Synopsis "Immigrant Life Themes: Immigrant Life Themes"
Social, political and economic upheaval in the first half of the 20th century devastated Greece. There was the refuge crisis of 1922 which created instability during the inter-war years when countless thousands were expelled from their homeland in Asia Minor by the Turks, the Great Depression of the 1930's with its high unemployment and social unrest, the power struggle between monarchists and republicans, the destructive two world wars and the bitter Civil War that followed. Communism also, became a very dangerous political force at this time which threatened not only Europe, but the entire world. October 28 marks the date in 1940 when Greece entered World War Two. On this day, Italy's fascist dictator Benito Mussolini issued an ultimatum to Greek Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas demanding Greek surrender and for free Italian passage through Greece. The Greek leader's famous reply was "Ohi" (No) which forced Greece to go on the offensive in mid - November and subsequent battle, defeating the invading army and driving them back into southern Albania. Greece once again, became involved in another world war fighting alongside the Allies which included Great Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy and Japan and, their respective allies. Following the victory of the Allies in 1945, the islands became a British military protectorate and Dodecanese unification with Greece was formalized in 1947. The Greek flag was finally raised on March 7th, 1948 ending centuries of non - Greek rule. The Greek Civil War was a struggle between communism and democracy and was to be the first battle of the Cold War. The Cold War describes the tension and competition that existed between the democratic United States of America and the communist Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies from the mid - 1940's to the early 1990's. The defeat of the communists in 1949 however, ended the annexation of Greek Macedonia by Yugoslavia's Marshal Tito but unfortunately, more than 100,000 people died and over 500,000 were displaced from their homes because of the Greek Civil War. Many Greeks struggling with the aftermath of the Second World War and the bitter Civil War that followed were drawn by the economic conditions in Australia. With the Greek government struggling with post-war reconstruction, the uncertainty and economic instability of Post-War Europe and, with assisted passage provided by the Australian government, thousands of Greeks migrated to the Lucky Country hoping for a more stable future. Many of the early immigrants were overwhelmed by homesickness for Greece, their homes, their villages, their families, their church and they were handicapped by language difficulties. The Post-War period also saw a big wave of Greek immigrants from the villages of Southern Rhodes who came to settle in Adelaide, South Australia. They arrived as young immigrants, without knowledge nor understanding of the new country, its language and way of life. As one would expect, they stuck together. These new arrivals included immigrants from Mesanagros, Lahania, Gennadi, Katavia, Asklipeio, Monolithos, Siana, Arnitha and Vati. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia is the City of Churches. With its tree-lined suburbs and quarter-acre block homes, it was a tram town for half a century when many of these early immigrants began arriving in the 1950's.
