Misplaced Pages

#626373

80-577: The film was referred to in M*A*S*H (1970), directed by Robert Altman. US Army engineer Lt. Pryor's detachment is assigned to work with Greek troops during the Korean War . The Greek forces are led by Captain Charos and Lieutenant Niklas. Real soldiers were cast as extras, and all Greek characters were portrayed by actors of Greek descent. However, none are listed in the screen credits. The film's original title

160-638: A US Presidential Unit Citation for its participation in the evacuation of US Marines at Hagaru-ri in December 1950. The GEF Spartan battalion received its first US Presidential Unit Citation in February 1952 for the capture of Scotch Hill. The Greek infantry company involved in the defense of Outpost Harry received the following Presidential Unit Citation: "DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Washington D. C., 10 March 1955 GENERAL ORDERS 18 DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION Company P Greek Expeditionary Forces Battalion (Second Award)

240-580: A full brigade to Korea, the UN victories in the autumn of 1950 led the expeditionary force to be downgraded to a battalion consisting of just under 900 men, named the Spartan Brigade. It was placed under the overall command of the US 1st Cavalry Division and later under the overall command of US 3rd Infantry Division . Though small in number, they played a crucial role in a handful of ultimately important operations. The unit

320-563: A government of national unity consisting of 24 ministers (6 to be EAM members). By 1944, EDES and ELAS each saw the other to be their great enemy. They both saw that the Germans were going to be defeated and were a temporary threat. For the ELAS, the British represented their major problem, even while the majority of Greeks saw the British as their major hope for an end to the war. By the summer of 1944, it

400-539: A long and troubled relationship between Greece and the United States. For several decades to come, the US ambassador advised the king on important issues, such as the appointment of the prime minister. Through 1947, the scale of fighting increased. The DSE launched large-scale attacks on towns across northern Epirus, Thessaly, Peloponnese, and Macedonia, provoking the army into massive counteroffensives, which met no opposition as

480-583: A network of sympathizers and informants in every village and suburb. Among analysts emphasising the KKE's perceived control and guidance by foreign powers, such as the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, some estimate that of the DSE's 20,000 fighters, 14,000 were Slavic Macedonians from Greek Macedonia. Expanding their reasoning, they conclude that given their important role in the battle, the KKE changed its policy towards them. At

560-728: A prime role in the preservation of the Korean Orthodox Church during the Korean War. This small religious body, founded by Russian Orthodox missionaries during the czarist era, had suffered persecution due to a series of historical developments -- the Japanese colonization of Korea, the rise of communism in Russia, World War II and the division of the Korean Peninsula. The Korean War added to the devastation. When Greek chaplains became aware of

640-465: A report, stating that "some children have in fact been forcibly removed." The Communist leadership claimed that children evacuated from Greece at the request of "popular organizations and parents". According to other researchers, the Greek government also followed a policy of displacement by adopting children of the guerrillas and placing them in indoctrination camps. According to the official KKE story,

720-708: A reputation for brutality. As the end of the war approached, the British Foreign Office , fearing a possible Communist upsurge, observed with displeasure the transformation of ELAS into a large-scale conventional army more and more out of Allied control. After the September 8, 1943, Armistice with Italy , ELAS seized control of Italian garrison weapons in the country. In response, the Western Allies began to favor rival anti-Communist resistance groups. They provided them with ammunition, supplies, and logistical support as

800-518: A scene at Lake of the Ozarks , Missouri, a demolition charge exploded underneath a boat, killing the boatman and injuring two others. The Glory Brigade was Mature's first role as a combat soldier, and it was the only film in which Lee Marvin wore glasses in all of his scenes. The film is based on the exploits of the Greek Expeditionary Force . While the Greek government had intended to send

880-452: A way of balancing ELAS's increasing influence. In time, the flow of weapons and funds to ELAS stopped altogether, and rival EDES received the bulk of the Allied support. In mid-1943 the animosity between ELAS and the other movements erupted into armed conflict. The Communists, and EAM and EDS, accused each other of being 'traitors' and 'collaborators'. Other smaller groups, such as EKKA, continued

SECTION 10

#1732870037627

960-513: A well. In March 1944, EAM established the Political Committee of National Liberation ( Politiki Epitropi Ethnikis Apeleftherosis , or PEEA), in effect a third Greek government to rival those in Athens and Cairo. PEEA was dominated by, but not composed exclusively of Communists. The movement threatened Allied unity, angering Great Britain and the United States. British and Greek troops loyal to

1040-442: Is cited for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of duty in action against an armed enemy in the vicinity of Surang-Ni, Korea during the period June 17 to June 18, 1953. Assigned the defense of a vital outpost position (Harry), the company encountered a major enemy assault on the evening of June 17. After an intense concentration of enemy mortar and artillery fire, the hostile forces, which had taken up an attack position on

1120-516: Is commendable for its "frank, sincere plea for true democratic understanding and harmony." Lillian Blackstone of the St. Petersburg Times wrote: "It is forcibly told, with realistic fervor and hostilities that seem never-ending until the jubilation of final scenes." Film critic Leonard Maltin called the film "passable." In his review for DVD Talk , Paul Mavis called it "[Disposable] entertainment posing as something important." Robert J. Lentz wrote that it

1200-500: The Cross of Valour , in 1954. The Greeks were very interested in the wellbeing of the civilians and considered it as a high priority. Of all the forces, they were possibly the most protective. They especially treated Korean children with great kindness including the feeding, clothing and sheltering of Korean orphans, possibly because of the kidnapping of Greek children by Communists during the Greek civil war. Greek military chaplains played

1280-580: The March 1946 elections , which were won by the monarchist United Alignment of Nationalists ( Inomeni Parataxis Ethnikofronon ), the main member of which was Konstantinos Tsaldaris 's People's Party . The KKE reversed its former political position after the arrival of Zachariadis. The change of political attitude and the choice to escalate the crisis derived primarily from the conclusion that regime subversion, which had not been successful in December 1944, could now be achieved. A referendum in September 1946 favored

1360-506: The Soviet Communist Party , and its leader, Nikos Zachariadis, had visited Moscow on more than one occasion. No evidence exists of mercenaries, although the guerrillas received various types of assistance from their Balkan Communist neighbours. One example of an international volunteer joining the ranks of the DSE was Turkish Communist Mihri Belli . By late 1946, the DSE was able to deploy about 16,000 partisans, including 5,000 in

1440-550: The bitter split between the Soviet Union's Joseph Stalin , who wanted to end the war, and Yugoslavia's Josip Broz Tito , who wanted it to continue. While Axis forces approached Athens in April 1941, King George II and his government escaped to Egypt , where they proclaimed a government-in-exile . At the same time, the Germans set up a collaborationist government in Athens , which lacked legitimacy and support. The power vacuum that

1520-559: The Communists. The DSE was defeated by the Hellenic Army . The war resulted from a highly polarized struggle between left and right ideologies that started when each side targeted the power vacuum resulting from the end of Axis occupation (1941–1944) during World War II. The struggle was the first proxy conflict of the Cold War and represents the first example of postwar involvement on

1600-515: The DSE melted back into the mountains and its safe havens across the northern borders. In the Peloponnese, where General Georgios Stanotas was appointed area commander, the DSE suffered heavily, with no way to escape to mainland Greece. In general, army morale was low, and it would be some time before US support became apparent. In September 1947, however, the KKE's leadership decided to move from guerrilla tactics to fullscale conventional war despite

1680-500: The December 1953 armistice. It was subsequently increased to the level of 2,163 men until April 1955. After the anti-Greek Istanbul Pogrom , in September 1955, relations with Greece's NATO ally, Turkey, deteriorated and Athens decided to recall its units stationed in Korea. As a result, only 191 men were still in the country by December 1955. A representative section of one officer and nine men remained until May 1958. The 13th Flight received

SECTION 20

#1732870037627

1760-732: The Greek Civil War. On December 1, 1950, they arrived in Japan and immediately attached to the 21st Troop Carrier Sqn. (later renamed 6461 TC Sqn.) of the 374th Wing, United States Air Force , based initially at Daegu , helping at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir . From May 14, 1951, the flight was based at Kimpo air base where it remained until May 23, 1955. During its time in Korea, the Greek Flight carried out 2,916 missions, comprising air evacuations,

1840-518: The Greek Forces launched a series of counterattacks, simultaneously dispatching a diversionary force to the east of the outpost which successfully channeled the enemy thrusts. After two hours of close-in fighting, the aggressors were again routed and the friendly positions restored. The outstanding conduct and exemplary courage exhibited by members of Company P, Greek Expeditionary Forces Battalion, reflects great credit on themselves and are in keeping with

1920-608: The KKE had in total 400,000 members (or 800,000, according to some sources) immediately prior to December 1944 and that during the Civil War, 100,000 ELAS fighters, mostly KKE members, were imprisoned, and 3,000 were executed. Supporters emphasise instead the DSE's conduct of a war effort across the country aimed at "a free and liberated Greece from all protectors that will have all the nationalities working under one Socialist State". DSE divisions conducted guerrilla warfare across Greece. III Division, with 20,000 men in 1948, controlled 70% of

2000-542: The KKE's political defeat into a military one. The ELAS's existence was terminated. The amnesty was not comprehensive because many actions during the German occupation and the Dekemvriana were classified as criminal, exempting the perpetrators from the amnesty. Lawsuits for criminal offences began to be filed. It is estimated that around 80,000 people were prosecuted. As a result, a number of veteran partisans hid their weapons in

2080-739: The Korean War. The movie was shot in Hollywood and on location in rural Missouri in late 1952, and it was released in spring 1953, shortly before the end of the war. Film star Victor Mature plays a U.S. officer of Greek descent in the movie. Alexander Scourby , an American actor of Greek heritage, plays a Greek officer. Greek Civil War [REDACTED] Kingdom of Greece Supported by: [REDACTED] Provisional Democratic Government (from 1947) Supported by: War The Greek Civil War ( Greek : Eμφύλιος Πόλεμος , romanized :  Emfýlios Pólemos ) took place from 1946 to 1949. The conflict, which erupted shortly after

2160-559: The Korean church, its flock had been scattered and its clergy were dead or presumed dead. The Greeks helped arrange ordination of new Korean clergy and eventually helped the church affiliate with an Orthodox bishop overseas. Today, the church has its own resident bishop and has thousands of members in South Korea. The American feature film The Glory Brigade deals with the mission of the Greek military and its joint operations with U.S. forces in

2240-554: The Mediterranean". (Stalin used the word svernut , Russian for "fold up", to express what the Greek Communists should do.) Yugoslavia had been the Greek Communists' main supporter from the years of the occupation. The KKE thus had to choose between its loyalty to the Soviet Union and its relations with its closest ally. After some internal conflict, the great majority, led by party secretary Nikolaos Zachariadis, chose to follow

2320-406: The Peloponnese and other areas of Greece. According to the DSE, its fighters "resisted the reign of terror that right-wing gangs conducted across Greece". In the Peloponnese especially, local party officials, headed by Vangelis Rogakos, had established a plan long before the decision to go to guerrilla war under which the numbers of partisans operating in the mainland would be inversely proportional to

2400-463: The Peloponnese countryside areas close to garrisoned German units, intending to ensure civilian allegiance. As the Communist position strengthened, so did the numbers of the "Security Battalions", with both sides engaged in skirmishes. The most notorious example of these skirmishes is Battle of Meligalas . The ELAS victory was followed by a massacre, during which prisoners and civilians were executed near

2480-494: The Peloponnese politically and militarily; battalions named after ELAS formations were active in northwestern Greece, and in the islands of Lesvos, Limnos, Ikaria, Samos, Crete, and Evoia, and the bulk of the Ionian Islands. Advisers, funds, and equipment were now flooding into the country from Western Allies, and under their guidance the Greek army launched a series of major offensives into the mountains of central Greece. Although

The Glory Brigade - Misplaced Pages Continue

2560-532: The Peloponnese. In February 1945, the various Greek parties signed the Treaty of Varkiza , with the support of all the Allies. It provided for the complete demobilisation of the ELAS and all other paramilitary groups, amnesty for only political offenses, a referendum on the monarchy and a general election to be held as soon as possible. The KKE remained legal and its leader, Nikolaos Zachariadis , who returned from Dachau at

2640-717: The Prime Minister of the collaborationist government sought to combat the rising influence of the EAM, and was fearful of an eventual takeover after the German defeat. In 1943, he authorised the creation of paramilitary forces, known as the Security Battalions . Numbering 20,000 at their peak in 1944, composed mostly of local fascists , convicts, sympathetic prisoners of war, and forcibly impressed conscripts, they operated under German command in Nazi security warfare operations and soon achieved

2720-493: The Provisional Government issued a directive for the evacuation of all minors from 4 to 14 years old for protection from the war and problems linked to it, as was stated clearly according to the decisions of the Provisional Government on March 7, 1948. According to non-KKE accounts, the children were abducted to be indoctrinated as Communist Janissaries . Several United Nations General Assembly resolutions appealed for

2800-730: The Soviet Union and its satellites broke off relations with Tito. In one of the meetings held in the Kremlin with Yugoslav representatives, during the Soviet-Yugoslav crisis, Stalin stated his unqualified opposition to the "Greek uprising". Stalin explained to the Yugoslav delegation that the situation in Greece had always been different from the one in Yugoslavia because the US and Britain would "never permit [Greece] to break off their lines of communication in

2880-645: The US 1st Cavalry Division. The 13th Flight supported the US marine division and played an important role of evacuating the dead and the wounded. After the armistice, the RHAF unit withdrew in May 1955 and the HA unit in December 1955. Greece was the fifth largest troop contributor to U.N. Forces in Korea. The Greek forces brought valuable combat experience from their war against communist guerrillas in Greece (see Greek Civil War ) and they were also skilled in using American weapons. Because of

2960-520: The Yugoslav and Albanian borders. They were now organized as the Democratic Army of Greece ( Dimokratikos Stratos Elladas , DSE). ELAS veteran Markos Vafiadis (known as "General Markos") was sent by the KKE to organize already existing troops, and took command from a base in Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav and Albanian Communist governments supported the DSE fighters, but the Soviet Union remained ambivalent. The KKE kept an open line of communication with

3040-502: The anti-occupation fight with sabotage and other actions. By 1944, ELAS had the numerical advantage in armed fighters, having more than 50,000 of them and an extra 500,000 working as reserves or logistical support personnel ( Efedrikos ELAS ). In contrast, EDES and EKKA had around 10,000 fighters each. After the declaration of the formation of the Security Battalions, KKE and EAM implemented a pre-emptive policy of terror, mainly in

3120-659: The area, blocking the way of the demonstrators. The shootings began when the marchers had arrived at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , in front of the Royal palace, above Syntagma Square . More than 28 demonstrators were killed, and 148 were injured. This signaled the beginning of the Dekemvriana ( Greek : Δεκεμβριανά , "the December events"), a 37-day period of full-scale fighting in Athens between EAM fighters and smaller parts of ELAS and

3200-580: The autumn of 1950, the expeditionary force was downgraded to a reinforced infantry battalion. Later, the Greeks offered to send more troops, but Douglas MacArthur declined the offer since the UN forces were winning and thought that the war would be over soon. The army unit, called the Sparta Battalion, arrived in Busan on December 9, 1950, after a long voyage under Spartan Lieutenant Colonel Georgios Koumanakos ,

3280-496: The command of a British officer, General Ronald Scobie . The Western Allies arrived in Greece in October, by which time the Germans were in full retreat and most of Greece's territory had already been liberated by Greek partisans. On October 13, British troops entered Athens, the only area still occupied by the Germans, and Papandreou and his ministers followed six days later. There was little to prevent ELAS from taking full control of

The Glory Brigade - Misplaced Pages Continue

3360-413: The constitution of a National Guard under government control. The Communists, believing that it would leave the ELAS defenseless against its opponents, submitted an alternative plan of total and simultaneous disarmament, but Papandreou rejected it, causing EAM ministers to resign from the government on December 2. On December 1, Scobie issued a proclamation calling for the dissolution of ELAS. Command of ELAS

3440-572: The country. With the German withdrawal, ELAS units had taken control of the countryside and most cities. The issue of disarming the resistance organizations was a cause of friction between the Papandreou government and its EAM members. Advised by British ambassador Reginald Leeper , Papandreou demanded the disarmament of all armed forces apart from the Sacred Band and the III Mountain Brigade and

3520-590: The end of World War II , consisted of a Communist -led uprising against the established government of the Kingdom of Greece . The rebels declared a people's republic , the Provisional Democratic Government of Greece , which was governed by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and its military branch, the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE). The rebels were supported by Albania and Yugoslavia . With

3600-410: The end of May 1945, formally stated that the KKE's objective was now for a "people's democracy" to be achieved by peaceful means. There were dissenters such as former ELAS leader Aris Velouchiotis. The KKE disavowed Velouchiotis when he called on the veteran guerrillas to start a second struggle; shortly afterwards, he committed suicide surrounded by security forces. The Treaty of Varkiza transformed

3680-609: The exiled government moved to suppress the PEEA. Approximately 5,000 Greek soldiers and officers were disarmed and deported to prison camps. After the mutiny, Allied economic aid to the EAM almost stopped. In May 1944, representatives from all political parties and resistance groups came together at the Lebanon Conference under the leadership of Georgios Papandreou . The conference ended with an agreement (the National Contract) for

3760-592: The fifth Plenum of KKE on January 31, 1949, a resolution was passed declaring that after KKE's victory, the Slavic Macedonians would find their national restoration within a united Greek state. The alliance of the DSE with the Slavic Macedonians caused the official Greek state propaganda to call the Communist guerrillas Eamovulgari (from EAM plus Bulgarians). The Communists called their opponents Monarchofasistes (monarchist fascists). The extent of such involvement remains contentious and unclear; some emphasize that

3840-632: The finest traditions of the military service and the Kingdom of Greece." Individual Greeks received six U.S. Distinguished Service Crosses , 32 Silver Stars , 110 Bronze Stars . 19 members of 13th Flight received the US Air Force Air Medal for the Hagaru-ri evacuation operation in December 1950. The Greek battalion's war flag also received the highest Greek military decoration, the Commander's Cross of

3920-423: The forces of the British army and the government. Conflicts continued throughout December with the forces confronting the EAM slowly gaining the upper hand. By 12 December, ΕΑΜ was in control of most of Athens, Piraeus and the suburbs. The government and British forces were confined only in the centre of Athens, in an area that was ironically called Scobia (Scobie's country) by the guerrillas. The British, alarmed by

4000-457: The initial successes of EAM-ELAS and outnumbered, flew in the 4th Indian Infantry Division from Italy as emergency reinforcements. By early January, EAM forces had lost the battle. Despite Churchill's intervention, Papandreou resigned and was replaced by Lieutenant General Nikolaos Plastiras. On 15 January 1945, Scobie agreed to a ceasefire in exchange for the ELAS's withdrawal from its positions at Patras and Thessaloniki and its demobilization in

4080-578: The instability that would characterise the country's political life. Fighting resumed in March 1946, as a group of 30 ex-ELAS members attacked a police station in the village of Litochoro , killing the policemen, the night before the elections. The next day, the Rizospastis , the KKE's official newspaper, announced, "Authorities and gangs fabricate alleged communist attacks". Armed bands of ELAS' veterans were then infiltrating Greece through mountainous regions near

SECTION 50

#1732870037627

4160-492: The mountainous terrain in their homeland, they easily acclimated to the Korean topography. Their experience in their mountainous homeland made fighting in the Korean terrain less difficult for the Greeks than it was for the other troops, the UN command was especially impressed by how quickly the Greek troops were able to move. A total of 10,255 Greek personnel were sent to Korea. 186 or 187 were killed in action and 617 wounded in action. The bodies of all Greek soldiers killed in

4240-430: The mountains, and 5,000 of them escaped to Yugoslavia although that was not encouraged by the KKE's leadership. In 1945 and 1946, anti-communist forces allegedly killed about 1,190 Communist civilians and tortured many others. Entire villages that had helped the partisans were attacked. Some claimed that anti-communist forces admitted that they were "retaliating" for their suffering under ELAS rule. The KKE boycotted

4320-420: The northeast and northwest side of the outpost, moved rapidly through their own and friendly artillery fire to gain a foothold on the northern slope of the position. Refusing to withdraw, Company P closed in and met the attackers in a furious hand-to-hand struggle in which many of the enemy were driven off. The aggressors regrouped, quickly attacked a second time, and again gained the friendly trenches. Immediately,

4400-521: The number of soldiers that the enemy would concentrate in the region. According to the study, the DSE III Division in the Peloponnese numbered between 1,000 and 5,000 fighters in early 1948. Rural peasants were caught in the crossfire. When DSE partisans entered a village asking for supplies, citizens were supportive (in previous years, EAM could count on two million members across the whole country) or did not resist. When government troops arrived at

4480-452: The occupation created was filled by several resistance movements that ranged from monarchist to Communist in ideology. Resistance was born first in eastern Macedonia and Thrace , where Bulgarian troops occupied Greek territory. Soon large demonstrations were organized in many cities by the Defenders of Northern Greece (YVE), a patriotic organization. However, the largest group to emerge

4560-410: The offensives did not achieve all their objectives, they inflicted serious defeats on the DSE. The removal of children by both sides was another highly emotive and contentious issue. About 30,000 children were forcibly taken by the DSE from territories they controlled to Eastern Bloc countries. The issue drew the attention of international public opinion, and a United Nations Special Committee issued

4640-425: The opposition of Vafiadis. In December, the KKE announced the formation of a Provisional Democratic Government, with Vafiadis as prime minister; that led the Athens government to ban the KKE. No foreign government recognized this government. The new strategy led the DSE into costly attempts to seize a major town as its seat of government, and in December 1947, 1,200 DSE fighters were killed in the Battle of Konitsa . At

4720-410: The part of the Allies in the internal affairs of a foreign country, an implementation of the containment policy suggested by US diplomat George F. Kennan in his Long Telegram of February 1946. The Greek royal government in the end was funded by the United States (through the Truman Doctrine of 1947 and the Marshall Plan of 1948) and joined NATO (1952), while the insurgents were demoralized by

4800-403: The repatriation of children to their homes. After 50 years, more information regarding the children gradually emerged. Many returned to Greece between 1975 and 1990, with varied views and attitudes toward the Communist faction. Also, however, a UN committee reported at that time " Queen Frederica has already prepared special 'reform camps' in Greek islands for 12,000 Greek children..." During

4880-490: The retention of the monarchy, but the KKE claimed that it had been rigged. King George returned to Athens. The king's return to Greece reinforced British influence in the country. Nigel Clive, then a liaison officer to the Greek government and later the head of the Athens station of MI6, stated, "Greece was a kind of British protectorate, but the British ambassador was not a colonial governor." There were to be six changes of prime ministers within just two years, an indication of

SECTION 60

#1732870037627

4960-467: The same time, the strategy forced the government to increase the size of the army. With control of the major cities, the government cracked down on KKE members and sympathizers, many of whom were imprisoned on the island of Makronisos . Despite setbacks, such as the defeat at Konitsa, the DSE reached the height of its power in 1948, extending its operations to Attica , within 20 km of Athens. It drew on more than 20,000 fighters, both men and women, and

5040-492: The same village, citizens who had supplied the partisans were immediately denounced as Communist sympathizers and usually imprisoned or exiled. In rural areas, the government also used a strategy, which had been advised by US advisers, of evacuating villages under the pretext that they were under direct threat of Communist attack. That would deprive the partisans of supplies and recruits and simultaneously raise antipathy towards them. The Greek Army now numbered about 90,000 men and

5120-644: The social-liberal EKKA, led by Colonel Dimitrios Psarros. The Greek landscape was favourable to guerrilla operations, and by 1943, the Axis forces and their collaborators were in control only of the main towns and connecting roads, leaving the mountainous countryside to the resistance. EAM-ELAS in particular controlled most of the country's mountainous interior, while EDES was limited to Epirus and EKKA to eastern Central Greece . By early 1944, ELAS could call on nearly 25,000 fighters, with another 80,000 working as reserves or logistical support. EDES had roughly 10,000 members, and EKKA had under 10,000. Ioannis Rallis ,

5200-399: The support of the United Kingdom and the United States , the Greek government forces ultimately prevailed. The war had its roots in divisions within Greece during World War II between the Communist-dominated left-wing resistance organisation, the EAM - ELAS , and loosely-allied anti-communist resistance forces. It later escalated into a major civil war between the Greek state and

5280-416: The transport of personnel and prisoners, drops of supplies and ammunition, the replenishment of allied bases and the collection of operational information. In total, its planes carried 70,568 passengers, including 9,243 wounded. It logged 13,777 flight hours. Losses included 12 officers and NCOs and two C-47s. The Greek government originally intended to send a brigade to Korea, but with quick UN victories in

5360-450: The war have been returned to Greece. The seven C-47s of 13th Flight, with 67 Air Force officers and personnel, departed from Elefsis air base at 08:30 on November 11, 1950. They belonged to the 355 Transport Squadron , known for its participation in the recent civil war . The majority of the officers and NCOs of this first mission were experienced airmen, being veterans of the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre of World War II and

5440-431: The war, more than 25,000 children, most with parents in the DSE, were also placed in 30 "child towns" under the immediate control of Queen Frederica, something especially emphasised by the left. After 50 years, some of these children, given up for adoption to American families, were retracing their family background in Greece. The insurgents were demoralised by the bitter split between Stalin and Tito. In June 1948,

5520-410: Was Baptism of Fire . Victor Mature was to have been loaned to RKO for Split Second , but Fox decided to keep him to star in The Glory Brigade . Filming began on September 15, 1952. The film was shot at the United States Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood , Missouri. The opening scene in which the bridge is blown up was filmed on the Osage River in Tuscumbia, Missouri . While filming

5600-441: Was KKE's greatest source of strength, and KKE leader Siantos decided that the demand for ELAS's dissolution must be resisted. On December 1, 1944, the Greek"National Unity" government of under Papandreou announced an ultimatum for the general disarmament by 10 December of all guerrilla forces excluding the tactical forces (the III Greek Mountain Brigade and the Sacred Band); and also a part of EDES and ELAS that would be used, if it

5680-405: Was a "routine war film with an agreeable premise." Richard Egan won the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male in 1953. The film was released on DVD by 20th Century-Fox's Cinema Archives. Greek Expeditionary Force (Korea) The Greek Expeditionary Force ( GEF ) in Korea ( Greek : Εκστρατευτικόν Σώμα Ελλάδος ; romanized: Ekstrateftikon Soma Ellados, abbreviated ΕΚΣΕ)

5760-575: Was a colonel in the prewar Greek army who had been dismissed during the Metaxas regime for his views. The political chief of EAM was Vasilis Samariniotis ( nom de guerre of Andreas Tzimas ). The Organization for the Protection of the People's Struggle (OPLA) was founded as EAM's security militia, operating mainly in the occupied cities and most particularly Athens. A small Greek People's Liberation Navy (ELAN)

5840-594: Was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by President Harry Truman , and led one American commander to say: "Other than the Brits and the Aussies, nobody else was with us as much as the Greeks." In a contemporary review for The New York Times , critic Howard Thompson wrote that the film is "short in general impact and conviction" but contains "unpretentious, graphic realization of battle tension and movement" and

5920-450: Was composed of 849 men and six vehicles in an HQ company and three rifle companies; with one machine gun/mortar platoon and three rifle platoons in each. The men were all volunteers from the 1st, 8th and 9th Infantry Divisions. The unit's officers were selected based on their fluency in English. From August 23, 1951, the component was expanded to 1,063 men, at which strength it remained until

6000-719: Was created, operating mostly around the Ionian Islands and some other coastal areas. Other Communist-aligned organizations were present, including the National Liberation Front (NOF), composed mostly of Slavic Macedonians in the Florina region. They would later play a critical role in the civil war. The two other large resistance movements were the National Republican Greek League (EDES), led by republican former army officer Colonel Napoleon Zervas , and

6080-529: Was formed in response to the United Nations appeal for assistance in the Korean War . It comprised a reinforced Hellenic Army (HA) infantry battalion and the Royal Hellenic Air Force (RHAF) 13th flight of seven transport planes (C-47). Greece originally intended to send a brigade to Korea; upon consultation with the US, however, the expeditionary force was downgraded to a battalion attached to

6160-426: Was gradually being put on a more professional footing. The task of re-equipping and training the army had been carried out by its fellow Western Allies. By early 1947, however, Britain, which had spent £85 million in Greece since 1944, could no longer afford this burden. US President Harry S. Truman announced that the United States would step in to support the Greek government against Communist pressure. That began

6240-647: Was necessary, in Allied operations in Crete and Dodecanese against the remaining German Army units. The EAM called for a general strike and announced the reorganization of the Central Committee of ELAS. A demonstration, forbidden by the government, was organised by EAM on December 3. The demonstration involved at least 200,000 people marching in Athens on Panepistimiou Street towards the Syntagma Square . British tanks along with police units had been scattered around

6320-471: Was obvious that the Germans would soon withdraw from Greece, as Soviet forces were advancing into Romania and towards Yugoslavia , threatening to cut off the retreating Germans. The government-in-exile, now led by prominent liberal Georgios Papandreou, moved to Italy, in preparation for its return to Greece. Under the Caserta Agreement of September 1944, all resistance forces in Greece were placed under

6400-512: Was the National Liberation Front (EAM), founded on 27 September 1941 by representatives of four left-wing parties. Although controlled by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the organization had democratic republican rhetoric. Its military wing, ELAS was founded in February 1942. Aris Velouchiotis , a member of KKE's Central Committee, was nominated Chief ( Kapetanios ) of the ELAS High Command. The military chief, Stefanos Sarafis ,

#626373