Government of National Defence in Thessaloniki

In September 1916, Eleftherios Venizelos left Athens and, with Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis and General Panagiotis Danglis, formed the Provisional Government of National Defence, based in Thessaloniki. The move followed a revolt by pro-Allied army officers in Thessaloniki in August 1916 and growing anger over King Constantine's policy of neutrality in World War I, especially after Bulgarian forces occupied Fort Rupel and parts of eastern Macedonia without resistance from the Greek government. The new government was supported by Britain and France, whose troops were already in Thessaloniki. It controlled northern Greece, Crete and many Aegean islands, while the royal government in Athens controlled southern Greece. Greece was effectively divided into two states. The National Defence government declared war on Bulgaria and Germany and raised an army to fight alongside the Allies on the Macedonian Front. In June 1917, under Allied pressure, King Constantine left Greece, and Venizelos returned to Athens to lead a reunited government into the war. The division deepened the conflict between Venizelists and royalists.