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At independence, Greece had an area of 47,515 square kilometers (18,346 square mi.), and its northern boundary extended from the Gulf of Volos to the Gulf of Arta. Under the influence of the "Megali Idea," the expansion of the Greek state to include all areas of Greek population, Greece acquired the Ionian islands in 1864; Thessaly and part of Epirus in 1881; Macedonia, Crete, Epirus, and the Aegean islands in 1913; Western Thrace in 1918; and the Dodecanese islands in 1947.  

At independence, Greece had an area of 47,515 square kilometers (18,346 square mi.), and its northern boundary extended from the Gulf of Volos to the Gulf of Arta. Under the influence of the "Megali Idea," the expansion of the Greek state to include all areas of Greek population, Greece acquired the Ionian islands in 1864; Thessaly and part of Epirus in 1881; Macedonia, Crete, Epirus, and the Aegean islands in 1913; Western Thrace in 1918; and the Dodecanese islands in 1947.  

Greece was politically divided as to which side to support during World War I, the king, Constantine I, wished to support the Central Powers and Prime Minister Venizelos wished to support Britain and France. The king dismissed Venizelos who set up a rival government in Thessaloniki and invited Allied troops to enter the country; which they did in 1917. The king went into exile and the split between Venizelos supporters and the Royalist parties began the 'Nation Schism' which was to mark the politics of Greece for the first half of the twentieth century. After the war, Greece supplied the overwhealming majority of the troops that took part in the Allied occupation of Turkey, where many Greeks still lived. Venizelos lost the general election in 1921 and the king returned. In late 1921, under Royalist Officers, those supporting Venizelos having been cashiered, the Greek army marched toward Ankara. It failed to reach it and was eventually defeated by Turkish forces led by Ataturk and forced to withdraw. Following the Greek defeat, in September 1922 Turkish troops sacked and burnt the town of Smyrna (now Izmir) resulting in the deaths of up to 30,000 Greek and Armenian refugess while British, French and American warships in the harbour, pleading neutrality, refused to pick up those attempting to flee; having their bands play loud music to drown out the cries from the shore.<ref>Milton, Giles (2008). Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922: The Destruction of Islam's City of Tolerance (Paperback ed.). London: Sceptre; Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. ISBN 978-0-340-96234-3.</ref> Following the collapse of the Greek attempt to expand into Turkish territory, Venizelos, now back in power, reached a negotiated settlement with Ataturk for a compulsary exchange of populations, the result of which being that more than 1.3 million refugees from Turkey poured into Greece, creating enormous challenges for the Greek economy and society.<ref>The unification of Greece, 1770-1923, by Douglas Dakin.</ref>

Greece was politically divided as to which side to support during World War I, the king, Constantine I, wished to support the Central Powers and Prime Minister Venizelos wished to support Britain and France. The king dismissed Venizelos who set up a rival government in Thessaloniki and invited Allied troops to enter the country; which they did in 1917. The king went into exile and the split between Venizelos supporters and the Royalist parties began the 'Nation Schism' which was to mark the politics of Greece for the first half of the twentieth century. After the war, Greece supplied the overwhealming majority of the troops that took part in the Allied occupation of Turkey, where many Greeks still lived. Venizelos lost the general election in 1921 and the king returned. In late 1921, under Royalist Officers, those supporting Venizelos having been cashiered, the Greek army marched toward Ankara. It failed to reach it and was eventually defeated by Turkish forces led by Atatürk and forced to withdraw. Following the Greek defeat, in September 1922 Turkish troops sacked and burnt the town of Smyrna (now Izmir) resulting in the deaths of up to 30,000 Greek and Armenian refugess while British, French and American warships in the harbour, pleading neutrality, refused to pick up those attempting to flee; having their bands play loud music to drown out the cries from the shore.<ref>Milton, Giles (2008). Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922: The Destruction of Islam's City of Tolerance (Paperback ed.). London: Sceptre; Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. ISBN 978-0-340-96234-3.</ref> Following the collapse of the Greek attempt to expand into Turkish territory, Venizelos, now back in power, reached a negotiated settlement with Atatürk for a compulsory exchange of populations, the result of which being that more than 1.3 million refugees from Turkey poured into Greece, creating enormous challenges for the Greek economy and society.<ref>The unification of Greece, 1770-1923, by Douglas Dakin.</ref>

Greek politics, particularly between the two world wars, involved a struggle for power between monarchists and Venizelists. Greece was proclaimed a republic in 1924, but George II returned to the throne in 1935 and shortly afterwards cooperated with General Metaxas in a coup which overthrew the democratically elected government and introduced a right wing dictatorship. A plebiscite in 1946 upheld the monarchy, which was finally abolished by referendum on December 8, 1974.  

Greek politics, particularly between the two world wars, involved a struggle for power between monarchists and Venizelists. Greece was proclaimed a republic in 1924, but George II returned to the throne in 1935 and shortly afterwards cooperated with General Metaxas in a coup which overthrew the democratically elected government and introduced a right wing dictatorship. A plebiscite in 1946 upheld the monarchy, which was finally abolished by referendum on December 8, 1974.  

Greece became a member of NATO in 1952. From 1952 to late 1963, Greece was governed by conservative parties—the Greek Rally of Marshal Alexandros Papagos and its successor, the National Radical Union (ERE) of the late Constantine Karamanlis. In 1963, the Center Union Party of George Papandreou was elected and governed until July 1965. It was followed by a succession of unstable coalition governments.<ref>Short History of Modern Greece, 1821-1956 by Edward Seymour Forster and Douglas Dakin (1977)</ref>

Greece became a member of NATO in 1952. From 1952 to late 1963, Greece was governed by conservative parties—the Greek Rally of Marshal Alexandros Papagos and its successor, the National Radical Union (ERE) of the late Constantine Karamanlis. In 1963, the Center Union Party of George Papandreou was elected and governed until July 1965. It was followed by a succession of unstable coalition governments.<ref>Short History of Modern Greece, 1821-1956 by Edward Seymour Forster and Douglas Dakin (1977)</ref>

[[File:George Papadopoulos.PNG|thumb|right|George Papadopoulos.]]

[[File:George Papadopoulos.PNG|thumb|right|George Papadopoulos.]]

On April 21, 1967, just before scheduled elections, a group of colonels led by Col. George Papadopoulos seized power in a coup d'etat. The junta, supported initially by the Greek monarch and by America, suppressed civil liberties, established special military courts, and dissolved political parties. Several thousand political opponents were imprisoned or exiled to remote Greek islands. In November 1973, following an uprising of students at the Athens Polytechnic University, Gen. Dimitrios Ioannides replaced Papadopoulos and tried to continue the dictatorship.  

On April 21, 1967, just before scheduled elections, a group of colonels led by Col. George Papadopoulos seized power in a coup détat. The junta, supported initially by the Greek monarch and by America, suppressed civil liberties, established special military courts, and dissolved political parties. Several thousand political opponents were imprisoned or exiled to remote Greek islands. In November 1973, following an uprising of students at the Athens Polytechnic University, Gen. Dimitrios Ioannides replaced Papadopoulos and tried to continue the dictatorship.  

Gen. Ioannides' attempt in July 1974 to overthrow Archbishop Makarios, the President of Cyprus, brought Greece to the brink of war with Turkey, which invaded Cyprus and occupied part of the island. Senior Greek military officers then withdrew their support from the junta, which toppled. Leading citizens persuaded Karamanlis to return from exile in France to establish a government of national unity until elections could be held. Karamanlis' newly organized party, New Democracy (ND), won elections held in November 1974, and he became Prime Minister.  

Gen. Ioannides' attempt in July 1974 to overthrow Archbishop Makarios, the President of Cyprus, brought Greece to the brink of war with Turkey, which invaded Cyprus and occupied part of the island. Senior Greek military officers then withdrew their support from the junta, which toppled. Leading citizens persuaded Karamanlis to return from exile in France to establish a government of national unity until elections could be held. Karamanlis' newly organized party, New Democracy (ND), won elections held in November 1974, and he became Prime Minister.