manuscript. Moments later, the whole theater exploded with enthusiasm. Waves of applause filled the atmosphere and in every repeat of the verse the theater was shaking from the people who went crazy. Sofia looked like a priestess of war, magnificent and at the same time visibly shaken from all the emotions. Standing alone and proud, she led the march with patriotic tunes…”
Following their meeting, Sofia Vempo and Mimis Traiforos became lovers and got married in 1957. They remained together until her death in 1978.
Translation of lyrics
In the streets are milling around
The mothers and are seeking
To face
Their children who took an oath
When they parted at the station
To win through the war
But for those who have left
And are wrapped in glory
Let’s be happy for
And may none of us ever cry
May such a woman bury her sorrow
And let's all wish:
Children, children of Hellas
Who are fighting hard on the mountains
Children, to beloved Virgin Mary
All of us pray to so that you come back
I say to those who love
And stay all night awake for someone
And sigh
That bitterness and trembling
To a proper Hellene woman
Do not fit
Greek women of Zalongo,
Of the cities and the forests
And women of Plaka,
However bitterly we suffer
Let's cry out proudly
Like women of Souli would:
Children, children of Hellas
Who are fighting hard on the mountains
Children, to beloved Virgin Mary
All of us pray to so that you come back
Carrying palm branches of victory
Children, we are expecting you
