Lyrics of Coat of Arms by Sabaton
At dawn envoy arrives, morning of October 28th
No-day proven by deed, descendants of Sparta, Athens, and Crete
Look north, ready to fight, enemies charge from the hills
To arms facing defeat, there’s no surrender, there’s no retreat
Time after time, force their enemies back to the line
Call to arms, banners fly in the wind
For the glory of Hellas
Coat of arms reading “Freedom or Death”
Blood of king Leonidas
Air raid pounding the land, bombers are flying both day and night
Endure 6 days of rain dropped by invaders bomb raid in vain
Strike hard the tables have turned, drive them back over the hills
At arms just like before, soldiers, civilians, Hellas at war
By their own hand forced the enemy out of their land
Just like their ancestors ages ago, fought in the face of defeat
Those 300 men left a pride to uphold: Freedom or Death in effect
Then, now again, blood of heroes saving their land
Historical Background
In short: The song is about the Greek resistance against Italy in World War II.
Coat of Arms – Greece’s Defiance Against the Axis Powers
Some wars are fought out of ambition. Others out of survival. But Greece in 1940?
They fought for honor, history, and the soul of their nation.
Sabaton’s Coat of Arms isn’t just a song—it’s a tribute to one of the greatest acts of defiance in World War II. The Greco-Italian War (1940-1941) was supposed to be a quick victory for Mussolini. Instead, it became Italy’s humiliation and Greece’s finest hour.
This is how Greece stood against the Axis and made history.
The Invasion – Italy’s Big Mistake
“At dawn envoy arrives, morning of October 28th.”
On October 28, 1940, an Italian envoy arrived in Athens with an ultimatum from Mussolini:
Let us occupy Greece, or we invade.
Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas responded with a single word:
“Oxi!” (“No!”)
A few hours later, Italy attacked.
“No-day proven by deed, descendants of Sparta, Athens, and Crete.”
The Greeks were outnumbered, outgunned, and unprepared. But surrender? Not an option.
The Greek Counterattack – When Davids Crush Goliaths
“Call to arms, banners fly in the wind, for the glory of Hellas!”
The Italians invaded from Albania, expecting an easy win. Instead, they were stopped cold in the mountains of Epirus.
Despite being outnumbered and under-equipped, the Greek army:
- Used the terrain to their advantage—turning mountain passes into death traps.
- Counterattacked fiercely, pushing the Italians back.
- Liberated parts of Albania, embarrassing Mussolini on the world stage.
“Strike hard, the tables have turned, drive them back over the hills!”
What was supposed to be a quick Italian victory turned into a disaster. Mussolini had to call for German help—but Greece had already made its mark.
The German Invasion – Greece Falls, But Not Without a Fight
“Air raid pounding the land, bombers are flying both day and night.”
The Regia Aeronautica (Italys Air Force) flew many bombing raids against greek targets, but most of them were ineffective. Mostly because the British Royal Air Force was present and intercepted them.
“By their own hand, forced the enemy out of their land.”
The Greek Resistance became one of the most effective in Europe, keeping the fight alive for years.
In April 1941, Hitler sent the Wehrmacht to do what Italy couldn’t. German forces launched Operation Marita, and this time, Greece was overwhelmed. Athens fell on April 27, 1941.
But even in defeat, the Greeks fought to the last bullet. Civilians, partisans, and soldiers all resisted, refusing to bow to fascism.
Why Coat of Arms Still Matters
“Just like their ancestors ages ago, fought in the face of defeat.”
The Greek spirit in 1940 was the same as in Thermopylae (480 BC), Marathon (490 BC), and the Greek War of Independence (1821).
- It was the first Axis defeat of the war—Greece proved the Axis was not invincible.
- It delayed Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union, possibly changing the course of history.
- It showed the world that even a small nation could stand against tyranny.
“Freedom or Death in effect.”
Greece’s motto, “Eleftheria i Thanatos” (Freedom or Death), wasn’t just words—it was their way of life.
The Lesson?
Strength isn’t just about numbers or weapons. It’s about heart, defiance, and the will to fight for what’s right.
And in 1940, Greece showed the world what true courage looks like. looks like.
Listen to the song here:
