Mordechai Frizis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mordechai Frizis (Greek: Μαρδοχαίος Φριζής) was a Romaniote Jewish Greek military officer who died in action during the Greco-Italian War.

Mordechai Frizis was born on January 1, 1893, in the town of Chalkis, Euboea, the son of Jacob Frizis, one of twelve brothers and one sister.

Mordechai graduated in law from the University of Athens, and although his parents believed he would one day be a lawyer, Mordechai chose a different road for himself. The Balkan Wars of 1912-3 instilled a sense of patriotism in young Mordechai. In 1916 he entered officer training in Euboea.

He served in the Macedonian Front during World War I, the Ukrainian expedition of 1919, and in the Asia Minor Campaign. After the collapse of the Greek front in 1922, Lieutenant Mordechai and his soldiers were captured by the Turks. As a non-Christian officer he was offered his freedom. Mordechai refused, enduring eleven months of captivity with his soldiers.

The Greco-Italian War started on October 28, 1940 and marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II. Italy had concentrated a large part of the Italian Army in neighboring Albania, bordering Epirus. By now Mordechai was a Major in the Greek Army's VIII Infantry Division, based in Ioannina in Epirus, his orders to stop the Italian offensive from Albania.

Mordechai never left his men during the fighting and always thought of their interests first, earning the strong loyalty of his soldiers. He would call them his "boys", and they in turn gave themselves the nickname "Frizaens" or Frizis' boys. His troops distinguished themselves in the Battle of Kalama, defending the bridge over the Kalama River, and capturing 700 Italian soldiers.

On December 5, 1940, during the crossing of the Vistritsa River, two squadrons of Italian planes dived to attack the Greek column. After ordering his officers and men to take cover, Frizis remained mounted, despite being wounded by bomb fragments, continuing to rally his soldiers with the battle cry "Aera". After the planes left, his men found Frizis dead. Not having a Rabbi, a priest was brought over. He placed his hand on Mordechai's head and prayed: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one". Colonel Mordechai Frizis was the first senior officer in the Greek Army to be killed in World War II.

One December 17, 1940 the Vradhini newspaper declared that Mordechai Frizis' name was written in golden letters in the Pantheon of Heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the independence of Greece. From the court of King George II of Greece, the following letter was sent to his wife: "On the glorious death for his country of your beloved husband, the heroic Colonel Mordechai Frizis, His Majesty the king has instructed me to convey to you and you family his deepest condolences".

Ioannis Metaxas, the then Prime Minister of Greece, wrote the following letter to Mordechai's wife: "I learnt of the death on the field of honour of your husband, before you knew of it and I did not know how to inform you. Now from your letter I see that not only was he a hero, but he had a wife worthy of him. You and your family as well as those families, who have lost their protectors, will become the families of this state of ours. Please be assured that the protection of Greece will never leave you or your children. The children of Colonel Frizis will be revered by our nation's youth. With feelings of honour and love."

When the Axis forces entered Athens, a senior Italian officer named di Camp sought out Mordechai. He wrote in 1949: "The first thing I did was to learn where Mordechai Frizis was. He was a noble fighter and I wanted to meet him close up, to shake his noble hand. When I learnt he was dead, I was saddened Noble people cannot die. Perhaps they live on in our hearts, although they have left us in our lives."

The Metropolitan of Chalkis wrote to Mordechai's widow in 1954: "Heroic Colonel Mordechai Frizis will be a continuous and praise worthy example of sacrifice for religion and country – and he will be the permanent pride of Chalkis."

In 1976, the newspaper Israilina Nea (Isreali News) published a letter from a senior Naval officer which read: "Colonel Mordechai Frizis did not die. Every time Greece is in danger, he goes among us, bolt upright on this horse, inspiring us."

Greek poet writer Alexander Gavrielidhis wrote the following in dedication to the fallen hero under the title 'Heroes are not Forgotten':

"A legend was created in October 1940, as Greece refused for ever to accept Fascism. In a corner of the fields of Kalpaki history was written an example of great courage to younger generations. A shining courage brought glory to Greece, as one icy-cold morning a group of men died. On a proud horse he galloped to victory – the laurel wreath and the crown of roses belong to Mordechai. The name of Mordechai Frizis, pride of Chalkis, will live forever, a golden ray of sunshine. No one has forgotten him – heroes are not forgotten. He passed among the Immortals, and hymns will be sung in his honour. The mountains of Albania and the narrow banners and Flowers of Chalkis will ring out with song. The Greek people – Christians and Jews – will pray for you, young and old Farewell my hero, who gave your life – my brother, we will always be in your presence."

A memorial to Colonel Mordechai Frizis has been erected outside the National Military Museum in Athens.

In 2002 the remains of Mordechai Frizis, the first senior Greek officer to be killed in during World War II, were returned to Greece. They are buried in Thessaloniki's Jewish cemetery today.