Page 420 - 1992 - XVIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia Militare

386 Al\(iELOS LA7.AIUS
Afcer 1936 and unti! che Second World War, Greece made a major and sue·
cessful efforr ro creare an effective army on che basis of che experience which had
already been acquired. During rhac period there was no foreign military mission
in che counrry, while che ·French models were adjusced ro Greek condiùons. Moreover,
che Greek forcificacion docrr:ine was chen formulaccd an d macerialil':ed wich rhe con·
srruction of a forrified li ne aloog Greece's northern borders. which, ler ir be sa id,
was differem in concept fcom the French Maginot Line.
A Greek defensive docuine for the Greek coanline and islands was also for·
mulared, along wicb che Greek docuine of moum:ain warfare; indeed, che tacer proved
tO be very effeetive during che Greek-ltalian War in Albania in 1940-41. Cerrainly
che French influence was stili evidenr in che oudook and srrucrures of che Greek
Army, yer rhe passage of cime and che changes which had been effecred, especially
in 1936·1940, had given ira "Greek idemiry" and had adapred ir ro Greek sociaJ
condjtions.
le musr be nored, ac this poi m, char similar developments had raken [>!ace in
che Greek Navy and Air Force, though the influences rhere were clearly Bricish.
from che abovewe conclude th.ac American milicary thinking had no influence
ar ali upon che Greek Army uncil - and incluwng - che Second Wodd War.
For Greece che United Srares Army w~ a perfecc scranger.

The period afcer che Second World War

FoUowing the German occupation of Greece in 1941 che war was conrinued
on th.c Greek mountains and in che Middle Easr. The panisans whose scrength carne
co more than 70000, conducred th.eir scruggle accord.ing ro the Greek docuine of
mounrain warfare. The Army which was formed in che Middle Easr consisred of
ebree Brigades with a rotai of 10000 men who had escaped from Greece. Thosc
men were trained and equjpped by che B~itish and fought alongside che.m in che
deserc and in che Icalian ,campaign.
These Greek forces in che Jl;liddle Easc became che nudeus of che Greek Army
which was formed afcer che liberadon of Greece. Almosc irnmediarely thar Army
was embroiled in che civ il war of 1946-49 against che cornmunisr forces which at·
rempred ro force upon Greece a regime of ''People's Democracy" similar ro che
Eascern European mo.del.
Towards che e.nd of 1944 liberacion found Greece devascaced and incapable
of serùng up rhe big army demanded by che circumscances. Thus, fìrsc Greac Bri·
tain and then che Uniced Scares undenook ro assjsc the country. A Brtcish milirary
mission carne co Greece io 1945, and rwo years lacer, in 1947, an american mili·
cary mission foUowed. This was che firsr rime thar che Greek Army carne inco con·
cacr with American Forces. For some cime che rwo milicary missions co-exisred,
since the Bricish scayed in Greece uncil l952.