The National Organization of Crete (Greek: Εθνική Οργάνωση Κρήτης, Ethnikí Orgánosi Krítis (EOK)) was a resistance organization established in the island of Crete with the cooperation and encouragement of British Intelligence during the Axis occupation of Greece in World War II.
| National Organization of Crete Εθνική Οργάνωση Κρήτης Ethnikí Orgánosi Krítis | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | Andreas Papadakis Nikolaos Skoulas |
| Dates of operation | 1943-1944 |
| Headquarters | Chania |
| Active regions | Crete |
| Ideology | Greek nationalism Venizelism Antifascism Anticommunism |
| Allies | EDES EKKA PEAN SOE Greek government in exile |
| Opponents | German Army Greek collaborationist government Security Battalions EAM-ELAS |
Establishment and ideology
editEOK was established in June 1943 with the aid of Tom Dunbabin, then SOE Field Commander on Crete. Predominantly Venizelist in sympathy and with members ranging from centre-left to right-wing, EOK was meant to act as a counterweight to the pro-communist EAM resistance organization.[1] EOK evolved from the secret organization AEAK (Greek: Ανώτατη Επιτροπή Αγώνα Κρήτης, "Supreme Committee of Cretan Struggle"), that was established in Chania on June 15, 1941.[2] AEAK was founded a mere two weeks after the end of the Battle of Crete by patriots Andreas Papadakis, Ioannis Paizis, Andreas Polentas, Titos Georgiadis and Ioannis Ioannidis.[3] It was the first armed resistance group in Greece, intending to organize an intelligence network and perform sabotage against German occupation forces. During the first months following its establishment, AEAK was based at Colonel Papadakis' house in Vourvoures, near Kallikratis.[4] EOK was initially headed by Nikolaos Skoulas, Charidimos Polychronidis, Iosif Voloudakis, Emmanouil Basias and Markos Spanoudakis. Skoulas had joined AEAK shortly after its formation and had closely collaborated with the SOE, supplying it with fake documents while also acting as the German appointed mayor of Chania.[5]
Despite their ideological differences, EAM and EOK agreed to sign non-aggression pacts during the meetings of Theriso (7/11/1943) and Tromarissa (15/9/1944). These agreements were generally respected and allowed Crete to remain largely unaffected by the civil war between leftists and rightists that broke out in mainland Greece after the withdrawal of German occupation forces.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Cracked – Θέματα ποικίλης ύλης". Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ "Ο μάρτυρας της ελευθερίας και η πρώτη οργάνωση της Αντίστασης : Η ίδρυση της Α.Ε.Α.Κ.: «Πρωτόκολλον τιμής και θυσίας δια την απελευθέρωσιν της Κρήτης μας»". Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ "Εορτασμός της Εθνικής Αντίστασης 1941-1945, Χανιώτικα Νέα, 25/11/08". Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ Beevor, Antony. Crete: The Battle and the Resistance, John Murray Ltd, 1991. Penguin Books, 1992.
- ^ Koukounas 2013, pp. 88–89.
- ^ Koukounas 2013, pp. 105–106.
Sources
edit- Koukounas, Demosthenes (2013). Η Ιστορία της Κατοχής [History of the Occupation] (in Greek). Vol. II. Athens: Livani. ISBN 978-960-14-2687-7.