(Toronto) Greece’s Darkest Decade, Part One: World War II, is a six-part podcast exploring WWII in Greece, with voices from Canada’s immigrant community. Hosted by Sandra Gionas and Angelo Laskaris, the podcast is produced by the Hellenic Heritage Foundation’s award-winning History Committee.
Podcast Schedule:
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Episode One: Introduction
An examination of how the war played out in Greece, and how it destabilized a nation to the point of an eventual Civil War. This era of Greece’s history led to a massive emigration and created a large Greek diaspora in Canada and elsewhere. With reminiscences from members of the Greek Canadian community that are housed at the HHF Greek Canadian Archives at York University.
LISTEN HERE! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1552246/episodes/18084815
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Episode Two: The Road to OXI
As fascism was spreading across Europe, Ioannis Metaxas seized dictatorial powers and transformed daily life in Greece. But his militarization of the nation became a factor when Greece was pulled into World War II on October 28, 1940 with an ultimatum by Italy. Guests include Professor Sakis Gekas, HHF Chair in Modern Greek History at York University.
LISTEN HERE! https://www.buzzsprout.com/1552246/episodes/18084826 Coming Soon:Tuesday, November 4, 2025 – Episode Three: An Early Victory, A Crushing Invasion
War began with a cruel and punishing winter at the Albanian front, which led to victory for Greece – and an eventual German invasion. As parts of Greece quickly fell, the island of Crete was the site of the first major Allied victory. A look at the battles that shaped this war in Greece with guest Prof. Nicholas Doumanis, Professor of History of the University of Illinois Chicago.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 – Episode Four: Occupation and Hunger
Under the Axis Occupation, the Greek state collapsed and Greeks were subjected to hyperinflation, hunger, starvation, ongoing violence and atrocities. But a Resistance Movement grew, determined to overthrow the German, Italian and Bulgarian forces. With guest Spyridon Tsoutsoumpis, Historian of Modern Greece and Southeastern Europe at the University of Manchester.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – Episode Five: The Holocaust
A look at Jewish life in Greece, before, during and after the War. The persecution Jews faced, particularly in Thessaloniki, and eventually deportations to concentration camps. How some Jewish Greeks survived and how this experience shaped their lives. With guests Kateřina Králová, Professor of Contemporary History at Charles University in Prague, Dianne Cadesky, daughter of Eli Benyacar and Esther Tivoli, both Greek Holocaust survivors.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 – Episode Six: The Seeds of the Civil War & Liberation
How the occupiers left Greece and the power vacuum left behind. How the roots of the Civil War are taking shape as conflict between resistance groups builds, fueled by ideological differences. With guest Triadafilos Triadafilopoulos, Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto Scarborough and the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
Our series strives to look at Greek history through a diaspora lens and we thank you in advance for sharing it!
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at hhf.ca.