In the early hours of Monday, December 4, a very important event occurred, the significance of which was clearly not understood by the EAM-ELAS leadership. The 2nd Regiment of ELAS, which had come - on foot of course - from Hasia, had camped in N. Psychiko. Fatigue, cold and reckless confidence contributed to poor guarding of the area. So his men found themselves - without knowing it - under the guns of the British paratroopers. They surrendered, disarmed and were released. ELAS had lost around 800 fighters without "opening its nose"!
OF ELIAS DALOUMI
When dawn broke, the funerals of the victims of the previous day took place, without clashes or other major incidents. However, the scene changed in the evening, when the ELAS attacks began, on almost all the buildings where there were Police and Gendarmerie forces. Most of them were successful but in essence they were nothing more than a waste of forces, ammunition and – perhaps most importantly – acts of revenge. Most of the police officers who surrendered were executed in cold blood, and in several cases, after torture.
The same situation continues the next day. In practice, the government only controls a few blocks around the Constitution. From Parapygmata (Music Hall) to Syntagma and Zappeion. Towards Omonia, its sovereignty was limited between the Stadium and the Academy. Solonos Street was a dead zone. This was all "Skobia", as the EAM called the area.
Winston Churchill sends a telegram to Lieutenant General Scobie, giving him the freedom to act against EAM-ELAS. Among other things he will say to him:"... But you must not hesitate to act as if you were in a conquered city where it has revolted...". A phrase that shows the determination of the British government and that left-wing historiography will use as a "flag" in the recounting of the Decemberists. Otherwise, the essential difference of the day is that the 3rd EOT entered the battle.
If until now the conflicts could be characterized as isolated incidents and skirmishes. From the 6th of the month, normal military operations take place. ELAS begins the attack against the Gendarmerie barracks in Makrygiannis (next to the current Acropolis Museum). The British invade the offices of the EAM on Korai Street and the 3rd EOT begins operations towards Zografou and Kaisariani, which it successfully completes. The British carry out a clearing operation in Plaka and gain control of the Acropolis and Lycabettus.
In the next three days the situation remains unchanged. Churchill is worried and orders forces to be transferred to Athens from Italy and the Middle East. The RAF intervenes. Spitfires from Elliniko hit the area between the hill of Ardittos and Agios Ioannis (at the beginning of Vouliagmeni. The 3rd EOT has reached the cemetery of Zografou, the Red Cross and the beginning of Mesogeion.
On the 10th and 11th of the month, the most important operations take place around the Evelpidon School (today's Courts). Spitfire and Beaufighter involved. This is how it is approached by British trucks, which, accompanied by chariots, pick up the besieged. In a meeting, the criticality of the situation is established and a proposal is made to evacuate Athens, with the intention of maintaining a bridgehead in Piraeus and Faliro, from where a counterattack will be made when reinforcements arrive.
The commander of the 3rd EOT Colonel Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos (1897–1989) flatly refuses to do such a thing. The same position is taken by General (General) Sir Harold Alexander, Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean, who arrived by air from Italy. He will depart the next day having promised Scobie reinforcements and been promoted to Field Marshal.
Meanwhile, parts of the 5th Indian Brigade with battalions of Gurkhas and Baluchis have landed in Piraeus, and are proceeding to occupy it. The ELAS attacks on the Vati palace have no effect. Aid has also come for ELAS, but it has not been able to take advantage of the situation in its favor so far.
The twist
Since ELAS did not manage to win the battle of the Decembrians until December 11, it was certain that it would lose it. However, this was not understood by the leadership of the KKE, which was the driving force of the EAM. One of the first actions of the British was to send Lieutenant-General Sir John Ledlie Inglis Hawkesworth as chief of the war-expert staff. The Military Command Athens was created, which assumed responsibility for the operations.
Scobie retains his position although he has essentially been sidelined. His inability to handle the case and his proposal to evacuate Athens were decisive. He will remain in Greece until the end of August 1945, when he will demobilize, without ever getting the rank of general.
New British forces continually arriving enabled the government to continually expand the area they controlled. The fighting certainly continues to be deadly and the casualties to increase. ELAS' support from the province does not achieve anything. Not only is the situation not reversed, but it is not even balanced. The blowing up of buildings by ELAS has impressive results but nothing substantial. The government officials are constantly advancing.
Then begins the use of the men of the notorious Security Battalions. In need of forces, the Greek government had started the formation of the National Guard Battalions. As a matter of fact, their manhood was problematic. This is how it is decided to use those who served in the Security Battalions. From Goudi where they were confined, they were taken to Parapegmata where they changed their uniforms, got a weapon and assumed duty. Being of little or non-existent fighting capacity, they were not used on the front line but in policing duties in the areas that had been cleared by the British or 3rd EOT.
The big event is certainly Churchill's arrival in Athens on Christmas Day. He is joined by Foreign Minister Antoni Eden (prime minister 1955–1957) and Alexander. In a meeting held in Elliniko, apart from the newcomers, of course, the Under Secretary of State for the Mediterranean Harold Macmillan (prime minister 1957–1963) and the British ambassador to Greece Sir Reginald Wilding Allen Leeper participate. Alexander analyzes the situation and assures Churchill that the situation is now much better and there is no danger of a coup. But it will take a fight for the ceasefire.
The next day there is a meeting at the British embassy in Athens. Present were those mentioned above plus:Archbishop Damascenes (presided), Prime Minister (resigned) George Papandreou, General Nikolaos Plastiras (just arrived from France), Themistocles Sofoulis, Dimitrios Maximos and George Kafantaris. American Ambassador Lincoln Mac Veagh and Soviet Union representative Lt. Col. Popov also participated. The EAM representatives arrived late. They were Giorgis Siantos (General Secretary of KKE), Mitsos Partsalidis (General Secretary of EAM) and Manolis Mantakas (Lieutenant General, member of the EAM Committee).
Churchill spoke first, who emphatically stated that British troops are in Greece with the agreement of President Roosevelt and Marshal Stalin. Then the foreigners withdrew and left the Greeks to discuss. The discussion ended nowhere as the representatives of the KKE/EAM did not show the slightest inclination to find a solution. Perhaps the only historical element worth talking about is Plastira's phrase to his fellow countryman Siado "kats' kat' zagar"... The meeting is repeated the next day with exactly the same...no results.
Government forces – British and Greek – are making slow but steady progress. All ELAS counterattacks fail. On December 30, it is announced that Archbishop Damascenes takes over as Regent. Churchill, although a staunch supporter of the monarchy, had found that George II was part of the problem and was not acceptable to the non-EAM political world.
We have a small respite from the battles in the New Year. On January 3, Nikolaos Plastiras is sworn in as Prime Minister. On the 5th, ELAS has left Athens and Piraeus and is trying to stay on the line Elefsina – Aspropyrgos – Menidi – Tatoi – Ag. Stephanos. RAF planes are literally mowing down the ELAS forces in the open field.
On the afternoon of Sunday, January 7, a representative of ELAS will appear at the British lines - holding a white flag. He is led to Scobie, to whom he delivers a note from Yiannis Zevgos (member of the PG KKE and KE EAM. His real name was Yiannis Talaganis). With which he requested a "cease of hostilities". Scobie replies that he is ready to discuss provided the EAM representatives are fully empowered.
Over the next two days, the retreat of ELAS continues, while the representatives of the Central Committee of the EAM arrive at Scobie's headquarters. On January 11, an armistice is signed. For the government forces Scobie signed. For the EAM, Yiannis Zevgos, Mitsos Partsalidis, Thodoros Makridis and Thanasis Athinelis (the last two had the rank of major in the Greek Army until 1941). The Decembers were practically over. The formal end will be marked by the signing of the Varkiza Agreement. A month later.