George Papadopoulos
George Papadopoulos ( Greek: Georgios Papadopoulos, written Γεώργιος Παπαδόπουλος, surname meaning "Child of a priest", May 5, 1919 - June 27, 1999), was the strongman of the military coup d'ÃÂétat that took place in Greece on April 21 1967 and leader of the military regime that ruled the country during the period 1967 - 1974.
He was born in Elaiohori, Achaea to school teacher Christos Papadopoulos and his wife Chrysoula. He had two brothers named Constantine Papadopoulos and Haralabos Papadopoulos. George received Secondary education and then enlisted in the Hellenic Army Academy during 1937.
He completed his three-year education in 1940 . Graduates of the 1940 class would soon be introduced to war. On October 28, 1940, Prime Minister of Greece Ioannis Metaxas refused to allow the Italian army to peacefully cross the borders between Greece and Albania. Prime Minister of Italy Benito Mussolini had already issued orders for an invasion in that event. Thus Greece entered World War II. George saw field action as a Second Lieutenant of the Artillery against both the Italians and the forces of Nazi Germany who joined them on April 6, 1941.
The German army captured Athens on April 27, 1941.Following their victory in the Battle of Crete (May 20 - June 1, 1941), Greece was placed under the combined occupation of Nazi Germany, the Kingdom of Italy and Bulgaria. A resistance movement soon emerged, including several organizations varying in ideological conviction, popular support and area of activity. Most significant among them were the right-wing Hellenic Democratical National Liaison (EDES) and the left-wing National Popular Liberation Army (ELAS). The later was largely formed and organized by members of the Communist Party of Greece. Papadopoulos instead joined X, formed by Colonel George Grivas and placed in the far-right of the political spectrum.
A career army officer since 1940, he served at KYP (Kentriki Ypiresia Pliroforion ÃÂÃÂ the former Greek intelligence agency) from 1959 to 1964, and became a colonel in 1967.
His regime was U.S. supported and he is believed to have personal connections with C.I.A.. He is reffered in many C.I.A. documents of that period as a U.S friendly officer and he had met in person many C.I.A. officers years before he got the power. The seven year period of his regime ,known as Junta, is remembered as the worst page in modern Greek history, and is considered as the reason for the high anti-American feeling emerging in Greek community.
He was overthrown on November 25 1973 by his former fellows, after the student uprising of the November 17.He managed to put down the uprising only with the help of the army, killing many students.
After the restoration of Democracy in 1974, Papadopoulos was tried along with his colleagues for treason and insurrection and received the death penalty, which was later converted to a life sentence. Papadopoulos remained in prison, rejecting amnesty, until his death at age 80, suffering from cancer.
Papadopoulos is nowadays a symbol of authoritarianism and treason for the vast majority of Greeks who consider him one of the most bitterly hated persons in the Greek history. He is responsible for the Cyprus invasion of 1974 and for many thousand peole who were tortured and expelled by his routhless regime.
However there are still a few far-right people who support Papadopoulos and his military junta, and even a political party supporting his politics (ΕΠΕΝ - EPEN). Papadopoulos' son is still alive and has appeared on the Greek television.