Kingdom of Greece

Kingdom of Greece

---

Capital:

Athens

---

Government type:

Non-Aligned, Centrism

---

Faction:

Neutral

Greece is a minor European country located in the southern Balkans. Placed at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Greece holds a strategic location that every alliance would benefit from controlling. It has a long coastline and mainly mountainous terrain. In game, the nation is more or less comparable in military strength, infrastructure and technology to the Balkan nations, but greatly below from the standards of the major European powers.

Historical Background

The Kingdom of Greece under the 4th of August regime led by Ioannis Metaxas would see Italian expansionism creep to its borders in the form of  Italy's annexation of  Albania in 1939. Mussolini, envisioning an Italian puppet in Greece, sent Metaxas an ultimatum in late 1940, which called for Italian troops to occupy unspecified strategic positions in Greece. Metaxas is popularly reputed to reply with one word: "No." However, historical consensus states that he most likely said "Then, it's war."

Italian troops invaded Greece via Albania in October of 1940, but by November unexpectedly stiff resistance from the Greek Army turned the invasion into a humiliating disaster. In late November, the Greeks counterattacked, pushing the Italians back into Albania. Greek forces soon invaded Albania in December, but would later stop advancing and hold positions at key defending positions by January 1941 due to dangerously low supplies. The front would largely remain unchanged, save for another failed Italian offensive in March 1941. Greece would ultimately fall when  Germany, fearful of substantial  United Kingdom intervention in the conflict, launched its own invasion from  Bulgaria on 6 April, 1941. German troops after three days of fight encountered fierce resistance and had little success breaching the undermanned Metaxas Line defending the Bulgarian border. Finally,German forces bypassed the Metaxas fortifications and crossed the Yugoslavian borders, overcame Yugoslav and Greek resistance and captured Thessaloniki on the 9th of April. The capture of Thessaloniki forced the defenders to surrender on the 10th of April and the Metaxas Line battle was over. Axis forces poured into the country. By 27 April, Athens had fallen, and by the end of the month the entire Greek mainland was captured. Crete fell a week later.

From 1941 to 1944, Greece would be occupied mainly by German forces, constantly under harassment by the Greek Resistance, one of the most successful resistance movements of the war. In October 1944, German troops finally withdrew from the country as the  Soviet Union invaded the Balkans, in an effort to avoid being cut off. By the end of the war, Greece was devastated. Most of its infrastructure, as well as 8% of its 7 million people had died. Famine was a possibility, and the Greek Jewish population was almost totally annihilated. A civil war erupted in 1946 between the Communists and monarchists, resulting in a monarchist victory in 1949.

Events

Main article: Greek events

Politics

Ideology

Greece starts 1936 as a non-aligned country with the next election to be held in January 1936. Elections are held annually. The ruling party is the authoritarian Laïkòn Kómma Party, led by Konstantinos Demertzis.

National Spirits

Greece starts with six national spirits with the Battle for the Bosporus expansion enabled. Otherwise it starts with none.

George II

• Stability: -5.00%
• Daily Support for Unaligned: +0.01

George II is the unpopular King of the Hellenes, having been restored to the throne from exile in 1935 thanks to a rigged plebiscite. He is determined to keep his throne this time.

Debt to the I.F.C.

• Consumer Goods Factories: 15.0%
• Stability: -10.00%

Greece is heavily indebted to the International Financial Commission, a once influential organization now chaired only by the United Kingdom, France, and Italy. Despite the bloated state of the I.F.C., the countries attached still desire their debts from Greece to be paid in full - meaning that until we've paid our debts, or escaped them some other way, the I.F.C. has us by the purse strings.

Foreign Monopolies

• Consumer Goods Factories: 20.0%
• Trade deal opinion factor: +25.00%
• Economy Laws Cost: +25%
• Trade Laws Cost: +25%

Our dependence on the heavy industries of foreign powers has left many of our developing sectors firmly in the hands of powerful companies answerable only to foreign governments. We cannot expect to fully ramp up our modernization process until we either strike a deal with these monopolies or we permanently give them the boot from our country.

Schachtplan

• Consumer Goods Factories: -10.0%
• Resources to Market: +30%
• Civilian factory construction speed: +15.00%
• Economy Laws Cost: +25%
• Trade Laws Cost: +25%

The brainchild of German economist Hjalmar Schacht, the Schachtplan guarantees Greek access to German markets in exchange for increased imports of raw materials from Greece to Germany. The Germans have been generously keeping us afloat, and yet we may have fallen right into their trap by becoming so dependent on their generosity.

Political Instability

• Political Power Gain: -15%

---

• The Republicans are Hostile.
  • Effects: Stability: -15%
• The Communists are Hostile.
  • Effects: Stability: -15%
• The Fascists are Inconsequential.
  • Effects: No effect.

Between 1924 and 1935 we have had twenty three changes of government, thirteen coups, and a dictatorship! The people have had enough and are ready for some stability in their government, but they also remain cautiously skeptical about the odds of any one government surviving very long. We must prove them wrong and bring an end to the constant infighting by bringing our political foes to heel.

Agrarian Society

• Recruitable Population Factor: -45%
• Factory Output: -30.00%

Greece has traditionally relied on agriculture and light industry with commercial products like tobacco being Greece's primary export. Our reliance on more traditional forms of manufacturing have made us dependent on the heavy industry of larger powers for construction projects. Conflict is brewing, and we need to innovate - fast.

Political parties

Political parties, 1936

Id.	Party name	Popularity	Leader	Ruling
	Fileleftheron	43.00%	Eleftherios Venizelos
	Kommounistikó Kómma Elládas	17.00%	Nikos Zachariadis
	Elliniko Ethniko Sosialistiko Komma	2.00%	George Mercouris
	Laïkòn Kómma	38.00%	Konstantinos Demertzis

Political parties, 1939

Id.	Party name	Popularity	Leader	Ruling
	Fileleftheron	10.00%	Themistoklis Sofoulis
	Kommounistikó Kómma Elládas	26.00%	Nikos Zachariadis
	Elliniko Ethniko Sosialistiko Komma	22.00%	George Mercouris
	Kathestós Metaxá	42.00%	Ioannis Metaxas

Diplomacy

Greece has a claim on the  Albanian state of Northern Epirus and a core on  Italian held Dodecanese.  Bulgaria on its part has claims οn Greek-owned Thrace and Central Macedonia. As a result, relations with these three countries are negative.

Greece isn't a member of any alliance, although it begins the game guaranteed by  Romania. The A.I. tends to join the Allies when Italy launches an invasion against them with the "War with Greece" focus.

Economy

Laws

Conscription Law	Economy Law	Trade Law
Limited Conscription 2.5% Recruitable population	Civilian Economy 35% Consumer Goods factories –30% Factory construction speed +30% Factory (type) conversion cost –40% Fuel gain per oil –25% Fuel capacity	Export Focus 50% Resources to market +5% Research speed +10% Factory/Dockyard output +10% Construction speed +20% Civilian intelligence to others +10% Navy intelligence to others

Resources

Oil	Rubber	Steel	Aluminum	Tungsten	Chromium
0	0	22	42	14	56

For its small size and limited industry Greece has an access to substantial resources. Its steel, aluminum and tungsten mines will ensure that early arms production demands are met, as well as capital ships and advanced tanks in late game. In the early game Greece exports many resources to several non-aligned countries around the world, like Argentina or China, and therefore gains some precious civilian factories. At game start Greece has only 10 convoys available.

Industry

2 Military Factories	2 Naval Dockyard	7 Civilian Factories

By 1936 the Greek industry is rather small and is not capable of meeting excessive military demands. This lack of factories is one of the first things the player must handle. There are only 12 empty building slots across the country.

National focus

Greek national focus tree.

Main article: Greek national focus tree

 Greece gets a unique national focus tree as part of the Battle for the Bosporus expansion. Without the expansion, Greece utilizes the Generic national focus tree.

The Greek national focus tree can be divided into 4 branches and 6 sub-branches:

Bring Home the Exiled Republicans Branch

This branch allows  Greece to form a Democratic, Byzantine or Communist government.

• Compromise with the Monarchists Sub-branch

This sub-branch forms a Democratic government in  Greece, Create  Hellas or recreate the  Byzantine Empire and turn Fascist.

• Request Communist Support Sub-branch

This sub-branch allows  Greece to form a Communist government, ally with the  Soviet Union to start a border conflict for the Bosporus or go their own way and incite a communist rebellion in  Yugoslavia

The King's Government Branch

This branch allows  Greece to make George II an absolute Monarch with threat of civil war or have Metaxas take control of the government.

• Use the Military Sub-branch

This Non-aligned sub-branch allows  Greece to make alliances with the Central Powers or the Allies, achieve Enosis with  Cyprus and form  Macedonian Empire with George II.

• An Orthodox State Sub-branch

These focuses upgrade the Metaxism national spirit and are required if the player wants to keep it.

• Recruit the Fascists Sub-branch

This Fascist sub-branch allows  Greece to make alliances with the Axis, and form  Macedonian Empire with George Mercouris or  Hellas with Ioannis Metaxas.

• The Four Year Plan Sub-branch

This sub-branch allows  Greece to negotiate with foreign major powers and upgrade the Schachtplan.

Devaluating the Drachma Branch

This branch helps pay foreign debts, increase industry, cooperate or crack down on foreign monopolies and focus on either industrializing or sticking with Greece's agrarian society.

Hellenic Armed Forces Branch

This branch expands military technology and gives mountain training bonuses to infantry units.

Military

Greece is a small state and so its starting military isn't anything special. The army is smaller than its neighbours’  Turkey and  Yugoslavia, and only a fraction of the size of the major powers' armies. Furthermore, the country's extensive coastline, borders and, more importantly, the proximity of two major powers could force the army to stretch its lines thin. The navy is technologically outdated but larger than the Turkish and Yugoslavian counterpart. Nevertheless, it's hopelessly small against the Italian Regia Marina or the British Mediterranean Fleet, both potential enemies. Greece posesses a small airforce, but if used right it can compete with the airforces of  Yugoslavia,  Bulgaria,  Romania and  Turkey. The Greek population is just 6.27 million and the manpower reserves by 1936 are completely empty.

To Greece's advantage, its terrain is mountainous and ideal for defence. Minor forts in the mountainous borders would prove very valuable and give invading armies a hard time, especially to enemy armor. This is a good choice for an outnumbered player on the defensive.

Army

1936 state:

9Infantry Divisions

3 Mountain Divisions

1Cavalry Division

Total: 13 divisions | Manpower Used: 78.11k

Twelve of these divisions are located on the Greek mainland, with the last located on the island of Crete. The infantry divisions (Trigonikó Pezikoú) are relatively large in size, with 9 infantry battalions each, while the mountain divisions (Tetrágono Pezikoú) have 8; the one cavalry division (Merarchía Ippikoú) has 6 cavalry battalions. The army at 1936 suffers nonetheless of a shortage of around 70 artillery, 6000 infantry equipment and 190 support equipment.

Alternative Division Names:

• Infantry Division: Merarchia Pezikou
• Cavalry: Merarchia Ippikou
• Mountaineers: Oreini Merarchia Pezikou
• Marines: Merarchia Pezonafton
• Airborne/Parachute Division: Aerometaferomeini Merachia
• Motorized: Mechanopoiemeni Merarchia Pezikou
• Mechanized: Mechanokineti Merarchia Pezikou
• Armored Division: Tethorakismeni Merarchia
• National Guard Brigade: Taxiarchia Ethnofrouras

Navy

1936 state:

Capital ships 1936 1 Heavy Cruiser Screens and Submarines 1936 1 Light Cruiser 8 Destroyers 6 Submarines

Ship classes of the Royal Hellenic Navy
Type	Class	Amount	In Production	Hull
CA	Averof Class	1		Heavy Cruiser I
CL	Elli Class	1		Light Cruiser I
DD	Hydra Class	4		Destroyer I
DD	Aetos Class	4		Destroyer I
SS	Katsonis Class	6		Submarine I

Total: 16 Vessels

Manpower used: 5.6k

The Royal War Navy (Vasilikó Polemikó Naftikó) is a small force of only limited use. Though by 1936 is the largest of the Balkan nations, the Greek navy is dwarfed by the unmatched maritime strength of  Italy and the  United Kingdom.

Air Force

1936 state:

Greece starts with 26 interwar fighters and 71 interwar bombers.

Manpower used: 3.36k

Technology

Greece starts with 3 research slots.

Army technology	Naval technology	Air technology	Electronics & Industry
Basic Eq. Mountain Infantry I Recon Company I Engineer Company I Towed Artillery I	1936 Destroyer Hull Early Cruiser Hull Basic Cruiser Armour Scheme Early Heavy Ship Hull Submarine I 1936 Submarine Hull Basic Torpedo Naval Gunnery Casemate Secondary Battery Transport Ship Contact Mine Minelaying Submarine	Interwar Fighter Interwar Bomber	Synthetic Oil Experiments
Doctrines
Trench Warfare	None	None

Cosmetic names

Greece has a number of unique names and appearances for its military equipment, listed here. Note that generic names are not listed.

Infantry tech

Type	1918	1936	1938	1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944
Infantry Equipment	Mannlicher M03	Mannlicher M95/24		EYP Hotchkiss M26			EPK-Pyrkal SMG

Strategies and guides

The below is one of many player suggested strategies for Kingdom of Greece. Bear in mind, due to the dynamic nature of the game, it may unfold differently for other players.

Forming Byzantium

As Greece, boost popularity of Fascism or Communism. As soon as Greece changes ideology, justify and declare war against Bulgaria. After Bulgaria capitulates, justify against Turkey. Prepare against naval invasions because Turkey will have a slightly stronger navy than Greece. It may be easier to use the Bulgarian land to encircle the Turkish army. Once the bulk of the Turkish army is encircled and overrun, push through Anatolia and the Bosporus Strait.

An alternative way to capitulate Turkey is to simply let them bleed out against you - using Thrace, position your units there, but do not advance forwards, and set your navy to Strike Force to ensure that the Turks or Romanians cannot perform Naval Invasions. Let the Turks continue to try and break through; eventually, they will stop. Advance through, leaving some forces to prevent the Turks from rushing into the mainland, and stop at Istanbul. Mop up the trapped Turkish Forces, and then retreat to Alexandroupoli, allowing the Turks to retake everything else. Repeat until the Turks stop reclaiming the land. Then, advance into mainland Turkey, and spread out.

After Turkey capitulates, prepare for war against Italy and the Axis. Italy will be annexing Albania and Yugoslavia and will soon be going to war with Greece via their national focus. It is recommended to not join the Allies. This is in case some of the territory required falls to the Soviets. A while later, Romania will join the Axis as well. It may be beneficial if land forts are placed on the border from Albania to Romania. Wait it out until the Germans declare against the Soviets. Join the Comintern when this happens. With Soviet help, it may be easier to push against the Axis. Make the push for the required states. If the Soviets take required Romanian states, give states that are not needed and ask for control for the required states. As soon as the required states are in Greek control, click the Restore Byzantium decision.

Forming Hellas

As Greece, go democratic and get monarchist’s support. Quickly go down to the Gordian knot, and attack Turkey, don’t do this too late because the French may not be able to help. The British will most likely naval invade from the south as the French attack from the behind. March through Thrace while the Turkish are fighting on the opposite side, do not forget to defend the islands as they can march through them. After getting past Istanbul, there will be many mountains, so remember to put mountaineers into Antolia. Accept all lend leases as Greece cannot have many factories. Advance towards Ankara and once past Ankara attack the remaining Turkish troops as the French and British should have overwhelmed them.

Once done with Turkey, focus on removing debt and expanding industry, instead of paying off debt renege on debt with Italy, and renegotiate debt with France, then pay off British debt. By now you are at war with the axis, push into Albania and naval invade Italy which should knock them out focus on military focuses of each of the first focus to use anti Italian and German stratergems. Build some forts in Thrace, Macedonia, and Epirus, so when the Germans come you hold a chance of defending. Defend until the United States comes to help. The British will not have any other fronts and will help too.

Achievements

Bad Romeance

Restore Byzantium and have Italy, Romania, and Russia as subjects.

Freedom or Death

As Greece, liberate Albania while being at war with Italy.

Hellenic Civility

Win the Greek Civil War before 1937.

I Captured the Bosporus and All I Got Was This Lousy Achievement

As Greece or Bulgaria, own both sides of the Bosporus. As Turkey, subjugate both Greece & Bulgaria.

Istanbul is Constantinople. Again.

As Greece, capture Istanbul and rename it to Constantinople.

I Swear I'm Not a Byzantophile

As Greece, Form Byzantine Empire.

This is Madness!

As Greece, fulfill the Megali Idea and then form Greater Greece.

Countries

Europe

Albania Austria Belgium Bulgaria Czechoslovakia Denmark Estonia Finland France Free France Vichy France German Reich Kingdom of Greece Kingdom of Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Nationalist Spain Republican Spain Romania Slovakia Soviet Union Sweden Switzerland Turkey Republic of Ukraine United Kingdom Yugoslavia

North America

Dominion of Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama United States

South America

Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Paraguay Peru Uruguay Venezuela

Asia	Afghanistan Bhutan British Malaya British Raj China Communist China Dutch East Indies Guangxi Clique Iran Iraq Japan Manchukuo Mengkukuo Mongolia Nepal Oman Philippines Saudi Arabia Shanxi Siam Sinkiang Tannu Tuva Tibet Xibei San Ma Yemen Yunnan

Africa

Angola Sultanate of Aussa Botswana Kingdom of Egypt Ethiopia Liberia South Africa

Oceania

Australia Melanesian Federation New Zealand Tahiti