Greek People's Liberation Army Attacks Resistance Group
April 17th, 1944
April 17th, 1944

How Long Ago?
80 years, 10 months, 26 days ago
Location
Greece
Category
Military & Warfare
War/Conflict
World War II
People
- Dimitrios Psarros
Links & References
Tags
Greek People's Liberation Army Attacks Resistance Group
Forces of the Communist-controlled Greek People's Liberation Army attacked the smaller National and Social Liberation resistance group, leading to their surrender. The encounter culminated in the murder of their leader, Dimitrios Psarros. This confrontation highlighted intra-resistance conflicts during the Greek resistance against Axis occupation during World War II.
Greek People's Liberation Army was communists.
Dimitrios Psarros led the National and Social Liberation.
The event showcased division among resistance groups.
Murder of Psarros intensified factional conflicts.
What Happened?
The clash between the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS), a major communist-led resistance group, and the National and Social Liberation movement marked a significant event in the complex tapestry of Greek resistance during World War II. ELAS was the armed wing of the Greek Communist Party and was active in challenging both the Axis occupiers and rival resistance factions. In 1944, as Greece continued to suffer under Axis occupation, tensions among various resistance groups became palpable. Disputes over ideology, strategies, and territorial control often led to violent confrontations.
On April 17, ELAS forces launched a concerted assault on the National and Social Liberation group, which was smaller and less organized. The onslaught not only resulted in the surrender of the National and Social Liberation members but also signified the assertive military posture of ELAS within the Greek resistance landscape. Dimitrios Psarros, the leader of the National and Social Liberation, was captured during this encounter and subsequently murdered, a fate that underscored the ruthlessness often exhibited in conflicts between competing resistance factions.
This event not only demonstrates the challenges faced internally by the resistance but also highlights how strategic objectives sometimes led to tragic results among those opposing foreign occupation. The killing of Dimitrios Psarros surfaced issues of loyalty and control among various resistance factions, questioning who would lead the post-occupation struggle in a divided nation.
Why Does it Matter?
The confrontation between ELAS and the National and Social Liberation group illustrated the complexities of resistance movements against oppression. It is intriguing as it reflects how differing ideologies amongst anti-fascist factions led to violent rivalry, overshadowing their common goal of liberation from Axis control. This brutal conflict contributed to the fragmentation of the resistance, which had lasting implications for the political landscape in Greece after liberation.
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