Grigorios Spandidakis served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for National Defence in the first government of the new regime, but was dismissed after supporting the failed counter-coup attempt launched by King Constantine II on 13 December 1967.
11 Facts About Grigorios Spandidakis
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2.
Grigorios Spandidakis secured an early release on health grounds and died in 1996.
3.
Grigorios Spandidakis entered the Hellenic Army Academy, graduating on 5 August 1931 as a Cavalry Second Lieutenant.
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From this position, Grigorios Spandidakis became the driving force behind the Army's plans to seize power in view of the ongoing political crisis in the country, under the codename IERAX II.
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Grigorios Spandidakis promoted several officers who would later play a leading role in the coup d'etat of 21 April 1967 to key positions; most notably the then-Lieutenant Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos.
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In early March 1967, in view of the oncoming legislative elections in May which the right-wing National Radical Union was widely expected to lose, preparations began for implementing the plan, and Grigorios Spandidakis postponed a planned visit to the United States.
7.
Nevertheless, Grigorios Spandidakis was caught by surprise by the outbreak of the military putsch of 21 April 1967, which the group of mid-level officers around Papadopoulos initiated without waiting for authorization by the King and the Army leadership.
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Odysseas Angelis 8.
Grigorios Spandidakis was at first arrested by the putschists who replaced him with Odysseas Angelis, but quickly agreed to assist them.
9.
Grigorios Spandidakis's acquiescence was a crucial factor in allowing the coup d'etat to unfold smoothly: he used his authority to persuade the acting CO of the III Army Corps, Brigadier Orestis Vidalis, that the coup was sanctioned by the King, and prevented Vidalis' formation, the most powerful in the Hellenic Army, from descending upon Athens.
10.
When King Constantine II tried to overthrow the junta on 13 December 1967, Grigorios Spandidakis was on a NATO summit.
11.
Grigorios Spandidakis supported the failed attempt, and was dismissed from his offices.