Greek Civil War - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Civil War: 1946-1949 */

2011-04-01T12:46:22Z

Civil War: 1946-1949

Irlandos: /* Civil War: 1946-1949 */

2011-04-01T12:45:46Z

Civil War: 1946-1949

Irlandos at 12:19, February 10, 2011

2011-02-10T12:19:16Z

Irlandos at 13:12, November 8, 2007

2007-11-08T13:12:02Z

Irlandos: /* The end of the war: 1949 */

2007-02-28T13:14:21Z

The end of the war: 1949

Irlandos: /* Civil War: 1946-1949 */

2006-08-03T08:53:20Z

Civil War: 1946-1949

Irlandos: /* The end of the war: 1949 */

2006-08-03T08:49:57Z

The end of the war: 1949

Irlandos at 11:19, August 2, 2006

2006-08-02T11:19:03Z

Lazarus at 13:15, June 27, 2006

2006-06-27T13:15:47Z

Irlandos at 22:28, March 9, 2006

2006-03-09T22:28:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:46, April 1, 2011
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	In September [[1947]], however, the KKE leadership decided to move from these guerilla tactics to full-scale conventional war, despite the opposition of [[Markos Vafiadis\|Vafiadis]]. In December the [[KKE]] announced the formation of a "Provisional Democratic Government", with Vafiadis as Prime Minister. This led the Athens government finally to ban the [[KKE]] and suppress its press. No foreign government recognised this government. The new strategy led the DSE into costly attempts to seize a major town to be the seat of its government. In December [[1947]] 1,200 DSE men were killed at a set-piece battle around [[Konitsa]]. However, this strategy forced the government to increase the size of the Army. Controlling the main cities, the government cracked down on KKE members and sympathisers, many of whom were imprisoned on the island of [[Makronisos]].		In September [[1947]], however, the KKE leadership decided to move from these guerilla tactics to full-scale conventional war, despite the opposition of [[Markos Vafiadis\|Vafiadis]]. In December the [[KKE]] announced the formation of a "Provisional Democratic Government", with Vafiadis as Prime Minister. This led the Athens government finally to ban the [[KKE]] and suppress its press. No foreign government recognised this government. The new strategy led the DSE into costly attempts to seize a major town to be the seat of its government. In December [[1947]] 1,200 DSE men were killed at a set-piece battle around [[Konitsa]]. However, this strategy forced the government to increase the size of the Army. Controlling the main cities, the government cracked down on KKE members and sympathisers, many of whom were imprisoned on the island of [[Makronisos]].

−	Despite setbacks, such as the fighting at Konitsa, during [[1948]], the DSE reached the height of its power, extending its operations to the [[~~Peloponnessus~~]] and even to [[Attica]], within 20 km of Athens. It had at least 20,000 fighters, and a network of sympathisers and informants in every village and every suburb. It has been estimated that out of DSE's 20,000 fighters, 14,000 were of Slavic Macedonian origin. Given their important role, KKE changed its policy on Greek Macedonia. At the fifth Plenum on [[January 31]], [[1949]], a resolution was passed claiming that "Macedonian" people are distinguishing themselves, and after KKE's victory they would find their "national restoration" as they wish.	+	Despite setbacks, such as the fighting at Konitsa, during [[1948]], the DSE reached the height of its power, extending its operations to the [[Peloponnesus]] and even to [[Attica]], within 20 km of Athens. It had at least 20,000 fighters, and a network of sympathisers and informants in every village and every suburb. It has been estimated that out of DSE's 20,000 fighters, 14,000 were of Slavic Macedonian origin. Given their important role, KKE changed its policy on Greek Macedonia. At the fifth Plenum on [[January 31]], [[1949]], a resolution was passed claiming that "Macedonian" people are distinguishing themselves, and after KKE's victory they would find their "national restoration" as they wish.

@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 ==Civil War: 1946-1949==
-Fighting resumed in March [[1946]], as armed bands of ELAS veterans infiltrated into Greece through the mountainous regions near the Yugoslav and Albanian borders. They now were organised as the [[Democratic Army of Greece]] (''Dimokratikos Stratos Elladas'', DSE), under the command of the ELAS veteran [[Markos Vafiadis]] (known as "General Markos"), who operated from a base in Yugoslavia.
+Fighting resumed when armed bands of ELAS veterans infiltrated into Greece, through the mountainous regions near the Yugoslav and Albanian borders, and attacked the town of [[Litochoro]] on the day of the national elections ([[March 31]], [[1946]]). They were now organised as the [[Democratic Army of Greece]] (''Dimokratikos Stratos Elladas'', DSE), under the command of the ELAS veteran [[Markos Vafiadis]] (known as "General Markos"), who operated from a base in Yugoslavia.
 Both the Yugoslav and Albanian Communist regimes, which had come to power through their own efforts and were not Soviet puppets, supported the [[KKE]] fighters, but the Soviet Union remained ambivalent. It was not part of Stalin's strategy to conduct a war against the Western Allies in Greece, and the Soviets gave little direct support to the [[KKE]] campaign. Certain historians believe that Stalin in Greece wanted just to test the determination of the western allies.
-By late [[1946]] the DSE could deploy about 10,000 partisans in various areas of Greece, mainly in the northern mountains. Accordiong to the DSE its fighters, "resisted the reign of terror that the right-wing gangs conducted all over Greece. During 1945-1946, 60 right-wing gangs killed 1,192 Greek citizens, and made more than 13,000 terrorist attacks against pro-democratic citizens and villages". According to the right-wing citizens, these gangs were retaliating for what they had suffered during the reign of ELAS. In many cases the Government tried to stop the action of the right-wing gangs, imprisoning their members.
+By late [[1946]] the DSE could deploy about 10,000 partisans in various areas of Greece, mainly in the northern mountains. According to the DSE its fighters, "resisted the reign of terror that the right-wing gangs conducted all over Greece. During 1945-1946, 60 right-wing gangs killed 1,192 Greek citizens, and made more than 13,000 terrorist attacks against pro-democratic citizens and villages". According to the right-wing citizens, these gangs were retaliating for what they had suffered during the reign of ELAS. In many cases the Government tried to stop the action of the right-wing gangs, imprisoning their members.
-This provided little relief for the average citizen, who was caught in the crossfire. When the DSE partizans were entering a village asking for supplies, the citizens could not resist. And when the national army was coming to the village the same citizens who had given supplies to the partizans, at gun point, were characterized as communist sympathizers and suffered the consequenses.
+This provided little relief for the average citizen, who was caught in the crossfire. When the DSE partizans were entering a village conscripting and asking for supplies, the citizens could not resist. And when the national army was coming to the village the same citizens who had given supplies to the partizans, at gun point, were characterized as communist sympathizers and suffered the consequenses.
-The Greek Army now numbered about 90,000 men, and gradually was being put on a more professional basis. The task of re-equipping and training the Army had been carried out by its fellow Western Allies. But by early [[1947]] Britain, which had spent 85 million pounds in Greece since [[1944]], no longer could afford this burden. President Harry S. Truman announced that the United States would step in to support the government of Greece against Communist pressure. This began a long and troubled relationship between Greece and the United States. For several decades the American Ambassador advised the King about important issues such as the appointment of the Prime Minister.
+The Greek Army now numbered about 90,000 men, and gradually was being put on a more professional basis. The task of re-equipping and training the Army had been carried out by its fellow Western Allies. But by early [[1947]] Britain, which had spent 85 million pounds in Greece since [[1944]], no longer could afford this burden. President Harry S Truman announced that the United States would step in to support the government of Greece against Communist pressure. This began a long and troubled relationship between Greece and the United States. For several decades the American Ambassador advised the King about important issues such as the appointment of the Prime Minister.
 Through [[1947]] the scale of fighting increased. The DSE launched large-scale attacks on towns across northern [[Epirus]], [[Thessaly]] and [[Macedonia]], provoking the Army into massive counter-offensives, which then encountered no opposition as the DSE melted back into the mountains and into its safe havens over the northern borders. Army morale remained low, and it would be some time before the support of the United States became apparent.
-In September [[1947]], however, the KKE leadership decided to move from these guerilla tactics to full-scale conventional war, despite the opposition of [[Markos Vafiadis|Vafiadis]]. In December the [[KKE]] announced the formation of a Provisional Democratic Government, with Vafiadis as Prime Minister. This led the Athens government finally to ban the [[KKE]] and suppress its press. No foreign government recognised this government. The new strategy led the DSE into costly attempts to seize a major town to be the seat of its government. In December [[1947]] 1,200 DSE men were killed at a set-piece battle around [[Konitsa]]. However, this strategy forced the government to increase the size of the Army. Controlling the main cities, the government cracked down on KKE members and sympathisers, many of whom were imprisoned on the island of [[Makronisos]].
+In September [[1947]], however, the KKE leadership decided to move from these guerilla tactics to full-scale conventional war, despite the opposition of [[Markos Vafiadis|Vafiadis]]. In December the [[KKE]] announced the formation of a "Provisional Democratic Government", with Vafiadis as Prime Minister. This led the Athens government finally to ban the [[KKE]] and suppress its press. No foreign government recognised this government. The new strategy led the DSE into costly attempts to seize a major town to be the seat of its government. In December [[1947]] 1,200 DSE men were killed at a set-piece battle around [[Konitsa]]. However, this strategy forced the government to increase the size of the Army. Controlling the main cities, the government cracked down on KKE members and sympathisers, many of whom were imprisoned on the island of [[Makronisos]].
-Despite setbacks such as the fighting at Konitsa, during [[1948]] the DSE reached the height of its power, extending its operations to the Peloponnessus and even to [[Attica]], within 20 km of Athens. It had at least 20,000 fighters, and a network of sympathisers and informants in every village and every suburb. It has been estimated that out of DSE's 20,000 fighters, 14,000 were of Slavic Macedonian origin. Given their important role, KKE changed its policy on Greek Macedonia. At the fifth Plenum on [[January 31]], [[1949]], a resolution was passed claiming that "Macedonian" people are distinguishing themselves, and after KKE's victory they would find their "national restoration" as they wish.
+Despite setbacks, such as the fighting at Konitsa, during [[1948]], the DSE reached the height of its power, extending its operations to the [[Peloponnessus]] and even to [[Attica]], within 20 km of Athens. It had at least 20,000 fighters, and a network of sympathisers and informants in every village and every suburb. It has been estimated that out of DSE's 20,000 fighters, 14,000 were of Slavic Macedonian origin. Given their important role, KKE changed its policy on Greek Macedonia. At the fifth Plenum on [[January 31]], [[1949]], a resolution was passed claiming that "Macedonian" people are distinguishing themselves, and after KKE's victory they would find their "national restoration" as they wish.

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 The deliberately moderate aims of the PEEA aroused support even among Greeks in exile. In April [[1944]] the Greek armed forces in Egypt mutinied against the Western Allies, demanding that a Government of National Unity should be established based on the PEEA principles. The mutiny was suppressed by Western Allied armed units. Later on, through political screening of the officers, the Cairo government created staunchly anti-Communist armed forces. In May [[1944]], representatives from all political groups came together at a conference in Lebanon, seeking an agreement about a government of national unity. Despite EAM's accusations of collaboration, made against other Greek forces, the conference succeded because of Soviet directives to the [[KKE]] to avoid harming Allied unity.
-[[Image:General-Sarafis.jpg|frame|left|General St. Sarafis]]
+[[Image:General-Sarafis.jpg|frame|left|General [[Stefanos Sarafis|St. Sarafis]]]]
-In Greece under Nazi occupation, the struggle was bitter and there was no room for delicate differentiations. EAM burned villages, and executed civilians and suspected collaborators. According to KKE, "the collaborationist groups such as [[Organization X|X]], however, used terrorism as a deliberate strategy, while with ELAS fighters it was the result of over-zealous local commanders rather than official policy". The fact is that [[Organization X]] couldn't burn villages or conduct terrorism since its influence was felt only in a small part of the Athens center. The execution of the [[EKKA]] leader [[Dimitrios Psaros]] was one of the most repellent ELAS crimes: according to KKE some of his officers later were proven to be collaborators with the Germans -- according to the officers themselves they were forced to act, after the ELAS attacks against all non-communist resistance organizations. The truth is that in several cases ex-officers of the Greek army were forced at gun point to join ELAS although they were prefered to join an anti communist partizan group or the forces of the government in M.East. It is quite charasteristic the example of St.Sarafis who was the military leader of ELAS. Sarafis intended to join the non communist resistance group of Kostopoulos in Thessaly with a group of other officers. On their way they were caught by an ELAS group commanded by Velouhiotis. Sarafis accepted to join ELAS at gun point when Velouhiotis killed all other officers.
+In Greece under Nazi occupation, the struggle was bitter and there was no room for delicate differentiations. EAM burned villages, and executed civilians and suspected collaborators. According to KKE, "the collaborationist groups such as [[Organization X|X]], however, used terrorism as a deliberate strategy, while with ELAS fighters it was the result of over-zealous local commanders rather than official policy". The fact is that [[Organization X]] couldn't burn villages or conduct terrorism since its influence was felt only in a small part of the Athens center. The execution of the [[EKKA]] leader [[Dimitrios Psaros]] was one of the most repellent ELAS crimes: according to KKE some of his officers later were proven to be collaborators with the Germans -- according to the officers themselves they were forced to act, after the ELAS attacks against all non-communist resistance organizations. The truth is that in several cases ex-officers of the Greek army were forced at gun point to join ELAS although they were prefered to join an anti communist partizan group or the forces of the government in M.East. It is quite charasteristic the example of [[Stefanos Sarafis]] who was the military leader of ELAS. Sarafis intended to join the non communist resistance group of Kostopoulos in Thessaly with a group of other officers. On their way they were caught by an ELAS group commanded by Velouhiotis. Sarafis accepted to join ELAS at gun point when Velouhiotis killed all other officers.
 ==Confrontation: 1944==
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 ==Interlude: 1945-1946==
-[[Image:Varkiza-agreement-2.jpg|frame|Signing of the Varkiza peace agreement. From left to right, General St. Sarafis, military leader of ELAS, R. Scobey, commander of the British forces in Athens and [[Napoleon Zervas]], military leader of EDES. [[February 12]], [[1945]].]]
+[[Image:Varkiza-agreement-2.jpg|frame|Signing of the Varkiza peace agreement. From left to right, General [[Stefanos Sarafis|St. Sarafis]], military leader of ELAS, R. Scobey, commander of the British forces in Athens and [[Napoleon Zervas]], military leader of EDES. [[February 12]], [[1945]].]]
 In February [[1945]] the various Greek parties came to the Varkiza Agreement, with the support of all the Allies. This provided for the complete demobilisation of ELAS and all other paramilitary groups, an amnesty for all political offences, a referendum on the monarchy, and a general election as soon as possible. The KKE remained legal, and its leader [[Nikolaos Zachariadis]], who returned from Germany in April [[1945]], said that the [[KKE]]'s objective was now a "people's democracy" to be achieved by peaceful means.
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 The [[KKE]] soon reversed its political position, as relations between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies deteriorated. With the onset of the [[Cold War]], Communist parties everywhere moved to more militant positions.
-George Papandreou in July, 1945, informed the government that the dissolution of the [[Comintern]] was a fraud. Although [[Stalin]] still did not support a resumed armed struggle in Greece, the [[KKE]] leadership in February [[1946]] decided, "after weighing the domestic factors, and the Balkan and international situation," to go ahead with the, "organisation of a new armed struggle against the Monarcho-Fascist regime." The [[KKE]] boycotted the [[Result of 1946 elections in Greece|March 1946 elections]], which were won by the monarchist United Patriotic Party (''Inomeni Parataxis Ethnikofronon''), the main member of which was the People's Party (LK) of [[Konstantinos Tsaldaris]]. In September a referendum narrowly decided to retain the monarchy, although the [[KKE]] disputed the results, and King George returned to Athens.
+George Papandreou in July, 1945, informed the government that the dissolution of the Comintern was a fraud. Although Stalin still did not support a resumed armed struggle in Greece, the [[KKE]] leadership in February [[1946]] decided, "after weighing the domestic factors, and the Balkan and international situation," to go ahead with the, "organisation of a new armed struggle against the Monarcho-Fascist regime." The [[KKE]] boycotted the [[Result of 1946 elections in Greece|March 1946 elections]], which were won by the monarchist United Patriotic Party (''Inomeni Parataxis Ethnikofronon''), the main member of which was the People's Party (LK) of [[Konstantinos Tsaldaris]]. In September a referendum narrowly decided to retain the monarchy, although the [[KKE]] disputed the results, and King George returned to Athens.
 ==Civil War: 1946-1949==

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 [[Category:Communism]]
 [[Category:Wars of Greece]]
-[[Category:History of Modern Greece]]
+[[Category:History of Greece]]
 [[el:Ελληνικός Εμφύλιος Πόλεμος]]

@@ Line 106: / Line 106: @@
 The Civil War left Greece in ruins, and in even greater economic distress than it had been after the end of [[WWII]] and the end of the German occupation. The war divided the Greek people for the following four decades. Thousands of Greeks languished in prison for many years. Many thousands more went into exile in Communist countries, or emigrated to Australia, Germany, the USA and other countries. The polarisation and instability in the [[1960s]] of Greek politics was a direct result of feelings and ideologies lingering from the Civil War.
-Right-wing extremist organisations played a part in the politics of the time by instigating conflict and tension, leading to the murder of the left-wing politician [[Gregoris Lambrakis]] in [[1963]]. On [[April 21]], [[1967]], a group of right-wing Army officers succeded in performing a ''coup d' êtat'' and seizing power from the government, using as an excuse the political instability and tension of the time. The leader of the coup, [[George Papadopoulos]], was a member of the extra-military organization IDEA (''Ieros Desmos Ellinon Axiomatikon -Ιερός Σύνδεσμος Ελλήνων Αξιωματικών'' - or Sacred Bond of Greek Officers).
+Right-wing extremist organisations played a part in the politics of the time by instigating conflict and tension, leading to the murder of the left-wing politician [[Gregoris Lambrakis]] in [[1963]]. On [[April 21]], [[1967]], a group of right-wing Army officers succeded in performing a ''coup d' êtat'' and seizing power from the government, using as an excuse the political instability and tension of the time. The leader of the coup, [[George Papadopoulos]], was a member of the extra-military organization IDEA (''Ieros Desmos Ellinon Axiomatikon -Ιερός Δεσμός Ελλήνων Αξιωματικών'' - or Sacred Bond of Greek Officers).
 Before the Junta was in power, officers belonging to the ASPIDA group, a left-wing organization of anti-royalist officers, were accused of planning an attempt to take power through a coup. The attempt never took place  and the officers were court martialed for, "treason against the Greek state", and, "following a known communist". They alledgedly were followers of [[Andreas Papandreou]], son of [[George Papandreou (senior)|George Papandreou]], former prime minister of Greece, who fled the country after the 1967 coup.

@@ Line 100: / Line 100: @@
 After a year of increasing acrimony, Tito closed down the Yugoslavian border to the guerrillas of DSE in July of [[1949]] and disbanded their camps inside Yugoslavia. The DSE still could operate from Albania, but to the DSE that was a poor alternative. The split with Tito also set off a witch-hunt for "Tito-ites" inside the Greek Communist Party, leading to disorganisation and demoralisation within the ranks of the DSE and decline of support of the [[KKE]] in urban areas.
-At the same time, the National Army found a talented commander in General [[Alexander Papagos]]. In August of [[1949]], Papagos launched a major counter-offensive against DSE forces in northern Greece, code-named ''"[[Battle of GRammos-Vitsi|Operation Torch]]"''. The plan was a major victory for the National Army and resulted in heavy losses for the DSE. The DSE army no longer was able to sustain resistance in a set-piece battle. By September of [[1949]], most of its fighters had surrendered or escaped over the border into Albania. By the end of the month, the Albanian government, presumably with Soviet approval, announced to the KKE that it no longer would allow the DSE to perform military operations from within Albanian territory. On [[October 16]], [[Nikolaos Zachariadis|Zachariadis]] announced a, "temporary cease-fire to prevent the complete annihilation of Greece." That treaty marked the end of the Greek Civil War.
+At the same time, the National Army found a talented commander in General [[Alexander Papagos]]. In August of [[1949]], Papagos launched a major counter-offensive against DSE forces in northern Greece, code-named ''"[[Battle of Grammos-Vitsi|Operation Torch]]"''. The plan was a major victory for the National Army and resulted in heavy losses for the DSE. The DSE army no longer was able to sustain resistance in a set-piece battle. By September of [[1949]], most of its fighters had surrendered or escaped over the border into Albania. By the end of the month, the Albanian government, presumably with Soviet approval, announced to the KKE that it no longer would allow the DSE to perform military operations from within Albanian territory. On [[October 16]], [[Nikolaos Zachariadis|Zachariadis]] announced a, "temporary cease-fire to prevent the complete annihilation of Greece." That treaty marked the end of the Greek Civil War.
 The Western Allies saw the end of the [[Greek Civil War]], as a victory in the Cold War against the Soviet Union. The paradox was that the Soviets never actively supported the Communist Party's efforts to seize power in Greece. The [[KKE]]'s major supporter and supplier always had been Tito, and it was the rift between Tito and the [[KKE]] which marked the real demise of the party's efforts to assert power.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 [[Image:Greekcivilwar2.jpg|thumb|225px|Anti-communist militamen display their victims]]
-The '''Greek Civil War''' was fought between [[1942]] and [[1949]], and can largely be attributed to the great division in Greek society between royalists and [[Venizelism|venizelists]] which took place during the [[First World War]]. Another factor was the rise of the Communist party that although small in numbers created the conditions for a pro-fascist regime in Greece in 1936. The victory of the government's anti-Communist forces led to Greece's membership in NATO, upon that organization's formation in 1949, and helped to define the ideological balance of power in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] for the entire Cold War.
+The '''Greek Civil War''' was fought between [[1942]] and [[1949]], and can largely be attributed to the great division in Greek society between royalists and [[Venizelism|venizelists]] which took place during the [[First World War]]. Another factor was the rise of the Communist party that although small in numbers created the conditions for a right-wing dictatorship in Greece in 1936. The victory of the government's anti-Communist forces led to Greece's membership in NATO, upon that organization's formation in 1949, and helped to define the ideological balance of power in the [[Aegean Sea|Aegean]] for the entire Cold War.
 On one side, in the civil war, were most of the predominantly conservative [[Greeks|Greek]] civilian population, and the armed forces of the [[Greece|Greek government]], supported by its fellow members of the Western Allies. On the other side were Greek socialists, and the forces of the biggest Anti-Nazi [[resistance]] organization ([[ELAS]]), the leadership of which was controlled by the [[Communist Party of Greece]].
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 [[Image:General-Sarafis.jpg|frame|left|General St. Sarafis]]
-In Greece under Nazi occupation, the struggle was bitter and there was no room for delicate differentiations. EAM burned villages, and executed civilians and suspected collaborators. According to KKE, "the collaborationist groups such as X, however, used terrorism as a deliberate strategy, while with ELAS fighters it was the result of over-zealous local commanders rather than official policy". The fact is that organization X couldn't burn villages or conduct terrorism since its influence was felt only in a small part of the Athens center. The execution of the EKKA leader [[Dimitrios Psaros]] was one of the most repellent ELAS crimes: according to KKE some of his officers later were proven to be collaborators with the Germans -- according to the officers themselves they were forced to act, after the ELAS attacks against all non-communist resistance organizations. The truth is that in several cases ex-officers of the Greek army were forced at gun point to join ELAS although they were prefered to join an anti communist partizan group or the forces of the government in M.East. It is quite charasteristic the example of St.Sarafis who was the military leader of ELAS. Sarafis intended to join the non communist resistance group of Kostopoulos in Thessaly with a group of other officers. On their way they were caught by an ELAS group commanded by Velouhiotis. Sarafis accepted to join ELAS at gun point when Velouhiotis killed all other officers.
+In Greece under Nazi occupation, the struggle was bitter and there was no room for delicate differentiations. EAM burned villages, and executed civilians and suspected collaborators. According to KKE, "the collaborationist groups such as [[Organization X|X]], however, used terrorism as a deliberate strategy, while with ELAS fighters it was the result of over-zealous local commanders rather than official policy". The fact is that [[Organization X]] couldn't burn villages or conduct terrorism since its influence was felt only in a small part of the Athens center. The execution of the [[EKKA]] leader [[Dimitrios Psaros]] was one of the most repellent ELAS crimes: according to KKE some of his officers later were proven to be collaborators with the Germans -- according to the officers themselves they were forced to act, after the ELAS attacks against all non-communist resistance organizations. The truth is that in several cases ex-officers of the Greek army were forced at gun point to join ELAS although they were prefered to join an anti communist partizan group or the forces of the government in M.East. It is quite charasteristic the example of St.Sarafis who was the military leader of ELAS. Sarafis intended to join the non communist resistance group of Kostopoulos in Thessaly with a group of other officers. On their way they were caught by an ELAS group commanded by Velouhiotis. Sarafis accepted to join ELAS at gun point when Velouhiotis killed all other officers.
 ==Confrontation: 1944==
@@ Line 89: / Line 89: @@
 In September [[1947]], however, the KKE leadership decided to move from these guerilla tactics to full-scale conventional war, despite the opposition of [[Markos Vafiadis|Vafiadis]]. In December the [[KKE]] announced the formation of a Provisional Democratic Government, with Vafiadis as Prime Minister. This led the Athens government finally to ban the [[KKE]] and suppress its press. No foreign government recognised this government. The new strategy led the DSE into costly attempts to seize a major town to be the seat of its government. In December [[1947]] 1,200 DSE men were killed at a set-piece battle around [[Konitsa]]. However, this strategy forced the government to increase the size of the Army. Controlling the main cities, the government cracked down on KKE members and sympathisers, many of whom were imprisoned on the island of [[Makronisos]].
-Despite setbacks such as the fighting at Konitsa, during [[1948]] the DSE reached the height of its power, extending its operations to the Peloponnessus and even to [[Attica]], within 20 km of Athens. It had at least 20,000 fighters, and a network of sympathisers and informants in every village and every suburb. The Army added to the refugee problem by organised expeditions to clear entire areas and deprive the DSE of support.
+Despite setbacks such as the fighting at Konitsa, during [[1948]] the DSE reached the height of its power, extending its operations to the Peloponnessus and even to [[Attica]], within 20 km of Athens. It had at least 20,000 fighters, and a network of sympathisers and informants in every village and every suburb. It has been estimated that out of DSE's 20,000 fighters, 14,000 were of Slavic Macedonian origin. Given their important role, KKE changed its policy on Greek Macedonia. At the fifth Plenum on [[January 31]], [[1949]], a resolution was passed claiming that "Macedonian" people are distinguishing themselves, and after KKE's victory they would find their "national restoration" as they wish.
 Western Allied funds, advisors and equipment now were flooding into the country, and under Western Allied guidance a series of major offensives were launched in the mountains of central Greece. Although these offensives did not achieve all their objectives, they inflicted some serious defeats on the DSE. Army morale rose, and the morale of the DSE fighters, many of whom had been "conscripted" at gunpoint, fell correspondingly.
@@ Line 99: / Line 100: @@
 After a year of increasing acrimony, Tito closed down the Yugoslavian border to the guerrillas of DSE in July of [[1949]] and disbanded their camps inside Yugoslavia. The DSE still could operate from Albania, but to the DSE that was a poor alternative. The split with Tito also set off a witch-hunt for "Tito-ites" inside the Greek Communist Party, leading to disorganisation and demoralisation within the ranks of the DSE and decline of support of the [[KKE]] in urban areas.
-At the same time, the National Army found a talented commander in General [[Alexander Papagos]]. In August of [[1949]], Papagos launched a major counter-offensive against DSE forces in northern Greece, code-named ''"Operation Torch"''. The plan was a major victory for the National Army and resulted in heavy losses for the DSE. The DSE army no longer was able to sustain resistance in a set-piece battle. By September of [[1949]], most of its fighters had surrendered or escaped over the border into Albania. By the end of the month, the Albanian government, presumably with Soviet approval, announced to the KKE that it no longer would allow the DSE to perform military operations from within Albanian territory. On [[October 16]], [[Nikolaos Zachariadis|Zachariadis]] announced a, "temporary cease-fire to prevent the complete annihilation of Greece." That treaty marked the end of the Greek Civil War.
+At the same time, the National Army found a talented commander in General [[Alexander Papagos]]. In August of [[1949]], Papagos launched a major counter-offensive against DSE forces in northern Greece, code-named ''"[[Battle of GRammos-Vitsi|Operation Torch]]"''. The plan was a major victory for the National Army and resulted in heavy losses for the DSE. The DSE army no longer was able to sustain resistance in a set-piece battle. By September of [[1949]], most of its fighters had surrendered or escaped over the border into Albania. By the end of the month, the Albanian government, presumably with Soviet approval, announced to the KKE that it no longer would allow the DSE to perform military operations from within Albanian territory. On [[October 16]], [[Nikolaos Zachariadis|Zachariadis]] announced a, "temporary cease-fire to prevent the complete annihilation of Greece." That treaty marked the end of the Greek Civil War.
 The Western Allies saw the end of the [[Greek Civil War]], as a victory in the Cold War against the Soviet Union. The paradox was that the Soviets never actively supported the Communist Party's efforts to seize power in Greece. The [[KKE]]'s major supporter and supplier always had been Tito, and it was the rift between Tito and the [[KKE]] which marked the real demise of the party's efforts to assert power.