Axis Powers occupied Greece from 1941 to 1944.

And on one of those occupied islands, a professional relationship of sorts developed between the

Native Greek mayor and the German commandant tasked with subduing the population

and harnessing the town's industry for the war effort.

Obviously the mayor didn't want Nazis to occupy Greece, let alone his island. But he understood that things would

go easier for everyone in the town if he and the commandant got along. And the commandant, though

a Nazi, was reasonably polite.

He likewise wanted the cooperation of local government

and therefore wanted a professional business relationship

with the mayor.

And once a week or so, they would meet to discuss the affairs of government,

but would linger over a cup of coffee afterwards,

engage in philosophical conversations,

the Greek mayor representing his worldview of Aristotle,

Socrates, Holy Scripture, and the great ethicists of the Church, the commandant opining about Nietzsche, will, and nationalism, and they began to develop a respect

for one another as peers.

All things considered, living under Nazi occupation, the Greek mayor got along pretty well with a

commandant he could even see them potentially becoming friends but one day he was

summoned to the commandant's office, who met him outside in the yard, and

gestured to a Greek man, blindfolded in standing against the wall. And he explained that this man was a guerrilla fighter and he had been apprehended

attempting to sabotage the German supply line. Further, the commandant wasn't going to tolerate insubordination from the conquered

locals under his jurisdiction, who no doubt were abetting the resistance.

...