Customer Reviews

Modern Greeks: Greece in World War II: The German Occupation and National Resistance and Civil War

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I'm not sure what the agenda of the previous reviewer may be, but I am sure that I got a lot out of this book. Contrary to statements about the inadequacy of the research this excellently written, attractively produced and affordably priced book is a "must" reading for every Greek American and, indeed, anyone interested in historical truth, human values, freedom and democracy. It tells the story of the contributions of the modern Greeks to these values during the decade of the 1940s. It is a story of triumph and glory, but also a story of pain, suffering and internal conflicts.

Though mostly a personal account of first-hand knowledge and experience intended for the average reader, the present book is one of the most authoritative works written about modern Greece, its role is World War II, the Nazi and Fascist occupations of Greece, its national resistance movement and the ensuing conflicts, or the Civil War of 1944 to 1949. The decade of the 1940s saw Greece climbing a Golgotha, making a sacrifice of nearly 700,000 of its people against the evil forces of fascism, nazism, and communism.

The author was an eyewitness to and a participant in many of the events he describes. He began his career as an academician, served as a journalist and publisher of newspapers, and worked actively in the resistance movement. Furthermore he himself experienced the brutality and horrors of the German occupation and German camp atrocities. First he was captured by the Gestapo, imprisoned in a concentration camp in Attica and soon after he was sent to Newgamnen and Beendorf concentration camps in Germany.

Following the liberation of Greece, he became General Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and served the country in several other capacities. Though he uses important archival materials and sound bibliographies, as an insider he writes with impartiality and sensitivity. The first part of his book reminded me of O Polemos tes Hellados 1940-1941 (The Greek War of 1940-1941) by Alexandros Papagos which I had read a few weeks before I received the Stassinopoulos's book. While Papagos provides step by step chronicle of the events leading to the Italian invasion and the Greek resistance during the 1940-1941 period, Stassinopoulos presents a wholistic picture of the 1940-1949 events.

As a fellow Greek-American and student of the Greek Civil War, I must say that this book only perpetuates a number inaccurate popular myths about this difficult and still controversial time in modern Greek history.

There is no true bibliography and many of the authors assumptions and historical assessments appear to be based on speeches and memoirs of only a few people (including Churchill's memoirs, considered by most historians to be of questionable historical value).

If you are truly interested learning more on the subject, I strongly recommend David Close's book "The Greek Civil War" or Mark Mazower's "Inside Hitler's Greece". Both books do a great job of cutting through the political rhetoric which taints many other works of modern Greek history.

To anyone who is interested in learning more about Greek history during the period of the 1940's, this book is a must read!

The writer (Costa Stassinopoulos) begins with the turmoil of pre-war politics and the instability that was prevelant in Greece at the time. He then continues an exciting ride through the Italian ultimatum (the OHI / OXH) and how the Greeks fought and actually repelled their invaders. He then continues to write in detail regarding the following German invasion with first hand accounts; some of which included his capture, torture and incarceration in several German concentration camps.

Costa finally writes about one of the most controversial subjects of Greek modern history, the Greek Civil War. There are many misconceptions, erroneous judgements and outright lies regarding this period. Usually this subject is expounded from an English, US or royalist perspective. It is refreshing to read about this subject from an honest GREEK perspective.

In every instance Costa brings a well balanced, honest and factual account of this period of Greek history. In summary, I would highly recommend this book to foreign and Greek reader alike.

A great buy!!

Excellent Book! Never mind the foregoing reviewer, they have an agenda of some kind. The book addresses a topic mostly ignored by modern historians: Modern Greece. It is a well-researched book which sets the historical record straight. If you are even the slightest bit interested in Modern Greek history, this book will definitely make for good (if not engrossing) reading. I highly recommend this book.