Difference between revisions of "EDES"
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'''Ethnikos Dimokratikos Ellinikos Syndesmos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''Εθνικός Δημοκρατικός Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος''', "Greek National Democratic Union", abbreviated '''EDES''') was a [[World War II]] [[Greek Resistance|Greek resistance]] movement. Its core leadership were anti-communist, [[Eleftherios Venizelos|Venizelist]], republicans, in contrast to the larger [[KKE|communist]]-affiliated ''[[Ethnikos Laikos Apeleftherotikos Stratos]] ([[ELAS]])''. | '''Ethnikos Dimokratikos Ellinikos Syndesmos''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''Εθνικός Δημοκρατικός Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος''', "Greek National Democratic Union", abbreviated '''EDES''') was a [[World War II]] [[Greek Resistance|Greek resistance]] movement. Its core leadership were anti-communist, [[Eleftherios Venizelos|Venizelist]], republicans, in contrast to the larger [[KKE|communist]]-affiliated ''[[Ethnikos Laikos Apeleftherotikos Stratos]] ([[ELAS]])''. | ||
| − | The group was founded | + | The group was founded on [[September 9]], [[1941]], by Colonel [[Napoleon Zervas]]. Their activities were largely confined to [[Epirus]] in NW Greece although they did participate - along with [[ELAS]] - in the blowing up of [[Gorgopotamos]] bridge, in [[Central Greece]], the largest and most effective single act of sabotage during the German occupation of Greece. |
When Italy capitulated in [[1943]], the Germans sought to destroy EDES but after four days of fighting, its partisans, led by Zervas, managed to escape. EDES were also attacked that year by [[ELAS]] partisans who had acquired Italian army weapons. EDES repelled this attack and launched a counter-attack in [[1944]]. The fighting between the two groups eventually was halted, largely through the efforts of the Allies, for the sake of the much larger objective of resisting the occupiers. However, after the Germans left Greece in December, [[1944]], [[ELAS]] attacked a weakened EDES with three divisions, completely eliminating their presence on the Greek mainland and eliminating them as a factor in the developments that led to the [[Greek Civil War]]. | When Italy capitulated in [[1943]], the Germans sought to destroy EDES but after four days of fighting, its partisans, led by Zervas, managed to escape. EDES were also attacked that year by [[ELAS]] partisans who had acquired Italian army weapons. EDES repelled this attack and launched a counter-attack in [[1944]]. The fighting between the two groups eventually was halted, largely through the efforts of the Allies, for the sake of the much larger objective of resisting the occupiers. However, after the Germans left Greece in December, [[1944]], [[ELAS]] attacked a weakened EDES with three divisions, completely eliminating their presence on the Greek mainland and eliminating them as a factor in the developments that led to the [[Greek Civil War]]. | ||
Revision as of 19:38, June 3, 2006
Ethnikos Dimokratikos Ellinikos Syndesmos (Greek Εθνικός Δημοκρατικός Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος, "Greek National Democratic Union", abbreviated EDES) was a World War II Greek resistance movement. Its core leadership were anti-communist, Venizelist, republicans, in contrast to the larger communist-affiliated Ethnikos Laikos Apeleftherotikos Stratos (ELAS).
The group was founded on September 9, 1941, by Colonel Napoleon Zervas. Their activities were largely confined to Epirus in NW Greece although they did participate - along with ELAS - in the blowing up of Gorgopotamos bridge, in Central Greece, the largest and most effective single act of sabotage during the German occupation of Greece.
When Italy capitulated in 1943, the Germans sought to destroy EDES but after four days of fighting, its partisans, led by Zervas, managed to escape. EDES were also attacked that year by ELAS partisans who had acquired Italian army weapons. EDES repelled this attack and launched a counter-attack in 1944. The fighting between the two groups eventually was halted, largely through the efforts of the Allies, for the sake of the much larger objective of resisting the occupiers. However, after the Germans left Greece in December, 1944, ELAS attacked a weakened EDES with three divisions, completely eliminating their presence on the Greek mainland and eliminating them as a factor in the developments that led to the Greek Civil War.
