Triumph and Tragedy (The Second World War) (56 page)

Later on we must consider extending the Greek
authority. I fully expect a clash with E.A.M., and we
must not shrink from it, provided the ground is well
chosen.

And the following day:

Prime

Minister

to

8 Nov. 44

General Wilson (Italy)

and

Mr.

Leeper

(Athens)

In view of increasing threat of Communist elements
in Greece and indications that they plan to seize power

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345

by force, I hope that you will consider reinforcing our
troops in Athens area by immediate dispatch of the 3d
Brigade of 4th Indian Division or some other formation….

A revolt by E.A.M. was imminent, and on November 15

General Scobie was directed to make counter-preparations.

Athens was to be declared a military area, and authority was given to order all E.L.A.S. troops to leave it. The 4th Indian Division was sent from Italy to Salonika, Athens, and Patras. The Greek Brigade also came from Italy and became the centre of controversy between Papandreou and his E.A.M. colleagues. The only chance of averting civil war was to disarm the guerrillas and other forces by mutual agreement and establish a new National Army and police force under the direct control of the Government in Athens.

Arrangements were made to raise and equip National Guard battalions, each 500 strong. Ultimately there were thirty of these; they proved very useful in rounding up armed hostile civilians and guarding areas cleared by our troops.

A draft decree for the demobilisation of the guerrillas, drawn up at M. Papandreou’s request by the E.A.M. Ministers themselves, was presented to the distracted Cabinet. The regular Greek Mountain Brigade and the Sacred Squadron were to remain. E.L.A.S. were to keep a brigade of their own, and E.D.E.S.
4
were to be given a small force. But at the last moment the E.A.M. Ministers went back on their own proposals, on which they had wasted a precious week, and demanded that the Mountain Brigade should be disbanded. The Communist tactic was now in full swing. On December 1 the six Ministers associated with E.A.M.

resigned, and a general strike in Athens was proclaimed for Triumph and Tragedy

346

the following day. The rest of the Cabinet passed a decree dissolving the guerrillas, and the Communist Party moved its headquarters from the capital. General Scobie issued a message to the people of Greece stating that he stood firm behind the present constitutional Government “until the Greek State can be established with a legally armed force and free elections can be held.” I issued a similar personal statement from London.

On Sunday, December 3, Communist supporters, engaging in a banned demonstration, collided with the police and civil war began. The next day General Scobie ordered E.L.A.S.

to evacuate Athens and the Piræus forthwith. Instead their troops and armed civilians tried to seize the capital by force.

At this moment I took a more direct control of the affair. On learning that the Communists had already captured all the police stations in Athens, murdering the bulk of their occupants not already pledged to their attack, and were within half a mile of the Government offices, I ordered General Scobie and his 5000 British troops, who ten days before had been received with rapture as deliverers by the population, to intervene and fire upon the treacherous aggressors. It is no use doing things like this by halves. The mob violence by which the Communists sought to conquer the city and present themselves to the world as the Government demanded by the Greek people could only be met by firearms. There was no time for the Cabinet to be called.

Anthony and I were together till about two o’clock, and were entirely agreed that we must open fire. Seeing how tired he was, I said to him, “If you like to go to bed, leave it to me.”

He did, and at about 3 A.M. I drafted the following telegram: Triumph and Tragedy

347

Prime

Minister

to

5 Dec. 44

General

Scobie

(Athens) Repeated to

General Wilson (Italy)

5

I have given instructions to General Wilson to make
sure that all forces are left with you and all possible
reinforcements are sent to you.

2. You are responsible for maintaining order in
Athens and for neutralising or destroying all E.A.M.-E.L.

A.S. bands approaching the city. You may make any
regulations you like for the strict control of the streets or
for the rounding up of any number of truculent persons.

Naturally E.L.A.S. will try to put women and children in
the van where shooting may occur. You must be clever
about this and avoid mistakes. But do not hesitate to
fire at any armed male in Athens who assails the British
authority or Greek authority with which we are working.

It would be well of course if your commands were
reinforced by the authority of some Greek Government,
and Papandreou is being told by Leeper to stop and
help. Do not however hesitate to act as if you were in a
conquered city where a local rebellion is in progress.
6

3. With regard to E.L.A.S. bands approaching from
the outside, you should surely be able with your armour
to give some of these a lesson which will make others
unlikely to try. You may count upon my support in all
reasonable and sensible action taken on this basis. We
have to hold and dominate Athens. It would be a great
thing for you to succeed in this without bloodshed if
possible, but also with bloodshed if necessary.

This telegram was dispatched at 4.50 A.M. on the 5th. I must admit that it was somewhat strident in tone. I felt it so necessary to give a strong lead to the military commander that I intentionally worded it in the sharpest terms. The fact that he had such an order in his possession would not only encourage him to decisive action, but gave him the certain Triumph and Tragedy

348

assurance that I should be with him in any well-conceived action he might take, whatever the consequences might be.

I felt grave concern about the whole business, but I was sure that there should be no room for doubts or hedging. I had in my mind Arthur Balfour’s celebrated telegram in the eighties to the British authorities in Ireland: “Don’t hesitate to shoot.” This was sent through the open telegraph offices.

There was a furious storm about it in the House of Commons of those days, but it certainly prevented any loss of life. It was one of the key stepping-stones by which Balfour advanced to power and control. The setting of the scene was now entirely different. Nevertheless “Don’t hesitate to shoot” hung in my mind as a prompter from those far-off days.

Later that day I telegraphed to our Ambassador:
Prime Minister to Mr.

5 Dec. 44

Leeper (Athens)

This is no time to dabble in Greek politics or to
imagine that Greek politicians of varying shades can
affect the situation. You should not worry about Greek
Government compositions. The matter is one of life and
death.

2. You must urge Papandreou to stand to his duty,
and assure him he will be supported by all our forces if
he does so. The day has long gone past when any
particular group of Greek politicians can influence this
mob rising. His only chance is to come through with us.

3. I have put the whole question of the defence of
Athens and the maintenance of law and order in the
hands of General Scobie, and have assured him that
he will be supported in the use of whatever force is
necessary. Henceforward you and Papandreou will
conform to his directions in all matters affecting public
order and security. You should both support Scobie in
every possible way, and you should suggest to him any
means which occur to you of making his action more
vigorous and decisive.

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349

Every good wish.

E.L.A.S. had quickly gained control of most of Athens, except only its very centre, where our troops first held them and then began to counter-attack. Scobie reported:
General

Scobie

8 Dec. 44

(Athens)

to

Prime

Minister

Increased activities on the part of the rebels and
widespread sniping limited progress during the fighting,
which continued throughout yesterday. By midday the
total of rebel prisoners under military guard was 35

officers, 524 other ranks. These figures do not include
those held by the police, as it is difficult to obtain
accurate figures for them.

Some progress was made by the 23d Brigade in
house-to-house clearing throughout the afternoon. A
further sector in the centre of the city was cleared by
the Parachute Brigade.

Marine reinforcements had to be landed from H.M.S.

Orion to deal with serious sniping of Navy House,
Piraeus, by rebels who infiltrated into the area south of
Port Leontos. In face of strong opposition our troops
were forced to withdraw in one area.

In the area being cleared by the Greek Mountain
Brigade an attack was made by the rebels from the
flank. The attack was held, but delayed progress of the
brigade.

This showed the scale of the fighting on which we had now embarked.

Prime

Minister

to

9 Dec. 44

General Wilson (Italy)

You should send further reinforcements to Athens
without the slightest delay. The prolongation of the fight
has many dangers. I warned you of the paramount
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350

political importance of this conflict. At least two more
brigades should hurry to the scene.

2. In addition to the above, why does not the Navy
help all the time instead of only landing a small number
in a crisis? You guaranteed most strongly that you had
already sent enough soldiers.

Prime

Minister

to

8 Dec. 44

General Scobie

There is much talk in the Press tonight of a peace
offer by E.L.A.S. Naturally we should be glad to have
this matter settled, but you should make quite sure, so
far as your influence goes, that we do not give away for
the sake of kindness what has been won or can still be
won by our troops. It would seem to me that anything
less satisfactory than the terms agreed upon before the
revolt took place should not be accepted. Also it is
difficult to see how E.A.M leaders, with their hands wet
with Greek and British blood, should resume their
places in the Cabinet. This might however be got over.

The great thing is to proceed with caution and to
consult us upon the terms when they are made. The
clear objective is the defeat of E.A.M. The ending of the
fighting is subsidiary to this. I am ordering large
reinforcements to come to Athens, and Field-Marshal
Alexander will probably be with you in a few days.