Female Fighters in the Greek Civil War. Personal Narratives of Survivors.

This paper explores the gender dimension of the Greek civil war by analyzing the experiences and choices of the fighters of the Democratic Army of Greece . The study examines women's memory and lived experience through women's personal narratives and impressions. Social and collective similarities make their appearance, as well as changes in gender relations and shifts in female roles. The research discusses issues such as the politicization of women and their motivations for participating in the Democratic Army of Greece, broadening their horizons beyond domestic life, challenging masculinity and gender stereotypes, and emancipation before and during the war. In conclusion, it explores the return of women to traditional gender roles, forced domestication and their confinement to privacy after the end of the war. The main source of the research is the interviews conducted with twelve women who actively participated as armed fighters in the Democratic Army of Greece during the war.