National Organization of Crete

The National Organization of Crete (Greek: Εθνική Οργάνωση Κρήτης, abbreviated EOK) was an organization established in Crete by British Intelligence during the Axis occupation of Greece in World War II. EOK, predominantly Venizelist in sympathy and with members ranging from centre-left to right-wing, was meant to act as a counterweight to the pro-communist EAM resistance organization.^[1] EOK evolved from the secret organization AEAK (Greek: Ανώτατη Επιτροπή Αγώνα Κρήτης, "Supreme Committee of Cretan Struggle"), that was established in Chania on June 15, 1941.^[2] AEAK was founded a mere two weeks after the end of the Battle of Crete by patriots Andreas Papadakis, Ioannis Paizis, Andreas Polentas, Titos Georgiadis and Ioannis Ioannidis.^[3] It was the first armed resistance group in Greece, intending to organize an intelligence network and perform sabotage against German occupation forces. During the first months following its establishment, AEAK was based at Colonel Papadakis' house in Vourvoures, near Kallikratis.^[4] However, a dispute between the Greeks and the British over its aims and leadership resulted in its disintegration and the formation of EOK.

Despite their ideological differences, EAM and EOK agreed to sign non-aggression pacts during the meetings of Theriso and Tromarissa. These agreements were generally kept and allowed Crete to remain largely unaffected by the civil war between leftists and rightists that broke out in mainland Greece after the withdrawal of German occupation forces.

References

1. ^ Συνέντευξη Γ. Χριστοδουλάκη στην εκπομπή "Ρεπορτάζ Χωρίς Σύνορα" με θέμα "Η Ελλάδα του Χίτλερ", 25 October 2007
2. ^ Η ίδρυση της Α.Ε.Α.Κ.: «Πρωτόκολλον τιμής και θυσίας δια την απελευθέρωσιν της Κρήτης μας», Πατρίς onLine, 10 Μαΐου 2010
3. ^ Εορτασμός της Εθνικής Αντίστασης 1941-1945, Χανιώτικα Νέα, 25/11/08
4. ^ Beevor, Antony. Crete: The Battle and the Resistance, John Murray Ltd, 1991. Penguin Books, 1992.