“The Wild and Twisted Branch” is a factual account of Stavros Metropoulos, a farmer and businessman who endured the German and Italian occupation of Greece in World War II followed by the Greek Civil War against indigenous communists. The author is the only son of Metropoulos.
From the time he was a youngster, Metropoulos was wise beyond his years, arguing with his father until he was permitted to attend high school. As one of the few in his village who were educated, he operated two successful businesses that supplemented the income of the family farm. Greek farmers were enjoying newfound prosperity under Gen. Ioannis Metaxas—a dictator who received support from the reigning King George. Metaxas decreed that farmers would now receive world prices for their crops. He also dealt with a rising political and economic threat by imprisoning leaders of the communist party, KKE.
