-
After the World War II a mass emigration took place . They were going to to the stronger industrialized nations of Northern Europe or across Atlantic . Most popular host countries were Germany , Belgium , Netherlands , France , America and Australia, mostly to Victoria.
-
The main factors that led Greeks to this massive migratory movement were the prolonged unemployment , part time jobs and the unequal wealth distribution .
-
The migrants mainly headed for the urban developing centres of Athens and Thesssaloniki .
-
Over 160,000 Greeks came to Australia. The majority found work in factories or farms as unskilled.
-
Official statistics show that Germany absorbed 603,300 Greek migrants . The number of greek immigrants rises up to 1.300.000 starting from 1946 till 1977
-
Immigration flows were severely reduced and return migration increased.
-
There were new economic prospects.
-
Entry of the country into the EEC.
-
Between 1974 and 1985 almost the half of the immigrants of the post-war period had returned to Greece.
