Greece 1947 Flashcards
Who had controlled Greece until 1944?
Germany
Which two main factions (groups) were left in Greece after the Germans withdrew?
The monarchists and Communists
What did the monarchists want?
To see the king of Greece restored to the throne
What did the Communists want in Greece?
To make Greece a Soviet republic
Who sent troops in 1945?
Churchill - to support the monarchists
What was the official reason Churchill sent troops to Greece in 1945?
To oversee free elections
When did Churchill send troops to Greece?
1945
What did the USSR do in 1946?
Protested to the UN about British troops in Greece, saying they were a threat to peace
When the UN refused to get involved in Greece in 1946, what happened?
A civil war developed
Why was the civil war a problem for Britain?
Wars are expensive - Britain in 1947 could not afford it.
When Britain announced it was withdrawing from Greece in February 1947, what did Truman do?
Stepped in to pay for the some of the British troops
Who won the civil war?
The royalists/monarchists - but they had a very weak government
Why was Greece so important to the USA?
If Greece fell to Communism, America feared Turkey would also fall. Truman felt he had to stop the spread of Communism.
What did the Greek crisis lead to?
The creation of the Truman Doctrine
How much money did the USA send to support Greece (and Turkey)?
$400 million
