Greek Division in Cyprus
Greek Division | |
---|---|
Ελληνική Μεραρχία | |
Active | 1964-1967 |
Disbanded | 1967 |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Size | 7,000 - 10,000 troops |
Part of | Higher Military Command for the Defense of Cyprus (ASDAK) |
The Greek Division (Greek: Ελληνική Μεραρχία) or Menelaos Division (Μεραρχία «Μενέλαος» or ΕΛΔΥΚ-Μ) was a Greek army division which was secretly sent to Cyprus in 1964 to support it against a possible Turkish invasion until the Cypriot National Guard could handle the defense of Cyprus.[1]
In
The Division, alongside Georgios Grivas, was recalled back to Greece after the events that happened in Kofinou in 1967 and as a result of that, Cyprus was left in a very weakened state.[5] Since then, the removal of the Grivas and the Division have been criticized by strategists due to the fact that it left the island almost entirely weakened and susceptible to a Turkish invasion (Something that later happened in July 1974), the removal of Grivas also later causing infighting among Greek-Cypriots which culminated in a Junta-backed coup d'état against President Makarios III.[5][6]
See also
- Cyprus Emergency
- Battle of Tillyria
- Cyprus problem
- EOKA
- EOKA B
- Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT)
References
- ^ Syrigos, Aggelos (2018). "Η Ελληνική Μεραρχία στην Κύπρο (1964-68) και ο Ρόλος των Μεγάλων Δυνάμεων" [The Greek Division in Cyprus (1964-1968) and the role of the Big Powers] (PDF). strategein.gr.
- ^ "No. 5712, GREECE, TURKEY and CYPRUS, Treaty of Alliance (with Additional Protocols)" (PDF). 16 August 1960.
- ^ "Η άφιξη της ελληνικής Ειδικής Μεραρχίας στην Κύπρο - Γιατί ονομάστηκε «μονάδα αυτοκτονίας»". in.gr (in Greek). 2019-04-17. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ISBN 978-960-522-550-6.
- ^ a b Balaska, Eleni (2020-07-17). "Η απόφαση της χούντας να αποσύρει την ελληνική μεραρχία από την Κύπρο το 1967. Τι κατέθεσαν οι πραξικοπηματίες στην Βουλή για τον «Φάκελο της Κύπρου»". ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ Σήμερα .gr, Σαν. "Κύπρος: Από το Πραξικόπημα στην Εισβολή". Σαν Σήμερα .gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-05-25.