Ioannis Gennimatas

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Ioannis Gennimatas
Native name
Ιωάννης Γεννηματάς
Bornc. 1910
Gytheio, Kingdom of Greece
Diedc. 1981
Third Hellenic Republic
Allegiance
Service/branch 
Lieutenant General
Commands heldChief of the Hellenic Army General Staff
WarsWorld War II
  • Greco-Italian War
  • Battle of Greece
Greek Civil War
Awards Gold Cross of Valour[1]
RelationsGeorgios Gennimatas (nephew)

Ioannis Gennimatas (Greek: Ιωάννης Γεννηματάς; 1910–1981) was a Hellenic Army officer who rose to the rank of lieutenant general and the post of Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff in 1964–65. An ardently right-wing and royalist officer, he is notable for his involvement against the Centre Union party in the 1960s, which led to the political crisis of July 1965.

Life

Ioannis Gennimatas was born in

Greek government in exile as a company commander. In 1945, he was promoted to Major and fought in the Greek Civil War as company and battalion commander, ending the war with the rank of lieutenant colonel and as chief of staff of the 36th Brigade.[1]

Subsequently he served as commander of the

2nd Infantry Division, taught at the War Academy and served as its commander, before rising to First Deputy Chief of the General Staff and later CO of the II Army Corps. In 1960 he was promoted to major general and in 1962 to lieutenant general.[1]

Gennimatas was widely regarded as an enemy of the

February 1964 elections, its leader, Georgios Papandreou, favoured Lt General Andreas Siapkaras for the powerful post of Chief of the General Staff.[2] Nevertheless, Gennimatas was chosen as the new Chief of the Army General Staff on 19 April 1964,[1] as part of a tacit agreement between Papandreou and King Constantine II that had allowed Papandreou to accede to the premiership in exchange for not interfering with the King's control over the armed forces.[3]

In June 1965, however, Papandreou tried to solidify his control over the armed forces and planned to dismiss Gennimatas. This move was vehemently opposed by the King, but also by Papandreou's own Defence Minister,

Greek military junta of 1967–74
.

Gennimatas himself retired from his post and from the Army on 8 October 1965, and died in 1981.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 960-7897-44-7
    .
  2. ^ a b c "Στο σπίτι του Μητσοτάκη μαγειρεύτηκε η Αποστασία" (in Greek). Ta Nea. 11 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  3. ISBN 0-203-96963-4
    .
  4. ISBN 978-87-7289-583-3
    .
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff
19 April 1964 – 8 October 1965 		Succeeded by
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