Axis occupation of Greece

1941–1945 period during World War II Axis occupation of GreeceThe three occupation zones Italy Germany Bulgaria The Italian zone was taken over by Germany in September 19431941. German soldiers raising the German War Flag over the Acropolis. It would be taken down by Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas in one of the first acts of resistance.1944. Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou and others on the Acropolis after the liberation from the Nazis The occupation of Greece by the Axis powers (Greek: Η Κατοχή, romanized: I Katochi) began in April 1941 after the German invasion of Greece to assist its ally, Italy, in the Greco-Italian War had begun in October 1940. Following the Battle of Crete, Greece was occupied starting in June 1941. The occupation of the mainland lasted until Germany and its ally Bulgaria withdrew under Allied pressure in early October 1944, with Crete and some other Aegean Islands being surrendered to the Allies by German garrisons in May and June 1945, after the end of the Second World War in Europe. Overview Fascist Italy had declared war and invaded Greece in October 1940, but had been pushed back by the Hellenic Army into neighbouring Albania, an Italia