Caserta Agreement
카세르타 협정
The Caserta Agreement was a political and military accord signed on 26 September 1944 at Caserta, Italy, by the Greek government of national unity, British forces, EAM/ELAS, and EDES. It recognised the government of national unity as Greece’s sole legal political authority and placed the resistance forces under its control during liberation, with the government transferring military command to General Ronald Scobie. The compromise sought to regulate the transition from occupation to liberation, but it did not prevent the armed confrontation between ELAS and government and British forces in Athens in December 1944.
In depth
Signing and command
The agreement involved Georgios Papandreou’s government of national unity, British representatives, ELAS commander Stefanos Sarafis, and EDES commander Napoleon Zervas. The resistance forces were to hinder the German withdrawal and maintain order in liberated areas, while refraining from any attempt to seize power without government authorisation.
Historical significance
The accord marked a compromise in which the EAM leadership moderated earlier demands and accepted coalition rule at liberation. It also created a mechanism that transferred effective military control to British commander Ronald Scobie, leaving unresolved tensions over the direction of post-occupation state power. Those tensions erupted in the December 1944 conflict in Athens.