King George ll of the Hellenes, Crown Prince Paul and Greek Royal army officers inspect an Artillery division located on the outskirts of Athens. The king inspected the honour gaurd and then met with Archbishop Damaskinos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. The formalities for the visit where concluded with a religious service perfomed by the Archbishop.
On 28 October 1940 at three o'clock in the morning Metaxas was awakened by the Italian Minister Signor Grazzi who handed him an ultimatum from the Italian Government demanding the right to occupy Greece and announcing that Italian forces would begin their advance into Greek Territory in three hours time.
"The answer is NO" said Metaxas simply. "This is war"
Mussolini's Italy Invades the Kingdom of Greece (1940)
Metaxas was in full accord with the King, who alone, under the constitution, could say yea or nay to war. Confident in his position, he was able instantly to reject the Italian Ultimatum. Metaxas then Telephoned the King and told him what had happened. At five o'clock in the morning the king was presiding at an emergency meeting of the cabinet. Later that day the Greek General staff issued its first war communique; 'Since 5.30 this morning Italian military forces have been attacking our advanced units on the Graeco-Italian frontier. Our forces are defending the national soil.'
King George ll of the Hellenes in a message to his people said; "Im sure every Greek will do his duty to the end, the nation will fight as one man to final victory"
The Day the Kingdom of Greece entered the war King George ll assumed supreme command of all the Armed Forces. The King, as supreme commander, Remained in Athens; almost every day he presided over meetings of the war council in the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
The nation rallied behind its King to fight an invading enemy.
Princess visits wounded soldiers
Princess Frederika of the Hellenes visits Greek soldiers at a military hospital. The princess visits wards with a cheerful greeting and goes from bed to bed talking to each patient. It is well known that the Princess made it a practice when visiting military hospitals that she spoke to all the injured in a ward she visited. The soldiers are delighted with the visit of the Princess which goes a long way to boosting their morale. Soldiers give the Princess flowers forgetting for a moment their pain and boredom.
Other ladies of the Greek royal family - Princess Katherine who joined the Greek red Cross in 1939, and Princess Aspasia and her daughter, Princess Alexandra - all shouldered tasks of welfare for Greek troops, and all earned respect for the way they did their work. The footage shows Princess Alexandra (climbing the stairs with a basket) distributing care packages to the wounded.
A jubilant nation celebrates victory
A public notice is posted announcing that on 22 November 1940, the Royal Hellenic forces liberated Korytsa (Korçë). Jubilant Greeks march through the streets celebrating the liberation of Korytsa with flags and portraits of King George ll of the Hellenes and placards praising King George ll and Ioannis Metaxas.
Later in January, Greece suffered a greater shock than ever the Italians gave her, for Metaxas died Suddenly , following an operation on his throat. The news, hit Greece hard. There was not one man in Greece of the same calibre to take his place, none with the personality and prestige to direct the country through the dire troubles ahead.
After a short delay, King George ll found his next prime minister, Alexandros Koryzis,, a well meaning man who had been Minister of Public welfare, and who accepted his great responsibilities and was sworn in as Metaxas’ successor.
He pledged to continue the sterling work of Metaxas with these words:
"At a moment when a hard fate has deprived the nation of the great figure of John Metaxas, by command of the King the Government is inheriting the heavy task of continuing his great work. The historic paths which the great leader traced for the life of the nation have been for a long time traced in the consciousness of the Greek people, and in our hearts, especially at this time when the fighting forces of the nation, by their heroic deeds against the invader, are showing our unalterable determination to preserve the life, honour and liberty of our country as the great man who is dead dreamed of them.
The work of John Metaxas as a whole is so wide, so great, and so complex that, in the anguish of this moment, we have neither time nor strength to praise it. We only give to the Greek people the assurance that, under the leadership of the King and with the assistance of the Greek nation fighting with self-sacrifice, we shall continue with determination a national programme the first aim of which is to gain the victory against the enemy and then to serve the labouring classes which constitute the nation’s productive power.
Not only the principles which in this case John Metaxas put into practice in complete accord with his collaborators, guarantee this continuity, but the past social activity of the Prime Minister and his Government also guarantees it. Before the dead leader and at the moment when the Government are taking up the continuation of his great work, our first thought turns to our fighting forces, who are glorifying the name of Greece on the field of honour.
With the certainty that the nation will bring to a victorious end the struggle which it has begun, and by which Greece will pursue her great destiny, we march under the blessing of God with courage and faith to the fulfillment of our duty. "
On the same date, King George II also issued a proclamation about the 4th of August regime’s continuity in which he stated in his own words:
"John Metaxas, who for five years governed my country at my side with adroitness and sacrifice, who left a deep mark on the nation by his creative activity and by his luminous intellect, who revived the national moral and stood up courageously before the enemy’s slander, has now left our midst to enter that place where the glorious figures of Greek history are gathered together.
Honouring his memory, I assure my people that the work carried out up to now in all the fields of political, military, labour, and agricultural reform, as well as in the national organization of youth, will continue ever in the same spirit. The fact that the President, as well as the members of the new Government, to which I now as hitherto have given my approval, have been for a long time collaborators with the dead man is a clear guarantee of this.
Closely united with my people who are gathered round my throne, and inspired by the high example of the recent glorious pages in our national history, I am certain that, with loyalty and self-sacrifice, my Ministers will, with devotion and self-sacrifice, lead to the end the gigantic struggle which the heroic Greek Army is continuing on the field of honour, and which, you may be sure, will bring the struggle to a triumphant end.
I ask, from all Greeks, men and women, that they should continue to give as hitherto the same admirable tokens of their patriotism and discipline. With the help of God and the blessing of the Holy Virgin, with the power and will of the nation, Greece -eternal Greece- will live and triumph in a manner worthy of our great forefathers, worthy of our heroes and martyrs."
Greek Independence day celebration (1941)
Greek independence day was celebrated on the 25th March 1941, only 33 days before the Capital of Greece fell to the Germans on the 27th April 1941.
An honor guard is formed and spectators assembled as King George ll pays homage by laying a memorial wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier at Syntagma Square in Athens. In attendance were many dignitaries which included members of the Greek Royal family, the prime minister Mr Alexandros Koryzis and Officers of the Greek royal army, The King then reviews the parade, standing close to the street, in front of the Tomb of the Unknown soldier, flanked by the crown Prince Paul and Prince George. The parade was made up of members of the youth organisation EON and students.
Athens renames road in honor of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
On the 17th March 1941 Akadamias Road (named after the Academy) in Athens was officially renamed Franklin Roosevelt road in honor of the Philhellene President.
The Crown Prince Paul visited Greek troops on the front line and distributed medals and decorations.
Several shots of Nurses on a Greek red cross ship.
The Kingdom of Greece Repels Italy - (6th April 1941)
Celebrations break out all over the kingdom of Greece
Greeks celebrate after the Greek Royal army repelled the initial Italian attack and a counter-attack in March 1941.The public took to the streets to celebrate. Crowds celebrated with many waving flags and holding banners with messages such as "LONG LIVE THE KING", LONG LIVE THE ARMY (EON) and banners with the slogan "YOU SHALL NOT PASS", rejoicing in the defeat of the Italian war machine.
The supreme commander of the Greek Royal Army King George ll of the Hellenes, Prime Minister Alexandros Koryzis and Crown prince Paul pass through the exuberant crowd in an open air car as people stood waving, clapping and cheering. They enter a building in Athens and then they leave again.
On 6 April the German Army struck from across the Bulgarian frontier. The Greek forts facing Bulgaria held out till the end, but German forces advancing rapidly through Yugoslavia in the West outflanked the Greek Line of fortifications and reached Thessaloniki on 9 April. The Greek forces withdrew to a defensive position further south on the Aliakmon River where they were joined by British and commonwealth troops which had meanwhile landed in Greece.
Under heavy pressure from the advancing enemy the Greek and allied forces fell back from the Aliakmon line and took up defensive positions further south at Thermopylae on 17 April. The situation was clearly hopeless , and the next day the prime minister , Koryzis, saw King George and advised capitulation. The King had issued an order of the day only three days earlier ruling out any such eventuality.
"The Honour and best interests of Greece and the fate of the Greek nation prelude and thought of capitulation, the moral calamity of which would be incomparably greater than any other disaster" he said. "It must not be forgotten also that the British forces continue to fight in the defence of the Greek soil." To be told now by his own prime minister that Greece should surrender was too much for the king , who rounded furiously on Koryzis and told him that this was not the advice he expected from any Greek , least of all from the Prime Minister. Koryzis accepted the kings admonishment in silence and took his leave after emotionally kissing the kings hand. As soon as he had reached his house alexander Koryzis had gone to his study and shot himself.
On the 20th General Wavell had an audience with the king, who as acting head of the Government approved the decision that the evacuation of the British troops was essential. To the end the Greek forces covered the evacuation even though General Tsolacoglou, commanding the Greek armies in the Epirus, sought an armistice without the knowledge or consent of the King and Government, Greek troops in Western Epirus held up the southward advance of the SS Motorised division sufficiently long to enable many thousands of men to reach the Peloponnese and escape.
Finding a successor proved no easy task; nobody was particularly anxious to form a government with the enemy at the gate. For three days King George was his own Prime Minister until on 21 April (6 days before the capital fell) Emmanuel Tsouderos, a Cretan banker, accepted the kings mandate.
On the same day the decision was taken for the King and the Royal family to move to Crete , where the seat of government to be established and to which a large proportion of the allied forces from the mainland were also being evacuated.
In the private chapel in the palace where the king usually worshipped all the members of the royal family gathered for a last service together , those who were leaving and those who were staying behind. They all took holy communion, King George grim-faced and dry eyed, the others in tears.
On 22 April (5 days before the capital fell) Princess Frederika was evacuated by flying boat to Crete with her two children, Sophia aged two and a half years and ten month old Konstantine. Pauls sister Katherine and King Alexanders widow Aspasia and her daughter Alexandria were also in the plane but Paul himself remained behind with the King. On Refuelling the Sunderland took off again for Athens to evacuate the king, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister , who all arrived at Suda Bay next day.
The stay in Crete was short as on 20 May the German airborne attack began and it soon became evident that the island could not be held. The sunderland was soon taking off again from Suda Bay, this time heading for Alexandria and with a much bigger load which included, besides the crown prince and his family, the commander in chief of the British forces , General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, and several of his senior officers and staff.
King Georges escape from Crete was more perilous. When the attack began and selective air bombing showed that his where abouts had become known to the enemy, the King left Canea where he had set up his headquarters and moved on to another house, but the German air-bombing continued and he was obliged to move again. General Freyburg, the allied commander in Crete, now insisted that the King should be evacuated to a safer place - "If the king is killed it cant be helped ; what we have to be avoid at all costs is his being taken prisoner' was the blunt way he put it . Evacuation could only be affected by sea from the south coats, so king George and his party, which included his cousin Prince Peter, the prime minister and several others escorted by a platoon of New Zealanders made their way southwards over the hump of the white mountains. Some of the time the king rode on a mule but most of the laborious journey was on foot. Finally, after three days and nights of constant climbing and several narrow escapes from German parachutists, the party reached the coast of Sphakia where they were picked up by the British destroyer Decoy and taken to Alexandria on 1 June.
For his courage under enemy fire during this operation King George was awarded the British DSO, the only reigning sovereign ever to receive this decoration.
After a brief stay in Alexandria the King , the Crown Prince and his family and the Greek Government left for Cairo setup his headquarters at the Greek legation.
An Invitation from the British Government to move to London, where most of the other allied governments in exile were already established , was gratefully accepted by the Greek Government and on 27 June 1941 King George and the other members of the royal family, together with the Greek government and senior officials , sailed from port said on the liner Nieuw Amsterdam for England via the Cape
Members of the Greek Government in Exile arrive in London, 21 SEPTEMBER 1941
On 21 September 1941 the Durban Castle arrived in Liverpool Where the Greek Royal Party were welcomed by the Duke of Gloucester on behalf of the King of England. When the train bringing King George ll of the Hellenes, The Crown Prince and the prime minister of Greece drew into Euston station that afternoon, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth together with winston Churchill and the British cabinet were waiting at the Platform to greet Them.
King George II of the Hellenes addresses his people (September 1941)
In September 1941 the King of the Hellenes, accompanied by the Crown Prince, Colonel Levidis and others of his immediate entourage, as well as Prime Minister Tsouderos and members of his government , went on to England. London was the centre of anti-axis resistance, where the exiled Governments of an overrun Europe had assembled.
King George II addresses the nation both at home and overseas. He calls for all Greeks to stand firm in the dark days ahead as his armed forces continue in the fight to liberate Greece
The Royal Hellenic Navy fleet joins the allied navy.
Crown Prince Paul of Greece visits the cruiser "Averof". The Crown Prince goes onboard H.H.M.S. Averof where he is greeted by Captain John Vlachopoulos and the ship's officers. The Crown Prince then inspects the Royal guard of honour
KING GEORGE ll VISITS HIS TROOPS IN PALESTINE FOR GREEK NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS (1942) (DIFFERENT FOOTAGE)
Date: 31st March 1942
On March 25th, Greek National Day, King George ll of the Hellenes visited his troops training in Palestine with General Bernard Freyberg, General Tzanakakis, G.O.C. of Greek Royal Army and the Greek Prime Minister, Mr Emmanouil Tsouderos. There was a review of the troops, a march past, an address by the king, a sports meeting and solemn mass was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Timotheos of Jerusalem. As the march past began , three planes of the Royal Hellenic Airforce roared over the stand. Among the civilian onlookers were many Greek children in their National dress.
ALEXANDRIA’S GREEK ASSOCIATIONS CELEBRATE GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY 1942
The commander in chief of the Greek royal army King George ll takes centre stage for a parade in Alexandria (Egypt).
COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE GREEK ROYAL FORCES KING GEORGE B AT A MARCH-PAST OF ALEXANDRIA’S GREEK ASSOCIATIONS FOR GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY 1942 .
The King of the Hellenes watched the march past of various Greek Youth Associations and school-girls and boys in the Alexandria Stadium. (Egypt)
The offical party included Baker Pasha (Chief of Alexandria Police), Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, Admiral Pridham-Whipple, P Kanellopoilos, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Christoforos for Africa, and the Greek premier, E Tsouderos.
The 335th RHAF Squadron with callsign "Tiger", was formed on October 10th 1941 at Aqir, Palestine, under the RAF command, named as 335th Hellenic Squadron FG - Fighting Greeks.
The Squadron was initially equipped on 1941 with Hawker Hurricanes Mk I and later with Mk IIb & Mk IIc subordinated to the RAF 339th Combat Wing. The 335th RHAF Squadron was manned by Greek Air Force & Army Air Corps personnel, who had been earlier sent to Jordan to be trained by British RAF officers, as well as many pilots who escaped Greece after the German occupation, for carrying on the liberation fight. The Squadron was engaged in defensive duties from October 1941 until January 1942, when it moved to the Western Desert to fly fighter patrols. In June 1942, it was withdrawn to Egypt and returned in September 1942 with Hawker Hurricanes Mk IIb & Mk IIc for ground attack & escort missions. The RAF allowed the Greek Squadrons to paint the Greek national roundels on the aircraft fuselage & in some cases under the wings. This honorary treatment by the RAF was the result of an agreement between the exile Greek government and the British High Command, because of the way the Greeks had fought against the Germans.
After the battle of El Alamein, the 335th Squadron was engaged in shipping protection duties along the Libyan coast until September 1944, when it moved to Italy with Supermarine Spitfires Mk Vb & Vc. After six weeks of sweeps over Albania and Yugoslavia, the 335th Squadron moved back to Greece in November for sweeps over German-occupied islands in the Aegean and Crete until the end of the WWII. In September 1945, the Squadron redeployed and moved to Thessaloniki Sedes airport. In June 1947 the Squadron was equipped with Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXe LF/HF and fought in combat operations during the civil war. Two years later, it appears equipped with Supermarine Spitfires Mk XVI.
President Roosevelt presents a Submarine Chaser to the Royal Hellenic Navy
On June 10, 1943 at the Washington Navy Yard, the United States transferred a 173-foot submarine chaser named King George II under the terms of lend lease to the Kingdom of Greece to aid in their resistance efforts. The submarine chaser was christened King George ll in honour of the nations commander-in-chief and king.
At the ceremony, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expresses hope that the Kingdom of Greece will soon be liberated from the control of Axis powers. The President remarked "Today, Greece is a gaunt and haggard sample of what the Axis is so eager and willing to hand to all the world."
The ambassador of the Kingdom of Greece Cimon Diamantopoulos, spoke at the ceremony marking the transfer of the submarine chaser and expressed his nations deep thanks and appreciation.
Navy: The Royal Hellenic Navy
Type: Patrol craft
Class: PC-461
Pennant:P 17
Built by Nashville Bridge Co. (Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.)
Laid down: 22 May 1942
Launched: 7 Jul 1942
Commissioned: 10 Jun 1944
End service: 1963
History:
Transferred to the Kingdom of Greece on 10 June 1944 as a gift from the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Stricken in 1963.
King George II of the Hellenes addresses his people announcing general elections (4 July 1943)
In order to counter leftist propaganda in occupied Greece and abroad to the effect that the allies were going to impose a government after the liberation, King George made a broadcast to the Greek people on 4 July 1943 in which he promised that general elections would be held as soon as security had been restored, that the Greek Government in Cairo would resign when it arrived in Athens, and that meanwhile the 1911 constitution would be in force, this last assurance being tantamount to a repudiation of the Metaxas Regime.
On the morning of 4 October British forces occupied Patras , The main port in south western Greece, and on 14 October they entered Athens , hot on the heels of the retreating Germans. The commander-in-chief of the Greek forces, King George ll, wanted to be at the head of his army as they entered Greece however it was not meant to be. On 18 October the Government of King George ll of the Hellenes arrived and established itself once again on Greek Soil. By 11 November the last of the German forces had left the country, and the Kingdom of Greece was once again free after three and a half years of of Enemy occupation. The Kings forces were slowly returning to Greece from their deployment overseas and the Communists saw their opportunity to replace the Kingdom of Greece with a communist republic which they could only hope to achieve through force, the moment for action had clearly arrived for the Communist rebels.
NEWSREEL: The liberation of Greece has been continuing at a smooth and rapid place. The force landed at Piraeus, the port near Athens, the Germans having already evacuated. The British tommies were welcomed in the streets of the Greek capital with great rejoicing.
The 336 Squadron from Hassani airport carries out ground attack missions against the German forces in MIlos.
HISTORY
The 336 Squadron with callsign «Olympos», was established for the 1st time, on February 25, 1943 at the «Landing Ground 219» airport near Cairo, Egypt. Its first name was 336 «Hellenic Royal Fighter Bomber Squadron». The 336 Squadron was the second Fighter Bomber Squadron of the Hellenic Royal Air Force.
The squadron was initially equipped with 21 Hurricane-IIC aircraft, and had a total of 309 men, with 26 pilots.
On April 4 1943, it is transferred to the desert, at the LG121 airport, which was located near Sidi Barrani, Egypt, and it stayed there until January 1944. From April 11, 1943 the Squadron was full operational.
The missions were naval convoy protection, interception of hostile aircraft, offensive patrols and ground attack sweeps over Crete.
The Squadron’s main characteristic was the keenness and the willingness of all the pilots to participate in the missions. This led to having draws in order to determine which pilots would take part in the missions, because there were few aircraft and many volunteers. The missions carried out by the Greek pilots too often caused admiration to the allies.
In January 1944, the squadron redeploys to the Libyan airport of El Adem, where it stays until March 1944. Thereafter it redeploys to the Bu Amoud airport for a few days, and since April 1944 to the Marsa Matruh airport of Egypt.
In June 1944 the personnel started training to receive the new aircraft type, the Spitfire V. In July once again it redeploys to El Adem airport, where the reception of the new aircraft starts on September.
After a few days, the 336 Squadron is transferred to Italy at Nuova airport and from this base it carries out ground attack missions over Albania, Yugoslavia and occupied Greece.
Next station is the Biferno airport only for a few days and after that the squadron operates all November from Grottaglie airport, until its return to Greece.
It continues operating from Hassani airport against the German forces in Crete, Milos and the Dodecanese.
The 336 Squadron during WW II accomplished 3250 missions (day/night), conducting 12427 flight hours, 5116 of which in combat missions and the rest in training. The losses were 12 pilots killed and 3 captives.
Athens held a parade to honour the soldiers who liberated the country from the Nazis. The footage shows the heroic 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade (commonly known as the "Rimini Brigade") parading through Athens with people clapping, cheering and waving Greek flags.
The 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade (Greek: ΙΙΙ Ελληνική Ορεινή Ταξιαρχία, ΙΙΙ Ε.Ο.Τ.) was a highly decorated unit of mountain infantry formed by the Greek government in exile in Egypt during World War II. It was formed from military personnel who were loyal to King and country. Commanded by Colonel Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos, it fought in the Battle of Rimini in Italy (under I Canadian Corps), where it earned the honorific title "Rimini Brigade" ("Ταξιαρχία Ρίμινι") and against Communist Rebels in the Dekemvriana events in Athens.
The communists were seeking complete power in Greece, which they could only hope to achieve through force; as they were now the only element in the country equipped with arms, the moment for action had clearly arrived. Under various pretexts ELAS refused to disarm as agreed and began instead to converge on Athens, the only area in Greece that was not under their control. On 1 December the six EAM ministers resigned from Papandreou’s coalition government, and the break was complete. Two days later the first clash occurred in Athens General Scobie immediately ordered ELAS to evacuate Athens . ELAS replied by launching an all-out attack on the capital, concentrating first on police and gendarmerie stations, most of which were quickly overwhelmed and their defenders butchered.
On personal instructions from Churchill, British troops were ordered to intervene. “Do not hesitate to act as if you were in a conquered city where a local rebellion is in progress,” was Churchills order to general Scobie on 5 December.
Through sheer weight of numbers the communist rebels were able to seize most of Athens until only a small enclave in the center of the city remained under the control of the British and Greek troops supporting the Greek Government. At the same time ELAS bands in Epirus launched an all out attack on the Greek resistance group EDES, which had to be evacuated by sea to the island of Corfu to prevent their complete annihilation.
Field marshal alexander , who had just been appointed supreme allied commander , Mediterranean, arrived in Athens with Eden to examine the situation on the spot
Papandreou had wilted noticeably under his burden of responsibility, leftist mobs were calling for his death as a Monarchist, merely because he had acted according to what he considered the best interests of Greece. He had no King to consult or lean upon.
Churchill arrived in Athens with Eden on Christmas day , and after a conference with Alexander , Macmillan and Leeper he went on board the Ajax where they were joined by the archbishop. The result of the ajax discussions was that a meeting was summoned next day of all the political leaders and ELAS representatives under the chairmanship of the Archbishop.
The communists demanded nothing less than complete submission by the Greek state.
The ELAS murdering continued in the areas of Athens they controlled and angry Athenians asked for arms to resist the ELAS rebels. ELAS snipers were everywhere in the Greek capital and British and Greek troops continue to clear up pockets of resistance
On the 3rd January 1945 the archbishop was invested with the powers of regent by King George ll of the Hellenes. Archbishop assumed office at once and accepted the resignation of the Papandreou Government and called on General Nicholas Plastiras to form a new Government in the name of the King.
Mr Churchill issued a statement that said it was clear to him there would have been a massacre in the city, if Britain had not intervened.
NEWSREEL: British troops in firing positions in street. Long shot of Sherman tanks in street - tank driving into doorway of EAM headquarters. Various shots of tanks and infantry storming EAM headquarters. Several shots of tank patrolling through Athens street. Various shots of British infantry advancing along street. Closer shot of Sherman tank passing camera. Several more shots of the tanks and troops advancing through the streets.
Clearing Athens of communist insurgents (December 1944)
British and Greek troops continue to combat the snipers of ELAS on the streets of Athens. Tanks were also used in the mopping up operation and finally ELAS found their position untenable and withdrew from the city, taking thousands of British and Greek hostages with them including the bulk of the RAF headquarters captured at kyfissia.
Many of these hostages perished during the forced march in bitter weather, and those that could not keep up were shot out of hand by their captors (One of these was a retired British naval officer, Commander Tribe, aged seventy, whose body was afterwards found on mount Hymettos). The bodies of 8752 Greek and British hostages taken by ELAS had been found in Attica and the Peloponnese alone, while the total of those who died at the hands of ELAS certainly was much higher.
The communists were seeking complete power in Greece, which they could only hope to achieve through force; as they were now the only element in the country equipped with arms, the moment for action had clearly arrived. Under various pretexts ELAS refused to disarm as agreed and began instead to converge on Athens, the only area in Greece that was not under their control. On 1 December the six EAM ministers resigned from Papandreou’s coalition government, and the break was complete. Two days later the first clash occurred in Athens General Scobie immediately ordered ELAS to evacuate Athens . ELAS replied by launching an all-out attack on the capital, concentrating first on police and gendarmerie stations, most of which were quickly overwhelmed and their defenders butchered.
On personal instructions from Churchill, British troops were ordered to intervene. “Do not hesitate to act as if you were in a conquered city where a local rebellion is in progress,” was Churchills order to general Scobie on 5 December.
Through sheer weight of numbers the communist rebels were able to seize most of Athens until only a small enclave in the center of the city remained under the control of the British and Greek troops supporting the Greek Government. At the same time ELAS bands in Epirus launched an all out attack on the Greek resistance group EDES, which had to be evacuated by sea to the island of Corfu to prevent their complete annihilation.
Field marshal alexander , who had just been appointed supreme allied commander , Mediterranean, arrived in Athens with Eden to examine the situation on the spot
Papandreou had wilted noticeably under his burden of responsibility, leftist mobs were calling for his death as a Monarchist, merely because he had acted according to what he considered the best interests of Greece. He had no King to consult or lean upon.
Churchill arrived in Athens with Eden on Christmas day , and after a conference with Alexander , Macmillan and Leeper he went on board the Ajax where they were joined by the archbishop. The result of the ajax discussions was that a meeting was summoned next day of all the political leaders and ELAS representatives under the chairmanship of the Archbishop.
The communists demanded nothing less than complete submission by the Greek state.
The ELAS murdering continued in the areas of Athens they controlled and angry Athenians asked for arms to resist the ELAS rebels. ELAS snipers were everywhere in the Greek capital and British and Greek troops continue to clear up pockets of resistance
On the 3rd January 1945 the archbishop was invested with the powers of regent by King George ll of the Hellenes. Archbishop assumed office at once and accepted the resignation of the Papandreou Government and called on General Nicholas Plastiras to form a new Government in the name of the King.
Communist atrocities and War crimes during the Battle of Athens
In February 1945, the Plastiras cabinet signed a peace agreement with the communist rebels calling on them to surrender their weapons, an amnesty was extended to all those not proved guilty of crimes such as murder.
But over a month before this agreement was signed as between honourable political opponents, the world learned of the brutal terrorism that had taken place among the Greeks in E.L.A.S. occupied Athens. For as the Communist troops withdrew they left behind the evidence of the torture and massacre to which the Greek people had been subjected. Thousands of bodies were found piled in heaps in outhouses, cellars, lavatories and down wells. Then, first in north Athens and afterwards in other districts mass graves were discovered into which had been thrown murdered hostages by the hundred. At Peristeri , where the executioners had been women, batches of corpses were found butchered by axe—blows and revolver shots in the head. Most of the Victims had been mutilated before death, by being crushed with stones, having one or both eyes gouged out, their mouths slit to the ear, or by subjection. to castration, disembowellng and grosser abominations. At Galatsi all the Victims had been crudely killed with axes. Among the first 1200 bodies exhumed. nearly 200 were Women and girls. Some were children of twelve or thirteen.
To those allied soldiers had served in Greece, and experienced the kindness of the ordinary Greek People, and had heard them express emotionally their gratitude to England, the Pitiless treatment of captured British troops and Greek civilians by the guerrillas was incomprehensible.
The tortures and mutilation, however, bore the stamp of something devilish, like the monstrous cruelties of the Ustashi. A delegation from the British Trades Union Congress, headed by Sir Walter Citrine, which had gone to Greece primarily to investigate trade union difficulties, became involved in the scene of death and desolation that E.L.A.S. had left behind. They watched disinterment's, and questioned survivors and other Greek civilians. They found that O.P.L.A. had sought out and murdered 114 trade union officials. “One thing apparent without a shadow of doubt” Citrine declared; “is that .. there has been cold blooded , organized , systematic Murder”
As the shadow of the ELAS menace withdrew to the hills, So Greece was able at last to attend to her wounds. In Athens alone 20,000 people, men, women and children had been massacred in cold blood by the so-called patriots democrats, while thousands of others were on the verge of starvation.
NEWSREEL: The newsreel shows Athenian civilians returning to their homes after the communist rebels had withdrawn. In the area of Omonia Square ruins & the corpses of ELAS rebels and also Greek Defenders. Greek troops bring in a prisoner, crowd rather hostile to captured communist. Various gruesome shots of atrocities committed by ELAS at Nea Helvetia Quarries. Dead lie about everywhere. Bodies of the victims being dug up. In Piraeus harbour, ships unloaded of relief cargo for Greeks. Four Swedish Red Cross Ships anchored outside harbour. General Scobie & General Alexander watch changing of the Guard outside British H.Q. in Athens. British tank crews clean their guns, in city square. Soup kitchen operated by British troops distribute food to Athenians. REME Recovery unit tow shattered & burned tramcar through streets. Captured ELAS equipment of various kinds, rifles, swords, etc.
ATHENS CELEBRATE THEIR LIBERATION FROM ELAS OCCUPATION (JANUARY 1945)
PARADES IN ATHENS
GRATITUDE TO BRITISH
ATHENS, 14 JANUARY 1945 A huge demonstration took place in Constitution Square that morning. The Government gave permission to the trade unions to organize a meeting to celebrate the liberation of Athens and in gratitude to the British for the part they had played in it. It was generally understood that it would not be in any sense a political demonstration, and that the shouting of political slogans and the carrying of party emblems would be prohibited. As it turned out the demonstration, while avoiding any definite political provocation, clearly demonstrated its Right-wing sentiments, and prominent among many deputations taking part were those from such organizations as " X." " EE," and E.D.E.S. (with its political counterpart, E.D.E.E.). In fact it was more an E.D.E.S. demonstration than anything else. There were continual cries for General Zervas and most of the banners bore a greeting to him. Sharing with General Zervas the role of hero of the day were the King of the Hellenes, whose portrait was everywhere exhibited, even proudly stuck in the, centre of the british flags, and General Scobie, whose name was chanted by the marching crowds. Youths sold Greek flags with the royal crown in the centre and crowns as emblems to be worn in button holes and on blouses. Speeches by Professor Balonas, of the University of Athens, and Mr Simon Hadjidimitriou, secretary-general of the confederation of the workers of Greece violently castigated “those responsible for the revolution," demanding their just punishment, and one of the most popular slogans of the day was " No amnesty ! " Mr. Papandreou, who appeared on an hotel balcony, was enthusiastically cheered. PROTECTING GREEK LIBERTIES GENERAL SCOBIE'S SPEECH TO DEMONSTRATORS ATHENS, 14 JANUARY 1945.-As demonstrators passed the headquarters of General Scobie that day there were shouts of " Zito Scobie" (long live Scobie). A deputation was admitted to the headquarters and in response to their invitation the General appeared on the balcony.In an impromptu speech to the crowd General Scobie said he was deeply moved. He had already declared repeatedly that he and the forces under his command would protect the Greek people's liberties from revolutionary actions from whatever quarter. His forces had " long ago realized that the people's liberties were, in fact, being jeopardized by the action of a small minority." He hoped the demonstration would not be without its effect on world opinion, " which unfortunately had often shown itself to be grossly misinformed regarding Greek affairs." His speech was loudly cheered.
On 31 March 1946, the first general election in Greece for ten years took place under the supervision of an allied mission consisting of British, American and French observers. The Result was a clear victory for the populist (Royalist) party and its allies who won 231 out of 354 seats in Parliament. The people of Greece recognised that a constitutional monarchy blessed by the Orthodox church was the steadiest bulkwork against Communism. On 1 September, in a high poll which was again scrutinised by the American and British, 69 percent of the electors voted in favour of the immediate return of King George ll.
Greek Elections and the Greek monarchy referendum (1946)
Various shots of political posters from the 1946 general elections.
On 17 April 1946 the first Greek Government to be freely elected by the Greek people for ten years too office under Constantine Tsaldaris, the populist leader, and at the opening sesssion of the new parliament on 13 May the Regent, in his speech from the throne outlining the governments policy, announced that the Plebiscite would take place later that year.
The referendum was held on 1 September 1946. In an exceptionally high poll - 90 per cent of the registered electors - the voting was 69 per cent in favour of the return of King George ll, 20 percent against the Kings return (but not against the monarchy as such), and 11 per cent in favour of a republic.
On 5 September the prime minister arrived in London and formally announced the result of the plebiscite to King George ll, who issued a proclamationto the greek people;
"By your vote 1 September, you have confirmed the ancient ties between Crown and people. At the same time, your verdict should be interpreted as a solemn injuction to put s final end to a long standing division ehich has weakened our nation and presented us abroad in a false light. We cannot, however, hope to carry out the nations mandate except by faithful adherence to democratic principles and by the normal employment of all the national forces... International complications have drawn Greece into the vortex of great conflicts which today make this task of national unity not simply a question of mere economic and political well-being, but of self preservation itself ....I do not count on miracles , but i do bellieve in the strength of your patriotism and in the willingless of the nation to follow those who, in all conscience, demand of it the sacrifice of personal ambitions and private interests"
King George ll of the Hellenes
After five years in exile, the king and the royal family were now free to go home.
Athens Prepares for the Return of King George ll of the Hellenes (1946)
The Royal Palace at Athens is being prepared for the return of King George ll of the Hellenes after the Greek people, on the 1 September 1946, voted overwhelmingly in favour of the monarchy.
TSALDARIS ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF PLEBISCITE TO KING (1946)
On 17 April 1946 the first Greek Government to be freely elected by the Greek people for ten years took office under Constantine Tsaldaris, the populist leader, and at the opening sesssion of the new parliament on 13 May the Regent, in his speech from the throne outlining the governments policy, announced that the Plebiscite would take place later that year.
The referendum was held on 1 September 1946. In an exceptionally high poll - 90 per cent of the registered electors - the voting was 69 per cent in favour of the return of King George ll, 20 percent against the Kings return (but not against the monarchy as such), and 11 per cent in favour of a republic.
On 5 September the prime minister arrived in London and formally announced the result of the plebiscite to King George ll, who issued a proclamation to the Greek people;
"By your vote 1 September, you have confirmed the ancient ties between Crown and people. At the same time, your verdict should be interpreted as a solemn injuction to put a final end to a long standing division which has weakened our nation and presented us abroad in a false light. We cannot, however, hope to carry out the nations mandate except by faithful adherence to democratic principles and by the normal employment of all the national forces... International complications have drawn Greece into the vortex of great conflicts which today make this task of national unity not simply a question of mere economic and political well-being, but of self preservation itself ....I do not count on miracles , but i do believe in the strength of your patriotism and in the willingles of the nation to follow those who, in all conscience, demand of it the sacrifice of personal ambitions and private interests"
Mr Tsaldaris, the Greek Prime Minister was interviewed by the press, speaking in London he announced the return of the Greek king to his country and continued with a tribute to Britain's aid to Greece.
After five years in exile, the king and the royal family were now free to go home.
Early on September 27th, the king drove to out to Heathrow Airport and after sayinig goodbye to Greek embassy officials, his relative Princess Marina Duchess of Kent and members of the Greek Community boarded the four-engined Lancastrian, alighting that afternoon at Eleusis Military airfield. With him were Colonel Levidis and Mr Pipinelis, his diplomatic adviser, and others of his personal staff.
Early on September 27th, the king drove out to Heathrow Airport and after sayinig goodbye to Greek embassy officials, his relative Princess Marina Duchess of Kent and members of the Greek Community boarded the four-engined Lancastrian, alighting that afternoon at Eleusis Military airfield. With him were Colonel Levidis and Mr Pipinelis, his diplomatic adviser, and others of his personal staff. His unheralded arrival in an aeroplane over five years after he had left Crete in a British Destroyer was not the formal return, The King was met by the Regent, the premier, and a few ministers, and drove at once to a quay, from which a pinnace took him to the Greek Destroyer Miaoulis. Awaiting him, just arrived from Egypt onboard a Royal Hellenic Navy ship, were Crown Prince Paul and Princess Frederica. That Evening, at last in their own countrys waters, they toasted the future well-being of Greece.
The news of the arrival spread rapidly around Athens, which was soon agog with excitement. Groups of people stood excitedly discussing the event, others sang national and patriotic songs. Above the city hung the ghostly beauty of the eternal Parthenon, Floodlit to mark the eve of a new era in the Greek story.
On the morning of 28 September the Miaoulis and three escorting vessels of the Royal Hellenic Navy entered Phaleron Bay and the king landed at Piraeus, accompanied by the Crown Prince and Princess and the entourage. From the quayside after the official reception the Royal party went into an open car and drove through the excited , cheering crowds to the cathedral, to attend a special service of thanksgiving. Outside the cathedral was Queen Frederica's aunt and Prince Nicholas, who had never left Athens, The Royal party had to be formal Just a short embrace and then they walked into the cathedral. In its volume of enthusiasm the welcome by the citizens of Athens equalled that given to King George ll in 1935, but this time there was a quality of relief, of hope, that gave their cheers a deeper meaning, for the sufferings of the past five years had left their mark. The Royal party stood inside the cathedral opposite the priests and the choir sang a Joyful Te Deum. The King felt like he had never left, The war had never been, time was wiped out, he stood where he belonged, at last, at home. The service over, there followed for the king a day of ceremonial functions, and finally of retirement to sleep once more on Greek soil
THE KINGDOM OF GREECE FILES COMPLAINT TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL (DECEMBER 1946)
GREEK COMMUNIST GUERRILLAS TRAINED IN YUGOSLAVIA
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Greece, Mr Tsaldaris, departed Athens the morning of 1 December 1946 by air for New York, Where he headed the Greek delegates to the United Nations and presented the Greek case to the Security Council on the situation on the northern borders of the Kingdom of Greece as a result of the Greek communist guerrilla activity there. Before his departure Mr Tsaldaris had a long talk with the King and with the British. American. and French Ambassadors and the Soviet Chargd d'Affaires, acquainting them with the character of the Greek action, which. he said, was intended to seek by peaceful means a solution of an irregular situation. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Greek action was not aimed specifically at any State, but was concerned with the incidents as a whole, the main request being for an international investigation. On the spot to determine the correctness of Greek allegations. Mr Stylianos Gonatas acted as deputy Prime Minister during Mr Tsaldaris's absence.
Complaints by the Kingdom of Greece that Greek Communist guerrilla bands operating on her frontier are being trained and organized on foreign territory are contained in a Greek memorandum to the Secretary-General of the United Nations which was published on 5 December 1946. It charges Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania with responsibility for the Greek Communist guerrilla movement in northern Greece, and asks that the Security Council should take up the matter and conduct an investigation. "The situation is, in the opinion of Greece, a movement likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security," the memorandum declared, adding: " There is conclusive evidence that the whole of the guerrilla movement against Greece is receiving substantial support from countries adjacent to the northern boundaries of Greece, particularly from Yugoslavia." It is stated that guerrillas are being trained and organized in foreign territory before dispatch to Greece with war material; that armed bands are crossing the boundary line under the protection of neighbouring frontier authorities; and that Greek fugitives from justice are being cared for in foreign territory. Mr Tsaldaris, the Greek Prime Minister stated his purpose was to lay before the Security Council a situation which is leading to friction between Greece and her northern neighbours, and added: " I am confident that this investigation will enlighten the United Nations on the gravity of the situation and afford appropriate means for its settlement and the re-establishment of good neighbourly relations in the Balkans."
After a week's travelling from the United States, during which he was delayed by bad weather, M. Tsaldaris, the Prime Minister arrived the afternoon of 30 December 1946 at Hassani airfield (Athens)
General Smuts arrived in Athens from Rome on a three day visit to Greece, During which he was a guest of the Crown Prince Paul. On the night of his arrival over the Acropolis there was an illuminated inscription in ancient Greek reading "Welcome to our honourable guest".
The next day on the start of his visit General Smuts addressed a special session of the Greek Parliament.
On the 15th of December he addressed a cheering crowd form the steps of the old palace in constitution square in the heart of Athens. "Greeks you must not be discouraged ," he said "Raise your hearts and prepare for the greater future which lies ahead of you. A greater Hellas will arise, that is my word to you, people of Athens. Keep a high faith in the future. Loss and destruction are not the end but a step forward towards the new world for which million of unkown soldiers gave their lives."
The references to a greater Hellas was greeted with tremendous cheers from the thousands of Athenians who nhad gathered in spite of the biting wind which swept the square.
General Smuts had first laid a Wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Iin the presence of crown prince Paul and crown princess Frederika. Evzones in the traditional Greek uniform formed a guard of honour.
At another ceremony at Athens town hall General Smuts received the scroll granting him the Freedom of the City. He said he had become a citizen of towns in various countries, but to be a citizen of the historic city of Athens was the greates honour of all, for ancient Athens gave the greatest services to civilization and progress. She was the morning star for the whole of humanity, and he was convinced the star of Greece would continue to enlighten the human race in the future.
On the 16th December, speaking at an official banquet in his honour, He said the British Empire will never abandon Greece. In spite of heavy reverses early the war, Britain hastened to the aid of Greece at the risk of total defeat. General Smuts went on "We did not abandon her then, and we will never abandon her. Even at the present moment, When Greece believes herself in danger and alone, Do not forget what happened then. Your friends who are sincere, will act as then"
On completion of his three day visit to Greece, he left Athens by Air for South Africa.
The E.A.M. Party Before United nations committee in Greece (February 1947)
The United Nations commission of inquiry today made its first direct investigation when a sub-committee composed of the representatives of Australia, Great Britain, China, France, Poland, the United States, and the Soviet Union visited the detention camp at Piraeus, in which Albanian, Bulgarian, and Yugoslav captured rebels who had filtered into Greece were held. These persons who were assisting the Greek communist Rebels (renamed the democratic army by the rebels), and a number of camp officials, were interrogated. At a meeting of the commission of inquiry 17 February 1947 the Greek representative replied to Albanian, Bulgarian, and Yugoslav accusations. After observing that the internal Greek situation was not the point at issue, he said that the Greek Government believed that the difference of political ideology between Greece arid her neighbors should not constitute an unsurmountable obstacle to the development of peaceful and friendly relations. In reply to the Yugoslav statement that Greek foreign policy was a menace to Balkan peace, he emphasized that while Greek armed forces did not exceed 130,000, Yugoslavia was keeping under arms 400,000 regular troops, 100,000 secret police known as Ozna, 50,000 militia, and 100,000 in military labor battalions, making a total of 650,000 rnen. Bulgaria, who by the peace treaty was not supposed to maintain a force exceeding 55,000, actually had under arms an army of 120,000, a militia of 50,000, and frontier garrisons of 20,000. Albania, with hardly 1,000,000 population, maintained an army of 65,000. The grand total of these forces of the neighbors of the Kingdom of Greece was 955,000. In replying to the Greek representative's rebuttal the, Albanian representative went so far as to say that it was in the social and political composition of the present Greek Government and in the presence of British troops in Greece that the causes of the disturbed situation were to be found. The E.A.M. witness, speaking in support of the Greek communist rebels, before the commission criticized the " reactionary" policy of the Greek Government and suggested that Greece might emerge from her present dangerous condition by the recognition of her neutrality within the framework of the United Nations, " the cessation of hostilities between Government forces and the Greek Communist Rebels (renamed the democratic army by the rebels)," a general political amnesty, and new elections.
NEWSREEL: The E.A.M. party appear before United Nations Inquiry Commission, Greece. General shots of the delegates seated around a table. Michael Kyrkos reading paper out. Various shots of the inquiry Commission: Professor G. Georgalas, S. Kritikas, D. Partsalidis and K. Gabrielides. Cataloguer's note: date of item: 20/2/1947.
The 126th Anniversary of Greek Independence - 1947
The Royal motorcade arrives at the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral in Athens where the Te Deum service was held. King George ll alighted from the car accompanied by the Crown Prince Paul and Crown Princess Frederica and the two little Princesses Sophia and Irene and Prince Constatine. He walks up the steps and is greeted by Government officials and Army officers . The Royal party enters the cathedral preceded by Archbishop Damaskinos. At the completion of the service the Royal party makes their way through crowd lined streets to the tomb of the unknown soldier where King George ll lays a wreath. King George ll then steps back and salutes. The King then turns to take the salute in person as the parade begins.
His Majesty King George ll, died suddenly on 1 March 1947 at 1.55pm of arterio-sclerosis. It was a moment that shocked the nation.
The Flag on the Royal Palace was lowered to half mast and the Premier and other ministers were informed. At four o’clock it was announced on the Athens radio that the king had expired at 1.55pm of arterio-sclerosis.
On Thursday King George’s body was moved to the cathedral, where it lay in state for three days. Thousands of people passed the bier to bid farewell to the kingwho has suffered so much in sustaining the probity of the state that had led to such great heights six years before.
By the Pauls desire, no flowers were sent to the funeral, and those of the nation who wished to pay tribute to the late kings memory were asked to send donations to the fund for war widows and orphans. The funeral took place on Sunday the 6th. The procession walked from the church to the outskirts of the city, then went by car to the family mausoleum at Tatoi, where the king was laid by the side of his parents and brother. Thos that saw the procession to and from the church will not easily forget the affecting sight of the tiny crown prince Constantine, dressed simply, with no show of mourning, walking hand in hand with his tall , massive father, who strode with face set and serious at he realization of the great responsibilities now fallen from his brothers shoulders to his own.
There were many tributes to king George in the Athens press. Even those papers which had been sometimes against him in the past were stilled into respect for a man who had so clearly possessed a burning sense of his duty to Greece.. Others were laudatory.
“His austere countenance has passed into the Parthenon of Greek history”
Newspaper acropolis
“At the head of his people, during the final phase of the struggle, King George dies doing his duty”
Newspaper Hestia
“His sense of duty was inflexible. Destiny did not give him a days rest , yet he never lost his calm serenity”
Newspaper Embros
“Last night was surely the first through which King George slept peacefully”
Newspaper Kathimerini
UN Commission in Greece seeks communist rebel chief Markos Vafeiadis (March 1947)
Probably the most fantastic expedition ever undertaken by an authoritative international body ended on the 16 March 1947 in complete fiasco when the United Nations commission, composed of representatives of nine member States and three liaison officers- 60 persons in all-which set out on Wednesday to meet the guerrilla chief Markos Vafeiadis, returned to Salonika after a five day wild-goose chase. They had spent three days in rebel territory, but had not seen the so called rebel generalissimo. While the Russian delegate, Mr Grauer, and the Polish delegate, Mr Gawrak, and the liaison officers of Albania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia remained to see Markos Vafeiadis, the Greek interpreter, Nassos Zafirides, after accompanying the team back to the Aliakmon river, over which they had entered rebel territory, handed in his. resignation and returned to the mountains.
ON PACK MULES
The United Nations commission, who left Salonika on Wednesday, received instructions On the point where they would meet rebel forces which would in turn conduct them to Markos Vafeiadis at the small village of Yerma, three miles from the main road leading to Kastoria from Kozani. They crossed the River Aliakmon over a half-destroyed bridge, 10 miles to the south-west of Kastoria Lake, on Thursday afternoon. On pack-mules and on foot they climbed to high ground on the Pindus range on a track leading to rebel headquarters, led by their chairman, the Belgian General Delvois, riding a mule.. For several hours they climbed the wild heights of the Pindus mountains and were received with cheers from the population in the villages, who seemed to see in the commission a harbinger of peace. After a night spent in the vllage of Nostimo, 4,000 feet above sea level, they reached a rebel district headquarters at the village of Kastanophiton on Friday, where the local commander, Yannoulis, asked them to proceed for another six hours to a point where it would be easier to meet Markos Vafeiadis. The commission refused to continue and asked Yannoulis to send a message to Markos to proceed immediately to Kastanophiton, where the commission would question him. The local commander assured them that, unless operations prevented him, Markos would probably arrive by dawn on Saturday. when, however, he did not, the American Delegate, Lieutenant Colonel Allen Miller, formally protested to the chairman " against the impoliteness of the witness in keeping the commission waiting " and, supported by Syria and Brazil, moved that the commission should immediately return to Salonika.
RUSSIANS STAYING
The Soviet delegate, Mr Grauer, maintained that the team were assigned the task of hearing the evidence of Markos Vafeiadis and therefore could not return until the task had been fulfilled, and he indicated that should the majority decide to leave he would remain at rebel headquarters " to fulfil the team's task and report to the commission on Markos's evidence." The Polish delegate, Mr Gawrak, fully supported the Russian view. The representatives of Britain, America, France, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, and Syria decided that they would grant Markos another 11 hours until midnight on Saturday to appear, but otherwise would leave in the morning for Salonika. The Russian and Polish delegates handed in a protest alleging by implication, that the seven other delegates were shrinking from their duties -and abandoning their mission. - While the Russian and Polish delegates' attitude is seen as nothing more than bringing into the open their sympathy towards the subversive movement, which for some time has been suspected, the Albanian, Bulgarian, and Yugoslav liaison officers behavior is considered to be a grave matter. The chairman of the team told them that as liaison officer they were appointed to the commission with no rights of independent activity and should therefore remain with the team and not act 'on their own.
Greek Communist rebels fight for key town in Epirus (July 1947)
On 20 July 1947, the United Nations Balkans sub-commission began investigation of the Konitza incident by hearing a description by the Greek divisional commander of the invasion of Greece on 12 July 1947 by Greek communist guerrilla fighters from Albania, and in examining prisoners that took part in the incursion. All the 11 members of the sub-commission were present at the hearing. Those who had remained in Salonika arrived by air on the 19th July 1947 to join the team which came to Ioannina on July 14 to make a preliminary investigation. The general commanding the 8th Greek Mountain Division (Commandos or LOK) described how invaders, numbering more than 2.500, advanced on a six-mile front from three points in Albania towards Konitza. When checked two miles from the town, they turned south towards Ioannina, pursued by Greek troops, and were only halted in the region of Kalpaki by Greek troops moving north from Ioannina, 17 miles away. It was at this same spot that the Italian invaders were halted in 1940 and driven back whence they came. On this occasion the invaders moved eastwards, and were then engaged by Greek mountain troops and aircraft in the mountainous district of Zagoria. They had split up into small groups, and then made their way along the heights to the Grarnmos mountain. and so, back into Albania. The general, in a statement to the sub-commission, explained that the invaders attacked Konitza in order to set up the threatened " free" Communist Government in that town. The reason for this was that Konitza was only eight miles from the frontier, and therefore close enough for continuous contact with Albania, and, secondly, that Konitza would have been difficult to recapture.
PRISONER EXAMINED The first prisoner to be examined by the sub-commission gave an account of preparations made in Albania for the invasion , and of the clothing and arming there of the Greek Communist guerrilla fighters (also called the democracy army by the rebels). He stated that before the incursion into Greece, the rebel commander of his unit said that they would be assisted by two international brigades, and would establish a free Communist Government, and that the Albanian escort of the unit to the frontier confirmed these words, and promised they would also help. In answer to a question by the Soviet delegate whether foreigners were also in his unit, the witness replied: " Yes." After examining this witness, the sub-commission, by a majority vote, Russia and Poland voting against the proposal, agreed to visit the frontier area on Monday and examine the evidence of the invasion on the spot. The previous evening the sub-commission. again by the same majority vote, decided to send a telegram to the Albanian Government informing it of their decision to investigate the incident, and requesting permission to enter Albanian territory for the purpose This time the telegram was sent to the chairman of the United Nations Balkan Investigation Commission in New York for transmission to Tirana, because no reply had yet been received from the Albanian Government to the telegram of July 5 requesting facilities to investigate the alleged incident at Sarandaporos in June. At the beginning of 20 July session, the United States delegate was outspoken in his censure of certain other delegates for their filibustering and other delaying tactics. The Soviet and Polish delegates where by then quite cynical in their efforts to hinder the work of the sub-commission, and had dropped all pretense at neutrality. Within 24 hours of the attack on Konitza, an aircraft was put at the disposal of the delegates by the American authorities for an immediate investigation. But by delaying tactics, only on the 20 July 1947, had the sub-commission been able to start its examination, and it still remained to be seen whether on this occasion the members will be allowed to enter Albania.
FACILITIES REFUSED
The sub-commission during last month had thrice been refused facilities to complete investigations in Bulgaria. once refused facilities in Albania, and once in Yugoslavia. Indeed, when approaching the Yugoslav frontier to investigate the Beles incident, the delegates became involved in a second incident, and declare that they had to take cover from mortar shells being fired at Greek troops from the Yugoslav side of the frontier. One could say that the sub-commission's presence in the Balkans was a complete waste of public funds were it not for the fact that, by its efforts. it had demonstrated to the world that. of the four Balkan countries, Greece had allowed and welcomed a thorough investigation in all parts of the country and into all the measures and activities of its Government. while in the other three there are apparently activities which will not bear investigation.
GREEK COMMUNIST REBELS RETREAT FROM METSOVO (November 1947)
On November 2, Royal Hellenic army units had re-engaged the rebels retreating from Metsovo in the Samarina area between Grevena and the Albanian frontier. In this latest clash the rebels had been split into small groups, and their casualties were already stated to be 60 dead and 25 taken prisoner. Authoritative details of the nine days' battle for Metsovo indicated that the main body of the rebels, estimated at 5.000, never at any time succeeded in entering the town, due chiefly to the resistance of the garrison and to the speed with which army reinforcements reached the area and put the rebels in danger of encirclement. Mass graves containing 300 dead had been found, and several hundred wounded rebels have been picked up. These prisoners confirm that General Marcos. the rebel chief, was directing operations, but they denied that the guerrillas were constructing airfields near the Albanian frontier. In eastern Macedonia and Thrace the chief purpose of the rebels continues to be the destruction of railways, roads. and telephone lines. A bus carrying civilians on the Axioupolis-Salonika road struck a rebel mine and 25 passengers were killed or mortally wounded.
NEWSREEL: - Fighting in Greece. Fighting flares up on the Greek Northern frontier when partisans launched an offensive against the town of Metsovo. M/S of Siotis, Pathe cameraman, and officers of the Royal Hellenic army walking along, chatting. M/S of a squadron of cavalry going along a road. M/S of officers, planning the campaign, studying a map. Governor General of Epirus, in civilian clothes, among them. M/S of a gun crew preparing. General views of Ioannina showing the countryside, a mosque and lake. General view of the hillside town of Zitsa (fogging here). Shots of the cavalry on the move and infantry on the march with jeep brings up the rear. A group of officers talking. Back view of infantry running. Officers at an observation post behind a tree. Soldiers performing a circle dance. Armoured cars moving along a road. Gun crew. Officers conferring. Band of Greek Communist rebels march into an ambush and are marched off. They are brought before the army commander, interrogated and given a cigarette each. Prisoners are marched down a hillside. Motorised column moving up. C/U of a plaque on the wall of a monastery where Lord Byron stayed reading 'Monastic Zitza. From thy shady brow thou small but favored spot of holy ground - Byron'. L/S of cavalry in silhouette, moving over the brow of a hill. M/S of a group of soldiers resting. Prisoners are bundled into a lorry. Shots of refugees at Ioannina. Planes of the Royal Hellenic airforce taking off from Ioannina Airfield, loaded with rockets and bombs. An aeroplane being prepared for flight and being bombed up.
Fighting On Northern Frontier Of Greece (November 1947)
On November 13 1947 Rebel forces, estimated at over 1,000 strong, attacked the town of Komotini in Thrace. The town was defended by only 300 Greek soldiers, gendarmes, and home guards, but after hard fighting the Communist Rebels were forced to withdraw. While retreating to a frontier mountain the rebels were intercepted by the Royal Hellenic Airforce, who inflicted heavy casualties. From various parts of Macedonia come reports that the rebels were forcibly recruiting women in large numbers. The rebel movement had introduced this new tactic for three reasons:
(I) To eradicate Hellenism in northern Greece;
(2) to make life more congenial for the rebels; and
(3) to give the rebellion more of a plausible appearance of being a Greek Popular Movement.
After a surprise attack carried out by Greek infantry units and commandos (LOK) who landed by sea near Mount Olympus, over 150 young Greeks who had been forcibly recruited by the Communist rebels were liberated. Another 100 or so had been freed in the Kozani district after a successful army attack on a strong rebel group.
The plans of the new Coalition Government of Populists and Liberals under Mr Sophoulis for confronting Greece's two vital problems, the Communist rebellion and economic chaos, have now been made known to the people. These plans had the full support of the American Mission for Aid to Greece, which recognized, in the words of its chief, Mr. Griswold, that " whereas other nations can now devote themselves to reconstruction after the most destructive of all wars, Greece is forced to fight again or give way to the tyranny of an armed minority supported from outside her borders." The attitude of the Government towards the rebellion was clear. In an attempt at reconciliation in September 1947 it proclaimed a broad amnesty promising pardon and protection to those rebels who would lay down their arms. Some 10,000 persons had been released from exile. There was never much hope that the hard core of the Communists would accept the amnesty unless ordered to do so from abroad, in spite of earlier protestations that reconciliation was what they most desired and that it only required an amnesty offer from a Sophoulis Government for them to cease rebellion. There was a small chance, however, that those disillusioned victims of Communist propaganda and those guerrillas who had been recruited by force would seize the opportunity of pardon and protection to slip away. There had been no large scale desertion, and the number of persons surrendering in the two months since the amnesty was proclaimed probably did not exceed the monthly totals under the previous Government.
A NATIONAL CRUSADE The amnesty, which expired on October 14, 1947 was prolonged for a further month. Anticipating its failure the Prime Minister called for a national crusade against the rebels. The American Mission had allocated more than one-half-over $150 million of the money at its disposal to provide food and equipment for the Greek fighting services, which were increased to 200,000 men, including a National Guard of 50,000 for the static defense of rural Greece. Even with this American assistance in food and materials the increase in the armed forces had placed a heavy additional burden on the State's already unbalanced economy, and presented a difficult problem when the Government came to work out the budget.
DISPLACED FARMERS
Both the Government and the American Mission recognize that the new economic policy will fail unless the rebellion can be stopped. The farmers from some of the most fertile parts of Macedonia, Thrace, and Thessaly, as well as from the mountain villages, have been forced to abandon their tobacco fields, their olive groves, and their vineyards, and had fled into the towns. Economic recovery was impossible until the 250,000 refugees could return safely to their fields and work, and until the roads, railways, and bridges could be rebuilt, not to be immediately destroyed again. Increases in the army and the local defense forces would provide protection for more people and communications. but the Greek army alone cannot crush the rebellion so long as rebels could retreat into Yugoslavia, Albania, and Bulgaria, where they could not be pursued. Although the Greek army was in excellent spirit and had a measure of success against the rebels in Thessaly, their opponents could come and go at will across the 700 miles of mountainous frontier, and the civil war could never be brought to an end by purely military operations.
Meanwhile the rebels and the Greek Communist Party repeat their threat to establish a separate government in the north. If they were to succeed in doing this they would presumably ask for belligerent rights, which, if recognized by the Soviet's satellite countries, would entitle them legally to receive arms from abroad without violation of international law or of the United Nations Charter.
WAR FRONT IN NORTHERN GREECE (DECEMBER 1947
LARGE-SCALE BATTLE RAGING IN EPIRUS
SEAT SOUGHT FOR COMMUNIST "FREE GOVERNMENT"
Large-scale fighting had developed in the Greek mountains near the Albanian frontier, and it was believed that the communist rebels were seeking to gain control of a portion of Greek territory in order to establish there the seat of their new " Government." Some important strategic heights have been occupied by the rebels, who still held the initiative at this time.
ATTACK HELPED BY RAINS
HEIGHTS OCCUPIED 28 DECEMBER 1947
The rebel attack against Konitsa, which started on Christmas Day and was judged by the Greek authorities to be an attempt to gain control of a substantial portion of Greek territory in order to establish there the seat of the rebel Government, had then developed into the battle of Epirus. Battles between rebels and troops of the 8th Greek mountain division were in progress at many points in the Albanian frontier region from the Grammos mountains in the north to Filiates, near the Straits of Corfu. The latest reports from Ioannina at that time, the capital of Epirus, gave no clear indication of what was happening, but it appeared that the rebels still held the initiative and had not yet been dislodged from some important strategical heights. Torrential rains had assisted the rebels in obstructing the mountain road between Kalabaka and Metsovo, thereby delaying the arrival of Greek army reinforcements from Thessaly. It seems that 2000 rebels who had moved down from Grammos and in from Albania were attempting to gain control of the Konitza gap, while another 1500 were carrying out harassing and diverting operations in other parts of Epirus. Fighters of the Royal Hellenic air force had been in action and chased an airplane of unknown nationality which had come to view the battle; it flew off in the direction of Albania. Other large-scale battles between the communist rebels and Greek army units were in progress in Agrinion, in south Epirus, and near Komotini, in Thrace.
A COMMUNIST'S ESCAPE
Radio engineers have traced the transmission announcing the formation of the rebel Government to Yugoslav soil, although the wireless of the Albanian capital has generally been used by the Greek Communist rebels in the past. All the ministers of the rebel Government were known members of the Greek Communist Party, and efforts to disguise the rebellion as a democratic movement by the inclusion of certain " fellow travellers " had failed. It was believed that Zachariadis the Moscow trained secretary-general of the Greek Communist Party, who was not mentioned as a member of the * free Government," was still above General Marko's in the hierarchy and that a greater title was being reserved for him. Mr. Partsalides, a leading Communist, who was arrested some months before. escaped on Christmas Day from the island of Ikaria, where he was in exile, and was believed to be on his way to join the rebel Government. From the mass of Communist propaganda it was possible to gather that the aims of the rebel Government was to free the kingdom of Greece from the Anglo-Saxon " imperialist yoke " and then to "'democratize" the country-presumably by eastern standards and methods. For these purposes, said Mr. Porphyrogenis, the rebel Minister of Justice, the rebel Government would organize its own fleet and airforce to assist the rebel army. Since the rebels had neither ships nor Aeroplanes at that time, the inference could only be that the rebel Government expected eventual recognition from the Slav bloc and assistance on such a scale as to turn the guerrilla war into a total war on the Spanish model with all the attendant horrors for the Greek people.
PROTEST TO YUGOSLAVIA
The Greek diplomatic representative in Belgrade has already had occasion to charge the Yugoslavian Government with an unfriendly act in retransmitting the broadcasts and proclamations of the new rebel Government. The radios of Sofia and Tirana are similarly being used for the transmission of announcements by the rebels.
NEWSREEL: Full title reads: "Latest Report From - War Front In Northern Greece". General view of the mountain scene on the Greek-Albanian border showing troops filing over the rugged terrain. Greek troops move up carrying supplies on donkeys. officers look at map. Infantry running to front line positions. a mortar crew. Troops follow up. an ambulance dashing along. a plane in flight, used for bombing guerillas in inaccessible mountain regions. Armored cars travelling along the road. Groups of homeless refugees sitting by the roadside, indifferent to the war vehicles streaming by. Prisoners being escorted along a road. The escorts, wearing British army uniform are Greek regular troops.
GREEK MINISTERS VISIT WAR ZONE IN EPIRUS (JANUARY 1948)
LARGE SCALE BATTLE RAGING BETWEEN GREEK ROYAL ARMY AND REBELS
In KALPAKI (EPIRUS) On 1 January 1948, After the relief of Konitza by 2,000 infantry of the 8th Greek Mountain Division or LOK the rebels withdrew north-east towards the Grammos mountains. The town was entered after the Aoos river had been crossed by means of a narrow Turkish footbridge on the south east outskirts which was still held by the Greek garrison. Other Greek forces who advanced on the left of the road from Kalpaki had reached the Aoos river first, but they found the Bourazani bridge destroyed by the Greek Communist rebels. Rebel units were still on the high ground on the other side of the river in this sector, and were still harassing the efforts of the Greeks to erect a Bailey bridge. The river has been rendered unfordable by heavy rains. A plan to drop three companies by parachute in Konitza had been abandoned .
INCESSANT RAIN
The incessant rain prevented the use of aircraft 'and was hindering the pursuit of the rebels, whose main forces seem once again to be escaping destruction. The Greek divisional commander, however, declared that morning that the losses of the rebels during the week had been very heavy. A particularly costly engagement for them was their last unsuccessful attack on the Prophetes Elias mountain over hanging Konitza to the south, which they attempted to capture just before the relief of the town. All foreign military observers had agreed that all the Greek forces had that week fought magnificently and their morale was higher than ever. Their artillery fire has been singularly accurate, and the infantry have shown no hesitation in storming heights against heavy fire. The Royal Hellenic Airforce had made a great contribution and must take credit for many of the casualties inflicted. The few Spitfire pilots have flown dozens of strafing sorties daily, in conditions made difficult by clouds hanging low in valleys between mountains over 5,OOOft. high. All ranks displayed a realization that if Konitza were taken by the Greek rebels it would be a serious victory for the Slav Communist bloc and disturbing to the morale of the Greek people. On the other hand the defeat of the rebels in that battle was a great encouragement. The difficulty now was to keep contact and bring the rebel forces to battle again.
FIGHTING GHOSTS
The fighting this week has been over exactly the territory where in the first days of Novem- ber, 1940, the Italians were stopped and driven back into Albania. But on that occasion the Greeks were able to Pursue the enemy and defeat them repeatedly. The Greek Royal Army has always been at its best when on the offensive but then the attack could not be followed up because the enemy disappears. As one soldier put it the Greeks are used to fighting Powers many times their size, but this time they are fighting ghosts. As for the rebels, they had shown in those recent battles in Epirus that their movements were now directed by expert military staff officers according to a plan which General Markos and his fellow political commissars could scarcely have worked out. The old guerrilla tactics were abandoned in what appeared to be a determined effort of the Communists to take Konitza and possibly the whole of Epirus. The United Nations Balkan commission team was moving up to Konitza to examine the latest evidence of outside interference in the rebellion. Yesterday they interrogated two captured rebels and two villagers who had fled in terror from their homes near the Albanian border. All four testified that the rebels, preparatory to these recent battles, had crossed the Albanian frontier with ammunition and supplies.
MARKOS'S CALL TO THE GREEK COMMUNIST REBELS TO INTENSIFY ITS EFFORTS AGAINST GREECE
BELGRADE, Jan. 1 General Markos, the Greek Communist guerrilla leader, issued a New Year proclamation broadcast by the " Free Democratic radio station of Greece," according to Tanjug, the Yugoslav News Agency today. The proclamation declared: "The democratic army, under the leadership of the provisional democratic Government, will strike still harder in 1948 at the Greek Royalist forces. The year 1948 will be one of glory and of success. Soldiers, you will fulfil your sacred duty. I am calling you to show your new fighting spirit, to double your efforts, to strengthen your blows at the enemy and not to leave this enemy a moment of peace. All for victory."
NEWSREEL SUMMARY:At Jannina, shots of ministers talking (silent) with air commanders. Several shots wrecked bridge(done by rebels), Troops on march & riding on horseback leave Kalpaki. Several GVs of mountains, & surrounding terrain. Ministers leave tent. Also leave H.Q. Ministers with commanders watch air attack on rebels at Gravala. Mr.Stratos, the chief minister, being War Minister.
Greek Communist rebel stronghold captured (16 JANUARY 1948)
LARGE SCALE BATTLE RAGING BETWEEN GREEK ROYAL ARMY AND REBELS
An operation involving commando regiments (otherwise knows as LOK) of the Royal Hellenic army have successfully captured a Greek communist Rebel base high in the mountains. They seized a large cache of German weapons being used by the Greek Communist rebels (they also refer to themselves as the Democracy army). These arms had been handed over to the ELAS on the withdrawal of the Germans from Greece by virtue of the pact signed between the Germans and the ELAS on 1 September 1944. The ELAS undertook not to hinder the withdrawal of the German Army as well as to support it by hindering other Greek non-communist resistance groups to attack the rear of the retreating German army. In exchange to this, the Germens undertake according to this pact to cede to ELAS heavy arms and war material such as that found at this Greek rebel stronghold.
Greek communist rebels attacking in the direction of Salonika were defeated by Greek regular troops.
FEB. 10 - Greek Communist rebels attacked Salonika early that morning with shell fire, killing one British soldier and three Greek civilians. Two other British soldiers and nine Greek civilians were wounded. The attack lasted, nearly an hour, and altogether about 20 shells were fired into the town. One hit a British guard room, where the three British casualties occurred; another landed close enough to the hotel in which the United Nations delegates were staying to break windows and cut the telephone wires. Two or three otters fell harmlessly near a petrol dump. The rebel gun position was located north of the town, towards the heights of Asbestochori, but by the time Greek Royal army detachments had reached that area the firing had ceased and the rebels had withdrawn. At daybreak they were seen by the Hellenic Royal air force moving along the heights towards the Chalcidice peninsula. In the course of the day they have been attacked by Royal Hellenic air force and ground troops, and losses have been inflicted. British troops in Salonika, numbering about one brigade, are confined within the town area in the hope that they will not become involved in this war. The Government's security measures, which have been in force in the troubled areas for some months, have now been extended to the whole country. The deputy head of the American military mission announced that day that arms were now forthcoming for the national guard to be increased from 54 to 66 battalion.
FEB. 11 - The Royal Hellenic Air Force and Greek Royal Army continued to inflict heavy losses that day on the rebel band which shelled Salonika the day before and was then retreating towards the Chakidice peninsula. Latest official reports state that over 100 dead had been counted and many more captured. The Army also claimed to have cut off the retreat of this particular band of rebels. Rebels retreating from Attica towards Helicon had also suffered heavy losses and reliable reports suggested that not more than one-third of the original force of 200 escaped.
FEB. 12 - The Greek Government forces had gained a clear victory over the Greek communist rebels who shelled Salonika on Tuesday morning. It is now established that this band, numbering over 350, had come from the Kroussia mountains with the intention of pushing into the Chalcidice or Kerdylia heights and making a spectacular bombardment of Salonika on the way. After a two-day battle fought in the Langhada area, the Government troops, supported by tanks, artillery, and aircraft, killed or captured nearly 300 of the Rebels. Remnants were being hunted today. The gun that fired on Salonika has not yet been found, but is now officially described as a 75mm. German Skoda mountain piece.
FEB 12 - Frenzied Greeks jeered, pelted and jabbed 121 captured Greek communist rebels who were forced to march in an army victory parade through Salonika's streets today. Among the prisoners were nine women
Lieutenant General Van Fleet arrives In Greece (24 February 1948)
In February 1948, Van Fleet was promoted to lieutenant general and sent to Greece as the head of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group and executor of the "Truman Doctrine" arriving in Athens on the 24th February 1948. He was instrumental in the outcome of the war with the Greek Communist rebels, who were supported by Yugoslavia and other Communist nations, by providing advice to the Greek government and 250 military advisers, as well as administering $400 million in military aid. The "VAN FLEET central square in the northern Greek city of Kastoria had a bust erected in his honor in recognition of his services to the Greek nation and its struggle against the Communist insurrection.
NEWSREEL: General Van Fleet, new chief of the military section of AMAG is greeted by officials in Athens, Greece. View of his plane taxiing in. View of Van Fleet alighting and being greeted by General Livesay who he is replacing, Karl Rankin, US Charge d'Affaires, and other military men. Footage of him being introduced to Greek army chiefs by General Livesay. Footage of him as he salutes the Greeks. Footage of him inspecting Greek Guard of Honour. Footage of him with Livesay and other army officers. Footage of him as he enters a car.
The 127th Anniversary of Greek Independence - 1948
The occasion justifiably brings the entire school community together and everyone from students to teachers join hands to support the Royal Welfare Institute. Student Representatives made Speeches at the Ceremony before Handing over donations to the minster for welfare.
The Royal Welfare institute was created in July 1947 by royal decree, countersigned by the parliamentary Government. Queen Frederica made it her job to try and save the children of Greece from the Communists. Her good friend, Mrs Alexandra Mela (Daughter-in-law of Pavlos Melas, Hero of the Macedonian Struggle) undertook to organise it and seventy two society ladies living in Athens volunteered to help Queen Frederica. The main Project, at the begining , was to save the Children in the Northern provinces from being abducted by Greek communist rebels and carried across the borders and from being educated as enemies of the country. Within a few months fifty-eight childrens homes were established . They housed, fed and clothed over 25000 children. They educated them, Taught them a trade and, when the countryside was safe again, they were sent back to their family homes. The Queens ladies, as they were called, were hardly in Athens. They left their families, their safe and comfortable homes , to save the children of Greece. They rode for hours over dangerous roads that had not been cleared of mines. They rode for hours on mules , disregarding the danger of war to find the children, to get them before the Greek Communists did. It was a desperate race which they sometimes lost, but mostly won. They hardly ever had protection. The Greek army had a job to do, and these ladies were carzy; possessed by a sense of mission that made them disregard their own lives to save the lives of Greek Children from a fate worse than death at the hands of the Greek Communist Rebels.
After the completion of ceremony the students paraded before the Minister for Welfare.
The Royal motorcade arrives at the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral in Athens where the Te Deum service was held. King Paul alighted from the car followed by the Crown Prince Constantine and the two little Princesses Sophia and Irene. He walks up the steps and is greeted by Government officials and Army officers . The Royal party enters the cathedral preceded by Archbishop Damaskinos. At the completion of the service the Royal party makes their way through crowd lined streets to the tomb of the unknown soldier where King Paul laid a wreath. King Paul then steps back and salutes. The King then turns to take the salute in person as the parade begins. The Disabled veterans and nurses parade before the King followed by the Motorcycle column, and Armoured cars. The Royal Hellenic Airforce perform a fly over low enough to be clearly seen. The parade continues with a Motorised column of battle Tanks, Motor Vehicles and Heavy Artillery. Members of the Greek War Relief Association are next followed by various infantry divisions. The parade then continues with Soldiers leading Alsatians, a military marching band followed by more infantry divisions.
FATE OF ABDUCTED GREEK CHILDREN
IN CAMPS AS PART OF COMMUNIST RESERVE
The full story behind the mass abduction of Greek children by the Greek communist rebels in 1948 was revealed in November 1960 by a man who claims to have been in charge of the " operation" in north-western Greece. The man. Mr. George Manoukas, a former village teacher, returned in the late 1960's from Rumania. At a press conference in Athens Mr. Manoukas explained how as inspector- general of education he had been assigned by the communist rebel " Government " to help create behind the iron curtain a militant reserve of communist janissaries. The plan originally provided for the removal of 50,000 Greek children to neighboring communist countries. where they would be educated along Marxist lines. He said that one day they would presumably be used in a communist bid to seize Power in the Kingdom of Greece. While the Greek communist rebellion lasted the eldest among the abducted children who were still in their teens were given summary military training and sent back to Greece to join the guerrillas. Mr Manoukas added.
BABIES TO TEENAGERS
He said word for the operation to begin had come in March 1948, from the Cominform meeting in Belgrade. Within the first three weeks 12.000 to 15,000 children were taken across the border into Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Later some of them were forwarded to other communist countries in eastern Europe, their ages ranging from a few months to 14 years. Mr. Manoukas told of some tragic errors, such as the 40 Greek babies taken to Czechoslovakia who had had their identification tags removed. In at least one instance, he said, parents had been erroneously informed of the death of their children. Mr. Manoukas said he had visited the children in camps frequently until 1952, when he fell in the party's disfavor. At that time there were some 22.000 children in camps in Rumania. Poland, Czecho- Slovakia. Hungary and Bulgaria (Yugoslavia had already broken away from the Soviet block and returned a few children to Greece). The parents of some of the children under his responsibility were communist rebels who, after their defeat in 1949, had sought refuge with their families in eastern Europe. Most of the children, however, had been taken from Greek villages against their parents' wishes. Mr. Manoukas told of instances when orders had been given to track down girls fleeing recruitment.
NO FAMILY LIFE
The children had been sent to regular schools in the various countries but also received lessons in the Greek language, some "distorted Greek history" and geography. They had all been made to hate the monarchist regime in Greece " he said. The absence of any kind of family life had inflicted moral injuries on the children. Mr. Manoukas added. There had been revolts in camps and some Greek boys had taken part in the Hungarian uprising, one had been killed. Mr. Manoukas said the children had been forced to assume the citizenship of their adopted countries and were consequently doing military service in local armies'. A number among them were being given instruction in special espionage schools run by the outlawed Greek Communist Party.
NEWSREEL (MARCH 1948)
Sofia, Bulgaria. Abducted Greek children reach Sofia for upbringing on the East European plan.
Abducted Greek children disembarking from train in Sofia, Bulgaria. Several shots of the abducted children. Little boy carrying his younger sister. Bulgarian Red Cross nurses with abducted children. Doctor and nurse examine abducted children. Abducted boy has hair cropped. Abducted boy crying.
New Greek Army Battalion From Ex - E.L.A.S. Communists (1948)
Red to White: Ex-Communists Taught Democracy
The Royal Hellenic Army welcomed new recruits in Athens, at a ceremony on the site of the Temple of Olympian Zeus..
The new recruits completed their basic training and gave an oath of Allegiance to the Greek King and to the Nation
The Oath of Allegiance (Official Oath) was a promise to be loyal to the Greek monarch, and to the nation, sworn by new army recruits.
At the ceremony, The King handed the new Battalion their rifles making them operation.
These ex E.L.A.S. members accepted the Government's offer of an amnesty and the opportunity to fight on the side of the State . These ex E.L.A.S. members have decided stand in defense of freedom, democracy and liberty in the face of leftist tyranny. It was suggested that since the proclamation of that amnesty the initiative had passed into the hands of the rebel army because the rebel leaders had withdrawn their formations to the high peaks in order to prevent similar desertions. The rebel leaders had taken severe measures to prevent desertion including the death penalty against any rebel caught attempting to desert.
King Paul made a speech welcoming the New recruits in the presence of the commander in chief of the Greek Armed Forces, Marshall Papagos and other dignitaries and guests. Military onlookers included American mission chief General Van Fleet.
The oath given by the new army recruits ;
ΟΡΚΟΣ
———-
Ορκιζιμαι να φυλαττω πιστιν εις την πατριδα και τον Συνταγματικον βασιλεα των Ελλήνων,
υπακοην εις το συνταγμα, τους νομους και τα ψηφισματα του κρατους,
υποταγην εις τους ανωτερους μου, να εκτελω προθυμως και ανευ αντιλογιας τας διαταγας των,
να υπερασπιζω με πιστιν και αφοσιωσιν μεχρι της τελευταιας ρανιδος του αιματος μου τας σημαιας,
να μη τας ευκαταλειπω, μηδε να αποχωριζωμαι ποτε απ αυτων, να φυλλατω δε ακριβως τους στρατιωτικους νομους και να διαγω εν γενει ως πιστος και φιλοτιμος στρατιωτης.
NEWSREEL: NEW GREEK ARMY BATTALION FROM EX-COMMUNISTS M.S. King Paul of Greece inspecting new battalion at the site of the Temple of Olympian Zeus L.M.S. King walking to the saluting base. M.S. Mounting the saluting base. M.S. Mounting the saluting base. MS. King on base. L.S. Audience watching proceedings. M.S. King on base. Also included: Marshall Papagos. L.M.S. Ex-communist. swearing allegiance to King. L.S. The New Battalion. M.S. The King hands new troops rifles (2 shots)M.S. Military onlookers including American mission chief General Van Fleet. M.S. King Paul addressing troops (2 shots). M.S. Military onlookers including General Van Fleet. M.S. Troops marching off (2 shots).
Fighting between the the Royal Hellenic army and Communist rebel forces (they also referred to themselves as the Democratic army) had flared up again in central Greece. A fierce skirmish on the outskirts of Almyros, between Lamia and Volos, had resulted in the defeat of the communist rebel band which attempted to raid the town, On either side of the railway line from Volos to Larissa other Greek Communist rebel bands that took 500 Greek hostages from Thessalian villages, were being rounded up by Royal Hellenic army units and attacked from the air. In northern Greece rebel attacks against villages in the Naoussa, Verroia, and Serres areas had been repulsed.
To their raiding and sabotage activities the the Greek communist guerrillas were now adding a new dimension of warfare: ‘Paidomazoma’ , the abduction of young children between the ages of two and fourteen, forcibly taken from their homes and removed as hostages across the border to various ‘Iron Curtain’ countries where they would be given a Communist upbringing away from their parents. In its Report of 21 May 1948 the UN. Special Committee on the Balkans emphasized that these abductions were no isolated incident but part of a concerted design
a) to terrorize the Greek families into giving their support to the Communists;
b) to imbue the children with the Communist ideology; and
c) to destroy the Greek race, to dislocate agricultural production by forcing families to abandon their fields and seek safety for their children in the towns.
With its highly-stretched lines of communication the Royal Hellenic Army was in no position to provide continuous protection against this danger to the village populations along the country’s six hundred miles of frontier in the north; the only effective measure was to evacuate the children to the safety of the interior, away from the guerrillas reach as quickly as possible.
With three young children of her own, Queen Frederica could understand all too readily the anguish of parents living under the shadow of this inhuman threat. It was a challenge which she grasped with a passionate determination and vigor that only a personal identification with a cause can provide. The full resources of her Northern provinces welfare fund was immediately brought into operation. Women volunteers were sent out to the exposed areas to bring the children away , with their parents if they insisted on coming too, alone if their parents felt they could not completely abandon their homes . Using army trucks and hired vehicles , the volunteers collected the children from the villages and brought them to safe towns in the interior. The newsreel shows children from the Village of Gonnoi in Thessaly being evacuated by trucks of the Royal Hellenic army and taken to Paidoupolis, setup by the Queens northern provinces welfare fund, out of reach of the Greek communist rebels . The Paidoupolis gave these children temporary shelter and welfare until the danger of abduction had passed at which time they could safely return to their homes. It was a desperate race to save these children which they sometimes lost, but mostly won.
The Royal Hellenic Army was in no position to provide continuous protection against this danger to the villages from the Greek communist rebels (otherwise know as the Democratic army) along the country’s six hundred miles of frontier in the north but they did what they could with the limited resources they had at their disposal.
In one instance Mr Spilios Maltezos a commando, or LOK as they were known in Greece, and his squad were engaged in an ongoing patrol through the villages across northern Greece close to the Yugoslavian border. The groups strong presence in the area was an attempt to prevent attacks by Greek Communist Rebels on Greek villages but on this occasion they were too late.
As they approached one village they found a number of woman crying and claiming that their children had just been abducted by Greek Communist rebels.
His unit immediately gave chase as the tracks were still fresh in the snow in an attempt to save the children from the clutches of the Greek communist rebels. The chase went on for a couple of days as they braved wind, snow and rain in a desperate attempt to save the children.
As they neared the border and closing in on the rebels they came across a horrible sight,
All six children were deceased with their throats cut. It seems the children were slowing down the rebels and knowing the army was closing in on them they opted to kill the children before disappearing to the safety of Yugoslavia.
Royal Hellenic army clearing rebels from Central Greece (July 1948)
By March 1948, an announcement of the radio station of the Greek communist rebels themselves which had said that under an agreement with the Governments supporting the rebellion , Greek children between the ages of three and 14 would be sent to Russian satellite States for instruction in Communist ideals. The Greek rebel radio had stated that over 7.000 Greek children had already been conscribed for this purpose from 59 villages of northern Greece.
The footage from 28 July 1948 depicts Greeks from the village of Livanates (It is located 68 km southeast of Lamia ) in central Greece taking their children to be registered before being conducted to a safer zone by the Royal Hellenic army, away from the Greek communist rebels reach. The Registering Committee consists of army officers, the President of the Village and the orthodox priest of the village. The royal Hellenic army units and the M.A.Y. (Open Country Defence Units) have been welcomed with jubilant celebrations by the village of Livanates.
The footage includes imges captured greek communist rebels in an open-air Army prisoner-of-war compound. A prisoner is interviewed by an Army officer who takes notes. After the conclusion of heavy fighting, the footage shows a captured Greek rebel column on the march, flanked by Greek soldiers. .
RHAF BOMBS GREEK COMMUNIST REBEL POSITIONS (AUGUST 1949)
By the 27 August 1949, The Royal Hellenic army ninth Division had made further good progress from the north along the Albanian frontier in an endeavor to cut off the retreat of the Greek Communist rebel forces engaged in the Grammos Mountains. That morning the division captured the 8,000ft. peak of the Grammos Mountains, and all organized resistance by the Communist forces north of the main mountain ridge had been smashed. The signal conveying this news backwards was " The storks have gone to roost," the ninth divisional sign being a Thessalian stork. By means of a swift right hook yesterday along the Albanian border, this division also succeeded in blocking the Starias and Baroukas passes, the two main gateways of the Greek rebels across the frontier. These gullies the Communists for three years had arrogantly termed "the boulevards to Athens." At one time, before British and American aid to Greece became effective, they appeared aptly named. On the 26th August a commando division captured one of the main rebel strongholds on height Flambouro (6,000ft.), and the first division stormed Prioni (5.000ft.). Infantry were given incessant and invaluable artillery and air support. Wooded mountain heights were set ablaze with incendiaries from dive bombers and phosphorous shells from the gunners. Units of the eighth division had also begun to move from the south from Kamenil. The first division, having consolidated yesterday's gain towards the main mountain mass, have been leap-frogged by a commando division which struck fast to join up with the ninth division in the frontier area.
On 19 January 1949 King Paul of the Hellenes signed a decree appointing General Alexander Papagos Commander in Chief of the Royal Armed forces and promoting him to Field-Marshal, a rank never previously held in Greece except nominally by the sovereign.
Shortly afterwards an event of profound significance for the Kingdom of Greece took place in Yugoslavia. Marshal Tito's independent policy had already brought Yugoslavia's expulsion from the Cominform a year earlier, and the relations with the Soviet Union and the satellites of the eastern bloc had progressively deteriorated almost to breaking point. In a speech at Pula on 10 July 1949, Marshal Tito now announced that Yugoslavia was closing her frontier with the Kingdom of Greece. This meant that the Greek Communist guerrillas were being deprived of their main channel of arms and supplies and were being denied access to their main training center's such as Bulkes , while at the same time Greek Government forces Hitherto deployed along the 150-mile border with Yugoslavia could now be released for operations elsewhere.
The effects of these developments were not long in making themselves felt. After a week’s hard fighting Greek Government forces dislodged the guerrillas from all their strongholds in the Kaimaktchalan range on the Yugoslav frontier, inflicting heavy casualties and forcing the remainder to flee into Yugoslavia - whence, under Tito’s new ruling, they could no longer re-enter Greece. On 6 August Government troops launched a major offensive in the Grammos range on the Albanian frontier, and on 10 August another further north against the main rebel strongholds in the Mt Vitsi and Lake Prespa area, where nearly eight thousand guerrillas held fortified positions; by 16 August all organized Resistance in this last area had ceased. On 23 August Mt Beles, the main rebel stronghold on the Bulgarian frontier, was occupied in a four-day battle. King Paul of the Hellenes and US General James Van Fleet arrived in the area to witness the final battle. The Grammos offensive was renewed on 25 August, extensive use being made of recently-delivered American Helldiver aircraft, and by 30 August complete Government control had been established over the whole area.
0n 2 September the Greek General Staff announced that not more than live thousand guerrillas remained on Greek soil: the guerrilla war was over. On the same day King Paul sent the following personal letter to Field-Marshal Papagos:
0n the occasion of the great victory of the Armed Forces,
I wish to extend to you my warmest congratulations.
The confidence placed in you by myself and by the Greek
people has once again been fully justified.
Under much more unfavorable conditions, you have carried
on the work and the traditions of my father.
The nation rightly expresses its gratitude to you and to the men who
fought under your inspired leadership.
It is the custom in Greece for the King to issue a proclamation to the people on New Year’s Day. The text is usually prepared in collaboration between the Prime Minister and the King’s Private Secretary, on general lines indicated by the King, but in 1950 Paul decided to draft the message himself. It ran as follow:
Hellenes,
I send you all my warmest good wishes for the New Year.
My life and my thoughts are dedicated to my people, and I feel the joys and the sorrows and the hopes of you all as if they were my own.
May god forgive me when l say that I am a happy King, because my happiness springs from the hearts of my people.
On Greek Independence Day nearly two years ago I declared our country to be in peril.
A year ago I asked the nation to declare 1949 the Year of Victory.
Today I am proud and grateful to my people that they have once again performed a miracle and made 1949 indeed the Year of Victory.
The guerrilla war lasted a little over three years and cost the country many lives and much destruction. In the armed forces, 1,032 officers and 11,745 other ranks were killed, in addition to
4,527 officers and men missing; the wounded numbered 2,313 officers and 35,419 other ranks. Civilian casualties were also heavy: 4,289 (including 165 priests) were executed by the Communists, and 931 were killed by land mines. Material losses included large numbers of livestock and the destruction of 915 road and railway bridges, the burning of 80 railway stations, and the complete destruction of 24,626 dwellings, 15,139 farm buildings, 50 churches and 139 schools, as well as the partial destruction of another 22,000
houses.
Repatriated Greek hostages kiss the Greek earth on their return from Albania where they have been imprisoned since the Greek Guerilla War of 1946-49.
In the advance border post of KAKAVIA along the line of the Greek-Albanian border, 64 Greek hostages who having been living in Albania since the Greek Guerilla War were finally released and allowed to return to the Kingdom of Greece. In the group of 64 people were young and old , many of the children were born in Albania. The parents were forcefully taken along behind the Iron Curtain by the Greek communist guerrillas as they retreated from Greece by the pursuing Greek Royal Army. The newsreel shows the flag of the kingdom of Greece waving proudly as freed Greek hostages and their possessions which include livestock finally are allowed to return home. For many of the freed hostages, to be back on Greek soil was a powerfully emotional experience. As the freed hostages crossed the border, a large crowd which included Members of the Greek armed forces, government officials , Greek Red Cross representatives, family and friends applauded and cheered the arrival of the Repatriated Greek hostages. Some of the returning hostages kissed the ground, while others touched it. These people had spend 16 years in captivity, the harrowing ordeal of these Greeks held by Albania had finally come to an end.