• The various forms of collaboration with the occupier (political, economic, armed). 
• The deep division caused by the collaboration in Greek society.
• The impunity of collaborators after liberation and the role of the Greek justice system in this.

The book sheds light on a dark aspect of the Occupation period in Greece, highlighting the extent and intensity of the phenomenon of collaboration with the occupier. It explains how this collaboration was not only the result of coercion but was also based on consent, offering incentives and benefits to the collaborators. Furthermore, it analyzes how post-war Greece dealt with (or rather avoided dealing with) this trauma, leading to impunity and oblivion.

Are you interested in the Greek history of the Occupation and want to learn more about its complex and often overlooked aspects, such as collaboration with the Germans and Italians and its long-term consequences on Greek society?

“Never until today, despite having witnessed all the moral collapses of this era and the most pitiful ones, have we ever had such an unmasked and raw contact with our disgrace and downfall. [...] Yesterday was a day of shame for all Greeks. [...] Because yesterday, with the trial that began, one of the filthiest sewers that have ever left their moral stench in the atmosphere of Athens was opened. We relived the worst hours of the occupation. Not the German one [...] We are talking about the Greek occupation. [...] We are talking about the Security.”

With these words, the journalist of the centrist newspaper Eleftheria described the start of the largest trial of collaborators with the occupier, following that of the occupation governments, which took place at the Special Court (of Collaborators) in Athens in October 1945. It was the trial of the leadership group of the Special Security of the Greek Royal Gendarmerie. What is striking is the journalist's reference not to the German but to the Greek occupation. It is not a figure of speech but a painful reality. This is shown by the study of the phenomenon of collaboration.

By the term “Greek occupation,” the above journalist described the escalation of the phenomenon of collaboration with the occupier, as it manifested in the last year of the Occupation through the development of its armed form. The path of collaboration had opened long before the Gendarmerie men took action along with other armed collaborators of the German Occupation Authorities in the streets of Athens and Piraeus. It was inaugurated by the Greek generals who formed the first collaboration government and the army of businessmen and various adventurers who rushed to work on behalf of the Occupation Authorities.”

Readers of the book speak of an excellent and thorough research by the author, with many sources and documentation, that deeply illuminates the subject of collaboration with the occupier. Many emphasize that it is a fantastic and unique book about the Occupation period, revealing events that are shocking and help you understand a lot about Greek society and the reasons for its division, both then and now. It is characterized as a landmark book that all Greeks should read, as it shows how the extensive collaboration was "forgotten" and remained unpunished after liberation, with many collaborators retaining positions of power. Despite the gravity of the subject and the in-depth research, most agree that it is very easy to read. Some opinions mention that it does not delve deeply enough into the causes of collaboration, but the general feeling is that it is a revealing and worthy of study work.

Menelaos Charalambidis, born in Athens in 1970, is a historian with studies in economics and history. He has published the books "The Experience of Occupation and Resistance in Athens" (2012) and "The December Events 1944. The Battle of Athens" (2014) by Alexandria Publications. He has been systematically involved in Public History since 2013, conducting historical walks in Athens for the period of Occupation and the December Events and participating in the design of the postgraduate program "Public History" at the Hellenic Open University. He was also the inspirer of the actions "October 12, 1944. Athens Free".