1. Importance of the Anatolian refugees

1. In 1924 a plebescite abolished the monarchy, with the refugees playing a reading role; George II went into exile
2. Refugees were generally liberal, as opposed to the natives of the Peloponnesos and central Greece.

1. They were strong supporters of Venezelos, as opposed to the royalists.
2. Many new refugees were involved in the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), founded in 1918.
3. The KKE originally supported the formation of an independent Macedonia, which was very unpopular among almost all Greeks, including the refugees.

II. Return of Venezelos

1. Greece suffered from the collapse of faith in the aftermath of the Asia Minor Catastrophe.
2. In the 1920’s Greece had to deal with a revived Turkey and the creation of Yugoslavia, along with Italian interests in many of the Greek islands.
3. Military-backed governments ran the country from 1924 to 1928.

1. In 1925 General Theodore Pangalos formed a coup that overthrew constitutional government.
2. Pangalos was overthrown in another coup by Admiral Kondylis in 1926.
3. Alexander Zaïmis was Prime Minister from November 1926 to July 1928.
4. Zaïmis tried to steer a course between the monarchists Panagiotis Tsaldaris and Johannes Metaxas and the republicans.

                D. A new constitution in 1927 established a republic.

                E. In 1928 Venezelos again became Prime Minister.

1. He was leader of the liberals, but he was no longer as liberal as he had been in economic or social issues.
2. The world-wide depression of the 1930’s severely hurt Greece, which had been dependant on luxury exports (tobacco, currants, olive oil) and outward immigration.
3. In foreign affairs Venezelos sought good relations with Greece’s neighbors.

1. The Balkan Pact was signed in 1934, which guaranteed the existing frontiers of all Balkan nations.
2. This agreement accomplished little, but it was a precedent.
3. The Pact settled all outstanding issues with Turkey (including granting it control over the Dodekanese).

III. Restoration of the Monarchy

1. Continued economic turmoil encouraged royalist sympathizers.

1. They could blame the Venezelists for problems.
2. In 1933 Panagiotis Tsaldaris, leader of the Populist Party, won the election, with the expectation that he would restore the monarchy.
3. In 1933 and 1935 military movements in support of republican government failed; the coup of 1935 was led by General Plastiras.
4. Venezelos supported the coup of 1935 and he went into exile, where he died in 1936.
5. Both Venezelos and Plastiras had been condemned to death in absentia.

                B. Return of George II

1. A plebiscite in November 1935 called for restoration of the monarchy.
2. George II was recalled from exile (1922-23, 1935-41).
3. The king seems genuinely to have wished reconciliation.

IV. Dictatorship of Metaxas

1. Politics throughout Europe had become polarized as a result of the world depression.
2. There was a lack of leadership in Greece, and disillusionment with the squabbling of the politicians.
3. General John (Ioannes) Metaxas

1. The army was very much against any deal with the Communists, who held a balance of power due to the even match between the Liberals and the Populists.
2. Metaxas had been involved in the coup of 1923 and had since been on the fringe of politics.
3. In 1936 Metaxas was appointed Minister of War and then Prime Minister.
4. He suspended parliament in 1936 and promised it would soon reconvene—which it did not do until 1946.

                D. Greek Fascism

1. Metaxas had been a student of the Prussian military academy, and he openly admired and imitated Hitler.

1. He thought that German seriousness would be good for Greece.
2. He organized and attempted to discipline the nation.

                                    2. Generally George II supported Metaxas.

1. The people felt that the politicians had not done well for the country.
2. Communists were ruthlessly suppressed.

                                    3. A fascist youth organization was created (EON) and trade unions were forbidden.

                                    4. Metaxas’ goal was to modernize Greece and his efforts were felt more in the cities than they were in the countryside.

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