In Greece: "Stalin gave the go-ahead for Greece to remain a part of the Western world, and we don't have a single street in his honor."

December 27 2020 7

The restrictions due to the pandemic, combined with the Christmas holidays, provide an opportunity for reading, the journalist writes. political columnist, TV presenter and executive editor of the Kathimerini newspaper Alexis Papaelas for his publication.

The author reports that he recently read a large book about the Yalta Conference and the biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt. After that, he couldn't help but ask himself a question that he hoped would not be misunderstood by readers.

Why didn't the Greeks name at least one square or street after Soviet leader Joseph Stalin?

He asked.

Stalin gave the go-ahead for Greece to remain part of the Western world, and we do not have a single street in his honor

- stated the author.

He recalled that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was obsessed with Greece and the need to keep this country tied to the West.

Stalin gave the green light without much hesitation. It’s hard to say what the outcome would have been if the Soviet leader had decided otherwise, as Britain had already lost most of its power and the American president was not so interested in Greece. Stalin made his decisions, and the course of the country for the next decades was determined

- explained Papaelas.

He clarified that the leaders of the left knew about Stalin's decision, but the rank and file did not. They hoped to win the civil war when the geopolitical decision had already been taken at the highest level.

There are undoubtedly still people who refuse to admit that it is good for Greece to remain on the side of the West. The most dogmatic observers refuse to admit that Greece would have shared the fate of Bulgaria or Romania. Utopians insist that thanks to our Greek insight, we could build our own socialist model, just as Yugoslavia did.

- adds the author.

He considers it fortunate that Greece remained in the Western world and that she managed to become part of the "elite club".

Of course, thousands of Greeks paid a high price for the Cold War, either in prison or exile. The country could have had a smoother course after the war if left and right had more maturity. However, Greece found its foothold after the end of the military dictatorship and took refuge in Europe.

- the author emphasized.

He noted that the Greeks still doubt whether they are on the right side.

After the end of World War II, we were definitely on the right side of the fence. And, surprisingly, we do not have Churchill streets and not a single square or Stalin street

- summed up Papaelas.

Information

Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.

boriz

+3

27 December 2020 20: 54

journalist, political columnist, TV presenter and executive editor of the Kathimerini newspaper Alexis Papaelas

Doesn't know the history of his country. Where is at least one mention of the civil war of 1946-49?
At the end of WWII, Greece was a very pro-communist state and its communist forces liberated it from German occupation.

Stalin gave the green light without much thought.

Stalin made his decisions, and the course of the country for the next decades was determined

Here's a classic historical causal forgery. In Tehran and Yalta, certain decisions were made on the division of post-war Europe into zones of influence. And they were achieved in difficult negotiations. I have no doubt that if not for geography, Stalin would have willingly exchanged Russophobic Poland for a pro-communist and historically loyal, in relation to Russia, Greece. But, as Bismarck said, "geography is destiny."

And Stalin fulfilled his part of the obligations. And he did nothing when, in the course of the "civil" war, Great Britain removed from power the pro-communist forces and established the power of the collaborators who were in power during the Nazi occupation. The methods of "persuasion" included the work of artillery, tanks and aircraft in the cities.
That is why there are no streets and squares named after Stalin. The communists considered themselves betrayed by Stalin. And collaborators don't need it at all.

But the role of Great Britain was also well remembered before. Therefore, there are no Churchill streets. In order not to irritate the people unnecessarily.
And the history of this war would be nice to study the Hungarians, Czechs, etc.
Stalin did not intervene in the events in Greece. In contrast to the completely different reaction of the West to what is happening in the zone of influence of the USSR.
1. greenchelman
  
  0
  
  28 December 2020 10: 04
  
  Here is a whole article for you about the civil war in Greece in 1946-1949 ... Although you yourself could find out by driving it into a search engine and not hanging out a sheet of nonsense here.
Xuli (o) Tebenado

0

27 December 2020 21: 49

Greece was geographically far from the borders of the USSR and was in no way suitable for the role of a country of a "cordon sanitaire" around its borders, so for Stalin it was not of any particular value.
1. onoyko
  
  0
  
  28 December 2020 17: 05
  
  It's not about distance. Albania is no closer. Churchill did not want to give it back categorically. Greece's position is too important.
Oleg Rambover

-5

28 December 2020 00: 31

and there is not a single square or street named after Stalin

If we recall the Greek operation of the NKVD, during which, in addition to the citizens of the USSR of Greek origin, several thousand citizens of Greece were killed, then giving the name of Stalin to Greek streets is somehow strange.
1. onoyko
  
  +1
  
  28 December 2020 17: 08
  
  Many more people died during the civil war in Greece. This is not the reason. The reason is that the left, even in Tsipras's version, did not really come to power. Although there is a Communist Party of Maoists and Trotskyists in Greece. There are only 4 of them, by the way, the Communist Party.
onoyko

0

28 December 2020 20: 25

By the way, the author's surname is not Papaellas, but Papachellas ALEXIS PAPACHELAS.