" Fugitives of War: Desertion, Defection, and Military Disobedience in the Greek Army (1821–1949)"

Abstract

Military history often glorifies heroism, discipline, and loyalty, leaving the stories of desertion, defection, and military disobedience largely unexamined. This study, "Fugitives of War: Desertion, Defection, and Military Disobedience in the Greek Army (1821–1949)," explores the phenomenon of military desertion across pivotal moments in modern Greek history. From the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) to the Greek Civil War (1946–1949), this research examines the motives, consequences, and historical silence surrounding Greek soldiers who abandoned their posts, defected to enemy forces, or actively resisted military authority.

Using a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates military sociology, war studies, and political history, this study reconstructs cases of desertion through archival military records, court-martial documents, war diaries, intelligence reports, and press accounts. It investigates how desertion was influenced by factionalism, ideological conflicts, battlefield conditions, and external pressures across different historical periods. Special attention is given to the role of desertion in the Asia Minor Campaign (1919–1922), World War II (1940–1944), and the Greek Civil War (1946–1949), where shifting allegiances had profound military and political consequences.

This study argues that desertion was not simply an act of cowardice or treason, but often a rational response to extreme wartime conditions, ideological shifts, or national fragmentation. By shedding light on an unspoken and taboo aspect of Greek military history, this research challenges nationalist and triumphalist narratives, offering a more nuanced understanding of war, loyalty, and state power. Ultimately, it highlights how desertion shaped both military strategy and historical memory, urging a re-evaluation of modern Greek military history beyond its heroic myths.

Keywords: Military Desertion, Defection, Greek Army, War and Ideology, Military Justice, Historical Memory