“Great Panathinaikos-Anglican Air Force football match”: The Greek flag is raised on the Avenue!

On October 8, 1944, as recalled by Amateur Panathinaikosthe manager of the historic Avenue Stadium, Antonis Brettosraised in his historic headquarters “clover” the flag of freedom, sending a message of hope to the Greeks and giving courage to dozens of our compatriots, who were tortured in “Averof” prisons.

During the German occupation (April 27, 1941-October 12, 1944), the Alexandra Avenue stadium had been imposed by the Germanswho used it for their matches, having, in fact, looted the trophy case as well.

The “Averof” prisons were located opposite the Panathinaikos stadium, with the screams from the torturewhich the Greek patriots endured, to be heard throughout the region.

In the early hours of October 8, 1944, with the darkness in the streets of Athens to be deep and only German soldiers walking the streets, Antonis Vrettos, manager of the Alexandra Avenue stadium for many years, having even experienced the addition of stands in 1932, left his home to go to his second home, at the stadium of Panathinaikos.

Shortly after one after midnight, Vrettos opened his door “hidden school”, as they called the room, where the members and athletes of Panathinaikos listened to the BBC news. Since the previous day, the allied forces were landing in the Peloponnese, as the radio station broadcast, news which “armed” a man with determination, who was destined to go down in history with his next act.

A brave man anyway, as he had a great action during the occupation period, organizing and participating in the mission to free the man sentenced to death for sabotage against the Germans, Michalis Papazoglouwhich ended up saving his life.

Thus, taking a chalkwrote on a blackboard outside the platform on the Alexandra Avenue side, the following phrase: “Next Sunday, a great football match between Panathinaikos and English Air Force. Long live freedom»!

The German guards were a breath away, but the announcement was there, filling anyone who read it with pride. But he didn’t stay there. At seven in the morning on October 8, 1944, he raised the Greek flag at the highest point of the Panathinaikos stadium. The blue and white rose again in the sky of Athens after 3.5 years!

The Panathinaikos Athletic Club, through a man who was a part of it, can be proud of an act greater than any trophy that can be conquered.

Antonis Vrettos will communicate his move to the then mayor of Athens, Angelo Georgantaswith a letter, which will remain forever engraved in the memory of the Greek people:

Four days later, on October 12, 1944, the Germans left and Athens was free again.