Stop Twelve: Athens, Greece
Despite Nazi occupation throughout the majority of World War Two, there was a strong communist party presence in Greece. In the power vacuum that resulted after the war, the communist party thrived, taking control of local governments, not only the rural areas but the cities as well. After WWII, the world regarded Greece as within Britain’s sphere of influence. Stalin respected British supremacy in Greece and vowed not to intervene. Britain pledged to hold democratic elections in Greece and defend the nation against outside attack. In 1946, Greece held elections and representatives from the former Greek monarchy won. As a result, a full-scale civil war erupted between the communist forces and the Greek monarchy. Forced to uphold their promise to defend the democratically elected government, Britain began to aid the Greek monarchy in its fight against the communists. By 1947, Great Britain’s government was nearly bankrupt due to extensive foreign commitments and domestic distress after the war. In early 1947, Great Britain announced that it would withdraw its support from Greece, leaving Greece on the brink of a communist-led revolution.
Primary Source: “Background Memo on Greece,” 3 March 1947. JM Jones Papers, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Web. < http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/doctrine/large/documents/pdfs/6-11.pdf> 26 Apr 2015.
Click here to visit the digital source.
Analysis Questions:
Primary Source: “Background Memo on Greece,” 3 March 1947. JM Jones Papers, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Web. < http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/doctrine/large/documents/pdfs/6-11.pdf> 26 Apr 2015.
Click here to visit the digital source.
Analysis Questions:
- How does the writer describe the enemies in Greece? Who are they? Why are they enemies?
- How does the memo describe Soviet interest in the region?
- How does the memo describe American interest in the region?