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Children became a major issue in the post-War era, primarily because of the forced removal of children by the Communists in the areas that they controlled. The Communist deny that the children were foricbly removed, but it is clear that this indeed occurred. What we are not sure of is who gave the orders, Moscow or the KKE. There were substantial numbers of political refugees resulting from the Greek Civil War. These were Communists or sympathisers of the defeated communist insurgency who fled the country (1949). The defeat of the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE) was followed by the evacuation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) to Tashkent. In the aftermath, thousands of people fled or were evacuated fron northern Greece. Some estimates are substantially higher. There are varying estimates, but probanly more than 0.1 million Greeks left or were removed from the country. This included large numbers of children. The precise number is unknown, but may have exceeded one-third of the total. Some of the children were the relatives of the Communist insurgents. Many others simply lived in Communist controlled villages and were taken over the border as the Greek National Army advanced.
There were substantial numbers of political refugees resulting from the Greek Civil War. These were Communists or sympathisers of the defeated communist insurgency who feared reprisals after their insurgency failed. They fled the country with the ceasfire (1949). The defeat of the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE) was followed by the evacuation of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) to Tashkent. In the aftermath, thousands of people fled or were evacuated fron northern Greece. Some estimates are substantially higher. There are varying estimates, but probanly more than 0.1 million Greeks left or were removed from the country.
The removals and refugees included large numbers of children. The precise number is unknown, but may have exceeded one-third of the total number of people evacuated. That would be something like 30,000-35,000 chikdren. [Woodhouse, 259.] Some of the children were the relatives of the Communist insurgents. These children were probably taken by their parents with them when they fled the country. But many children were fircubly removed by parents who were not Communist supporters abd without thrir approval. Many children who lived in Communist controlled villages and were taken over the border as the Greek National Army advanced. This seems to have been most especially pronounced in Macedonian villages where the people distrusted the Greek Army.
The evacuation of children without their parents was an organized effort undertaken by the KKE Provisional Government. They issued a directive,for evacuations of all children (ages 4 to 14 years old) (March 7, 1948). The stated purpose was protection from the fighting other problems linked to the war. This was patently false as the evacuation was conducted at the end of the War abd not during it. Government sources charge that the were simply abducted so they coulkd be indoctrinated as Communist Janissaries. [Clogg, p. 141.] Janissaries of course is term that has a special resonance with Greek and other Balkan Christaina.
The KKE began gathered children for evacuation. They claimed that this was done at the request of 'popular organizations and parents'. [Barentzen, pp. 135-36.] A U.N. investigation subsequently found that despite denials, some children were forcubly removed. [Barentzen, pp. 135-36.] Most of the children by the KEE were taken over the border into Albania and Yugoslavia. From there camps were set up throught the East Bloc (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia).
Schools were established and the children were taught in Greek and or Macedonian, the host country language, and Russian.
Some of the children were adopted by host country families.
In addition to the children evacuated, additional children were born to the adult refugees.
Some families were able to reach the West (Europe, Canada, and the United States).
Some of the children were eventually repatriated to Greece. Many of the children eventually returned to Greece. Some after only a few years, many years later as adults. Their stories and personal views are highly varied. [Mitsopoulou and Servou]
The Communist removal of children from the areas they cintrolled to Soviet Bloc countries emerged as the most emoptionally charged issue in the years following the War. This was especially bthe case as large numbers of children were removed without their parent's consent and often knowledge. Left wing sources have tried to equate Queen Frederika's Camps with the Communist removals. There was, however, a major difference. The children in Queen Frederika's Camps were mostly orphans whjo had lost their parents or had parent's (often widowed mothers) who could not care for them. The Communist removals included many children who not only had parents, but parents who did not want the children removed. The discussion of the Evacuation was colored by the fact that during the 1970s, the children now grown began returning to Greece.
Barentzen, Lars. The'Paidomazoma' and the Queen's Camps.
Clogg, Richard, A Concise History of Greece (Cambridge University Press, 1992).
Mitsopoulou, Thanasi. "We brought up as Greeks," Θανάση Μητσόπουλου "Μείναμε Έλληνες.
Servou, Dimitris. The Paidomazoma and who is afraid of Truth (2001).
Woodhoiuse uses a figure of 30,000 children. Woodhouse, C.M. Modern Greece (Faber and Faber, 1991).
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