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Test Your World War II Greek Resistance Quiz Skills

Challenge Your Knowledge of Greek Resistance History

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
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Unlock the courage and strategy of the World War II Greek Resistance with this interactive quiz designed for history enthusiasts and students alike. With 15 multiple-choice questions on partisan tactics, key figures, and pivotal battles, you'll test both facts and context. Take the next step with the World War II Knowledge Quiz or explore broader narratives in the Greek History Knowledge Quiz. All questions are fully editable - feel free to customize every detail in our editor. When you're ready, browse more engaging quizzes to continue your journey through history.

On what date did Germany launch its invasion of Greece during World War II?
6 April 1941
4 April 1941
1 May 1941
28 October 1940
The German invasion of Greece began on 6 April 1941 under Operation Marita. This date marks the start of full occupation following the earlier Italian offensive in October 1940.
Which major political resistance organization was formed in Greece in September 1941?
National Republican Greek League (EDES)
People's Liberation Organisation (PAO)
National Liberation Front (EAM)
National and Social Liberation (EKKA)
The National Liberation Front (EAM) was founded in September 1941 and became the largest resistance organization. It united various political groups under a common anti-occupation goal.
What was the name of EAM's military wing during the occupation?
National Republican Guard
Greek Sacred Band
Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS)
5/42 Evzone Regiment
ELAS, the Greek People's Liberation Army, served as the military arm of EAM. It carried out guerrilla operations against Axis forces throughout occupied Greece.
Which British organization provided training and supplies to Greek resistance fighters?
Office of Strategic Services (OSS)
Special Operations Executive (SOE)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)
The British Special Operations Executive (SOE) smuggled weapons, trained guerrillas, and coordinated sabotage efforts. This support was critical for major operations like the Gorgopotamos raid.
Which three Axis powers occupied different zones of Greece after its fall?
Italy, Bulgaria, Albania
Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary
Germany, Italy, Bulgaria
Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia
Germany, Italy, and Bulgaria each controlled parts of Greece after April 1941. German forces held strategic areas, Italy administered the south, and Bulgaria occupied the northeast.
Operation Harling (November 1942) successfully sabotaged which key structure?
Corinth Canal
Thermopylae pass
Gorgopotamos viaduct
Messolonghi bridge
Operation Harling targeted and destroyed the Gorgopotamos viaduct, disrupting Axis supply lines between Greece and North Africa. It represented one of the first large-scale joint actions between SOE and Greek partisans.
Which resistance leader was known by the nom de guerre 'Aris'?
Aris Velouchiotis
Manolis Glezos
Andreas Papandreou
Napoleon Zervas
Christos Tsoutsouvis adopted the nom de guerre 'Aris' Velouchiotis and led ELAS guerrillas. He became a symbol of communist-led resistance.
The National Republican Greek League (EDES) was primarily led by which figure?
Aris Velouchiotis
Colonel Dimitrios Psarros
Nikolaos Plastiras
Napoleon Zervas
Napoleon Zervas founded and led EDES, a republican and anti-communist resistance group active in Epirus. His forces conducted guerrilla actions and cooperated at times with the SOE.
Which resistance tactic involved distributing leaflets and radio broadcasts to weaken enemy morale?
Psychological warfare
Naval blockade
Sabotage operations
Conventional ambushes
Resistance groups used psychological warfare through leaflets, clandestine newspapers, and radio messages to undermine Axis morale and encourage civilian support. This complemented armed actions.
What major social reform did EAM demand in its political program?
Immediate industrial nationalization
Land redistribution
Annexation of Cyprus
Restoration of the monarchy
EAM advocated agrarian reform and redistribution of large estates to landless peasants. This social demand helped EAM win broad rural support.
Approximately how many German divisions were tied down in Greece by late 1944 due to partisan activity?
50 divisions
5 divisions
100 divisions
20 divisions
By late 1944, around 20 German divisions were kept in Greece to combat ELAS and EDES operations. This diversion limited Axis capacity on other fronts.
What catastrophic event during the occupation resulted from a German blockade and led to widespread famine?
Athens Starvation Revolt
Thermopylae Disaster
Great Famine of 1941 - 42
Black Winter Massacre
The Great Famine of 1941 - 42 was caused by Axis requisitioning and blockade of food shipments. Hundreds of thousands of Greeks died or were severely malnourished.
Which major urban uprising took place in Athens as German forces began to withdraw in October 1944?
Crete revolt
Rhodes insurrection
Athens uprising
Thessaloniki rebellion
In October 1944, Athens residents and resistance fighters rose up against the last German garrisons. This uprising accelerated the city's liberation.
What was the name of the small EKKA military unit known for fighting in Central Greece?
Greek Sacred Band
1st Mountain Brigade
5/42 Evzone Regiment
2nd Greek Paratroop Battalion
EKKA formed the 5/42 Evzone Regiment, a guerrilla unit active in Central Greece. It clashed occasionally with both Axis forces and rival guerrilla groups.
How did Greek resistance sabotage of railways influence Axis operations in North Africa?
Forced Italy to withdraw from the war
Disrupted supplies to Axis forces in North Africa
Had no significant impact
Facilitated Allied invasions in Sicily
Sabotage of rail lines hindered Axis logistics moving fuel and provisions from Greece through the Balkans to North Africa. This contributed to supply shortages for Rommel's forces.
How did the Kalavryta massacre in December 1943 affect subsequent resistance tactics?
It caused all partisan units to concentrate in urban centers.
It made resistance groups rely solely on Allied regular armies.
It led guerrillas to adopt smaller, decentralized cells to protect civilians.
It resulted in a complete halt of sabotage operations.
The harsh reprisals in Kalavryta demonstrated the risk to villages, prompting partisans to use smaller, mobile units and minimize civilian exposure. This decentralization became a hallmark of later operations.
By late 1943, the strength of Greek partisan forces influenced German strategic decisions. Which was one such decision?
Diverting additional divisions to Greece instead of reinforcing the Eastern Front.
Signing an armistice with Greece.
Requesting Turkish assistance against partisans.
Converting all naval bases to Luftwaffe airfields.
Strong guerrilla activity forced Germany to commit more troops to occupation duty in Greece, reducing reinforcements sent to critical fronts like the Eastern Front.
What was the name of the December 1944 armed confrontation in Athens between ELAS and British-backed forces?
Ermoupoli Crisis
Dekemvriana
Varkiza Agreement
Athens Protocol
Dekemvriana refers to the clashes in Athens in December 1944 between ELAS and British-supported government units. It marked the opening of the post-occupation political struggle that led to civil war.
Which social group formed the backbone of many rural guerrilla detachments in Greek resistance movements?
Urban industrial workers
Foreign volunteers
Landless peasants and shepherds
Monarchist aristocrats
Rural guerrilla bands were largely composed of landless peasants, shepherds, and small farmers who knew the terrain. Their local knowledge and motivation were vital to sustaining operations.
The temporary cooperation between EAM and EDES during Operation Harling foreshadowed which post-war Greek issue?
A long-lasting left-right alliance
Immediate reunification of all guerrilla groups
Political fragmentation leading to civil war
Unanimous support for monarchy restoration
Despite collaboration in Harling, deep ideological divisions remained between communist-led EAM and republican EDES. These fractures later erupted into the Greek Civil War.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse major events and figures in the WWII Greek resistance.
  2. Identify key operations and tactics used by Greek partisans.
  3. Evaluate the impact of resistance efforts on Axis occupation policies.
  4. Demonstrate understanding of social and political drivers behind the movement.
  5. Apply insights from the Greek resistance to broader WWII contexts.
  6. Master timelines of pivotal battles and uprisings across occupied Greece.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Role of ELAS - Dive into the daring exploits of the Greek People's Liberation Army, the backbone of guerrilla resistance against Axis occupation from 1942 to 1944. ELAS coordinated hit-and-run attacks in rugged mountains and inspired everyday Greeks to stand up for freedom. Britannica: Greek Civil War
  2. Operation Harling - Learn how British SOE agents teamed up with Greek partisans in November 1942 to blow up the Gorgopotamos viaduct, severing vital enemy supply lines. This bold mission showcased international collaboration and guerrilla ingenuity at its finest. Wikipedia: Operation Harling
  3. Battle of Fardykambos - March 1943 saw Greek fighters ambush Italian reinforcements and capture hundreds of troops, sending a powerful message to occupiers. This surprising victory boosted morale and proved that coordinated resistance could shake up the front lines. Wikipedia: Battle of Fardykambos
  4. Battle of Amfilochia - In July 1944, ELAS commandos executed a series of guerrilla strikes against German garrisons around Amfilochia. Their swift, small-unit tactics disrupted enemy patrols and demonstrated the art of modern irregular warfare. Wikipedia: Battle of Amfilochia
  5. Dekemvriana Clashes - December 1944 turned Athens into a battleground as ELAS and government forces clashed in the streets, setting the stage for the Greek Civil War. Studying these urban skirmishes reveals how political tensions can ignite rapid escalation. Wikipedia: Dekemvriana
  6. SOE Support - The British Special Operations Executive played a pivotal role by supplying weapons, training, and sabotage planning to Greek resistance cells. Their covert operations combined espionage and explosive tactics to keep Axis forces off-balance. Wikipedia: SOE Operations
  7. Social & Political Factors - Discover how economic hardship, occupation brutality, and a yearning for self-determination fueled widespread support for resistance groups. Grassroots organization and political ideology blended on mountain slopes and city streets alike. Britannica: Greek Civil War
  8. Resistance Timeline - Trace the chronology of key uprisings, from early sabotage raids to large-scale operations, and see how each event influenced the next. A clear timeline helps students connect localized victories to broader strategic shifts. Wikipedia: Greek Resistance
  9. Impact on Axis Policies - Guerrilla warfare and repeated sabotage forced occupiers to divert troops to anti-partisan duties, stretching their resources thin. Explore how these disruptions shaped German and Italian occupation strategies. Wikipedia: Operation Animals
  10. Broader WWII Context - Place the Greek resistance within the grand narrative of World War II and understand how local heroes aided the Allied push toward victory. These lessons reveal the power of popular movements in global conflicts. Britannica: World War II
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