The Greek Civil War

1. The Greek Civil War • So what’s up man why greece? • What does this have to do with anything? • Sup?

2. Lets meet the contenders • On the left we have the forces of the greek communist party the KKE and their militant wing the DSE. • On the right we have the post liberation government and their western benefactors.

3. The causes of this war • This conflict has its origin in World War 2 • Started with Italian attempts to take Greece, they failed. • German intervention came in 1941 Wermacht. • Italian troops left in charge of the country • Opposition is gone at least at first

4. Then what happened? • Collaborators put in charge of Greece, mainly from among the wealthy. • Only indirect resistance at first (stealing a swastika from the acropolis, um and…..applauding british p.o.w’s) • Soon these actions would turn to sabotage.

5. Communists as heroes, what the ? • Soon various resistance cells began to form but they lacked coordination • The Greek communists were used to operating in the shadows due to Metaxas regime, and were thus perfectly suited to this new environment • Culminated in the E.A.M or national liberation front Εθνικό Απελευθερωτικό Μέτωπο started in September of 1941

6. Εθνικό Απελευθερωτικό Μέτωπο • They organized town councils and other groups to aid the people of greece • This lead to the creation of ELAS Ελληνικός Λαϊκός Απελευθερωτικός Στρατός Greek people’s liberation Army

7. ZHTW H ELAS • Elas would help organize strikes • Elas grew due to German reprisals, most of the members were demobbed soldiers. • Elas began to take most of Greece by 1943 • May to July Elas’ numbers doubled. • First phase of the civil war almost over aggression between socialist and non socialist groups in Elas.

8. Now that the war is going our way? • By 1944 most towns had independent town councils. • Commies weren’t to keen on that they were afraid that only men and rich men would have power. • KKE had a lot of power thanks to EAM what to do now Revolution or Unity • Soviet operatives cautioned moderation because of Yalta conference.

9. KKE after Yalta • Most members of Elas were not ardent communist only the higher ups were. • Most were sympathetic to the KKE • Nazi’s put Ioannis Rallis in charge of Greece he is anti communist and creates new battalions to destroy EAM

10. The second phase • September 1944 soviet blockade threatened the Axis forces left in Greece so they made plans for withdrawal • When Greece was finally for the most part liberated disagreements over the disarmament of troops lead to open conflict in the streets of Athens • These conflict would cost the EAM support amongst the people, finally a ceasefire was reached between the british/battalionist forces and Elas. • Britain claimed that Elas wanted to overthrow the government, which was not true

11. From Heroic beginnings to a lingering death • Dekembriana or the 37 days of fighting prior to the ceasefire most of ELAS’ prominent members would leave the organization as a result of these events. • KKE attack on a police station prompted more hostility in March of 1946 • KKE now had a new armed wing known as the DSE they would conduct attacks and raids from borderlands. • Supported by Yugoslavia and Albania independent regimes • No support from Moscow Yalta.

12. THE DSE • Would coerce supplies from villagers • Villagers would be labeled collaborators and either detained or deported. • They would primarily attack the northern parts of the country causing fear and then retreating immediately offering no resistance to Greek army personnel. Thus demoralizing the army.

13. OH I’m not paying for that OH America you are too kind! • The United States took over the financial aid obligations of Britain to Greece. • This action was taken under the mantle of the Truman doctrine which pledged to help Greece and Turkey fight communism from a minority found within or resist a force found outside of the country. • Eventually this doctrine would be generalized to apply to the whole world.

14. The end of my presentation almost I promise • 1947 the KKE was banned in greece • Did not Side with Yugoslavia so Tito Kicked them out. • Sided with the Soviet Union which caused great problems for the KKE • Allegations of Titoism lead to a weakening of the group. • September 1949 Albania tells KKE no more attacks from their soil. • Competent General Papagos effectively deals the DSE a deathblow by carrying out a series of successful attacks

15. The end or is it • A cease fire with the Greek government was declared on August 16th 1949 • Many were deported from Greece during the civil war and ended up in Communist countries, others fled persecution. • Some were labeled as communists for having been members of Elas during Nazi times some were actually put away for having fought Nazism. • Others were denied entrance into the U.S for having been members of ELAS even though they were not communists but freedom fighters. • Truman doctrine marked the beginning of U.S interference politics that would culminate in the Eisenhower doctrine, which led to Vietnam etc.