Thread:4th of Augustball/@comment-38190122-20200520154147/@comment-31790865-20200525075849

>Metaxas and Fascismo was more or less the same schiesse

I believe the contrary is the reality in regards to your argument. Whilst Fascism and Metaxism was "similar", they were in no ways the same and differed from eachother in regards to thought patterns. Academically, the regimes of Franco, Metaxas and Salazar were considered to be "conservative dictatorships" and rightfully so. The factors I have already mentioned (being imperialism, secularism, anti-tradition etc) should not merely be discarded when focusing on the two ideologies. Even the similarities between Fascism and Metaxism could be put into question. Greece, by no means, possessed the same nationalistic fervour that Italy had. Metaxism differed from traditional Greek nationalism for they were not expansionist and even went so far as to ally themselves with their former enemy of Turkey. Instead of pursuing the ideas of the "Megali Idea" Metaxas went about creating a Greece which was defencive and prioritised "cultural enrichment" and the resurrection of a "national ethos" rather than attempt to expand into imperialistic or even irredentist based claims.

>Evil cause Dictatorships. Also here is a biased interpretation of Greek history

Now your main problem with Metaxas is that it is a dictatorship, one who (according to you) subverted the Greek national choice in creating a truly democratic Republic. Now the main thing that you have dismissed throughout your intepretation of Greek history was the fact that the Second Republic was an unstable hot mess. The Second Hellenic Republic possessed 5 coups and attempted coups combined throughout it's tenure of 11 years. This time was marked by political instability, paranoia and violence (seeing mainly the Liberals, Venezeilists, Communists and Monarchists at each other's throats for the majority of the time).

As such, Metaxas was not merely getting rid of a fully functioning republican democracy supported universally by the Greek people. I, for one, believe he was reinstating a period of law and order to a country that would've ended up like Spain had it not been for his reactionary dictatorship. He empowered and emphasised the monarchy (an institution which was indeed supported by a considerable minority of Greeks as demonstrated by the existance of "The People's Party") not solely as a means of legitimising his regime (though it's effects may have done so) but rather because he was a staunch monarchist through and through (he had fought for the monarchy in numerous occassions). Mussolini mainly used the monarchy as a means of gaining control. Had he been left to his own devices, there is no doubt that he would've done away with such institutions. Plainly put: Metaxas wanted the monarchy, Mussolini wanted power (and thus he compromised with the monarchy).

>This peace could be brought only by democracy.

Now I think that is a gross understatement of what Greek history was all about leading to true peace. The truth is, we would not be able to see the full potential of the Metaxas Regime based off of the fact that it was forcibely destroyed by the Nazi Germans. From then on came a civil war due to the KKE gaining support and power due to their resistance against the Nazis, thus putting them in a position where they could challenge the authority of the Monarchy who was to reclaim it's country after Nazi Occupation. From there came a long string of political controversies and crisis's which resulted in a Military Junta launching a coup as a reaction to a "future" socialist government (which, may I remind you, happened in the midst of the Cold War). After the Junta fell, Democracy could preside, seeing Greece ushered into a new age of Conservative politics and now, degenerate Socialist policies, Financial problems, Foreign enemies, Neo Nazis and Communists etc.

Democracy could only bring peace in a time where there was no crisis. I prefer a stable dictatorship over a weak and unstable democracy anyday, hence why I give my full support to the Metaxas Regime (and this isn't even to mention of the beneficial policies it had on Greece).

"But let's not forget that Mexatas supported the Megali idea. In fact, when the 4OAR was proclaimed, Mexatas said that this would be "the advent of the 'Third Hellenic Civilization'", similar to the Third Reich."

Both comments are wrong. One is the fact that Metaxas opposed the notion of aggressive expansion into Anatolia in the 1920's and differed from Eleutherios Venezeilos (the main advocate of the "Megali Idea") in regards to the pursuit of irredentist goals. "Venizelos and i invited you to look backwards to the past. Now i urge you to look forward to the future; and since you cannot live without ideals, the only suitable ideal is that of the Hellenic Idea. The Great idea (Megali Idea) itself did not fail; only the attempt at its territorial implementation. The Greco-Byzantine perception of if has failed, but not its ancient classical form of Hellenism. Our [my] disagreement with Venizelos, in the final analysis, is over the understanding, the meaning, significance and form of the Hellenic Idea" - Ioannis Metaxas

Now you seem to believe the idea of a "Third Reich" and the "Third Greek Civilisation" are of the same mindset. I put it to you that the "Third Reich" was merely a term used to act as a successor to the various interpretations of what a "Greater Germany" was, stating that the Germans were bound to achieve the same prestige as their forefathers had. The "Third Greek Civilisation" was coined by Metaxas as a means of moulding the Greek people into something that prized the values of the first two, rather than an attempt to revive a "Hellenic Empire". Metaxas wished to raise a Greek generation/civillisaiton of people who would prioritise militarism and discipline (values shown through the actions of the Ancient Spartans and Macedonians of the "First Civilisation") in combination with devout faith in the Church (values shown through the actions of the Byzantine Empire of the "Second Civilisation".)