THE DEMOCRATIC LIBERATION ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R000300720008-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: December 12, 1946
• Content Type: IR

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clnApproved For Release:
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77 1763
DDA
Auth: DDA RE
Date:1
COUNTRY Greece

By: On Uts, OFFICIALS ONLY
82-00457 910729
JCONTROL.25X1 A2g
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE GROUP
INTELLIGENCE REPORT
SUBJECT The Democratic Liberation Arley
ORIGIN
25X1A6a
25X1X6
fE 25X1A6a
INFO.
DIST. !f?.) February 1947
PAGES 2 -
SUPPLEMENT
A meeting of Kapetane:l was held at which Kapetanios
Lassanis, Commander GQ Northern Greece, gave the following account of the
present organisation of the Andarte movement in Northern Greece:-
25X1X6
1. Arms and Ammunition
No reliable figuret for arms and ammunition were available. The majority
of the arms were of German make and had been captured in Yugoslavia.
Others were hidden after the Varkiza Agreement. Of the remainder, many
had been captured during recent menthe from the Grefe- eovernment fore?
Recent operations had caused an ate shortage of tiertar shells, hind
grenades and small arms ammunition, which would present a major cop-
sideration when planning attacks. Although efforts were now being made
to bring feesh supplies from Albania, the route across the snow-covered
Pindzu mouetains teate so difficult that it made the transport of large
quantities of ammunition almost impossible. In all areas, however,
supply was held for purposes of defense.
Saba
Attached to each Group of Bands was a sabotage unit consisting of fi"teen
technicians who worked under cover of the andartes. If operations were
continued on the present scale, supplies of sabotage equipment, each
au explord.ves and eines, would only last until the end of December.
3. Civil Administration.
As soon as a village was "liberated", a People's Committee was formed
and ales) a Party Committee of EA(, the latter being made up of KKE and
AE membere. The Party Committee instructed the People's Security
(LA) and the National Civil Guard (EP).. The latter were always ree
cruited from outside the area in which they were to function.
4. Food.
The food situation was extremely difficult. Although food stocks
captured in villages had provided a surplus of meat, supplies of
wheat might not last beyond the end of December. There was also a short-
age of olive oil. This difficult situation was due to the fact that the .
supply ;service, in addition to its normal function, had had to food all
the villagers in the "liberated" areas. In order to reduce the danger-
oua food shortages, both the Central Committee of KKE and the Jtegidnal
Cemmitaee of Recedonia and Thrace were endeavoring to buy wheat throee
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Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300720008-5
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merchants knownA.o the Party. TO Overcome the diffictilty of transport,
it had been arranged that consignments should be sent in trucks along
the Salonics ?Aosani and Salonica Florina roads. P,t prearranged
points the trucks would be,heldeip by armed men and the wheat removed.
The drivers of the trucks would be unaware of this plan so that it
would have the eppoarance of epontaneou action. Veney for such pur?
chases would be obtained by levying taxes in the "liberated" areas.
5? IellEtIMEL
Laseanis had received instructions from Athens on 2 December in answer
to a message he had sent emehasieing the present weakness of the A.ndtrtes.
These were to the effect that his present policy should be to conserve the
strength of his forces until 10 February 1947, the date fixed for the
signing of the peace treaties. He was to endeavour to maintain his positions
and to avoid any large scale engagements with Cereernment forces which might
lower the morale of his troops. To boost their morale, the Andartes
should be given to understand that, "with the assistance of the democratic
armed forces of the neighbouring states, Greece would soon be freed from
Fascism and the British occupation." The instructions from Athens had
also drawn attention to the possibility that a coalition Government might
soon be formed which would call on the Pridartes to lay down their arms.
All Andartes ou1d be warned to reject such an appeal as its acceptance
would lead to the defeat of their cause.
6. 4:1211CIPAIDIZILI.
The strength ofthe Democratic Liberation trmy in Northern Greece was 1.,,,?_46
men and 136 women, of whom 2,549 men and 95 women were in 7Yestern Macedonia
and 1,767 men and Vt. -Amen in Central Meeedonia.
7. N4F. 8tazatti
Lassanis had to official figures of NOF strength chiefly because frequent
changes occurred. It was believed however, that the most reliable estimate
of the total strength of NOF forces was 3,300 men.
#*14164
U.3, FFIeIALS ONLY
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP82-00457R000300720008-5