In March 1946, a Communist guerrilla raid upon a town is seen in hindsight as the start of the Greek Civil War, yet it would be many months before most Greek people realised they there was a civil war in the country as attacks in 1946 were usually small in scale.  However in December 1946, the Communist set up the Democratic Army commander by Vapiadis an experienced guerrilla commander.  A biography of Mark Vapiadis.  A Communist civilian support system was established to aid the guerrillas, known as the self defence organisation.  A review of the geography of Greece and its recent history.

Any hope that the Greek Left could take part in the Greek political system is prevented by a campaign of harassment against the Left.  Thousands of Leftist are imprisoned and others are attacked by Right Wing terror groups, all part of what becomes known as the White Terror.  Many Communists flee to the Greek Mountains or Yugoslavia.  A biography of Zachariadis the leader of the Greek Communists.  The Cold War begins in Europe, a look at Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech in 1946. 

The Battle of Athens between the British Army and Greek Communists carries on.  British reinforcements and firepower began to turn the tide of the battle in their favour.  A biography of Lieutenant General Scobie, the British Military commander in Greece.  Winston Churchill travels to Athens in Christmas 1944 to show his support for the Greek Government against the Communists.  The Communist kill many of their alleged political opponents in Athens but in February 1945 the Communists agree to lay down their weapons and promise to join the Greek political system.

The Communist controlled ELAS becomes the strongest resistance movement against Axis occupation of Greece during the Second World War.  When in late 1944 the German army pulls out of Greece the Communist take control of most of Greece.  Winston Churchill who is determined to prevent a Communist take over of Greece sends British troops to Greece to aid the Greek Government led by George Papandreou, the Communist are ordered to disarm, they refuse and hold a mass demonstration, at which the Athens Police shot 28 dead.  ELAS fighters attack Police Station, killing Policemen.  Fighting breaks out between ELAS and the British Army.  The British Army is forced into a small pocket in central Athens known in the British press as Scobieland after its commander.  A biography of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.