Back Временно правителство на националната отбрана Bulgarian Κυβέρνηση Εθνικής Αμύνης Greek Gobierno provisional de Defensa Nacional Spanish Gouvernement de défense nationale (Grèce) French Honvédelmi kormány (Görögország) Hungarian Governo Provvisorio di Difesa Nazionale Italian 국가 방위 운동 Korean Governo Provisório da Defesa Nacional Portuguese
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
Provisional Government of National Defence Προσωρινή Κυβέρνηση Εθνικής Αμύνης Κράτος της Θεσσαλονίκης | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916–1917 | |||||||||
.svg) Flag | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Status | Venizelist-dominated government (recognized by the Triple Entente in December 1916 as the lawful Greek government) | ||||||||
| Capital | Thessaloniki | ||||||||
| Common languages | Greek language | ||||||||
| Religion | Greek Orthodox | ||||||||
| Government | Provisional government, Venizelist state | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1916-17 | Eleftherios Venizelos | ||||||||
| Triumvirate of National Defence | |||||||||
• 1916-17 | Eleftherios Venizelos Pavlos Kountouriotis Panagiotis Danglis | ||||||||
| Historical era | World War INational Schism | ||||||||
| 17 August 1916 | |||||||||
• Abdication of Constantine I | 29 May 1917 | ||||||||
| Currency | Greek drachma (₯) French franc | ||||||||
| |||||||||
The Provisional Government of National Defence (Greek: Προσωρινή Κυβέρνηση Εθνικής Αμύνης, romanized: 'Prosoriní Kyvérnisi Ethnikís Amýnis), also known as the State of Thessaloniki (Κράτος της Θεσσαλονίκης), was a parallel administration, set up in the city of Thessaloniki by former Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos and his supporters during World War I, in opposition and rivalry to the official royal government in Athens.
The establishment of this second Greek state had its origins in the debate over Greece's entry into the war on behalf of the Entente, as advocated by Venizelos, or a Germanophile neutrality as preferred by King Constantine I. This dissension soon began to divide Greek society around the two leaders, beginning the so-called "National Schism". In 17 August 1916,[1] as parts of eastern Macedonia were not defended by the royal government against a Bulgarian invasion, Venizelist officers of the Hellenic Army launched an Entente-supported coup in Thessaloniki. After a brief hesitation, Venizelos and his principal supporters joined the uprising and began the establishment of a second Greek government in the north of the country, which entered the war on the side of the Entente. The National Defence government endured until 29 May 1917, when the Entente powers forced Constantine I to abdicate, and allowed Venizelos to return to Athens as Prime Minister of a unified country. Nevertheless, the establishment of the National Defence government deepened the rift of the National Schism, which would plague Greek political life for over a generation, and contribute to the Asia Minor Catastrophe.
- ^ Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian Calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.