Conflict and Recovery in Athens

The following year the main phase of the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) began between the Athens-based government and Communist-backed groups; fighting occurred mainly in the northern regions of Greece away from Athens.

Thanks to aid from the United States, the city’s economy improved rapidly after the end of the civil war, bringing an influx of new inhabitants from impoverished and war-ravaged rural areas. Older parts of the city were replaced with modern buildings beginning in the 1950s.

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Athens continued to grow rapidly, producing urban sprawl and traffic congestion. Serious air pollution, largely from automobiles, posed health problems and damaged a number of the city’s ancient monuments.