New Exhibition Explores Greek Newspaper Coverage Of 1940 War
by Kosta Papadopoulos · Greek City TimesThe Greek press played a crucial role in documenting the Greco-Italian and Greco-German wars, recording military victories, soldiers’ sacrifices and the daily struggles of a society under attack. A new exhibition in Thessaloniki, titled How the Press Covered the Epic of 1940, explores this important chapter of modern Greek history through original newspaper reports, photographs, documents and wartime artefacts.
The exhibition opened on Wednesday evening at the Ministry of Interior’s Macedonia-Thrace division, taking visitors through the 219 days of the Greco-Italian and Greco-German campaigns. Its exhibits reveal not only the broader historical narrative but also how Greek newspapers captured the atmosphere, anxieties and determination of the period.
Deputy Interior Minister responsible for Macedonia and Thrace, Kostas Gioulekas, emphasised the importance of preserving historical memory and passing the messages of 1940 on to younger generations.
He said the exhibition aimed to do more than commemorate a past anniversary, stressing the need to keep historical knowledge alive.
Read more: October 28, 1940: Snow and Frostbite Plagues Greek Troops
“Our history is not a museum exhibit that we take off the shelf whenever a national anniversary arrives and then put away again until the next one. We must preserve the relevant messages of these anniversaries, struggles and sacrifices and pass them on to younger generations,” Gioulekas said.
He added that the freedom secured by previous generations carried not only rights but also responsibilities.
“The freedom our grandparents won through the pages of 1940 is not simply a right we inherited. Above all, it is our duty to preserve it and pass on a peaceful and undivided Greece to future generations,” he said.
The press as part of the historical record
Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) Board President Aria Agatsa highlighted the role of wartime journalists and the enduring responsibilities of the profession.
She said the Greek press in 1940 had a particular mission: to inform the public, convey the mood of society, document events and sustain the morale of a nation fighting for its freedom.
“Journalists worked under exceptionally difficult conditions. They transmitted news from the front, recorded the sacrifices of soldiers, the anxieties of families, the mobilisation of society and the determination of an entire nation. The press was not simply an observer of history. It was part of the historical record,” Agatsa said.
She also connected the exhibition to contemporary challenges facing journalism, noting that the unprecedented speed of information and the spread of misinformation have made journalistic credibility increasingly important.
Agatsa described AMNA’s participation as an opportunity to highlight the enduring value of journalism’s public mission.
Secretary-General for Communication and Information Dimitris Kirmikiroglou also stressed the importance of historical memory and the democratic record of the press.
He said initiatives connecting historical awareness with critical thinking, particularly among younger generations, carry particular significance at a time when society faces challenges ranging from misinformation to journalists’ safety.
From air-raid shelter notices to cartoons mocking Mussolini
The exhibition features newspaper front pages and inside pages documenting military operations, the liberation of cities and victories by the Greek army.
Other exhibits reveal the realities of everyday life during the war, including public announcements about air-raid shelters and curfews, obituaries honouring fallen soldiers, and newspaper coverage of theatrical performances and cinema screenings.
Visitors can also see wartime advertisements and cartoons that mocked Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, reflecting the mood and morale of Greek society.
Among the most striking physical exhibits are Greek Army blankets stained with the blood of Greek soldiers, military equipment from the battlefields, period uniforms and other historical objects.
The organisers sourced much of this material from private collections. The exhibition also includes artworks by prominent Thessaloniki painters and sculptors.
Journalism as the first draft of history
The presidents of journalists’ unions also highlighted the exhibition’s significance for the profession.
Giannis Voitsidis, president of the Journalists’ Union of Macedonia and Thrace, speaking also on behalf of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Unions, said the exhibition offered a unique opportunity to revisit a defining moment in Greek history through contemporary newspaper coverage.
He stressed that the exhibits demonstrate both how newspapers documented events and the considerable responsibilities journalists carry during war and national crises.
Dimitris Chortarias, president of the Union of Daily Newspaper Journalists of Thessaly, Central Greece and Evia, described the press as an important witness to historical events.
He said the exhibition reminded journalists that their profession involves more than reporting daily developments, carrying a wider responsibility towards history and society.
Thanasis Babanevas, representing the Union of Daily Newspaper Journalists of the Peloponnese, Epirus and the Islands, described the exhibition as a tribute to historical memory and to those executed or killed in the struggle for freedom and human dignity, as well as to the thousands who experienced the horrors of occupation.
Multiple institutions join forces
The Ministry of Interior’s Macedonia-Thrace division, AMNA and journalists’ unions from Athens, Macedonia-Thrace, the Peloponnese, Epirus, the islands, Thessaly, Central Greece and Evia jointly organise the exhibition.
ERT, the General State Archives and the Christos Kalemkeris Museum of Photography also support the initiative. Organisers additionally sourced material from the Hellenic Parliament’s newspaper archive.
The exhibition takes place at the Ministry of Interior’s Macedonia-Thrace division, inside the Thessaloniki Government House (Dioikitirio), and will remain open until February 2027.
Admission is free.
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 10:00–15:00
- Weekends: 11:00–19:00
(Source: AMNA)
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