Aris Velouchiotis - Liberation and Expulsion From The Communist Party

Liberation and Expulsion From The Communist Party

In October 1944, the Nazis evacuated Greece and a new government was formed under Georgios Papandreou, the leader of the Greek National Unity Government which was established following the Treaties of Lebanon and Caserta. When the Varkiza agreement was signed to end the Dekemvriana fighting between EAM forces and governmental/British forces in Athens (in which Velouchiotis did not participate), he vehemently refused to comply regarding the agreement as a betrayal of the simple guerillas. The Communist Party leadership (Nikos Zachariadis) consequently accused him of treachery, of being a "suspicious and adventurous element" and spurned him as a member of KKE . The Communist Party was always suspicious of Klaras' actions since he was a simple member, and even when he founded ELAS, partly cause of his nationalistic speech and his fickle character.