Nikolaos Plastiras
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2010) |
Nikolaos Plastiras | |
---|---|
Νικόλαος Πλαστήρας | |
George Papandreou | |
Succeeded by | Petros Voulgaris |
Personal details | |
Born | Lieutenant General | 4 November 1883
Unit | Archipelago Division |
Commands | 5/42 Evzone Regiment |
Battles/wars |
|
Nikolaos Plastiras (
During the
Early life
He was born in 1883, in
Military career
After finishing school in Karditsa, he joined the 5th Infantry Regiment as a volunteer in 1904. He fought in the
During the
After the Turkish breakthrough in August 1922, his unit have been ordered to counterattack at Kamelar mountain to regain Greek's positions. He didn't try on 13 August, but he did try and failed the following day. For this failure he was accused to be responsible for the 4th Greek Infantry Division destruction, supposed to get accusations on a court marshal.[3] His unit, 5/42 Evzones Regiment, was among others withdrawing orderly to the coast, fighting off superior Turkish forces and having serious casualties. The remnants of the Hellenic Army made their way to the islands of the Eastern Aegean.
September 1922 Revolution
The Army's resentment at the political leadership in
Having the support of the Army and much of the people, the revolutionary officers quickly entered Athens and assumed control of the country. He is reported by Penelope Delta, witness of the events, to have said to the crowd: "Why do you cheer? We lost, we came destroyed".
Plastiras forced
Plastiras faced multiple challenges in governing Greece. The 1.3 million refugees from the population exchange had to be catered for in a country with a ruined economy, internationally isolated and internally divided. The
Plastiras was even admired by his greatest enemy, Mustafa Kemal. At the end of the war, during the negotiations that took place regarding the exchange of populations between Greece and the newly formed Republic of Turkey, Atatürk is quoted telling Plastiras, "I gave gold and you gave me copper."[4]
Political career
The Republic that he had helped found proved an unstable one. Coups, counter-coups, the conflict between Venizelists/Republicans and Royalists, and constant economic problems plagued Greece. Plastiras, persecuted during the
He played a role in the creation of the
He returned to Greece in 1945, after his selection as
In 1949, after the end of the
References
- Old Style.
- ^ Kalaitzis, georgios, Infantry Colonel (1965). The Minor Asia Campaign, Operation Angora, volume 5, part 1. Athens: Army History Directorate, Greek Army General Staff. p. 160.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Greek Army General Stuff, History Directorate, The Minor Asia Campaign, author Aristidis Skylitsis, Colonel of the Artillery 7th volume, page 107
- ^ Boinodiris, Stavros. "Google Books" Andros Odyssey: Liberation: (1900–1940). iUniverse, 2010, p. 146.
- .