The Second World War was the most geographically extensive and expensive economic resource armed conflict in human history, in which the majority of the nations were involved, at a cost of about 55.5 million dead people. It began on July 7, 1937 in Asia and September 1, 1939 in Europe and ended on September 2, 1945.;xNLx;"Innovation" of this war: the atomic bomb.
The Nazist Germany and Fascist Italy sign a cooperation agreement on 25 October. On 1st November, the Rome-Berlin Axis is announced.
The torpedoing of the frigate warship “ELLI” on Tinos island on the day of the celebration of the dormition of Virgin Mary.
The sending and rejection of the Italian ultimatum by Ioannis Metaxas that was demanding the free passage of the Italian troops on the Greek territory and the occupation of the country’s strategic points - the answer was a single, laconic historic "NO". In Greece, after the declaration of recruitment, all liable to perform military service rushed to their units willing to defend the Greek borders with Albania, where the Italian attack had already started. The first War Communique is released on the mass media of the time.
Advance of the Italian troops in Epirus.
Sending of the Greek enhances to the Epirus forehead.
The retreating of the Italian troops.
Advance of the Greek troops to Albania.
Resignation of the general of the Italian armed forces.
Repel of the "Spring Offensive" of Italy (12 divisions, 400 guns, 400 aircrafts). Final defeat of Italy.
German attack on Eastern Macedonia, where the Greek defence lines are retained. The Greek-German War begins.
The German forces occupy Thessaloniki.
Conquest occupation of Thessaly and suicide of Prime Minister Alexander Korizi.
George Tsolakoglou, commander of the Western Macedonia signed a truce agreement with the Germans without the approval of the Greek government and he was appointed as Prime Minister of the occupying government.
The king, the government and some Greek and British armed forces travel to Crete, where Resistance is continued.
Occupation of Athens.
The last line of the Greek defence moves towards Crete.
Final take over of Greece by the Germans. Ending of the Battle of Crete. The king and the government come to Cairo, where the exiled Greek government settled.
Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas, 18 year old students, devastated the symbol of Nazism, tearing down the war flag of the "Third Reich" from the Acropolis. The Nazi regime responded by sentencing Glezos and Santas to death in absentia. Glezos was arrested by the German occupation forces on March 24, 1942, and was subjected to imprisonment and torture. (Enthusiasm in Greece and Europe)
The National Liberation Front (EAM) was founded on 27th September 1941 in occupied Athens, on the initiative of the Communist Party.
Establishment of resistance groups (on the mountains and in cities across Greece) that declared armed struggle against the invaders with unfortunate consequences.
Athens takes its baptism of fire with the first student demonstration on 22 April of the same year the first universal strike of public officials surprises both the government and the occupation authorities.
Blasting of the bridge of Gorgopotamos by Greek guerrillas and British saboteurs. It disabled for weeks the railway line Thessaloniki - Athens and stopped the supply of the troops of the Axis in Africa.
EAM founds a youth organization, the Single Nationwide Youth Organisation (EPON) and through it the struggles of youth are coordinated.
The funeral of the poet “Kostis Palamas” is converted into a spontaneous public demonstration in Athens against the invaders.
Withdrawal of the German troops.
Exaltation of the Greek flag on the Acropolis in Athens.
After the war, Greece got in a political and economic crisis due to the German occupation and the highly polarized struggle between leftists and rightists. A Greek Civil War was not averted.
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