* Greek Youth Group Uniforms








Greek Youth Group Uniforms


Figure 1.--Many early Greek Scout groups were associated with schools, like this one in 1920-22.

Greece was one of the first countries to form a Scouting troop. The first Scout group was organized in 1910. Greek Scouts are considered very traditional (old fashioned) and close to the principles laid by Baden Powell. Their uniforms have changed a little since the 1940s and all boys of all ages wear khaki shorts and shirt and brown knee socks. Sometimes even adult scouts (as old as 50) wear shorts. We do not know of any other important Greek uniformed youth group with the exception of the Ethniki Organosi Neolaias (EON--National Organization of Youth) which operated from 1936-40.

Boy Scouts

Greece was one of the first countries to form a Scouting troop. The first Scout group was organized in 1910. Greek Scouting grew steadily, but slowly as the poverty prevalent in the country prevented many boys from participating. Scouting was prohibited in 1939 as the Ethniki Organosi Neolaias (EOS) pressured the Fascist leaning government to support one single nationalist youth group. Scouting reappeared afyer liberation in 1944. Greek Scouts are considered very traditional (old fashioned) and close to the principles laid by Baden Powell. Their uniforms have changed a little since the 1940s and all boys of all ages wear khaki shorts and shirt and brown knee socks. Sometimes even adult scouts (as old as 50) wear shorts.

Girl Guides

There were attempts to accept girls in the Boy Scouts in Greece until the Girl Guides in Greece were founded in 1932. Guiding was, however, prohibited in 1939 along with Scoiting as the Ethniki Organosi Neolaias (EOS) pressured the Fascist leaning government. Guiding reappeared afyer liberation in 1944. I am not sure when the Guides accepted boys for the first time but I assume that this happened after 1974. The uniform of the Girl Guides consists of a skirt, shirt, knee socks, neckerchief and a cap. The boys wear the same uniform as the girls, but with shorts of course rather than a skirt. The Girl Guides in Greece are an alternative for boys that don't want to be in a military-like group.

Ethniki Organosi Neolaias (EON)

The Ethniki Organosi Neolaias (EON--National Organization of Youth) which operated from 1936-40. This was a Fascist organization sponsored by the filo-fascist dictator. There are a lot of interesting things about this. First the dictator fought against the Fascists in World War II. There a political explanation on that. EON was very popular and boys and girls from democratic and even communist families joined, there is also an explanation on that.

United Panhellenic Organization of Youth (EPON)

The United Panhellenic Organization of Youth (EPON -- Ενιαία Πανελλαδική Οργάνωση Νέων (ΕΠΟΝ)) was a Greek World War II resistance organization that was active during the Axis Occupation of Greece. At the time Europoean youth grouos were different than America's apolitical youth group. Many European political parties had youth auxileries. EPON was the youth wing of the National Liberation Front (EAM) organization--a left wing group heavvily influenced by the Communists. It was founded (February 23, 1943), nearly 2 years after the xis occuoation. It constituted the merger of 10 existing political and resistance youth organizations. Along with EAM and its other affiliates, EPON was ordered ton disove at the beginning of the Greek Civil War (1948) but continued to operate illegally until 1958.

Jewish Organizations

Jewish boys in the early 20th century were involved in both Zionist and non-Zionist organizations. The Zionist organization B'nai Zion was active in Greece (early 1920s). It was led by dentist Isaac de Botton. B'nai Zion did some fund raising for the Jewish National Fund. De Botton also edited the Judeo-Spanish Zionist newspaper La Fuerza (1922). This showed the Sephardic origins of many Greek Jews. De Botton also published the Judeo-Spanish periodical El Progresso (1924). These publications covered both local and regional events with on the the Jewish world. To mak the opening of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, de Botton issued Leumi (National) in Judeo-Spanish (1925). In addition to B'nai Zion, Jews organized the HaTikva sport organization (1922). There were also non-Zionist youth groups. The principal group was the Boy Scouts. One group of Jewish Scouts organized in Xanthi (mid-1920s). They joined with the Salonikan Jewish Boy Scout Chapter Maccabee. There were several other Jewish youth groups. One of the most important was a Jewish youth theater group. It was favorably commented on by the local press. There were also a music and sports association. We also note the club Cercle Isra�lite. The Greek Jewish coomunity was almost totally destroyed by the Germansfter they invaded Greece in World war II (1941).

Other Groups

We do not know of any other important Greek uniformed youth group







HBU






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Created: April 26, 2002
Last updated: 2:45 AM 8/18/2020