death toll of 3,000. 1941, 17 October: Executions of the male population and burning of the village Kerdyllia by the Nazis, with a death toll of 235. 1941, 23–28 October: Massive executions of the inhabitants of the villages Mesovouno, Cleisto, Kidonia and Ambelofito by the Nazis. 1941–1942, Winter: The Great Famine. An estimated 300,000 Greeks perish during the period of occupation, with mortality reaching a maximum during that winter. 1942: The Fortune Tax (Varlık Vergisi) is imposed on the Greeks in Turkey (as well as on others, mostly non-Muslims), resulting in their financial ruination. 1942, June: The Greek People's Liberation Army begins operating in the mountains. 1942, Summer: The great suffering and the pressure of the exiled Greek government eventually forces the British partially to lift the blockade. The International Red Cross is able to distribute food supplies in sufficient quantities. 1942, 25 November: The Gorgopotamos bridge is blown up in a common operation between the Greek militants and British saboteurs (Operation Harling). This successful operation disrupted the German transportation of ammunition via Greece to the Nazi Africa Corps commanded by Rommel. 1943, 27 February: Poet Kostis Palamas dies. His funeral becomes a public show of defiance to the occupation authorities. 1943, March: The Germans began mass deportations of the Jews of Thessaloniki to Auschwitz. By the end of the war, an estimated 60,000 Greek Jews were murdered. 1943, 16 August: 317 inhabitants of Kommeno are murdered and the village is burned by the Nazis. 1943, September: The Nazi attempt to exterminate the Jews of Athens fails, thanks to the combined efforts of Archbishop Damaskinos, Greek resistance groups and some of the Greek people. 1943, 13 September: More than 5,000 Italian soldiers are executed by the Nazis in Cephallonia or perish in the sea, during the German takeover of the Italian occupation areas. 1943, 26 September-16 November: Battle of Leros, the culmination of the Dodecanese Campaign. 1943, 13 December: The Massacre of Kalavryta occurs. 1944, 10 March: the EAM-controlled Political Committee of National Liberation is established. 1944, 10 June: The Distomo massacre. 218 civilians are murdered and the village is looted and burnt. Restoration of the Greek Government 1944, 14 October: Athens is liberated and the Greek government-in-exile returns, with George Papandreou as Premier. 1944, 18 October: Premier George Papandreou and his national unity government repatriate. 1944, 3 December: "Dekemvriana" (December events). 28 people are killed by British troops and