Greek government-in-exile
The Greek government-in-exile was formed in 1941, in the aftermath of the Battle of Greece and the subsequent occupation of Greece by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The government-in-exile was based in Cairo, Egypt, and hence it is also referred to as the "Cairo Government" (Greek: Κυβέρνηση του Καΐρου). It was the internationally recognised government during the years of the Axis occupation of Greece.
Greek government-in-exile | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941–1944 | |||||||||
Flag
(1863–1973) | |||||||||
| Motto: «Ἐλευθερία ἢ Θάνατος» "Freedom or Death" | |||||||||
| Anthem: «Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν» "Hymn to Freedom" | |||||||||
| Status | Government in exile | ||||||||
| Capital | Athens | ||||||||
| Capital-in-exile | |||||||||
| Common languages | Greek | ||||||||
| Religion | Eastern Orthodox Church | ||||||||
| Government | Constitutional monarchy | ||||||||
| King | |||||||||
• 1941–1944 | George II | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1941–1944 | Emmanouil Tsouderos | ||||||||
• 1944 | Sofoklis Venizelos | ||||||||
• 1944–1945 | Georgios Papandreou | ||||||||
| Historical era | World War II | ||||||||
| 28 October 1940 | |||||||||
| 20 May 1941 | |||||||||
• Arrival at Cairo | 24 May 1941 | ||||||||
• Liberation of Greece | October 1944 | ||||||||
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It was headed by King George II, who evacuated Athens in April 1941 after the German invasion of the country, first to the island of Crete and then to Cairo. He remained there until the German occupying forces withdrew from the country on 17 October 1944.
The British wielded a significant amount of influence over the government-in-exile. Until 1944 it was also recognized as the legal Greek government by all Greek Resistance forces. In the occupied Greece, alongside the Axis-controlled collaborationist governments, a vigorous resistance movement developed. Its major force was the communist-controlled EAM/ELAS. During 1944, EAM/ELAS established a de facto separate administration, formalised in March 1944 after elections in both occupied and liberated territories, as the Political Committee of National Liberation (PEEA).