Ioannis Rallis (Greek: Ιωάννης Δ. Ράλλης; 1878 – 26 October 1946) served as the third and final collaborationist prime minister of Greece during one of the most tumultuous periods in modern Greek history: the Axis occupation of the country during World War II. He assumed office on 7 April 1943, succeeding Konstantinos Logothetopoulos, and remained at the helm of the Nazi-controlled Greek puppet government in Athens until 12 October 1944, just as the Axis forces were withdrawing from the Greek mainland.

The Onset of Occupation and the Greek Struggle

The Axis occupation of Greece, grimly known as I Katochi (Greek: Η Κατοχή, lit. 'the occupation') to the Greek people, commenced in April 1941. This devastating period was triggered by Nazi Germany's invasion of the Kingdom of Greece, an intervention aimed at bolstering its ally, Fascist Italy. Italy had unilaterally declared war on Allied Greece in October 1940, initiating what became known as the Greco-Italian War. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Hellenic Army valiantly managed to push back the invading Italian forces deep into neighboring Albania, which was then an Italian protectorate, surprising the world with its tenacious defense.

However, the tide turned decisively when Nazi Germany intervened on behalf of its struggling ally. With most of the Hellenic Army committed to fending off relentless Italian counter-attacks on the Albanian front, a rapid German Blitzkrieg campaign swept through Greece in April 1941. By June of the same year, following the strategic conquest of Crete after a fierce airborne invasion, all of Greece was effectively defeated and occupied. The legitimate Greek government was compelled to go into exile, establishing itself in Cairo, while an Axis-backed collaborationist puppet government, designed to manage the country under occupation, was installed in Athens.

Life Under the Axis Boot: Division and Devastation

Upon conquest, Greece's territory was carved up into distinct occupation zones administered by the three Axis powers. Germany, as the primary orchestrator of the invasion, retained direct control over the most strategically vital regions, including the capital Athens, the major northern city of Thessaloniki, and the numerous strategically important Aegean Islands. Other parts of the country were allocated to Germany's junior partners: Fascist Italy secured large swathes of the mainland and many islands, while Bulgaria, another Axis ally, annexed parts of Greek Thrace and Macedonia, regions it had long coveted.

The occupation brought unimaginable suffering and widespread ruin to Greece. The economy was utterly devastated, its resources plundered to support the Axis war effort. The civilian population endured horrific hardships, including rampant famine, particularly severe in Athens where over 40,000 people died from starvation alone. The country's infrastructure was systematically dismantled or destroyed: an estimated 80% of its industry lay in ruins, 28% of its overall infrastructure was destroyed, and a staggering 90% of its critical ports, roads, railways, and bridges were rendered unusable. Furthermore, 25% of Greece’s forests and other natural resources were exploited or destroyed. The human cost was staggering, with a loss of civilian life estimated between 7% and 11% of its total population, alongside tens of thousands more who perished due to brutal reprisals carried out by the Nazi forces and their local collaborators.

The Holocaust in Greece

Perhaps one of the darkest chapters of the occupation was the near-eradication of Greece's vibrant Jewish population. Of its pre-war community of approximately 75,000 to 77,000 people, only around 11,000 to 12,000 survived, many by joining the nascent resistance movements or by finding sanctuary in hiding. The vast majority of those who perished were brutally deported to Auschwitz concentration camp. Tragically, Jews living in Thrace, which was under Bulgarian occupation, faced a particularly grim fate, being sent to the Treblinka extermination camp. Initially, the Italian occupation forces did not participate in the systematic deportation of Jews from the territories they controlled. However, once Italy capitulated in 1943 and Germany took over these areas, the Jews residing there were also rounded up and deported to their deaths, signifying the methodical and pervasive nature of the Holocaust across all German-controlled territories.

The Greek Resistance and the Road to Civil War

Amidst the widespread oppression and despair, a powerful Greek Resistance movement began to coalesce. Numerous resistance groups emerged, launching daring guerrilla attacks against the occupying powers, engaging in fierce skirmishes against the collaborationist Security Battalions, and establishing vital espionage networks that provided critical intelligence to the Allies. These groups, often operating from the mountainous terrain of mainland Greece, became a thorn in the side of the Axis forces, tying down significant numbers of troops that could have been used elsewhere.

However, as the war progressed, ideological differences and political ambitions began to sow discord within the resistance. By late 1943, these groups increasingly turned their arms against each other, setting the stage for future conflict. When the mainland was finally liberated in October 1944, with the Axis powers forced to withdraw under relentless Allied pressure, Greece found itself not in a state of celebratory peace, but rather on the precipice of profound political polarization. This deep ideological chasm soon erupted into the devastating Greek Civil War, which lasted until 1949. The post-war political climate, heavily influenced by the Cold War and the fear of communism, tragically provided an opportunity for many prominent Nazi collaborators to escape justice. Due to their shared anti-communism with the victorious anti-communist factions of the Civil War, some not only evaded punishment but were even able to integrate themselves into, and in some cases, rise to prominence within, the ruling class of post-war Greece after the defeat of the communist forces.

The cost of this resistance and conflict was immense on all sides. Greek partisan forces accounted for the deaths of 21,087 Axis soldiers, comprising 17,536 Germans, 2,739 Italians, and 1,532 Bulgarians. Additionally, 6,463 Axis personnel were captured (2,102 Germans, 2,109 Italians, and 2,252 Bulgarians). This came at a tragic price for the Greek Resistance, with 20,650 Greek partisans losing their lives and an unknown number captured or executed.

Remaining Garrisons and Final Surrender

Although the mainland was liberated in October 1944, the occupation did not entirely cease. German garrisons remained in control of Crete and several other strategically important Aegean islands until after the official end of World War II in Europe. These last Axis holdouts finally surrendered in May and June 1945, bringing a complete end to the brutal chapter of Axis occupation for all of Greece.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was Ioannis Rallis?

Ioannis Rallis was the third and final prime minister of the collaborationist Greek government that operated under Nazi German occupation during World War II, holding office from April 1943 to October 1944. He is a controversial figure, seen as a traitor by many for his cooperation with the Axis powers.

When did the Axis occupation of Greece begin and end?

The Axis occupation of mainland Greece began in April 1941 following the German invasion and largely ended with the withdrawal of German and Bulgarian forces in October 1944. However, German garrisons on Crete and some Aegean islands held out until May and June 1945.

Why did Germany invade Greece?

Germany invaded Greece primarily to assist its struggling ally, Fascist Italy, which had been pushed back by the Greek army during its own invasion in October 1940. The German intervention also served to secure the strategic Balkan flank before their planned invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa).

What was the impact of the occupation on Greece?

The occupation had a catastrophic impact on Greece, leading to widespread famine, the destruction of a vast majority of its infrastructure and industry, and the near-annihilation of its Jewish population. It also resulted in immense loss of civilian life through starvation, reprisals, and combat, and left the country politically polarized, contributing to the outbreak of the Greek Civil War.

What was the Greek Resistance?

The Greek Resistance comprised various guerrilla groups that formed to fight against the Axis occupying powers and their local collaborators. They conducted sabotage, intelligence gathering, and armed attacks, playing a significant role in tying down Axis forces, but also suffered from internal ideological conflicts.

What happened to collaborators in Greece after the war?

While some collaborators were punished, many prominent figures, particularly those who were anti-communist, were able to escape severe penalties. The subsequent Greek Civil War (1946-1949) provided an opportunity for some collaborators to reintegrate into society or even attain positions of influence, as their anti-communist stance aligned with the prevailing political sentiment of the post-war government.