The March 25th Celebration at AETE

In 1945, the March 25 anniversary was the first since 1940 to find Greece free, lending the celebratory events a special splendor. This is also evident in the case of the Anonymous Hellenic Telephone Company (AETE), the company that had taken over the automatic telephone interconnection between cities prior to the establishment of OTE in 1949.

As noted in the celebration program, which is preserved in the archival collections of the Museum of Telecommunications: “After four years of particularly grueling work for the staff of the Telephone Company, during which the celebration of our National Anniversary took the form of a secret ritual, much like that of the early Christians in the catacombs, because fear reigned and slavery oppressed them, the day has finally arrived when, now free, we are able to celebrate the anniversary of our national rebirth.”

The celebration was organized at the initiative of AETE employees and technicians at the Aliki Theater, while the program included speeches by representatives of the employees and management, as well as recitations and songs with themes of national liberation.

The event was attended, on behalf of the government, by Interior Minister Georgios Athanasiadis-Novas, who, concluding his brief remarks, urged “that very soon all Greeks will dial 14 together and learn, with guaranteed security, the exact time when our national dreams will come true!” His words are indicative of the state of the country’s telephone and telegraph network, 90% of which had been destroyed. The telephone network had not been completely dismantled, unlike the telegraph network; however, upon their withdrawal, the occupiers destroyed it by blowing up a large portion of the telephone lines.

Also in attendance at the celebration were AETE General Manager Themistoklis Pentheroudakis and members of the Board of Directors, representatives of the Army and the General Confederation of Greek Workers, figures from the intellectual and artistic communities, as well as the company’s entire staff.

Photos:

1. The program cover, featuring the mythical phoenix, known for its ability to rise from its own ashes. The phoenix was one of the most famous symbols of the 1821 Revolution, symbolizing the rebirth of the Greek nation.
2. The detailed program of the celebration inside the brochure.