“Exploded military movement – Political men arrested“, Is the title that” Kathimerini “gave to a small Middle, which was published in the sheet of April 21, 1967.” The 2.30 morning armor captured the center of Athens. Under the stunned looks of the few Athenians, who are being seized, at this time, armored armor excluded the old palaces, while military forces seized OTE, EIR’s radio chambers, in Zappeion and the Ministries. At the same time, the issuer of ‘Everyday“, Eleni G. Vlachou, was in her office – then centrally to the newspaper on Socrates Street – and from her window she saw the chariots on the streets of Athens.
At dawn on April 21, 1967, Greece woke up to a new reality: Democracy has been overthrown, the Constitution has been suspended and a group of army officers, led by Colonels. George Papadopoulos and Nicholas and the brigade Styliano Patakoshe has understood power. A coup that surprised almost everyone and was about to lead the country to a seven -year dictatorship at heavy costs for democracy and society.
The volatility, the mistrust of the palace and the strengthening of Andrea Papandreou’s role have multiplied the fears of the conservative elite and the backstage centers of power.
The dictatorship of the colonels did not come from nowhere. It was the culmination of a deep institutional and political crisis which had its roots in the post -war Greek state, the Cold War and the chronic contradictions between democratic legitimacy and the “deep state” of the Armed Forces, the CYP and the Palace. Following the victory of the Union Center in the 1964 elections and the dramatic events of July 1965 – which became known as “Apostasy” – Greece entered a continuous political impasse. Instability, mistrust of the palace and the strengthening of the role of the rising Andrea Papandreou multiplied the fears of the conservative elite and the backstage centers of power.
In fact, Triandria Papadopoulos, Makarezou and Patakou were not the only ones who were preparing a coup. Similar diversion plans had already been devised by generals with the support of palace circles. The anticipation of postponing the May 1967 elections and imposing a temporary “legal” dictatorship by senior officers was pervasive. But the generals hesitated. This indecision has left room for the most decisive, as ruthless, a group of “techniques” of conspiracy.
THE King Constantine It was found before and despite the initial reservations over the new government.
Papadopoulos, due to his term in the CYP and his relationship with the American Information Mechanism, was aware of the interconnections to organize the business with conspiracy professionalism. Patakos, controlling the armor units in Goudi, was the performer, while Makarezos, from key positions, cultivated the climate of fear and uncertainty to justify an “extraordinary solution”. It is said that they had warned politicians and ministers clearly saying: ‘If you don’t move you will do something on our own” And they did.
On the pretext of the risk of communist overthrow and the “threat” that Andreas Papandreou was supposed to be junta He made mass arrests and censorship, the declaration of military law and the abolition of any democratic institution. THE King Constantine He was in the past and, despite his initial reservations, overwhelmed the new government, legalizing it, in a way.
The support that the regime eventually received from the military US mission was clear.
In the background, the attitude of USA was ambiguous. While the Embassy in Athens and the CIA station were aware of Triandria’s moves, Washington did not immediately gave “green light”. On the contrary, he chose a standby attitude. The ‘orange light’ received by conspirators from some American executives was considered enough. Papadopoulos’ personal contacts with Greek -American agents – human beings with common, extreme anti -communist beliefs – were critical, but they were never officially recorded. The support that the regime eventually received from the military US mission was clear, culminating in the statement of its commander -in -chief CIA In Athens, Jack Mori, when he read the characterization of dictatorship as “rape of democracy”: “Well, how can you rape a prostitute?‘
The coup on April 21, 1967 was a black page for Greece, which led to persecution, exile, torture and ultimately its national tragedy Cyprus. The leaders of the junta were condemned in 1975 and the country went to a new phase of democratic normalcy with the return of Constantine Karamanlis from Paris on July 24, 1974.
Column: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
