National and Social Liberation

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National and Social Liberation (Greek: Εθνική και Κοινωνική Απελευθέρωσις, Ethniki Kai Koinoniki Apeleftherosis), also known by its initials EKKA, was the Greek Resistance movement founded by Colonel Dimitrios Psarros during Axis occupation of Greece.

Psarros founded the resistance group EKKA along with politician Georgios Kartalis, fellow officers Dimitrios Karachristos, Dimitrios Georgantas and others. The organization's aims were to fight the Germans as long as the occupation lasted and, after Liberation, work for social change. EKKA had followers and were active mainly in Central Greece but on Easter Monday, April 17, 1944, were attacked by the Communist forces of ELAS who sought to have a monopoly in the political future of Greece after Liberation. Psarros was captured, shot, stabbed and killed. Many of the members of EKKA were also captured and most of them tortured before they were killed and the organization ceased to exist.

The famous Greek Wrestler, Elias Panagos joined the EKKA Guerilla Movement 542 Regiment during the Nazi occupation of Central Greece, and he was captain of his local group. He and his men assisted the Allies in their daring parachuting into various parts of Greece under the cover of darkness. He and his men were also responsible for blowing up several bridges that the occupation forces would cross on their way to Egypt. He survived the ELAS attacks and later fought in the Greek Civil War.

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