Greek Civil War

The Greek Civil War was a war fought between 1942 and 1949. On one side was the conservative part of the Greek society and the armed forces of the Greek government, supported at first by Britain and later by the United States. On the other side was the revolutionary part of the Greek society and the forces of the biggest wartime resistance organization (ELAS) against the German occupation, whose leadership was controlled by the Communist Party of Greece.

Related Topics:
1942 - 1949 - Britain - United States - German - Communist Party of Greece

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The war had three phases. In the first phase (1942-1944), the left-wing resistance movement, fought against the right-wing resistance organizations. In the second phase (1944) the left-wing resistance movement which had the control of most of Greece, was confronted by the returning Greek government in exile, which had been formed under the auspices of the British in Cairo. In the third phase (called by KKE the third round) (1946-49), a center-wing conservative government, elected under abnormal conditions, fought against armed forces controlled by the Communist Party of Greece. It is quite peculiar the fact that although the third phase started in March of 1946 the Greek Communist Party was legal until 1948 coordinating the attacks from its offices in Athens.

Related Topics:
1942 - 1944 - Cairo - 1946 - 49 - Communist Party of Greece

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During the Greek civil war the neighbouring countries tried to press both sides in order to improve their territorial claims against Greece. The creation of SNOF (a Slavo-Macedonian liberation army) that fought as an ELAS ally during the third phase is just an example (see Macedonia). The civil war left Greece with severe economic problems and a legacy of political division which lasted until the 1970s and remains a controversial subject until today.

Related Topics:
SNOF - Macedonia

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