Η ΕΟΝ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΟΛΕΜΟ ΤΟΥ 1940 ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΜΕΤΑΣΧΗΜΑΤΙΣΜΟΙ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΤΟΧΗ: ΑΠΟ ΤΗ ΔΡΑΣΗ ΣΤΑ ΜΕΤΟΠΙΣΘΕΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΗ

Abstract

During the Greco-Italian War in 1940, the efforts of those behind the front lines played a

crucial role in supporting greek military operations. The National Youth Organisation

(EON) quickly adjusted to the demands of war and undertook key initiatives, such as

collecting supplies, assisting those affected by the conflict, the families of soldiers and

promoting patriotic unity by activating society towards a common goal. However, after

the death of Ioannis Metaxas in 1941 and the dissolution of EON, the situation that

followed brought new challenges. The weakening of state control during the Axis

Occupation allowed new resistance organizations to emerge. These groups differed

significantly from EON, as joining them was not a result of coercion, but a matter of

personal and political choice. These new resistance movements reflected the conflicting

political orientations of Greek youth at that time. Some former members of EON

remained loyal to the nationalist ideals of the Metaxas regime, while others – who had

hidden their communism ideals during the dictatorship – joined in same ideologist

resistance groups. Despite their ideological differences, they were united by a common

goal: to resist the foreign occupiers and fight for national freedom.

Λέξεις-κλειδιά: Εθνική Οργάνωση Νεολαίας (ΕΟΝ), Ελληνοϊταλικός πόλεμος, Ιωάννης

Μεταξάς, Αντίσταση, Κατοχή