Rare, 1944, Original Document, G. Papandreou Liberation Speech, Samos, WWII, Poster

Στρατιωτική Διοίκηση Σάμου

Ο Ιστορικός Λόγος 

του Πρωθυπουργού της Απελευθερώσεως 

Γ. Παπανδρέου προς τον λαό των Αθηνών

την 18ην Οκτωβρίου 1944

Military Administration of Samos

The Historic Speech of the Prime Minister of Liberation 

G. Papandreou 

to the People of Athens 

on October 18, 1944

50 cm x 70 cm

The Historic Speech Prime Minister George Papandreou was delivered on October 18, 1944, one day after the withdrawal of the German occupation forces from Athens. It is one of the most important political speeches in modern Greek history, as it marked the liberation of the country after 3.5 years of Occupation and the return of the Greek government from exile. The speech was delivered in Syntagma Square, in front of a large crowd, in the presence of the Viceroy Archbishop Damaskinos, the ministers of the government of national unity, as well as Allied representatives. Papandreou set out his vision for post-war Greece, calling for unity, democratic reconstruction and social peace.

The Military Administration of Samos in 1944 was an important institution during the Liberation of Greece from the Axis powers. Samos was of strategic importance due to its geographical location and proximity to the Turkish coast, which made it a hub for supply and resistance operations. In September 1943, after the Italian capitulation, British and Greek forces, together with resistance organizations, occupied Samos, driving out the Italian troops. However, in November 1943 the Germans counterattacked and occupied the island, imposing a harsh occupation. In August–September 1944, as the Germans retreated from Greece, the resistance forces of Samos (led by EAM-ELAS) took action, leading to the liberation of the island. The military administration that was formed aimed to maintain the security and public order after the withdrawal of the Germans, coordinate administrative operations in cooperation with the temporary political administration, to organize food aid for the population, which had suffered from famine and disasters and to prepare the integration of the island into the new political regime that was taking shape in Greece, in view of developments at the national level.