ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΔΥΤΙΚΗΣ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑΣ

ΠΑΙΔΑΓΩΓΙΚΗ ΣΧΟΛΗ-ΤΜΗΜΑ ΔΗΜΟΤΙΚΗΣ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΣΗΣ

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΜΕΤΑΠΤΥΧΙΑΚΩΝ ΣΠΟΥΔΩΝ

«ΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΩΓΗΣ-ΘΕΩΡΗΤΙΚΕΣ, ΕΡΕΥΝΗΤΙΚΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΔΑΚΤΙΚΕΣ ΠΡΟΣΕΓΓΙΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΤΟΠΙΚΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ».

ΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΟΝΙΚΟ ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟ

«Η Δυτική Μακεδονία στη δεκαετία 1940-1950». 13-14 Οκτωβρίου 2017.

Diaspora and settlement of the Greek children of Western Macedonia in the territory of the People’s Republic, during the Greek Civil War. An approach in the light of unpublished materials.

Georgios St. Palaiopoulos

Historian, Researcher – Writer

Abstract

The proposal intends to write down data about the mission and settlement of the Greek children, in the area of south-eastern Europe, during the Greek Civil conflict, following the initiative of the Democratic Army of Greece. Of great interest is to complete the map of their initial dispersion which is attached to the later presence, mostly of those who didn’t repatriate, for various reasons, from the beginning of the Cold War ‘till nowadays. The proposal is based on the research and studies of unpublished documents that were found in the Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives of the Greek Ministry of Affairs, and also in the General State Archives. It focuses, mainly, on the issue that the children of the Civil War were taken away from their homeland, the region of western Macedonia, primarily heading to the bordering People’s Republic. The main focus on the prefecture of Florina and Kastoria was due to the fact that these prefectures accepted the largest part of the operations, with regard to the missions, being the organization center and an exit for the missions to the north. They are all recorded, among other things, less-well known, possibly unknown shelters, like remote settlements, supporting facilities that were reformed for needs that had occurred, as well as luxury leisure resorts, as reception and hospitality in the territory of the People’s Republic.

However, it is possible to explore some specific aspects, such as relocations of special purpose and interest that occurred during their stay in the centers, as they were linked to the local government policy of the People's Republic, in which they were established. Truly, under these circumstances, the provision of technical education to the children, in order to integrate them into the productive process of their host country, was part of their policy.