WEBVTT

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GREECE'S PARTICIPATION
IN WORLD WAR ONE

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Thousands of pages have been written

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about both the the National Schism 
and the epic war in Asia Minor

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which ultimately was completed with the 
destruction and uprooting of the Greeks in Ionia.

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Since those 2 events have monopolised discussions,

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the general public doesn't know much
about Greece's participation in WWI.

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For reasons that we don't need to mention now,

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Greece might have been late in entering

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the conflict between 
the Central Powers and the Entente,

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however during the short period that it participated

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it achieved an important victory

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and played an active role in the conclusion of the war

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on the Macedonian Front.

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Some might say that Greece was participating 
in this conflict indirectly before 1917

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since on the one hand Eleftherios Venizelos 
with the National Defence Coup D'État

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and on the other hand the Anglo-French

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were trying to force Greece 
to join the war in various ways.

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The Bulgarians had invaded Macedonia in 1916

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and remained there until 1918.

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During the Bulgarian occupation,

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they proceeded with thousands 
of murders and destruction

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along with looting important archaeological 
and religious treasures.

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Despite the Bulgarian occupation in Macedonia 
starting in August 1916

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Greece eventually entered the war in June 1917

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when the French invaded Piraeus and bombed Athens

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forcing the government to resign

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and King Konstantinos abdicated the throne 
and left the country.

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Venizelos then returned to Athens
as the prime minister

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and declared war on the Central Powers on 28 June.

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During its brief participation in the war,

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Greece had a minimal participation.

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The first battle was against the Bulgarians 
on the massif of Skra di Legen

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on 30 May 1918.

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Four months later, in September, 
Greek forces also participate

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in the final assault and dissolution of the enemy 
on the Macedonian front in the Battle of Doirani.

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Doirani is a lake which today is split between 
the borders of Greece and Skopje.

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The Greek Army had a small contribution 
to the Entente's victory.

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However, it was enough for Greece 
to sit at the table on the winning side

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and assert territorial gains.

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Now let's go back to the battles though.

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In May 1916,

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the Bulgarians took Fort Roupel without a fight,

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and went all the way to Skra

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where they occasionally skirmished 
with the Anglo-French troops.

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The Entente wanted to stop the Bulgarians 
from sending troops westward

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to reinforce the Germans on other fronts.

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Therefore it kept them confined there,

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blocking off the pass from the Skra massif.

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On the other hand, 
Greece which had now entered the war