In 1923, a year after Mussolini rose to power and as Greece was still reeling from the Asia Minor Catastrophe, Fascist Italy revealed its expansionist ambitions in the Balkans, according to sansimera.gr
The trigger was the murder of General Tellini and four members of the Italian commission tasked with demarcating the Greek-Albanian border. On August 27, 1923, they were ambushed and killed on the Ioannina–Kakavia road. Without waiting for investigations, Mussolini issued an ultimatum to Athens demanding a public apology, military honors, executions of the perpetrators, participation of Italian officers in the inquiry, and compensation of 50 million lire.
The Greek government, led by Nikolaos Plastiras, rejected most of these terms, insisting the culprits were Albanian bandits and proposing that the League of Nations handle the dispute.
On August 31, while diplomatic efforts were still underway, Italy launched a naval operation. A fleet of 25 warships appeared off Corfu, demanding its surrender. When Governor Petros Evripaios refused, Italian ships bombarded the city, killing 15 civilians—mostly women and children-and injuring 35. Italian troops then landed, occupied the island, and mockingly placed a wooden rooster on the Old Fortress with the inscription: “When this rooster crows, then the Italians will leave Corfu.”
Greece appealed to the League of Nations, which condemned the attack but faced strong resistance from Italy. The matter was referred to the Conference of Ambassadors, which forced Greece to pay the 50 million lire indemnity, hold a memorial service for the victims, and conduct further investigations under international supervision.
Only after these concessions did Italy agree to withdraw from Corfu on September 27, 1923, leaving the local population to bid farewell with the ironic chant: “Koukou-rikou!”
The murderers of Tellini and his team were never identified.
Source: sansimera
