Report on Greece

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 11th Year

Issue

Issue No.

6

Date Released

1946

Length of issue (in feet)

1718

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1Report on Greece

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: The film recalls the dark days of 1941 when, in spite of the valiant stand made by the Greek Army, the last Allied base in Europe was eventually invaded by the Axis. But though Greece had fallen, resistance continued as the people began partisan warfare with bitter fury. Striking from mountain hide-outs, they sabotaged railroads over which supplies were being shipped to the Axis forces in Africa, and thus played an important part in the collapse of the German plan for a three-pronged offensive against Suez.

After four years of unremitting battle against the German occupation forces in Greece, the film shows the wild enthusiasm with which the Greek people greeted the liberating army. But within a few weeks political discontent had grown to such an extent that Greece was on the verge of civil war, and, as the situation got out of hand, British troops went into action against resistance concentrations. In London, the March of Time recalls, the Greek uprising aroused furious criticism among the British people over their government’s methods in Greece, and on Christmas Day of 1944 a deeply concerned Prime Minister arrive in Athens determined to find a way to end the bloodshed. Over the Greek political scene a succession of prime ministers had presided, with cabinet following cabinet, under the changing pressure of various political and economic groups but despite the best efforts of Archbishop Damaskinos and the successive governments he has called to power, his regency has brought no lasting tranquillity to a nation passionately divided on how its political future should be shaped.

Years of war, years of occupation, and the continuing struggle of resistance have left Greece all but prostrate. Of 1.400 devastated villages and towns, 900 have been completely wiped out, and with many of her 7,000,000 people living on the borderline between malnutrition and starvation, lacking shelter or clothing, Greece has been largely dependent for survival on the Herculean efforts of UNRRA. Within a year after the withdrawal of the Germans, UNRRA supplies totalling close to a million and a half tons of food, clothing, raw materials, machinery and medicine, have been unloaded for distribution to centres throughout the land. But though Greece has survived so far on relief funds and UNRRA aid, she can only permanently recover by rebuilding and modernising the economic establishment she sacrificed to the war. This will require the utmost determination and unremitting toil of the Greek people, who, though undaunted by the new hardships ahead, want some assurance that their land will be a better place to live in. And, says the March of Time, on their record as warriors for the liberty of all men, none has won more surely than the Greeks a right claimed by all democratic peoples - the right freely to choose their own government.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.12 No.7 of the US edition.

Keywords

Social conditions; Foreign aid; Occupied territories

Written sources

The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.