Greece: Silver Service Medal 3rd Class of the EON (Ethnikí Orgánosis Neoléas) the Metaxist National Youth Organisation 1936-1941. Scarce.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Ethniki Organosis Neolaeas (EON) was not a fascist political grouping. The name means National Youth Organisation and it was set up by the Greek government under General Ioannis Metaxas (1871-1941). Metaxas was voted to the premiership by a Greek parliament in 1936 but dissolved that same parliament on 4 August 1936 with the King's consent and from then on ruled by decree. His regime followed a pro-British foreign policy and eventually resisted the Italian attack of 1940.
The government set up by the Germans after they occupied Greece in April 1941, took some controversial measures aimed at boosting its popularity. One was abolishing the monarchy (the King and the royal family had fled abroad anyway). Another was dissolving the EON which had grown a very nasty reputation for swindles etc. since a lot of money had been poured into it by the previous regime. EON's flag died with it.
