Mikis Theodorakis Panagiota Stathopoulou Crete (Cretan resistance) World War II in Albania The 22 July 1943 Athens protest (Greek: Διαδήλωση της 22ας Ιουλίου 1943) was a massive protest that took place in Athens, Axis-occupied Greece on 22 July 1943 against the German plans to expand the Bulgarian occupation zone in Greek Macedonia.

Bulgaria was given control of the islands of Thasos and Samothrace as well as a zone between the Strymon and Nestos rivers that later extended to Alexandroupolis.

[2] A massive campaign of Bulgarisation was launched, which saw all Greek officials (mayors, school-teachers, judges, lawyers, priests, gendarmes) deported.

Thus, early in July 1943, Adolf Hitler asked the Bulgarian government to extend its occupation zone to encompass additional territory in Serbia and Macedonia.

A protest strike was called on 13 July in Athens and proved highly successful, paralyzing the city almost completely for 24 hours.