original_query: What was the significance of Samos during World War II?
query: What was the significance of Samos during World War II?
answer: During World War II, Samos was occupied by Italy in 1941.  It experienced the Great Famine, causing significant loss of life and displacement. A resistance movement, ELAS, formed, engaging in conflict with the Italian occupiers and later the German forces who took over after Italy's surrender.  The island was also impacted by Allied aerial bombardments.