Other Forces

Symbol of Greek resistance.

The Gorgopotamos railway bridge in ruins, following its destruction in an infernally complicated joint operation between Greek Communist and Greek nationalist partisans and British SOE operatives (who did the actual blasting), 25 November, 1942. The destruction of the bridge cut one of the principal communication routes between northern and southern Greece. It was a considerable achievement; but might have been more so had it not been delayed by the protracted refusal of Communist and nationalist partisan organisations to co-operate, so that it only occurred after Second El Alamein (23 October - 4 November, 1942). Rommel's defeat greatly reduced the importance of the Greek supply route. One might wonder why the British felt it necessary to delay the operation until they had secured the joint participation of the mutually antagonistic Greek participants. In answer, I can only suggest a viewing of the "raid on Pilate's palace" scene from the movie, "Monty Python's Life of Brian". Best regards, JR.