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News bulletin, 10.25 am, 3 September 1938.

Address of Her Majesty The Queen to the Hellenic People.

My beloved children, citizens of this sacred land. Our homeland, which we have always so manifestly valued and so closely protected is, as of today, under attack. We are being attacked by a country we have successfully fought before; and although this should have taught the authorities of that nation that the Hellenes will fight so fiercely for their families, their values and their ancestors' achievements so as to render any invasion not only futile but highly damaging for any aggressor, they chose not to learn this historical lesson. The Government has taken all measures and precautions so as to avoid this regrettable war, but the ultimatum handed to the Prime Minister by the Ambassador of Germany has left us no choice but to defend our independence and freedom. Should we have accepted this ultimatum, we would had given a carte-blanche to the government of the Reich to take full control of our country and render us nothing more than slaves in their army's service.

Indeed, we have always been conscious of the people's wish to stay out of the brutal war that has been ravaging Europe; the cost in human lives and suffering would be incalculable should we have heeded the advice of those who wanted Greece to take sides from the first moment. We have never been an aggressive country; we only ever fought wars in one and only cause, one which we have justifiably believed in for more than 500 years. And it was always in accordance with the morals of humanity and God's divine approval. For, which ideological thought or theological doctrine would permit us to blatantly ignore the oppression and death of our compatriots living under the boots of the uncivilised men under orders from the High Porte? None whatsoever.

Now then, we have done our utmost to secure the lives and freedoms of our breathen living in lands outside our Kingdom. But this time, we are not called upon to fight for families other than our very own; we will not fight to protect the sacred homes of strangers, but those that we and our forefathers bult with great difficulties and sacrifices; we will fight for the right of our children to live in a world where human morals and the rights of nations are sacrosanct to the highly and the lowly, to the governors and the governed. This time, every single metre of this country; each town, each village and each and every one of us is under attack from the most menacing war machine the world has witnessed until today.

The fight will not be easy. But it is necessary. We will fight to the best of our ability; we will win some battles; and others, we will lose. But in the end we will prevail. We will survive and outlive this threat; and we will find the strength to raise our hands and fight the menace that is approaching with all our strength. Strength that many of us do not even know we possess.

How do I know that?

Because we always have.

My beloved children, I wish you all good courage and God's blessings.
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