On November 25, Greece commemorated one of the most important acts of the Greek Resistance against the Nazi occupation, which marked a turning point in the Allies' fight against the Axis. The communist-led Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS), the armed wing of the National Liberation Front (EAM) and the National Republican Greek League (EDES), the two largest resistance groups in the country, cooperated under the guidance of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) to carry out Operation Harling, better known in Greek literature as the "Gorgopotamos Bridge Operation." 

The mission consisted of destroying the Gorgopotamos viaduct, which was of vital importance for the transportation of supplies to the German forces under Erwin Rommel in North Africa, via Greece. The act of sabotage was carried out on November 25, 1942, after a month’s planning.

The heavily guarded bridge was blown up, while of the 150 men who took part in the operation (86 from ELAS, 52 from EDES plus 12 British commandos), only four were wounded. The 70th anniversary of the destruction of the Gorgopotamos bridge was celebrated on the site, yesterday, with the participation of representatives of the Hellenic Republic Presidency, the Hellenic Parliament, the government and political parties.