EDES, ELAS, and British Special Operations in Greece

Wartime Context

Following the Axis occupation of Greece, the country became a fragmented landscape of resistance. The British Special Operations Executive (SOE) was tasked with coordinating these disparate groups to harass German and Italian forces, divert Axis troops from other theaters, and prepare the ground for an eventual Allied return. However, the resistance was deeply divided along ideological lines, primarily between the left-wing National Liberation Front (EAM) and its military wing, the National Popular Liberation Army (ELAS), and the right-wing National Democratic Greek League (EDES) [1, 3].

SOE’s Presence and Coordination

The SOE operated through British Military Missions and Liaison Officers (BLOs) to provide funding, arms, and strategic direction to the Greek partisans. A key figure in this effort was Brigadier ‘Eddie’ Myers, who headed the SOE-controlled British Military Mission to occupied Greece from October 1942 to early 1944 [4].

The SOE’s primary challenge was the inherent volatility of the relationship between ELAS and EDES. While the British sought to unify these groups against the Axis, the factions were often more concerned with their own postwar political ambitions. ELAS, dominated by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), grew to be the largest and most effective resistance organization, which caused significant alarm among British agents and the exiled Greek government [3].

Major Operations

The Gorgopotamos Viaduct

One of the most successful examples of early SOE coordination was the destruction of the Gorgopotamos viaduct in November 1942 (Operation Harling). This mission required the cooperation of the rival ELAS and EDES groups, facilitated by Brigadier Eddie Myers, to sever a critical Axis supply line [4].

Operation Animals

Between 21 June and 11 July 1943, the SOE launched Operation Animals as part of the broader Operation Barclay. The objective was to deceive the Axis Powers into believing that Greece was the target of an imminent Allied amphibious landing [2].

The operation involved a coordinated campaign of sabotage, including the destruction of the Asopos railway bridge on 21 June 1943 [4]. It saw cooperation between the SOE, the United States Army Air Force, and various resistance groups, including ELAS, EDES, PAO, and Organization Zeus [2]. While the operation achieved its tactical goals, it came at a high cost; Axis reprisals resulted in the execution of 165 people and the destruction of 16 villages [2].

Political Tensions and the Civil War

By the winter of 1942-43, the spirit of cooperation between ELAS and EDES began to disintegrate [3]. Sporadic conflicts erupted in December 1942 and intensified throughout 1943. The British and the exiled Greek government feared that the strength of ELAS could lead to the overthrow of the constitutional status quo after the war [3].

In response, the British took active steps to reinforce EDES as a political and military counter-balance to ELAS [3]. This strategic maneuvering placed SOE officers in a precarious position. Brigadier Myers, for instance, was criticized by the Foreign Office for perceived favorable treatment of ELAS and was eventually removed from his post, succeeded by Chris “Monty” Woodhouse [4].

These tensions culminated in a civil war between ELAS and EDES in late 1943, a conflict rooted in longstanding political frictions rather than immediate tactical disagreements [1].

Outcomes and Limitations

While the SOE successfully executed high-profile sabotage missions that hampered Axis logistics, it struggled to maintain a unified resistance front. The ideological divide between the communist-led ELAS and the royalist EDES proved too deep for the SOE to bridge. The British effort to balance these groups often exacerbated tensions, reflecting the broader geopolitical struggle between the Western Allies and the Soviet-influenced left in the Balkans [1, 3].