Hellenic Foreign Policy (1936-1944)

List of Illustrations

The centre of Athens. The Acropolis dominates over the flat roof of the hotel "Grande Bretagne". December 1944.

Kessel Dmitri, Ellada 1944, Ammos, 1997, p. 94.
© Dmitri Kessel, Ammos Publications

Photograph of the Greek delegation in Italy for the signing of the Greek-Italian treaty of 1928.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

"The demand for inter-Balkan cooperation". Gathering in favour of King George II and the dictator Ioannis Metaxas.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0169.
© War Museum, Athens.

Scene from the signing of the Balkan Treaty in Athens. On the photo, P. Tsaldaris, archbishop Chrysostomos and the Foreign ministers of Turkey Tefik Rusdi Aras Beis, of Romania Titulescu and of Yugoslavia Geftic. February 1934.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

The signing of the Balkan Treaty in 1934.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

El. Venizelos with B. Mussolini after the signing of the Greek-Italian treaty of 1928, in Villa Torlognia.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

"The international relations of the country" Andreas Michalakopoulos, a pro-Venizelist politician, had repeatedly served as a Foreign Minister in the 1920s and was one of the primary tracers of the Greek foreign policy.

Hellenic Educational Encyclopedia, Pagkosmio Viografiko Lexiko, v. 6, Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 1991, p. 227.
© Ekdotiki Athinon.

Photograph from the signing of the Greek-Turkish Treaty of Non-aggression, Conciliation and International Arbitration. 1930.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

Photograph of E. Venizelos with the Foreign minister of Yugoslavia Marinkovic, during the former's visit at Belgrade for the signing of the Greek-Yugoslavian Treaty. October 1928.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

The diplomat S. Waterloo. He was ambassador of Great Britain in Athens, during the period 1933-1939.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

Photograph from the visit of the marshal Goering, leader of the German air force, in Athens. 1936.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0153.
© War Museum, Athens.

One of the concerns of the Greek foreign policy from 1936 onwards is the strengthening of the inter-Balkan cooperation, both on the level of the Balkan Treaty and as to the improvement of the bilateral relations with the neighbouring countries. The photograph is from the visit of Romanian officers in Athens. 1937.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0166.
© War Museum, Athens.

Photograph from demonstrations in favour of Metaxas.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the Contemporary Social History Archives.
© Contemporary Social History Archives, Athens.

Gun placed near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, probably a short while before the 4th of August coup launched by I. Metaxas.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0216.
© War Museum, Athens.

The Greek foreign policy during the period 1936-1939 shows an obvious preference to the Great Powers and resorts to their help. On the photo, military attachés and diplomats of France and Britain during a reception.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0556.
© War Museum, Athens.

Map of Ethiopia on the eve of the Italian invasion. 1935.

Athens, El. Venizelos History Foundation.
© El. Venizelos History Foundation, Athens.

Photograph from the visit of delegations of the Balkan states at the Athens railway station, during the signing of the Balkan Treaty in 1938.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0301.
© War Museum, Athens.

The Munich meeting, 1938. Hitler, Mussolini and Chamberlaine. Photo taken on the side of the negotiations.

http://www.corbis.com, BE044799.
© Corbis Collection.

The signing of the Balkan Treaty of 1938.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0310.
© War Museum, Athens.

Ioannis Metaxas with the Propaganda minister of A. Hitler, J. Goebbels, during the visit of the German appointee to Greece. September 1936.

Kathimerini, Epta Imeres: I Ellada ton 20o aiona, 1930-1940, p. 13
© The Hellenic Literary and Historical Archives, Athens.

Italians in Milan are buying newspapers that present the Italian invasion of Albania in the beginning of the Second World War.

http://www.corbis.com, ΗU049090.
© Corbis Collection

Hitler is parading in the centre of Vienna. His car is driving through the city and the crowd is cheering him on the occasion of the celebration of "Anschluss" (annexation of Austria to Germany). March 1938.

http://www.corbis.com, HU029279.
© Corbis Collection.

Photograph from the visit of I. Metaxas in Ankara. 1938.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0272.
© War Museum, Athens.

The German tanks are making their way across the frontier post of Porlidge at the time of the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, in 1939.

http://www.corbis.com, HU029243.
© Corbis Collection.

Pietro Badoglio, leader of the Italian armed forces. 1940.

http://www.corbis.com, HU020377.
© Corbis Collection

On the photograph, the British prime minister Chamberlaine at the London airport, on his return from Munich, is talking to the gathered crowd about the negotiations that he had with Hitler and Daladier as to the Czechoslovakian issue.

http://www.corbis.com, VV1489.
© Corbis Collection.

B. Mussolini and A. Hitler in Munich. 1937.

http://www.corbis.com, HU002679.
© Corbis Collection.

B. Mussolini, G. Ciano and A. Hitler.

http://www.corbis.com, HU055459.
© Corbis Collection.

The count Galeaco Ciano.

http://www.corbis.com, IG001369.
© Corbis Collection.

The Romanian marshal Ion Antonescu with Adolf Hitler.

http://www.corbis.com, NA005368.
© Corbis Collection.

B. Mussolini and Von Ribbentrop. The Italian dictator with Joachim Von Ribbentrop, German diplomat, who served as Hitler's Foreign minister.
1938-1945.

http://www.corbis.com, NA003498.
© Corbis Collection.

The Italian governor of Dodecanese Cesare Maria De Vechi. His frequent references to the use of Greek ports by Britain directed Mussolini's attention to Greece.

Tsirpanlis, Z., Italokratia sta Dodekanisa: 1912-1943, Hellenic Ministry of Culture-Archaeological Receipts Fund-Municipality of Rhodes, Rhodes 1998, p. 130.
© Hellenic Ministry of Culture-Archaeological Receipts Fund, Municipality of Rhodes.

The torpedoing of the cruiser "Elli" by an Italian submarine at the port of Tinos. October 15, 1940.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0201.
© War Museum, Athens.

The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini led the fascist movement of his country during the interwar period and governed Italy for about two decades. He allied with Nazi Germany and planned the attack against Greece in October 1940.

Eleftherotypia, Istorika, October 27, 1999, p. 26.
© Eleftherotypia.

The crowd, gathered at the centre of Athens, is rejoicing over the declaration of the Greek-Italian war.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0047.
© War Museum, Athens.

Photograph from the Battle of Crete. German parachutists are landing at the Maleme airport.

Mathiopoulos, V., Eikones Katochis, Metopi, Athens 1980, p. 135.
© V. Mathiopoulos.

Photograph from the spring attack of the Italians against Greece. Mussolini surveys the operations from the Albanian front.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the Arms History Directorate.
© Arms History Directorate, Athens.

Scene from the Albanian front.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0026.
© War Museum, Athens.

The scene relates to the operations of Argyrokastro during the Greek-Italian war. 1940.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the Arms History Directorate.
© Arms History Directorate, Athens.

Photograph from the meeting between the Greek and British powers on the eve of the Second World War.

Ekthesis tis Polemikis Istorias ton Ellinon, Zappeion-Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens, 1968.
© Ekdotiki Athinon.

German soldiers are raising the flag with the swastika on the Acropolis of Athens, end April 1941. Only a few days later M. Glezos and A. Santas took down the nazi emblem. This constituted a resistance action, which had a symbolic character against the violence of the Axis.

Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous: Synchronos Ellinismos apo to 1941 os to telos tou aiona, v.16, Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 2000, p. 14 (photo K. Megalokonomou).
© Ekdotiki Athinon.

A. Papagos, commander in chief, with the British general Wayvell in Athens.

Eleftherotypia, Istorika, October 27, 1999, p. 39.
© Arms History Directorate, Athens.

Scene from the official visit of the dictator I. Metaxas to Turkey. 1939.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0233.
© War Museum, Athens.

The prime minister of Yugoslavia Dragisch Cvetkovic pursued a policy of disengagement of his country from a military conflict with Germany by signing a series of agreements with the Nazis.

http://www.corbis.com, HU024015.
© Corbis Collection.

A. Hitler and members of his staff are studying a map which illustrates the positions of the warring parties during the Soviet Union campaign.

http://www.corbis.com, NA004973.
© Corbis Collection.

Antitank fortification of the location Beles-Nestos, part of the well-known "Metaxas Line", against which the German attack broke down. Beginning of April.

Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous: Neoteros Ellinismos apo to 1913 os to 1941, v. 15, Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 1978, p. 445.
© War Museum, Athens.

German tanks are moving on the waterfront of Thessaloniki after the city's occupation. April 1941.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the Arms History Directorate.
© Arms History Directorate, Athens.

German parachutists are parachuting from freighters, during the Battle of Crete.

Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous: Neoteros Ellinismos apo to 1913 os to 1941, v. 15, Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 1978, p. 453.
© War Museum, Athens.

The signing of the surrender of Athens by general G. Tsolakoglou. May 1941.

Mathiopoulos V., Eikones Katochis, Metopi, Athens 1980, p. 58.
© V. Mathiopoulos.

The temporary prime minister E. Tsouderos and the diplomat Ch. Simopoulos.

E. Tsouderou, Istoriko Archeio, 1941-1944, v. 5 Stratiotika, Fytrakis, 1990, photographic addendum.
© V. Tsouderou.

Photograph of Greek and British aviators in Middle East.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 1370.
© War Museum, Athens.

German high-ranking officers are photographed on the Acropolis.

Eleftherotypia, Istorika, November 18, 1999, p.12.
© Arms History Directorate, Athens.

Group of ELAS guerrillas in Mainland Greece.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the Contemporary Social History Archives.
© Contemporary Social History Archives, Athens.

Photograph of the leader of ELAS, Stefanos Sarafis.

Meletzis, Sp., Me tous antartes sta vouna, Athens 1996, p.36.
© Sp. Meletzis.

EDES guerrillas. At the front, their leader Napoleon Zervas.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0908.
© War Museum, Athens.

The bridge of Gorgopotamos after it was blown up.
1943.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the War Museum, no. 0897.
© War Museum, Athens.

Napoleon Zervas on horseback.

Eleftherotypia, Istorika, November 18, 1999, p.16.
© Photographic Archives of Mayer.

Guerrillas resting on a wooded mountain side of Mount Giona.

Eleftherotypia, Istorika, November 18, 1999, p.17.
© Photographic Archives of Sp. Meletzis.

N. Zervas, G. Kartalis, S. Sarafis, P. Roussos and K. Pyromaglou played a principal role in the achievement of the Plaka Agreement, in March 1944. This agreement put a temporary end to the strife between ELAS and EDES.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the Contemporary Social History Archives.
© Contemporary Social History Archives, Athens.

The ministers of PEEA (also known as the "Mountain Government") in the village Fourna.

Photograph from the oath-taking of the PEEA president, professor of Constitutional Law in the Athens University, Alexandros Svolos.

The Government of "National Unity" that was formed after the Lebanon conference. In the centre, G. Papandreou.
May 1944.

G. Papandreou and A. Svolos (in the middle) during the Caserta meeting. September 1944.

Istoria tou Ellinikou Ethnous: Synchronos Ellinismos apo to 1941 os to telos tou aiona, v. 16, Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 2000, p. 86.
© The Hellenic Literary and Historical Archives, Athens.

On February 12, 1945, ministers of the Plastiras government and representatives of the EAM are signing at Varkiza an agreement concerning "the cessation of the civil war and the reconciliationΙ". Members of ELAS are laying down their arms soon after the signing.

The exiled Greek government maintained close relations with the British leadership, a fact that allowed the latter to influence directly almost the entirety of the Greek politicians that had taken refuge in the Middle East. On the photo, king George with E. Tsouderos and P. Kanellopoulos at a visit in London. October 1942.

Artillery in action during the battle of El Alamein.

Photograph from a gathering of PEEA members. Its conflict with the exiled government had spread throughout the entire Greek population.

King George II.

Photograph taken during the first free elections carried out on the Greek mountains. Spring 1944.

The British prime minister Winston Churchill during his visit in Athens. December 1944. His presence was of a great significance for the future of Greece in postwar Europe.

Hellenic Educational Encyclopedia, Pagkosmio Viografiko Lexiko, v. 9B, Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 1991, p. 223.
© Ekdotiki Athinon.

Rome, June 4, 1944. Americans of the 5th Army are enthusiastically welcomed by the citizens of the "Eternal City". The events that led up to the arrival of the Allies were Montgomery's victory in El Alamein, the landing on North Africa, the landing in Sicily and Ancio and the hard battle in Monte Casino.

G. Papandreou, the archbishop Damaskinos and the British general Reginald Scobie during the celebrations for the Liberation, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma square.

Photograph from a demonstration of KKE in the streets of Athens. November 1944.

Athens, Photographic Archives of the Contemporary Social History Archives.
© Contemporary Social History Archives, Athens.

British soldiers are arresting members of ELAS, during the civil strife in Athens. December 1944.

Members of ELAS are laying down their arms soon after the signing of the Varkiza Agreement.
February 12, 1945.

Photograph of F. Roosevelt and W. Churchill at the Yalta Conference in 1945.

After the liberation, the Greek government asked for guarantees from the British as to the securing of the territorial sovereignty for the entire country. On the photo, the prime minister, G. Papandreou, the British general R. Scobie and other Greek officers.

Greek soldiers at the town hall of Korytsa, after the Greek army took the town. November 22, 1940.

Photograph taken during the official handing over of the administration by the British Forces to the Greek army.

Photograph of J. Stalin and W. Churchill at the Yalta Conference, in 1945.

Nikos Zachariadis (1903-1973). Leading member of KKE for many years. His role was decisive for the events of the second half of the 1940s.

Hellenic Educational Encyclopedia, Pagkosmio Viografiko Lexiko, v. 3,
Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 1991, p. 408.
© Ekdotiki Athinon

Emver Chotza was the indisputable leader of the Communist Party, which he led for about four decades.

Hellenic Educational Encyclopedia, Pagkosmio Viografiko Lexiko, v. 9B,
Ekdotiki Athinon, Athens 1991, p. 461.
© Ekdotiki Athinon.