An old story… that may still be useful?
Back in 1940, Greece was suffering under the fascist dictatorship of Metaxas, who came in power in 1936 thanks to a military coup. The dictatorship of Metaxas suppressed all the democratic and social rights and managed to almost completely annihilate the Communist Party of Greece, including its undergound organizations. Thousands of communists, but also democrats, were assassinated, tortured, imprisoned and exiled by the dictatorship of Metaxas.
On 28 October 1940 the fascist Italian regime, led by Mussolini, attacked Greece. The Italian Army invaded the Greek soil. Mussolini declared that within a few days his powerful army will conclude its “tourist walk” in Athens. Yet, the path leading to Athens proved to be rather tortuous. The Greek people resolutely resisted the fascist invadors, despite the line of the Metaxas regime and its military HQ (their plan was to typically resist for a few days “for arms honour’s sake”). The Greek people pushed back the invadors and achieved the first victory against the Axis.
And the Communist Party of Greece? Which was its position, as the Italian fascists invaded Greece - which was itself under a barbaric fascist dictatorship? (And moreover, while the Nazis had not yet attacked the USSR?) Here is the position of the Greek communists under this complicated situation:
1. The General Secretary of the Party, Nikos Zachariadis, imprisoned in the dungeons of the dictatorship, writes immediately his historic “Open Letter to the Greek People”. In it, he openly and unambiguously calls for a general mobilization of the people against the fascist invadors, even if the resistance is led by the dictatorial regime of Metaxas.
2. Hundreds of Greek communists who were suffering in the dictatorship’ s prisons and exile camps volunteer to fight in the front. The dictatorship, fearing their influence, refuses their patriotic offer (and later, in April 1941, the “Greek” police hands them over to the Nazis).
3. Thousands of communists and antifascists who were not imprisoned fight heroically in the front, inspiring the masses, earning their respect, and creating the conditions that allowed the rapid building of the glorious National Liberation Front that led the struggle against the Nazi occupation from 1941 to 1944.
Of course, conditions in each country are very different. However, there are some general principles that are (or should be?) valid more or less everywhere. I have another example in mind: The position of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Argentina when British imperialism agressed their country, despite the fact that back then Argentina (and PCR) was suffering under a murderous military fascist dictatorship.
That’s all for the moment.
Comradely,
E.F.
Member of the Communist Organization of Greece (KOE)