A brief summary of the historical events

A brief summary of the major historical events of this period and a description of the players will be useful for audiences unfamiliar with them:

1. Greece had been under the Metaxas dictatorship for four years when Mussolini attacked in 1940. Metaxas was supported by the British and was therefore unable to align himself with the Axis. The Italian advance was stopped in 1940 by the fierce resistance of the Greek Army, but the German occupation began on April 27, 1941.

2. During the Nazi occupation several resistant groups were formed. The most popular organization was organized under the leadership of the Communist Party: the National Liberation Front (EAM) which formed the People’s Liberation Army (ELAS). The exiled royalist government and the British supported rightwing groups. As Liberation approached in 1944, all factions agreed to form a Government of National Unity. Later EAM agreed not to occupy Athens or initiate a civil war, which allowed the British to land—“to save the country from anarchy.”

3. As the Germans withdrew in October 1944, General Scobie, the British officer in charge of the occupation, demanded the disarmament of ELAS despite earlier agreements. EAM resigned from the government. A mass demonstration on December 3 resulted in bloodshed when police fired into the crowd. This began the Battle of Athens which eventually culminated in the Varkiza Agreement on February 12, 1945. EAM was promised parliamentary representation and amnesty for ELAS provided they disbanded within 15 days. The amnesty did not include violations of the “Common Penal Code” which gave the right wing the legal excuse to persecute tens of thousands of resistance fighters.

4. Realizing the bluff, some ELAS groups refused to obey and instead returned to the mountains. British Foreign Secretary Ernest Blevin insisted that elections be held immediately, despite the chaotic situation. The government was forced to resign, all democratic parties withdrew from the elections and the royalists won an easy victory in March 1946. By October the guerrillas had formed the Democratic Army and the Civil War raged more bloodily than before. In February 1947 the British informed the United States that they wished to withdraw. On March 12, 1947, Truman announced U.S. intentions to “aid Greece,” marking the beginning of an intervention in the internal affairs of Greece.

5. Military operations ceased by 1949, the right wing fortified by continuing U.S. presence and aid. The 1952 elections brought Field Marshal Papagos to power heading the extreme right wing of the Greek Mobilization Party. By winning 49.2% of the popular vote he was given 82.3% of the Seats in Parliament as a result of an election law imposed by the intervention of the American Embassy.