On this day, 81 years ago, on December 30, 1944 (November 16, 1944 in the lunar calendar), a civil war broke out in Greece and the king abdicated. On December 30, 1944, in order to end the civil war that swept across the country, King George II of Greece officially announced his abdication. The king declared in London that he would never return to his country unless free elections would allow him to return to rule his country. He appointed Damaskinos, Archbishop of Athens, to replace him as regent. Damaskinos opposed the German occupation of Greece and was believed to have high expectations in the hearts of the Greek people and be able to sway the hearts of the people. The king's abdication was arranged by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden. The two had flown to Athens to end the Athenian civil war that was drawing more and more British troops into it. The fighting was fought between the Iras National Self-Defense Group of the left-wing National Liberation Front and the British-backed government's Royal Army led by Prime Minister George Papanzrev. The battlefield is in the Athens area. The civil war broke out when the National Liberation Front refused to disband its National Self-Defense Corps and launched a strike that paralyzed Athens and sparked street fighting. British troops were called in to fight the forces on the left. Prime Minister Papanzrev will resign as part of a move to ease ethnic tensions. Greek Liberation Army female soldier