Britannica AI Icon

Communist Party of Greece

political party, Greece
Also known as: Greek Communist Party, KKE, Kommunistikon Komma Ellados(Show More)

Quick Summary

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) is a political party that unsuccessfully attempted to gain control of Greece in two stages of civil war, from December 1944 to January 1945 and again from 1946 to 1949. The party's origins trace back to the resistance against the Nazi occupation of Greece during World War II, where it led the EAM-ELAS guerrilla force.1

Following the war, the KKE's refusal to disband its forces led to conflict with the British-backed coalition government. Despite initial suppression, the communists reopened hostilities in 1946, leading to a full-scale civil war. The United States provided significant aid to the Greek government under the Truman Doctrine, which ultimately helped the Greek army defeat the communist rebellion in 1949. Markos Vafiades was a founding member and commander of the communist-led Democratic Army during this civil war. The conflict resulted in over 50,000 deaths and displaced over 500,000 Greeks, leaving a lasting legacy of bitterness.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.