Background:   
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in

1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the

first half of the 20th century, it gradually added

neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-

speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first

invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by

Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil

war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels.

Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO

in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized

power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended

many political liberties and forced the king to flee the

country. In 1974, democratic elections and a referendum

created a parliamentary republic and abolished the

monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it

became the 12th member of the European Economic and

Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek

default on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains

within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member

country migh

Share this post: