Britain and the Reluctant Satellites, 1941–5

Abstract

On the western side of the Balkan peninsula, the British found themselves in contact with Communist resistance leaders who were allies, but who suspected and feared British ‘invasion’ plans. When in 1944 Stalin asked Tito what he would do ‘if the British really forced a landing in Jugoslavia’, Tito answered: ‘we should offer determined resistance’.¹ The Albanian and Greek Communists would almost certainly have liked to give the same answer but might have thought it impracticable.