Editing Paul of Greece (section)

===World War II===
{{See also|Military history of Greece during World War II}}
While Frederica was pregnant and giving birth to her three children, the last of which was [[Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark|Princess Irene]], Nazi troops were gradually invading different countries throughout Europe, including France, which collapsed under the Nazi tactic of ''[[blitzkrieg]]''. On 10 July 1940, [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Fascist Italy]] entered the war on the side of the [[Axis powers|Axis]]. [[Benito Mussolini]] launched a violent propaganda campaign against Greece and accused George of violating its neutrality by harbouring British ships within its waters. On 15 August 1940, an Italian submarine sunk the ''Elli'', which was escorting pilgrims from [[Tinos]].{{sfn|Palmer|Greece|1990|p=78}}{{sfn|Dimitrakis|2009|p=20}} Germany offered mediation between Greece and Italy. It was agreed that if George were to abdicate and Paul become the monarch, Germany would prevent an Italian invasion of Greece. The deal also guaranteed Greek territorial gains in the Balkans. George was furious and made the Nazis write in response to Greece's actions: "They would do better not to stick their noses in the affairs of [his] country in they know what is good for them!"{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|pp=160–161}} Germany continued attempting to put Paul on the throne.{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|pp=117–119}}

On 28 October 1940, Mussolini sent Metaxas an ultimatum and demanded that he accepted within three hours while placing Italian troops in [[Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)|Italian-occupied Albania]] and in [[Epirus (region)|Greek Epirus]]. Metaxas refused and the [[Greco-Italian war]] commenced. Both the opposition, led by Plastiras, and the current government, pledged their support for George, who took charge of the Greek armed forces.{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|pp=159 and 161}} Greece automatically joined the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] and remained in close contact with their leaders. George held daily war council meetings at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, while Paul hosted communication links from each war front and continued his role in the navy from Athens. Greece successfully repelled Mussolini's invasion and occupied southern Albania.{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|pp=159 and 161–162}}{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|p=116}}

Metaxas died on 29 January 1941. George refused to establish a [[national unity government]] and appointed the Governor of the [[National Bank of Greece]], [[Alexandros Koryzis]], as the new prime minister. This gave George an even worse reputation as his decision to inaugurate Koryzis continued the dictatorship established by Metaxas in 1936. George faced criticism not only in Greece but also by the Allies. After several victories in Albania, Greek forces capitulated in the [[German invasion of Greece]], which proceeded the [[German invasion of Yugoslavia]].{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|p=162}}{{sfn|Dimitrakis|2009|p=23}} The ''[[Luftwaffe]]''' launched [[Operation Retribution (1941)|Operation Retribution]], which saw the German army invading Yugoslavia after their refusal to join the Axis. The German annexation of Yugoslavia put Axis troops on the Greek border. Greek soldiers, accompanied by a regiment sent by London, were overwhelmed in Macedonia and [[Thessaloniki]] was captured on 9 April. The [[Metaxas Line]] was also crossed by Axis soldiers the same day.{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|pp=162–163}}{{sfn|Palmer|Greece|1990|p=80}} By mid-April, Koryzis asked George to accept capitulation, but George refused to compromise with enemy forces. On 18 April, Koryzis committed suicide, and [[Emmanouil Tsouderos]] took office three days after.{{sfn|Palmer|Greece|1990|p=80}}{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|pp=162–163}}{{sfn|Mateos Sáinz de Medrano|2004|p=291}}

Fearful of their impending arrests, Paul, George, other members of the royal family, and some government officials agreed to flee the mainland and land in Crete on 9 April.{{sfn|Palmer|Greece|1990|p=80}}{{sfn|Vickers|2000|p=291}} The island however was very underfortified and under heavy attacks from the ''Luftwaffe''. George asked the British government if they could stay in [[British Cyprus]], alongside the cabinet and some 50,000 Greek soldiers. By 22 April, almost everyone but Paul and George had left Athens. George and Paul set up a temporary headquarters in [[Chania]] with their cousin, [[Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark|Prince Peter]]. George was given the title of "Number 1 enemy of the [[Third Reich|Reich]] in Greece" by Hitler and all three royals were forced to evacuate the island when the ''[[Fallschirmjäger]]'' commenced an attack. Paul, George and Peter narrowly escaped the ''Fallschirmjäger'' by taking the British ship {{HMS|Decoy|H75|6}} from [[Sfakia]] to [[Alexandria]], where the rest of the royal family had fled to.{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|pp=163–165}}{{sfn|Palmer|Greece|1990|pp=81–82}}{{sfn|Buckley|1984|pp=212–215}}

In Alexandria, the [[Egyptian Greeks|Greek diaspora of Egypt]] welcomed Paul, George and members of the royal family with accommodation, clothing and money.{{sfn|Mateos Sáinz de Medrano|2004|p=113}} The Axis government established in occupied Greece worried [[Farouk of Egypt]], who had many pro-Italian ministers. Paul and the rest of the Greek royals were forced to find refuge in another nation. George VI denied them access to the United Kingdom as he opposed Frederica's entry into the country, worried that a descendant of Wilhelm II would cause a revolt against the British monarchy, which had German roots.{{sfn|Vickers|2000|p=292}}{{sfn|Dimitrakis|2009|p=25}} After mediations, it was decided that Paul and George would stay in London, with other members of the family moving to South Africa, a British colony. Paul placed his wife and two young children in [[Cape Town]] and under the protection of Prime Minister [[Jan Smuts]],{{sfn|Mateos Sáinz de Medrano|2004|p=189}}{{sfn|Mateos Sáinz de Medrano|2004|pp=113–115}} before leaving for London. While there, Paul was unable to return for the birth of his third child, Irene, on 11 May 1942.{{sfn|Vickers|2000|p=292}}{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|p=164}}

Per Hourmouzios, Paul felt sidelined from business and combat with his brother taking over any real duties left. Following many requests, Paul managed to gain authority to go to [[Cairo]] and join the [[Free Greek Forces]] in August 1942, wishing to help liberate Greece.{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|pp=135–136 and 139}} However, there was [[1944 Greek naval mutiny|growing republicanism in the Greek forces]] and thus George prohibited Paul from fighting in Greece.{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|pp=155–157 and 163–164}} Frederica moved to Cairo to be with Paul in January 1944, while their children stayed in South Africa with Smuts until March.{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|p=144}} There, the royal couple connected with the [[Muhammad Ali dynasty|Egyptian royal family]], particularly [[Farida of Egypt]] and her children, who were of similar age to Paul.{{sfn|Mateos Sáinz de Medrano|2004|p=116}}

Greece was slowly liberated through 1944 and most Greek exiles had the opportunity to return home, however, Paul and his family were forced to stay in Egypt due to the rise of republican opposition in Greece following the war. Under the guidance of [[Winston Churchill]] and [[Anthony Eden]], George appointed [[Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens]] as regent of the country on 29 December 1944. However, Archbishop Damaskinos almost instantaneously formed government with a republican majority and placed Plastiras as Head of the Cabinet. George considered abdicating in favour of Paul, however ultimately remained as the monarch.{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|pp=170–171}}{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|pp=164–169 and 171}} Paul believed that if he were able to return to Greece, he could have acted as the regent and prevented a republican government.{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|pp=155–157 and 163–164}} However, George ignored any calls from Paul.{{sfn|Mateos Sáinz de Medrano|2004|p=116}} The [[1946 Greek referendum]] was held and monarchists received 68.41% of the votes, which allowed members of the Greek royal family, including Paul and George, to return.{{sfn|Clogg|1992|p=140}}{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|p=172–173}}{{sfn|Hourmouzios|1972|pp=177–179}} Archbishop Damaskinos greeted them upon their return, after which the royals discovered that their palaces had been pillaged and ransacked, while the [[Greek Civil War]] between the monarchists and communists began to take place.{{sfn|Van der Kiste|1994|p=173}}