Background: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman
Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and
the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added
neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking
populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy
(1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting
endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of
the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in
1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military
dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties
and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The
1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a
parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined
the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in
1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
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