The Greek field marshal who staked the war on the Albanian front
When German forces invaded across the northern frontier, the main Greek army was still tied down on the Albanian front.
Alexandros Papagos was a career officer loyal to the Greek monarchy and the Metaxas dictatorship, and the commander of the Hellenic Army during the Second World War. In 1940 he coordinated the defence against Italy's invasion from Albania and the Greek counteroffensive, but kept the army's main strength on the Albanian front as German intervention approached, weakening the defence of the Metaxas Line. During the occupation he helped form a resistance organization, was arrested and imprisoned by the Germans, and later commanded government forces in the Greek Civil War before becoming prime minister.
Career timeline
- 1906Commissioned as a cavalry second lieutenant in the Hellenic Army
- 1935–1936Minister for Military Affairs and Inspector-General of the Army
- 1936–1940Chief of the Army General Staff, strengthening the military basis of the Metaxas regime
- 1940–1941Commander-in-Chief of the Greek Army, directing operations on the Albanian front and at the Metaxas Line
- 1943–1945Helped form the Military Hierarchy resistance organization, then arrested and imprisoned by German authorities
- 1949–1951Commander-in-Chief of government forces in the Civil War, directing the final offensive against the communist army
- 1952–1955Prime Minister of Greece
A military leader between wartime resistance and anti-communist politics
In November 1942, he committed his forces to the Gorgopotamos operation, where British saboteurs joined Aris Velouchiotis's ELAS fighters.
A former Hellenic Army officer, Napoleon Zervas founded the National Republican Greek League (EDES) in 1941 and led non-communist resistance to the Axis occupation. In 1942 he cooperated with the British Special Operations Executive and ELAS in the destruction of the Gorgopotamos bridge, but soon shifted from republicanism toward loyalty to the monarchy as British support and confrontation with the communist movement became decisive. After liberation, he carried his wartime military authority into right-wing politics and public-order administration during the Greek Civil War.
Career timeline
- 1910–1914Volunteered for the army, served in the Balkan Wars, and graduated from the NCO school.
- 1916–1920Joined the Movement of National Defence, served on the Macedonian Front, and rose to major.
- 1925–1926Served as Athens garrison commander and a battalion commander of the Republican Guard under Pangalos.
- 1941Founded the National Republican Greek League (EDES) with Venizelist officers.
- 1942–1944Organized the EOEA, directed armed resistance in Epirus, and took part in Operation Harling.
- 1946–1947Elected to parliament and served in the Maximos cabinet as minister without portfolio and Minister for Public Order.
- 1950–1951Served as Minister of Public Works in the cabinets of Sophoklis Venizelos.
Organizer of a mass partisan war against occupation
In Domnista in 1942, he led a small mountain guerrilla band and proclaimed the emergence of ELAS.
Born Athanasios Klaras, Aris Velouchiotis was a Greek communist activist who became the key organizer linking the National Liberation Front, EAM, with its military arm, ELAS, during the occupation. In 1942 he formed a small guerrilla force in the mountains of Roumeli and built its early base by combining strict discipline with mass politics. Joint actions such as the destruction of the Gorgopotamos viaduct demonstrated the potential of armed resistance, while EAM-ELAS’s growing dominance also sharpened conflict with rival resistance groups and Britain. After the Varkiza Agreement he rejected demobilization, broke with the party leadership, and died isolated in 1945; the communist movement later restored his standing.
Career timeline
- 1920sJoined left-wing and anti-militarist activity and the Communist Party of Greece
- early 1930sWorked on the editorial staff of the communist newspaper Rizospastis
- 1936–1941Imprisoned under the Metaxas dictatorship and forced to sign a renunciation
- 1942.01Sent by the KKE to prepare guerrilla warfare in Roumeli
- 1942.06Announced ELAS and began mountain guerrilla operations at Domnista
- 1942.11Participated in the Gorgopotamos viaduct sabotage
- 1944.10Commanded ELAS operations in central Greece and the Peloponnese after liberation
- 1945Continued armed struggle after Varkiza and died in the mountains
