Cold War, Détente and Conservative Rule

In the immediate post-civil-war period in Greece, the Americans tended to support a centrist coalition led by a slightly centre-left republican party under General Nikolaos Plastiras. The emphasis of US policy shifted onto reconstruction with swift allocation of remaining Marshall plan resources which were to be available till 1952. Decrease in defence expenditure was imperative in this context while leniency measures towards the communist left advocated by Plastiras were not badly received by Washington.

The outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 altered American perceptions fundamentally. Plastiras's leniency measures were now seen disapprovingly for security was an overriding consideration. The Americans would eventually support Field-Marshal Alexandros Papagos. Although a royalist he was independent from the royal court and incredibly prestigious as the victorious commander in chief of the civil war. Papagos commanded the loyalty of the armed forces and in particular of the Sacred Bond of Greek Officers (IDEA) group. Formed in 1944–5, anti-communist and qualified supporter of the monarchy, IDEA concentrated the backbone of middle-grade officers and it was a well-disciplined force beyond the conventional military chain of command. The Americans did not disapprove of IDEA at any rate.

The elections of November 1952 signified the long domination of the conservatives. The monarchy had opposed Papagos but it succumbed to the US wish and the opinion of a sizeable part of the army.