Greek government-in-exile

Greek government-in-exile
1941–1944
Flag from 1822-1978 Coat of arms
Motto: «Ἐλευθερία ἢ Θάνατος» "Freedom or Death"
Anthem: «Ὕμνος εἰς τὴν Ἐλευθερίαν» "Hymn to Freedom"
Status	Government in exile
Capital	Athens
Capital-in-exile	Crete (1941) Cairo (1941) London (1941–43) Cairo (1943–44)
Common languages	Greek
Religion	Eastern Orthodox Church
Government	Constitutional monarchy
King
• 1941–1944	George II
Prime Minister
• 1941–1944	Emmanouil Tsouderos
• 1944	Sofoklis Venizelos
• 1944–1945	Georgios Papandreou
Historical era	World War II
• Battle of Greece	28 October 1940
• Battle of Crete	20 May 1941
• Arrival at Cairo	24 May 1941
• Liberation of Greece	October 1944
Preceded by Succeeded by 4th of August Regime Kingdom of Greece

The Greek government-in-exile was formed in 1941, in the aftermath of the Battle of Greece and the subsequent occupation of Greece by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The government-in-exile was based in Cairo, Egypt, and hence it is also referred to as the "Cairo Government" (Greek: Κυβέρνηση του Καΐρου). It was the internationally recognised government during the years of the Axis occupation of Greece.

It was headed by King George II, who evacuated Athens in April 1941 after the German invasion of the country, first to the island of Crete and then to Cairo. He remained there until the German occupying forces withdrew from the country on 17 October 1944.

The British wielded a significant amount of influence over the government-in-exile. Until 1944 it was also recognized as the legal Greek government by all Greek Resistance forces. In the occupied Greece, alongside the Axis-controlled collaborationist governments, a vigorous resistance movement developed. Its major force was the communist-controlled EAM/ELAS. During 1944, EAM/ELAS established a de facto separate administration, formalised in March 1944 after elections in both occupied and liberated territories, as the Political Committee of National Liberation (PEEA).