1. Alexandros Papagos was a Greek military officer who led the Hellenic Army in World War II and the later stages of the subsequent Greek Civil War.
21 Facts About Alexandros Papagos
1. 2.
The only Greek army career officer to rise to the rank of Field Marshal, Papagos became the first Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff from 1950 until his resignation the following year.
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Alexandros Papagos then entered politics, founding the nationalist Greek Rally party and becoming the country's Prime Minister after his victory in the 1952 elections.
4.
Alexandros Papagos's premiership was shaped by the Cold War and the aftermath of the Greek Civil War, and was defined by several key events, including Greece becoming a member of NATO; US military bases being allowed on Greek territory and the formation of a powerful and vehemently anti-communist security apparatus.
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Alexandros Papagos' tenure saw the start of the Greek economic miracle, and rising tensions with Britain and Turkey during the Cyprus Emergency over the Cyprus issue.
6.
Alexandros Papagos was born in Athens on 9 December 1883.
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Alexandros Papagos's father was Major General Leonidas Papagos from the island of Syros, who occupied senior posts during his military career, including Director of Personnel at the War Ministry and aide-de-camp to the King.
8.
Alexandros Papagos's mother was Maria Averoff, daughter of the politician Dimitrios Averoff and niece of the magnate George Averoff.
9.
Alexandros Papagos initially entered the Law School of the University of Athens, but soon switched to a military career.
10.
Alexandros Papagos was commissioned as a cavalry second lieutenant in the Hellenic Army on 15 July 1906.
11.
Alexandros Papagos was recalled to active service in 1920 following the electoral victory of the monarchist parties, with the retroactive rank of lieutenant colonel, serving once more as chief of staff of the Cavalry Brigade and of the Cavalry Division during the Asia Minor Campaign against the Turkish National Movement of Mustafa Kemal.
12.
Alexandros Papagos remained Minister of Military Affairs until Kondylis' resignation on 30 November, and was re-appointed to the post in the succeeding Konstantinos Demertzis cabinet on 13 December 1935 until 5 March 1936.
13.
Alexandros Papagos directed Greek operations against Italy along the Greek-Albanian border.
14.
Alexandros Papagos spent most of the occupation in de facto house arrest.
15.
Alexandros Papagos was liberated by the Fifth US Army on 5 May 1945.
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Alexandros Papagos remained retired and held no active military position, but served as grand chamberlain to King Paul and in July 1947 was promoted to the exceptionally rare rank of full general as a token of honour.
17.
Alexandros Papagos continued to serve in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief until 1951, while Greece was in a state of political instability, with splinter parties and weak politicians unable to provide a firm government.
18.
In May 1951, Alexandros Papagos resigned from the Army to enter politics.
19.
One of the major issues faced by Alexandros Papagos was the Cyprus problem, where the Greek majority had begun clamouring for Enosis with Greece.
20.
In January 1955, Alexandros Papagos began to develop gastric issues, a result of his imprisonment during World War II; he appointed Stefanos Stefanopoulos to serve as provisional premier during his illness.
21.
However, Alexandros Papagos condition worsened, and he died of a lung hemorrhage on 4 October 1955.