WWII & Civil War: Occupation, Resistance and Civil War
From Oxi Day in 1940 to the end of the Civil War in 1949, Greece endured invasion, occupation, famine and civil conflict. Explore the hardest decade in modern Greek history.
Key Events of WWII & the Greek Civil War
The Story of WWII & the Greek Civil War
The 1940s were the hardest decade in modern Greek history. On 28 October 1940, Greece rejected Mussolini's ultimatum, a day still celebrated as Oxi Day, and its army drove the Italian invaders back into Albania, the first Allied land victory of the war. In April 1941, Nazi Germany invaded, and after the Battle of Crete the country was occupied by Germany, Italy and Bulgaria. The occupation brought a terrible famine, mass reprisals against villages such as Kalavryta and Distomo, and the deportation and murder of most of Greece's Jews, especially from Thessaloniki. A strong resistance movement grew, led largely by the left-wing EAM and its army, ELAS. After liberation in October 1944, tensions between the left and the government exploded in the Dekemvriana fighting in Athens and then in the Greek Civil War of 1946 to 1949. With American support under the Truman Doctrine, the government won, but the war left deep divisions that lasted for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Greece enter World War II?
Greece entered the war on 28 October 1940, when it rejected Italy's ultimatum and resisted the Italian invasion from Albania.
How long was Greece occupied in World War II?
Greece was occupied by Germany, Italy and Bulgaria from April 1941 until October 1944, when German troops withdrew from Athens.
What happened to the Jews of Greece during the war?
Around 60,000 Greek Jews, over 80 percent of the community, were murdered in the Holocaust, most of them from Thessaloniki, deported to Auschwitz in 1943.
What caused the Greek Civil War?
The civil war grew out of the wartime rivalry between the Communist-led resistance and the government and its allies, and out of the violence that followed liberation.
How did the 1940s end for Greece?
The government army, backed by Britain and then the United States, defeated the Communist-led Democratic Army in 1949, keeping Greece in the Western camp.
Explore Other Eras of Greek History
