Saltadoros..The literal meaning is someone who takes something when no one is looking.
In a country of fewer than eight million, over 400,000 Greeks died during the Second World War, the vast majority civilians. Starvation and inflation were so bad that a loaf of bread costs 2 million drachma and people traded property and homes for olive oil to keep their children alive. Daily survival became the top priority. Adolescents formed groups called saltadoroi. Five or six of them would accost a German truck and occupy the driver's attention while others would pilfer as much of the lorry's contents as possible. Sometimes the truck was carrying food, at other times gasoline, and at other times spare parts. Anything and everything would be used. Even if these small acts of resistance were not much more than the proverbial fly on the lion's nose, the Germans took them very seriously, and no distinctions were made between the children saltadoroi and the older adolescents who were involved in more systematic and organized resistance. If captured, they were all summarily executed.
Times of difficulty can often be fruitful for the creative spirit and some of the best Greek songs were written during the occupation. This song "Saltadoros" became the hymn of the Greek resistance. It is about stealing fuel cans from the back of German military trucks during the Nazi occupation. A stolen reserve gas can could command a week's supply of bread and olive oil for a family. It was a time of survival, and the risk of getting caught was death. "Saltadoros" was written by Michalis Genitsaris and Giorgos Katsaros. It came to symbolize the Resistance's determination to survive and free their country. It has recently had a resurgence in popularity due to the widespread hardships brought about by the current economic catastrophe.
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Following are the original lyrics and rough english translation.
Σαλταδόρος
Saltadoros
The Swiper

Ζηλεύουνε, δεν θέλουνε, ντυμένο να με δούνε
Zilevouve, den theloune, dimeno na me doune
They are jealous, they don't want to see me well-dressed

Mπατίρη θέλουν να με δουν, για να φχαριστηθούνε
Batiri theloun na me doun, yia na fxaristithoune
They'll only be happy to see me down and out

Θα σαλτάρω, θα σαλτάρω τη ρεζέρβα θα τους πάρω
Tha saltaro, tha saltaro, ti rezerva tha tous paro
I'll swipe them, I'll swipe them, I'll swipe the gas-cans off their trucks

Μα εγώ πάντα βολεύομαι, γιατί τηνε σαλτάρω
Ma ego panta volevomai yiati tine saltaro
But I always manage because I swipe them

σε κάνα αμάξι Γερμανού, και πάντα τη ρεφάρω
Se kana amaksi Yermanou, kai panta ti refaro
From some German truck and I share it out

Θα σαλτάρω, θα σαλτάρω, τη ρεζέρβα θα τους πάρω
Tha saltaro, tha saltaro, ti rezerva tha tous paro
I'll swipe them, I'll swipe them, I'll swipe the gas-cans off their trucks

Βενζίνες και πετρέλαια εμείς τα κυνηγάμε
Venzines kai petrelaia emeis ta kiniyame
It's petrol and kerosene we're after

γιατί έχουνε πολλά λεφτά και φίνα την περνάμε
Yiati exoune polla lefta kai fina tin pername
Because they're worth a fortune and we get by fine

Σαν πουλήσω τη ρεζέρβα
San pouliso ti rezerva
When I sell that reserve gas-can

Οα την πιω να γίνω τέξα
Tha tin pio na yino teksa
I'll drink enough alcohol to knock me out

Κι 'οταν ρίξω και καμμιά, ρεζέρβα που την λένε
Ki otan rikso kai kammia. Rezerva pou tin lene
And when I throw a spare gas-can from the truck

Την πάω για τον νταβατζή κι αμέσως κονομιέμαι
Tin pao yia ton davatzi ki amesos konomiemai
I'll take it to the black market buyer and its cash on the line

Σαν αρπάξω τη ρεζέρβα
San arpakso ti reserve
When I grab that spare gas-can

Είναι ντου και σήκω φεύγα
Einai dou kai siko fevya
It's off with me, I hit the road

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