Liberation of Greece October–November 1944

As the war turned in favour of the Allies, the numerous Greek partisan groups that had formed under German occupation began to vie for political control once the inevitable German collapse occurred. Amongst many smaller, mainly socialist-leaning groups, the two main partisan organizations were the National Republican Greek League (EDES), a non-Communist republican movement, and the left-wing National Liberation Front along with its armed branch, the National People’s Liberation Army (together EAM-ELAS). Attempts were made at the Lebanon Conference in late May to arrange an agreement between the Greek Resistance groups and the exiled prime minister Georgios Papandreou, who was backed by the British. It was agreed that EDES and EAM would be given places in a new government and, following the Caserta Agreement in September, all Greek forces were placed under the control of British General Ronald Scobie. ELAS forces began taking control of large areas of the countryside upon liberation, which led to internal conflict within Greece.