The Greek revolutionary war ended, and the first few years found the young nation in a state of flux and uncertainty, and with a never-ending barrage of political infighting and controversies.  The Greeks for sure had won their freedom and independence, but were still learning how to build and maintain a coherent state. The placement of Kapodistrias as Governor was not well-received by everyone.  The very first capital of the new nation was Aegina, where Kapodistrias visited.  Soon after, the capital relocated to the city of Nafplion.  Greece then introduced its first-ever currency, the Phoenix.       

With the Cretan war for independence as a catalyst (in 1897), a new conflict broke out between Greece and the Ottoman Empire.  The Ottomans rightfully sensed the Greek military’s top brass’ intent to intervene on Crete’s behalf, and declared war on Greece. Greece’s military effort here was stamped out, and was forced to sign a truce with their adversary.  Already at a disadvantage, Greece, still led by Charilaos Trikoupis, fell into an economic recession (beginning in 1893) where a significant portion of the population found themselves living in poverty. 

The First Balkan War, which started on October 4th 1912, pitted the Ottoman army against the Christian populations of the region, who rioted and protested claiming their religious, political and territorial rights. 

While Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria came out on top in their unified campaign against their common aggressor, the agenda by the Bulgarians to take a larger share of land caused Greece and Serbia to join in a defensive front and to secure their existing borders.

Greece’s entry into the fray that was The First World War came as a result of more political and social upheaval, with Prime Minister Venizelos on the one hand throwing his support behind the Entente (Allies) of Great Britain, France and Russia, while King Constantine did not want his country to get enmeshed in yet another military mess, especially one against Germany. 

With the enforcement and implementation of the Treaty of Sevres, which established Greek rights over parts of Asia Minor (especially Smyrna), and with the influence of Venizelos’ Great Idea, Greece’s expansionist plans were coming to life, and they began to think they could acquire more lands than what was already granted them by the treaty of 1920.

August 15th, 1940: The torpedoing of the Greek frigate Elli in the harbor of Tinos, by an Italian submarine, triggered the start of the Greek - Italian War during World War II.  

Despite a valiant resistance, which lasted 216 days (in 1941) by the vastly outnumbered Greeks, they finally succumbed under the stronger German, Italian and Bulgarian forces. 

The Greek people showed early on that they were going to fight against the occupation each and every day.  This was demonstrated by their revolutionary past and continued struggle through tumultuous times.  

The liberation of Greece was followed by the return of George Papandreou to power but also brought “Dekemvriana”; the crisis that broke out on December 3rd of 1944.  This concerned the issue of disarmament of the Greek rebel groups that were active all these years.