Georgios Grivas
leader of the EOKA guerrilla organization and EOKA B paramilitary organizatio
1898 CE to 1974 CE
Georgios Grivas (George Grivas) (July 5, 1898 - January 27, 1974), also known by his nom de guerre Digenis, which he adopts while in EOKA, is a Cyprus-born general in the Greek Army, leader of the EOKA guerrilla organization and EOKA B paramilitary organization.
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In Athens, enosis is a common topic of coffeehouse conversation, and Colonel George Grivas, a Cypriot native, is becoming known for his strong views on the subject.
Grivas, born in 1898 in the village of Trikomo about fifty kilometers northeast of Nicosia, is the son of a grain merchant.
After elementary education in the village school, he was sent to the Pancyprian Gymnasium.
Reportedly a good student, Grivas had gone to Athens at age seventeen to enter the Greek Military Academy.
As a young officer in the Greek army, he saw action in Anatolia during the Greco-Turkish War of 1920-22, in which he was wounded and cited for bravery.
Grivas's unit almost reached Ankara during the Anatolian campaign, and he was sorely disappointed as the Greek campaign turned into disaster.
However, he learned much about war, particularly guerrilla war.
When Italy invaded Greece in 1940, he was a lieutenant colonel serving as chief of staff of an infantry division.
Grivas, born in 1898 in the village of Trikomo about fifty kilometers northeast of Nicosia, is the son of a grain merchant.
After elementary education in the village school, he was sent to the Pancyprian Gymnasium.
Reportedly a good student, Grivas had gone to Athens at age seventeen to enter the Greek Military Academy.
As a young officer in the Greek army, he saw action in Anatolia during the Greco-Turkish War of 1920-22, in which he was wounded and cited for bravery.
Grivas's unit almost reached Ankara during the Anatolian campaign, and he was sorely disappointed as the Greek campaign turned into disaster.
However, he learned much about war, particularly guerrilla war.
When Italy invaded Greece in 1940, he was a lieutenant colonel serving as chief of staff of an infantry division.
In anticipation of an armed struggle to achieve enosis, Grivas tours Cyprus in July 1951 to study the people and terrain (his first visit in twenty years).
He discusses his ideas with Makarios but is disappointed by the archbishop's reservations about the
effectiveness of a guerrilla uprising.
From the beginning, as will be the case throughout their relationship, Grivas resents having to share
leadership with the archbishop.
Makarios, concerned about Grivas's extremism from their very first meeting, prefers to continue diplomatic efforts, particularly efforts to get the UN involved.
Entry of both Greece and Turkey into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) makes settlement of the Cyprus issue more important to the Western powers, but no new ideas are forthcoming.
He discusses his ideas with Makarios but is disappointed by the archbishop's reservations about the
effectiveness of a guerrilla uprising.
From the beginning, as will be the case throughout their relationship, Grivas resents having to share
leadership with the archbishop.
Makarios, concerned about Grivas's extremism from their very first meeting, prefers to continue diplomatic efforts, particularly efforts to get the UN involved.
Entry of both Greece and Turkey into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) makes settlement of the Cyprus issue more important to the Western powers, but no new ideas are forthcoming.
During the Nazi occupation of Greece, Grivas led a right-wing extremist organization known by the Greek letter X (Chi), which some authors describe as a band of terrorists and others call a
resistance group.
In his memoirs, Grivas will say that it was later British propaganda that blackened the good name of X.
At any rate, Grivas had earned a reputation as a courageous military leader, even though
his group was eventually banned.
Later, after an unsuccessful try in Greek politics, he turned his attention to his original home,
Cyprus, and to enosis.
For the rest of his life, Grivas will be devoted to this cause.
resistance group.
In his memoirs, Grivas will say that it was later British propaganda that blackened the good name of X.
At any rate, Grivas had earned a reputation as a courageous military leader, even though
his group was eventually banned.
Later, after an unsuccessful try in Greek politics, he turned his attention to his original home,
Cyprus, and to enosis.
For the rest of his life, Grivas will be devoted to this cause.
One year after the reconnaissance trip by Grivas, a secret meeting is arranged in Athens to bring together like-minded people in a Cyprus liberation committee.
Makarios chairs the meeting.
Grivas, who sees himself as the sole leader of the movement, once again is disappointed by the more moderate views of the archbishop.
The feelings of uneasiness that arise between the soldier and the cleric will never dissipate.
In the end, the two will become bitter enemies.
Makarios chairs the meeting.
Grivas, who sees himself as the sole leader of the movement, once again is disappointed by the more moderate views of the archbishop.
The feelings of uneasiness that arise between the soldier and the cleric will never dissipate.
In the end, the two will become bitter enemies.
The Cyprus problem intensifies in the late summer and fall of 1954.
On Cyprus the colonial government threatens advocates of enosis with up to five years' imprisonment and warns that anti-sedition laws will be strictly enforced.
The archbishop defies the law, but no action is taken against him.
On Cyprus the colonial government threatens advocates of enosis with up to five years' imprisonment and warns that anti-sedition laws will be strictly enforced.
The archbishop defies the law, but no action is taken against him.
The withdrawal of the 1948 constitutional proposals for Cyprus in favor of an alternative plan is announced by Henry L. Hopkinson, minister of state for the colonies, speaking in the British House of Commons in July 1954.
He goes on to state, "There are certain territories in the Commonwealth which, owing to their peculiar
circumstances, can never expect to be fully independent."
Hopkinson's "never" and the absence of any mention of enosis dooms the alternative from the beginning.
He goes on to state, "There are certain territories in the Commonwealth which, owing to their peculiar
circumstances, can never expect to be fully independent."
Hopkinson's "never" and the absence of any mention of enosis dooms the alternative from the beginning.
Greece's UN representative formally requests in August 1954 that self-determination for the people of Cyprus be included on the agenda of the General Assembly's next session.
That request is seconded by a petition to the secretary general from Archbishop Makarios.
The British position continues to be that the subject is an internal issue.
That request is seconded by a petition to the secretary general from Archbishop Makarios.
The British position continues to be that the subject is an internal issue.
Turkey rejects the idea of the union of Cyprus and Greece; its UN representative maintains that "the people of Cyprus were no more Greek than the territory itself."
The Turkish Cypriot community has consistently opposed the Greek Cypriot enosis movement, but had generally abstained from direct action because under British rule the Turkish minority status and identity are protected.
The expressed attitude of the Cyprus Turkish Minority Association is that, in the event of British withdrawal, control of Cyprus should simply revert to Turkey. (This position ignores the fact that Turkey had given up all rights and claims in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.)
The expressed attitude of the Cyprus Turkish Minority Association is that, in the event of British withdrawal, control of Cyprus should simply revert to Turkey. (This position ignores the fact that Turkey had given up all rights and claims in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.)
Turkish Cypriot identification with Turkey grows stronger, and after 1954 the Turkish government will become increasingly involved as the Cyprus problem becomes an international issue.
On the island, an underground political organization known as Volkan (volcano) is formed.
Volkan will eventually establish in 1957 the Turkish Resistance Organization (Turk Mukavemet Te§kilati—TMT), a guerrilla group that fights for Turkish Cypriot interests.
On the island, an underground political organization known as Volkan (volcano) is formed.
Volkan will eventually establish in 1957 the Turkish Resistance Organization (Turk Mukavemet Te§kilati—TMT), a guerrilla group that fights for Turkish Cypriot interests.
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