How did Greece avoid the Soviet sphere of influence?
score:14
Under the so-called "Percentages Agreement" proposed by Churchill and accepted by Stalin, Greece was the only country in the Balkans with less than 50% Soviet influence (10% to be exact). The other main Balkan countries, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Hungary all had 50% or more Soviet influence.
Although Greek Communists started a civil war, it might have been without Stalin's aid, at least overtly. In any event, the original agreement gave the Western world a "head start" in stopping Communist maneuvers in Greece.
Upvote:-2
Greece was to be overrun by Soviet Shock Troops coming down from the Baltic countries. I was stationed in Athens 84-86 and was privy to possible scenarios. It wasn't going to be pretty by any means...7206 SPS
Upvote:1
Greece was with the West after the civil war, but also before the WWII. Greeces' hegemony was opposing Germany and the Soviet Union, and supporting the UK. This decision of Greeces' dictator Metaxas just before the start of WWII marked the entering of Greece in the western influence sphere. Then came the civil war and the agreement of Stalin and Churchill which finally secured Greece in the west zone.
Upvote:2
Shortly after World War II, the country of Greece collapsed into chaos and a brutal civil war ensued until 1949. As the Soviet Union was expanding its "spheres of influence" across Eastern Europe, it reached southward towards Bulgaria and Yugoslavia-(though to a lesser extent. Yugoslavia was never officially a part of the Soviet dominated Warsaw Pact/Alliance).
For the Soviet Union, Greece, was the final point of potential universal East European conquest,though Greece was also the beginning point for potential South European conquest. In conquering Greece, the Soviet Union could essentially control the commerce/trade throughout the Mediterranean sea region and could establish its geopolitical dominance in that part of the world, with the likely possibility of invading Egypt and having access to the Nile, the Red Sea and close access to the petroleum rich Arabian peninsula.
However, NONE of this materialized, due to the proactive geopolitical and international security interests of U.S. President Harry Truman and his famed, 1949 "Truman Doctrine". This particular foreign policy "Doctrine" primarily focused on Greece as an important U.S. ally during the Cold War era-(for many of the above mentioned reasons, though the geopolitical reasoning was of paramount significance). A few years after The Truman Doctrine, Greece officially joined NATO during the mid 1950's, under The Eisenhower Presidency-(and has remained a steadfast NATO ally since).
Upvote:31
In Greece in 1946-1949 there was a bloody civil war between the West-supported right-wing monarchist dictatorship and the Communist rebels of Democratic Army of Greece (DSE). The government won the war and harsh repressions followed. The Communist party was outlawed and Greece entered NATO.
It should be noted that due to Soviet-Western war-time agreements Greece fell into Western sphere of influence so the USSR did not actively involve in the civil war. The rebels were supported by Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria. The British on the other hand, participated actively, and even provided troops.
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