Figure 1.-- Here people in Florina are welcoming King Paul and General Papagos (1948). Notice the boys wearing folk costumes, that probably represents families which supported the monarchy and opposed the Communists. Florina is in northern Greece bordering on Macedonia which after World War I was aart of Yugoslavia. It was occupied by Belgaria during World War I and World War II. It became a center when Slavic separatism was widely supported. The mountains around Florina were under Communist control for much of the Civil War. The Slavic-Macedonian National Liberation Front (National Liberation Front--NOF) was especially active. When the Communists declared a cease fire and withdrew from Florina (1949), thousands of people were evacuated or fled to Yugoslavia where they dispersed throuhout the Soviet Em,pire.

Field Marshal Alexander Papagos (Αλέξανδρος Παπάγος) was a respected Greek military commander. He was appointed minister of war (1935) and then army chief of staff (1936). He led the Greek Army in World War II, beating back the Italian invasion (1940), but unable to withstand the night of the Whermacht (1941). He was a strong royalist and led the military resistance to the Communist insurgency. His premiership was largely defined by the Cold War. He readily accepted Americn economic and military assiostance. He permutted American military bases on Greek territory. He helped establish a powerful and staunchly anti-communist security apparatus. Notably the Communist commander and Stalinist Nikos Ploumpidis was executed by military firing squad. He resigned fromthe military (1950) and formed the conservative Greek Rally party. He was supported by the Americans who viewed him as the alternative to the right-wing parties and military elements which included fascists and unrepentent Nazi collaborators. As a result of the electoral success of Greek Rally Party, he was chosen prime minister and served until his death (1955).

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Created: 7:48 AM 10/8/2010
Last updated: 12:10 AM 8/26/2011