Relations between the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and that of Greece in the years 1943–1944

Abstract

The article analyses cooperation between Yugoslav and Greek communists during the Second World War. The aim of the study is to present the nature of these relations and to explain the reasons for the failure of attempts to establish a common military-political structure in the Balkans. The author employed the historical method based on the analysis of party documents, memoirs of resistance movement participants, and materials concerning partisan activities. The author demonstrates that a key role in establishing cooperation was played by Svetozar Vukmanović-Tempo, a delegate of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in Macedonia. One of the principal projects was the creation of a Balkan Headquarters coordinating the activities of the resistance movements of Yugoslavia, Greece, Albania, and Bulgaria. This initiative was not implemented, however, due to political differences and divergent national interests. In addition, Yugoslav efforts aimed at organising separate Slav-Macedonian units within the Greek resistance movement contributed to the growth of autonomist tendencies among the Aegean Macedonians and led to conflicts with Greek partisans. The conclusions indicate that cooperation between the two parties remained limited and was burdened by national contradictions.