The Civil War in Greece
The Civil War in Greece
The Civil War in Greece
Civil war in Greece (1945)
ImageImmediately after the end of the Second World War, civil war erupts in Greece and leads to British troops being deployed on the streets of Athens.
Fighting in the streets of Athens (1945)
ImageIn January 1945, British troops, backed up by tanks, take up strategic positions in the city of Athens to help the Greek police maintain order.
The return of George II (1946)
ImageOn 28 September 1946, King George II returns to Greece from exile in Egypt, causing a civil war to break out with the communist opposition.
'No thank you, General' from Der Spiegel (22 February 1947)
TextOn 22 February 1947, the German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel describes the events of the civil war in Greece on the eve of the British troops’ departure from the country.
Memorandum from Joseph M. Jones to Loy Henderson (28 February 1947)
TextOn 27 February 1947, the most eminent figures in the US Congress are called to the White House to be briefed on Britain’s inability to continue to support the Greek and Turkish Governments in their resistance to Communist pressure.
Memorandum from Joseph M. Jones (12 March 1947)
TextOn 7 March 1947, US President Harry S. Truman asks Congress to approve his plan to provide aid to Greece and Turkey with the aim of preventing the Communists from taking power.
'The two faces of modern Greece' from the Süddeutsche Zeitung (31 October 1947)
TextOn 31 October 1947, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung gives an account of the Greek civil war.
Cartoon by Woop on Moscow’s role in the civil war in Greece (9 January 1948)
Image‘Civil war, third costume’. On 9 January 1948, cartoonist Woop criticises Moscow’s role in the civil war in Greece and warns against the political designs of the Soviet Union in France and Italy. On the right, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin dresses the god of war in the ceremonial uniform of the Greek army.
Address given by Paul-Henri Spaak (Brussels, 3 March 1948)
TextOn 3 March 1948, Belgian Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spaak delivers an address to the Belgian Lower House in which he gives his opinion on the current conflict in Greece.
Statement by Dean Acheson (17 October 1949)
TextOn 17 October 1949, Dean Acheson, US Secretary of State, welcomes the ceasefire in Greece and comments on the military situation in the Balkans and on the activities being carried out by the Greek guerrilla forces.
‘Ceasefire in Greece' from Le Monde (19 October 1949)
TextOn 19 October 1949, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on the suspension of hostilities in Greece and considers the political future of a bloodstained country devastated by three years of civil war.
Economic hardship in Greece
ImageAs a result of the considerable destruction suffered by Greece during its civil war between 1946 and 1949, the Greek economy takes time to recover and a large part of the population lives in poverty.
Harry S. Truman, Mémoires
TextDans ses Mémoires, Harry S. Truman, ancien président des États-Unis, rappelle le rôle joué par les Américains dans l'écrasement de la révolte communiste en Grèce au lendemain de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.