If a Martian completely oblivious to concepts such as "parliamentary democracy", "army", "colonel", "king" etc. were to watch this video, he would -correctly- come to the conclusion that the position of the "American ambassador" is the ultimate authority in Greece.
If that is true, America would be the most efficient Empire the world had ever seem. USSR would genocide billions to have the power to rule over a country just with one ambasador
If a Greek that has great understanding of all these concepts looks at whatever has happened in Greece after WWII, he'd come to the conclusion that the ultimate authority in Greece is in fact the American ambassador.
Desire for fame, trying to make a name for themselves or settling some personal grudges perhaps? Or simply a belief that they could do a better job than the old guard?
@@hemidas the colonels should be to the rank of Brigadier generals But was getting slow promotions, something very common for people with questionable past during that period It also seems that Papadopoulos liked the idea of junta almost from the get go as officer cadet Also note that the reason why they was able to make their move was the fact that Papadopoulos was in charge of the " cladio operations" in Greece, if you are familiar with the term
Generally speaking, and no pun intended, promotion from Colonel to General often requires support from more senior military leadership as well as political support. If a person has those things, they tend to be on-side with a countries leadership. When they don't have those things they are subsequently no longer able to obtain further promotions and it can set them either in direct opposition to military and political leadership or at least disgruntled enough that they make take advantage of an opportunity to seize power themselves, bypassing the promotion stage altogether.
Even more impressive that Samuel Doe was only a sergeant and still dictator of Liberia. And H*tler left the army as a corporal so there’s still hope for plebs to be tyrannical dictators if they try hard enough😂
@@sirsurnamethefirstofhisnam7986 Hitler wasn't a military dictator. Military juntas involve people who seize power while still serving as military officers.
Bro, you voted him. It's your fault. When you win by 40+% it really says what you guys want. I voted the opposition but yall wanted small parties or this idiot to rule over, and you voted him
2:06 This is not Konstantinos Karamanlis in the "TV".He is Ioannis Zigdis. 12:21 Actually Rallis' message to the commander of the 3rd army corps,never arrived to him,because the officers that received that message were loyal to Papadopoulos,and not only they didn't inform their commander,but they arrested him also.
Brilliant Series . I lived in Marrickville in Sydney which at one stage was/is a huge Greek suburb of Sydney Australia. Tables near the post office would have all these old Greek patriarchal characters re arguing Greek politics every day. Fueled by homemade retsina it was a cultural phenomenon that was part of Greekness
The fact that we only argue now shows our weakness. The sons of omada X (nazi collaborators in greece) should never be allowed to "argue" with the sons of eamites or sons of people who just cried post ww2.
An important element of the coups was that on the night of the coups, a squad of infantry was sent to each police station in Greece. At each police station, the gun registration records were pulled and police officers escorted the soldiers to each location with a gun and confiscated them. By dawn there was not a registered gun in public hands . Shotguns were eventually returned where the owner could prove a need like hunting or protection from predators.
AND this is a great history lesson to show why the Second Amendment of the US Constitution prohibits any infringement on the right to bear arms. If the population is held captive by government, then you do not have a democracy at all. Would be dictators will think twice before trying to seize control over a well armed citizenry. All the monstrous regimes throughout history existed by eliminating the right of the citizens to bear arms. Any student of history knows this fact. Good governance involves the consent of the governed along with a strong sense of community, ethics, and morality on part of the population.
As greek this is the best representation of the topic i have ever seen. Keep up the good work and do some follew up videos about this topic and the royal coup
On the topic of military juntas, can you also please make a video on the numerous on-and-off military governments that ruled over Thailand throughout the Cold War. Please accept my request. Thank you very much.
A man that isn't often mentioned in videos, or researches about the junta is Zoitakis, The Greek General at the time.Without the support of him Papadopoulos wouldn't have taken by force the power.
Wrong mate! The key was the Spantithakis and the M47 M24 of Pattakos. The dark person was the US Andrew Papandreou and the Left. Clever and easy project.
Thank you for covering this. Like the estado novo in Portugal, I feel like the Junta is one of those forgotten dictatorships of Europe. I was born in Germany but both of my parents are Greek and have both lived in Greece for most of their life. Many of my relatives still live in Greece, but some also live in Germany and Switzerland. My grandma used to tell me about the Junta, because she had to flee the country. Her father who was in the Chorofylaki was imprisoned for supposedly having communist leanings (which he did not even have). I am still angered when people praised this horrible regime that failed at everything it tried to do. It practically destroyed Greece's relations with other countries for the time, it was build on baseless accusations of a communist takeover of Greece and accelerated the horrible situation in Cyprus that still lingers on today. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.
>Failed at everything it did Most of our industries, infrastructure, and social services (that still remain, that is) were built by them or Metaxas lol. Granted, they had their flaws (did not move to expose the corrupt political system or jail politicians and their cronies), and they did not solidify their state apparatus/purge the army (hence why Johannides went and conducted his coup). Focus on politics and such in your own country, my friend, including that $1.4 trillion bill you owe to Poland. Or how about your companies bribing Greek "democratic" politicians?
@@eljeffe3120 The narrative of people who their ansestors were German collaborators during occupation. Metaxas was puppet of England and economy during Papadopoulos dictatorship baced on building buildings. Both dictatorships were corrupt and deeply dangerous for the Greek nation.
@@eljeffe3120We have seen the deeds of those jerks at Cyprus. They pulled back a whole brigade of the army from the island they messed with the Cypriots internal affairs giving the Turkish the justified reason to invade. They tortured hundrends and silenced thousands. When l see supporters of the Nazi collaborator Papadopoulos l feel like puking. Crawl back where you came from.
@@eljeffe3120 why he should focus on his politics. You speak as if you know Greek politics yet you seem particularly happy about defending Military Juntas. 'Oh no they built roads and industry'. Ok and? Does that offset the fact that Democracy didn't exist? The fact that people were suppressed, tortured or had to flee the country? The fact that people got killed or wrongly imprisoned? The fact that you couldn't hold you beliefs freely? Yes, I see now, you're a conaseur of politics. The Junta was great. Let's worship the Junta. People were afraid to think for themselves and hold their opinions. People had to go through all kinds of shit because a group of military boneheads and facists thought they had some short of right to rule the country. But I guess they built roads and industry so there's that....
As a Greek born much later (80s) I can say that this was a rather good summary. Thanks. The former King proved useless and after the referendum of 1974, this is why Greece has King nomore.
More than useless. He waa olympic medalist jn sports but in his responsibilities aa king he was traitor. Recognizing demolition of system of government of state when you are supposed to support it as utmost responsibility of the role, is treason - betrayal.
Thank you for covering it in such a sensitive way, it is still quite a divisive subject, there are still some who call it a "revolution". It destroyed so many families with many being exiled and tortured by this regime or choosing self exile and those supporters still refuse to accept what happened. If you're ever in Athens you might want to visit the Museum of EAT-ESA which is one of the spaces where this torture happened and you can speak to survivors who work there
The colonels donated to Nixon and Spiro Agnew, the CIA directly assisted the coup. The goal was not allowing Greece to fall into communism ala vietnam part 2. They succeeded in that goal. Everything else was dogshit and the US should have stepped in MUCH quicker to fix their mess.
it is officially recognised as a revolution (atleast before the american controlled post junta government started to ideologically call it a coup). It is by all means and all ways to describe it, a revolution. It was also a very necessary one. Either the colonels ruled and restored security or the commies do a civil war again and try to give the nation to the USSR OR the King does a coup like he wanted and calls himself the dictator king OR Papandreou with EDA (secret KKE) does a coup and brings like 50-80k EAM guerillas to impose his power like he said he was willing to do. All in all, thank GOD for the colonels and what they did.
The King even suggested the Americans should help the him start a guerrilla war in northern Greece Btw the junta of the colonels ruled for 6 years not 7. The 7th year it was Ioannidis's junta who overthrew them that ruled
@@deprogrammThe king was nothing more than a US yesman, he was not looking for the good of the country, only to ensure he and the political elite, namely his buddies, stayed in power hand in hand with the imperialists of Washington. That's the status of the country ever since Papadopoulos's fall. The next man to lead the junta has Ioannedes, a US instalment, and then the transition to democracy, where the two parties that exchanged power purely served American interests
It is interesting that the King had not much of an idea about how to behave in an event such as a coup, considering that he asked the Americans, who obviously had more important issues, to deploy troops on Greece and overthrow the government. Even I wouldn't have done that!
Huh?? And who was he supposed to ask if not the country that had bases relatively nearby, supported Greece against communist takeover and had a sizeable army and political will to deploy it? If I were him I'd also call the British Tho I only think these powers would've staged an intervention only in the case of communist coup. Since this one was anti-communist, US didn't mind
@@georgenic64 That is no excuse, there have been many a king that were younger yet way more capable. Modern Greek monarchs, from Otto to Paul, were mostly incompetent and not particularly loved by the public.
Greece's geopolitical troubles and concerns from the Cold War remain the same today. Namely, the threat to Greece is from Turkey, (supposedly an ally!) not from "international communism" or from Russian revanchism. Most outsiders can't grasp this, and that is why you see so many people care about occupied Palestine or occupied Ukraine, but not occupied Cyprus...
Makarios III and Colonel George Grivas created and Greece funded EOKA which was an organization aimed at ethnically cleansing Turkish Cypriots and uniting Cyprus with Greece. But somehow Turkey (supposedly an ally!) is the threat isn’t it? Typical ultranationalist hypocracy.
The "threat" from Turkey is nothing more than a nationalist lie for propaganda purposes, while New Democracy completely destroyed the working class they use the new wall they build in Evros for migrants or their new military airplanes to gain support from the people.
Great video. Informative. Well presented. Though I must say, in a gentle way, please keep talking to camera, not slightly to the side. I really don't know why I find that so distracting...
Karamanlis will go on to create New Democracy in 1974,lead Greece from 1974-1981 and was the president of Democracy in the early 90s. Andreas Papandreou will go on to create PASOK and will lead greece from 1981-1989. Papandreou ,and to a smaller extend Karamanlis,modernized Greece a lot economically, militarily, socially, in terms of infrastructure and quality of life (even though that was also because of the economic miracle of the past 3 decades) . To this day the 80s,90s and early 2000s are considered the "golden age" of Greece even though they are the reason why the recent economic troubles that Greece faced and still faces happened.
Andreas Papandreou is responsible for some social progress but he deeply and thoroughly damaged the economy. We have very little to thank him for. Also, who calls the 80s, 90s and 2000s the 'golden age of Greece'? I never heard that before and I would not agree at all. People do say that it is impressive how democracy was for once stable, which was a very refreshing change, maybe that's what you mean. But then why just those decades, democracy is still stable today.
I disagree. Those days were the beginning of the end for Greece. The leftists merely seized the means of corruption and made it 10x worse in what was already an unindustrialized, low-trust society. It was people like Metaxas and, to a lesser extent, Papadopoulos that gave you social services, industries, infrastructure, electrification, plumbing, plans for nuclear reactors and metros, etc. In the 80s, 90s, and 2000s inflation, corruption, and stagnation were the hallmarks of Greece (if you do not count the fake, debt-fueled GDP that is). We had less than a 25% debt-to-GDP ratio in the early 70s; the junta kept winning OSCE awards for economic development and the drachma among the most stable currencies. I still cannot understand how there are clowns that still support PASOK, ND, SYRIZA, LAOS, etc. No political party, with very few and even then still questionable exceptions. Technocracy and stratocracy with local democratic institutions, federalization, corporatism, and industrialization (a la comrade Stalin-style) are the name of the game for us. Further proof that Greeks are uneducated and need firm guidance, better education, and bold leadership that takes the phrase "freedom or death" in the most literal way possible.
Economic miracle created only policy of colonel Markesinis.all after him destroyed the economy, created debt, scandals.i suggest to everyone to read the top historic writer of this period, Manos N.Chagidakis from Pelasgos publications and not someone write that the regin is bad because "harmed"his grandfather
Papandreou was against Greece entering the EU (EEC back then)! During the 80's he destroyed the greek economy. *The huge greek debt started amounting during the '80's because of his policies. Greek industry was actually exterminated in late '80's.* The audacity of putting him above Karamanlis is pure hubris! The real greek miracle took place during the second half of the '50's under ERE administration, *when the greek economy had the highest growth rate in Europe and the forth highest growth rate in the world (only behind Japan, Taiwan and S. Korea)!*
As a Turkish guy it is pretty strange to me how I am pretty familiar with some of the politicians names here Costas Caramannis, Yorgo Papandreo, these are very familiar to me, I guess these people or their prodigy maybe were still in politics all the way in the 90's where I would've heard those names spoken on TV.
Saddly, many people in Greece cling even to this day to names of familiar politicians and figures, re-electing them. The current political situation reeks of populism and nepotism resulting in a 50% turnout in this years elections (2023), as half the population (and most importantly the young) regard elections as insignificant. Many people also embraced far-right ideologies with the ongoing economic crisis exacerbating the phenomenon. Yet these same people are blaming Turkey, Europe, anyone but themselves for their decline. "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”, I guess. But a man can always hope for the better, despite expecting the worst. Peace and salutations from a grumpy neighbor.
It makes sense Georgios Papadreou was in politics since the 1922 coup - actually took part in it and was very close to it's leaders being a " venizelist" Eventually became prime minister His son Andreas Papadreou became also a prime minister in the 80s I would argue the most influential one his reforms made Greece a different country make in himself a sort of legend, the nation was fallen in love with him and he couldn't exist without people's admiration - literally he was bipolar.. His grandson Giorgos ( casual for Georgios) also known as giorgakis ( little George) also became a prime minister and was the one who mishandled the financial problems of late 00s Although we have to give it to him that as foreign minister he was the one who tried the hardest to normalize the relations between Greece and Turkey On the other hand Constantinos karamanlis was already a prime minister before the junta, he is really interesting because he was very conservative and authoritarian But after returning from exile he returned a different man very willing to make deep reforms and pretty much restart the country It was his decision to turn the death penalty of the junta leaders to life in prison - because he didn't want to have that first start "with blood on his hands " His nephew Kostas karamanlis also nicknamed kostakis ( you see a pattern here?) also became prime minister he really tried to live up to his name but it was during his second run that more or less the financial problems started due to the global recession and some questioble decisions He lost the elections after Giorgos Papadreou campaign known as " money exist" ( the coffers are not empty) and the rest is history BTW the" apostate " they mentioned in the video, was Constantinos Mitsotakis he also became prime minister and his son Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the corrent prime minister of Greece Although some say he is his grandson
@@JamesSarantidis you need to be cool headed bro, falling in to a nihilistic state isn't helpful either " when the path ends we are going to open a new one"
@@Pavlos_Charalambous Our country threw out the king, but even with democracy we managed to form dynasties. Papandreou, Mitsotakis, Karamanlis, Venizelos...... I wonder if and when the Greeks will decide to stop voting for people just because they know their last names.
You discussed Brezhnev in your Prague Spring episode, when are you going to get around to discussing how he came to power and ousted Khrushchev? That is one of the events that I have been anticipating for years.
I believe there are a few things that HAD to be mentioned for clarity. - Papadopoulos did not ever cooperate with the CIA. His rhetoric was anti-American, the US only tolerated his regime as long as he didn't reach out to US enemy countries, something which he eventually did once he knew the West in cooperation with the king, former political elites and even members among the junta wanted to topple him. - the centre party of Papandreou was NOT anti-American, sure, it was a bit critical, but nothing more. That rhetoric was used by the Colonels that it endangered the country with Czechoslovak-like communist coup, but it was never ever gonna side Greece with the USSR. Greece's stance with the West and NATO was accepted and embraced by the entirety of the political elites and the palace. Communist and nationalist elements were the only true anti-American voices. - the bad treatment of communists and suspected communists by the junta was a thing of the first year exclusively, when the country was still unstable and there was chaos everywhere. Papadopoulos stopped these manhunts and even freed many communists, only after his US-backed fall were communists thrown back into cages. - the junta revolution end goal WAS the re-transition to democracy. Thr authoritarian regime of Papadopoulos was seen provisional until the goals of the revolution were met and the country could proceed with stability. Ofc all that was cancelled after the US brought down Papadopoulos and installed Ioannedes, who also fell a year later and the American-puppet third Hellenic Republic followed, a US satellite to this very day
Although US was probably informed by the colonels and was aligned to it. In the video it says that it was supportive but then surprised - maybe the truth could be that the colonels informed CIA and CIA plans were aligned at the time to ones of Colonels.
Went to Greece recently and I noticed that these days there are much less pro-communist graffitis and propaganda than what in the preceding decades. Maybe conservatism is creeping back in the biggest way since the downfall of the Junta in the 70s.
yes the entire patern that is now in usa started from greece in the 80's goverment took bunch of loans none asked where they got them from and we will repay them he expandet so much the public sector in order to have a secure number of army voters and turning those people to lazy and make the life of the rest greeks difficult and also intruduced political parties in the universities that work as a gang you have to belong in one of them in order to be able to suceed in the university i miss those days of order
I hope that you mentioned the "patriotic junta" disarmed the Greek army from Cyprus at 1967 so they open an opportunity fon easy invasion for the Turks
Georgios Papadopoulos was the greek liaison officer for CIA and was the one who took office as their dictator in 1967 after the coup. There was a lot of focus on the Greek coup here in Denmark cause His Majesty, King Konstantinos was married to the Danish Royal Highness, Princess Anne-Marie.
Pattakos was the only one who didn't died in prison and the only one willing to talk about the period Also I don't know if you are familiar with Greek humor but people was making fun of him even during the junta calling him dumb witted ect. That worked in favor of him making look" lesser evil " or" sidekick " like making people more comfortable asking him questions and him more willing to answer 😉
@@Pavlos_Charalambous Not only Pattakos,but also Makarezos (the third part of the leaders) died at home,not in prison.They both were released in the early 90s,due to health problems.I prison died only Papadopoulos,Ntertilis,Aggelis (who commited suicide) and Ioannidis.
@@Pavlos_Charalambous True.Actually besides the health reasons,he was asked to sign for pardon,which he wouldn't do,so he died in the hospital as a prisoner.
As Churchill once said : Democracy is not perfect, still nothing else humans know better... Since dawn of human life up until now, we try to improve that... paying heavy costs for that... we, Little PEOPLE...
Sadly many of the same political families are still at the heart of the Greek political power and many senior figures in Greece's ruling New Democracy look back at the Junta with fond nostalgia
Lol New democracy is extremely against the junta since it wasn't a thieve leading but an actual Colonel who cared about the country and boosted it so much. The communists and the modern liberal Democrats(New democracy panhellenic socialist party and more)have always been a disaster for Hellenic history
This is a lovely channel I just discovered. If I had one tip: I think the lighting can be a bit improved. It looks like you are sitting in a shadow, can be fixed with a soft direct light. Otherwise keep up the incredible content!
My dad told me during this dictatorship the economy was booming, There was no debt. The military strength Was at a all time high Producing our own weapons and Military vehicles, Electricity was brought to every village, no matter how remote And there were some pakistanis Living in Greece saying that if there's ever a war between greece and Turkey, they will take the Turkish side, He immediately deported all of them and closed down the Pakistani embassy.
if that's the case, then why was Greece completely unable to stop Turkey during the invasion of Cyprus. The military was in shambles. Not even a proper draft could be organized.
@Atreas40000 Due to fear of American involvement (who were on Turkey's side, look at the comments of kissinger regarding Cyprus)by the then dictator Ioannidis, who was an American puppet
Yes, it was always wonderful for the haves. How many Colonels stole swaths of land and built villas due to corruption.. their families still enjoy these unearned assets to this day? The economy was not booming. That just memory loss due to nostalgia.
Hello there,i am from Greece i am no fascists or autocratic but i have to admit that when Regime of the Colonels ruled Greece the country was way better compare to the messy state that democracy brought us.There was no debt crisis,no puppets who serve the interests for foreign powers,better army,a more self-relient country and i didn't even lived back then,but i appreciate them.But ,when you look how messy the situation was during Cold war with short governments,army intervetions,left vs right you dont need to wonder why Greece today face such chaos.
A few decades ago a guy I knew hitched a ride, in Greece, with a truck driver who spoke English. He described the day that it was announced on the radio that the Colonel's regime had ended. A crowd gathered at the village police station and caught the three policemen who manned the place slipping out the back door in civilian clothes. After a fair trial lasting about ten seconds the crowd attached concrete blocks to the men's feet and threw them in the harbour. Shows how popular the regime was...
Well it was popular the police officers of the village where probably from the ones that were abusing their power my great grandfather was a communist at the time got several beatings but when i was speaking to them they always said the country was way better its not randomly called the 7 gold years the Only reason it collapsed was because patakos the cia puppet did a coup to Papadopoulos and lost Cyprus
The 6 day War was the true reason for the Papadopoulos military attack. The "communism" fairy tale was supposed to say that was the reason. But Papadopoulos didnt keep same line and order when Egypt attacked Israel in 1973.Thats why Ioannides took ove threw Papadopoulos and 25 Nov 1973 took over. . Andreas Papandreou tried to make political dictatorship with ASPIDA in 1966-67 but failed on contrary with Papadopoulos who succeded (with the other two)
Extremist right narrative. Yom Kipur been held on October 1973 while Papadopoulos regime fallen after November 17th. Six days war been held on June of 1967 while dictatorship established on Aipril.
This reminded me that to this day, the extent of the King's incompetence during this pivotal moment is not well understood or spoken about in my country. The man was genuinely confused as to why the people thought that he was complicit in the Coup since it should have been completely obvious that he was against it...because he didn't smile during the photos of the coup government's inauguration. Didn't they know that he was very smiling in general? He has repeated this with a stunned expression again and again throughout the years and he only looked even more confused about it as the years passed.
Generally, this is stricktly the official American aspect on the topic. In reality, the Junta coup d' etat had been organized since a long time ago from the CIA in Langley, in order to ensure that Greece would still be part of the American-led camp, at any cost...
@@MrThessalonikiman1 This was a much more democratic, flexible, open to dialogue, mutually beneficial, just, and well managed party than the competing pne of USSR.
@@innosanto Nope. I have known people who lived both in Greece and the USSR. The USSRs only actual restraints were in traveling to the United States and religion. Other than that it had a lot of freedoms and social programs. The Greek Juniata on the other hand was nazi Germany strict. There was NO democratic processes, the economy sucked, political suppression was both enforced into citizens and politicians, foreign relations were below zero and multiple geopolitical catastrophes (Cyprus) . The USSR wasn't perfect but it mended and advanced the societies in it from the WW2 and political civil wars that regularly happened before it. The Greek junta completely disregarded democracy, depowered Greeces role in global relations, prevented reunification with Cyprus (which is Greek) and destroyed Greece economically.
It was Pattakos's resolve to make the coup happen. He was the absolute worst of all of them. As for CIA ties, there are photos of Papadopoulos meeting with Greek-American CIA agents. It's just that CIA didn't expect Papadopoulos and the others to take the blame for something figures like Spantidakis and Zoitakis and some palace staff(Frederica mainly, that was the woman behind most of the instability as the king was merely a child) had been slowly trying to do for years. Amazing job anyway!
Interesting possible alt history if the Colonels had been resisted before they got the chance to fully cement themselves. Didn't know that they (for the lack of a better term) viewed themselves as a paper tiger relying on bluster and visual deterrents when they confronted the King.
When the coup broke out they roughly had 100 foot soldiers at their command and a handful of tanks - most of them without full crew but they Quickly took over the army's HQ placing this way themselves in command of the army In that point without having clear orders from the government the king or anyone most commanders just accepted the fact.. Take it with a pinch of salt but allegedly when Papadopoulos arrived at the HQ.. Riding a taxi the guard at the gate was so Petrified that Papadopoulos just took his gun of his hands telling him something along the lines of " I will handle this before you get yourself or anyone else harmed"
Would it be possible for you guys to do an episode specifically if possible on the spy, Robert Hansen? He spied for the Soviet union through the FBI and later Russia. I’m sure you’re aware of him. I just haven’t seen a video.
My dear friend, by watching your video it comes to mind a tv reportage by a Greek reporter that had the exact same content but with statements taken buy the protagonists of the junta.... Nice work by the way... 🎉
Great video however you have some inaccuracies for example Andreas Papandreou and his father weren't leftists like at all. And Andreas was never anti-American. They were politicians of the center. The army 'feared' EDA wich was leftists supported by the communist party of Greece.
Please watch the Dean Acheson Plan of 1965, the situation in Cyprus, and the fact that the Papandreou - Papadopoulos families were related. Thank you for your time.
Because people were also sick of the political instability. Papandreou and Karamanlis were exposed for scandal after scandal. Papadopoulos actually brought six years of stability and progress, a true revolution
@@samswift102 it's human nature, most people won't react unless they see others take the first steps Imagine it like the freeze reaction rape victims get but on a massive scale When pattakos was interviewed he literally said that if people had raised resistance the coup would be impossible When he was asked what if people had tried to stop them He replied " bloodshed".. A great uncle of mine at the first night had the brilliant idea to go and by milk for his children after dask On his way a soldier gave him a warning shot between his legs My uncle was like " for God sake am trying to buy milk for my children!" The Corporal in charge of the 2 men patrol replied " it's Martial law!! You should be out in the street!!!" Then proceed to the grosery store all together because the corporal wasn't convinced They reach the store but couldn't find the owner Eventually the owner opened the door really petrified - what to you want - milk The shop owner gave the" evil eye "to my uncle, like" what the hell you was thinking? " By the way the rape analogy was given by a American diplomat He said to the Cia head in Greece" this is a rape of democracy "only to receive the answer" how you can rape a hore? “ If you can find it in English try to find Mikis Theodorakis interview about the period, and also the period before
I would think because if you're a general you've reached the top you have access , you have power , but if you're a colonel , a lot of them have been sidetracked into dead ends, they are RIGHT THERE, but for whatever reason are afraid they wont reach the top. But on the flip side they have enough rank.Did they actually carry authority in or able to pull it off?Maybe that's why but good catch on that
Imagine throwing away your democracy, a concept birthed in your country, to avoid a government that was actively improving people’s lives, health and education. We’re so close to this happening again in a Western democracy it’s tragic.
The thing is that Bill Clinton in 1999 during his speach in the Greek parliament apologized about the US policy during Junta. Too late, too many bad made.
Does anyone knows where the term "military junta" comes from? The word junta I believe is in Spanish. I'm used to hear about the junta from the 77 coup in Argentina but it seemed strange to me seeing the word in and English speaking context.
@@ProjectInsight44 I´m from Argentina, and I remember the last dictatorship was call "The junta" I look it up and it comes from Spain back when it had control over our countries as colonies, they had "Juntas de gobierno" when Napoleon invaded Spain and here in Argentina (back then provincias unidas del rio de la plata) we had the firts junta "la primera junta" de gobierno.
@@alejandro4300yes, this is correct. Various South American military dictatorships ultimately were referred to as Juntas, with the term being directly taken from the Spanish Junta. Combined with the Spanish origin and Military Juntas being an uncommon form of governance/dictatorship, the English language simply uses Junta as a loanword; it’s niche enough to where the invention of an English translation isn’t necessary.
Hello,The Cold War. I am a Greek Historian and i real liked this Video by you. But,i have to recommend to you to read the Books of the Greek Historian Mr. Manos Xatzidakis about this subject,named:"Βιογραφία του Γεωργίου Παπαδόπουλου (Vol A-D) and his book named "Γιατί, ποιοί και πώς Έγινε η Επανάσταση της 21ης Απριλίου 1967;". They are great books about this subject that you presented. I think that they will really help you in future videos about this subject.
An act of monumental stupidity on the part of Konstantinos II in not openly opposing the coup: he doomed his people to seven years of dictatorship, and doomed the Greek (constitutional) monarcy's chances of ever being restored (again, it had already been restored twice). So he basically doomed his people, and his families throne. Good job they're a junior branch of the Danish Royal Family, and are directly related to the British one (Charles III is related in the direct male line through his father, who was Konstantinos II's cousin).
It was an American plot to install a junta in Greece and the purpose was to remove the greek Brigade in Cyprus, which the junta ordered at once. If that Brigade existed in Cyprus then the Turkish invasion wouldn't happen.
Greek nationalist conspiracy theory. Greek Junta literally made a coup in Cyprus in 1974 to start the unification of Cyprus and Greece. They installed a pro-enosis leader. But yeah I am sure Turkish invasion has nothing to do with Greece intervening militarily in Cyprus and installing pro-enosis sampson puppet to annex the island. It was all definitely planned. And who should we blame it? Yes, blame the Americans. It is easier to blame the Americans than taking responsibility for your own mistakes.
@@DCCrisisclips No. The order for the withdrawal of the greek Brigade was given 1968 from Papadopoulos. They were the useful idiots that betrayed the greek Cypriots.
Let's start how many names you misspelled: A) Καραμανλής - Karamanlis Β) Μακαρέζος - Makarezos C) Παττακός - Patakos D) Πανουργιάς - Panourgias E) Περικλής - Periklis and 1909 Γουδί - Goudi & Σύνταγμα - Syntagma square Next time you do something with Greece I can help you with the names....😃
If a Martian completely oblivious to concepts such as "parliamentary democracy", "army", "colonel", "king" etc. were to watch this video, he would -correctly- come to the conclusion that the position of the "American ambassador" is the ultimate authority in Greece.
If that is true, America would be the most efficient Empire the world had ever seem. USSR would genocide billions to have the power to rule over a country just with one ambasador
it is
If a Greek that has great understanding of all these concepts looks at whatever has happened in Greece after WWII, he'd come to the conclusion that the ultimate authority in Greece is in fact the American ambassador.
@@Wok_Agenda If it wasn't for the US embasies you be at the trenches fighting turks right now
Not after Andreas Papandreou came to power in 1981. But of course the US has still a major influence but not like the past
Don't think about the mispronunciations. You still did a good job. Great as always. Greetings from Corfu, Greece.
Good luck with all those wildfires. We have a lot of the same in the US. Stay safe.
@@chrishanneman1298
Marjorie Taylor Greene:
"Jewish Space Lazers"
G-a-oudi was the mispronounciation.
@@kajamixit isn't, that's just how its pronounced in English
@@outerspace7391 no it's not
I'm fascinated by how often military juntas are lead by Colonels, not Generals.
Desire for fame, trying to make a name for themselves or settling some personal grudges perhaps? Or simply a belief that they could do a better job than the old guard?
@@hemidas the colonels should be to the rank of Brigadier generals
But was getting slow promotions, something very common for people with questionable past during that period
It also seems that Papadopoulos liked the idea of junta almost from the get go as officer cadet
Also note that the reason why they was able to make their move was the fact that Papadopoulos was in charge of the " cladio operations" in Greece, if you are familiar with the term
Generally speaking, and no pun intended, promotion from Colonel to General often requires support from more senior military leadership as well as political support. If a person has those things, they tend to be on-side with a countries leadership. When they don't have those things they are subsequently no longer able to obtain further promotions and it can set them either in direct opposition to military and political leadership or at least disgruntled enough that they make take advantage of an opportunity to seize power themselves, bypassing the promotion stage altogether.
Even more impressive that Samuel Doe was only a sergeant and still dictator of Liberia. And H*tler left the army as a corporal so there’s still hope for plebs to be tyrannical dictators if they try hard enough😂
@@sirsurnamethefirstofhisnam7986 Hitler wasn't a military dictator. Military juntas involve people who seize power while still serving as military officers.
Those same political dynasties of Papandreou and Karamanlis now passed on to Mitsotakis family are still the plague of our country
Exactly
Check value of a person and dont group families.
@@innosanto families tend to run the same way due to being raised in that way. just how it is.
@@innosantoyou could say that if you have a normal family but with politicians and their families it's all a group.
Bro, you voted him. It's your fault. When you win by 40+% it really says what you guys want. I voted the opposition but yall wanted small parties or this idiot to rule over, and you voted him
They also were known as the "Dictatorship of the Colonels"
Glory to them
@@thecrippledone3325no dictatorship is worthy of glorification
@@Gooseplan you're not Greek. You don't speak for us. Mind your own country. The Greek people know who their friends are.
@@Gooseplan with a Cuban flag lmao. Get gone Fidel.
@@thecrippledone3325 I don’t need to be Greek to know dictatorship is bad.
2:06 This is not Konstantinos Karamanlis in the "TV".He is Ioannis Zigdis.
12:21 Actually Rallis' message to the commander of the 3rd army corps,never arrived to him,because the officers that received that message were loyal to Papadopoulos,and not only they didn't inform their commander,but they arrested him also.
Gotta love that comment about the royal security being worried about pistols when tanks were parked outside.
lol
Brilliant Series . I lived in Marrickville in Sydney which at one stage was/is a huge Greek suburb of Sydney Australia. Tables near the post office would have all these old Greek patriarchal characters re arguing Greek politics every day. Fueled by homemade retsina it was a cultural phenomenon that was part of Greekness
Do greek are be see goid in australia
It’s a Greek thing since the ages of Pericles and Socrates…this is how we got democracy…
The fact that we only argue now shows our weakness. The sons of omada X (nazi collaborators in greece) should never be allowed to "argue" with the sons of eamites or sons of people who just cried post ww2.
An important element of the coups was that on the night of the coups, a squad of infantry was sent to each police station in Greece. At each police station, the gun registration records were pulled and police officers escorted the soldiers to each location with a gun and confiscated them. By dawn there was not a registered gun in public hands . Shotguns were eventually returned where the owner could prove a need like hunting or protection from predators.
AND this is a great history lesson to show why the Second Amendment of the US Constitution prohibits any infringement on the right to bear arms. If the population is held captive by government, then you do not have a democracy at all. Would be dictators will think twice before trying to seize control over a well armed citizenry. All the monstrous regimes throughout history existed by eliminating the right of the citizens to bear arms. Any student of history knows this fact. Good governance involves the consent of the governed along with a strong sense of community, ethics, and morality on part of the population.
As greek this is the best representation of the topic i have ever seen. Keep up the good work and do some follew up videos about this topic and the royal coup
Although it may be that US knew about it and was not surprised about it since was informed and was aligned with that.
Wrong…If you want the truth about this history, look to what Dr. Mathew Raphael Jonson has to say on this.
On the topic of military juntas, can you also please make a video on the numerous on-and-off military governments that ruled over Thailand throughout the Cold War. Please accept my request. Thank you very much.
That would be like a 4 hour documentary lol
@@pegcity4eva: ...and you'd have to be careful not to insult the King of Thailand
A man that isn't often mentioned in videos, or researches about the junta is Zoitakis, The Greek General at the time.Without the support of him Papadopoulos wouldn't have taken by force the power.
Then we should thank zoitakis aswell for leveling up Greece and banning the communists once again. What a great time to live in
Wrong mate! The key was the Spantithakis and the M47 M24 of Pattakos. The dark person was the US Andrew Papandreou and the Left. Clever and easy project.
In Italy the city council is called junta (giunta) . Every time I hear junta I think my small town mayor has overtrowned a foreign president 😂
They're cognates. In Sweden a junta could also be a group of women meeting for sewing, knitting and drinking coffee.
The junta of the mayors.
We are pronuncing that, the same as exactly a Spanish could pronounce that word according to the spanish phonology. (Hunta)
Their level of competency is not better than city councils hahaha.
@@MrThessalonikiman1 😂
Thank you for this video.This topic isn't covered much on RUclips or mainstream media.
U guys truly do an amazing job keep it up
"You are being liberated, do not resist." -Random Soldier to the King.
That’s a great video David !! Grats on doing a video on the Greek junta
Thank you for covering this. Like the estado novo in Portugal, I feel like the Junta is one of those forgotten dictatorships of Europe. I was born in Germany but both of my parents are Greek and have both lived in Greece for most of their life. Many of my relatives still live in Greece, but some also live in Germany and Switzerland. My grandma used to tell me about the Junta, because she had to flee the country. Her father who was in the Chorofylaki was imprisoned for supposedly having communist leanings (which he did not even have). I am still angered when people praised this horrible regime that failed at everything it tried to do. It practically destroyed Greece's relations with other countries for the time, it was build on baseless accusations of a communist takeover of Greece and accelerated the horrible situation in Cyprus that still lingers on today.
Love your videos. Keep up the good work.
>Failed at everything it did
Most of our industries, infrastructure, and social services (that still remain, that is) were built by them or Metaxas lol. Granted, they had their flaws (did not move to expose the corrupt political system or jail politicians and their cronies), and they did not solidify their state apparatus/purge the army (hence why Johannides went and conducted his coup).
Focus on politics and such in your own country, my friend, including that $1.4 trillion bill you owe to Poland. Or how about your companies bribing Greek "democratic" politicians?
I totally agree with you my fellow compatriot! I am also getting really frustrated when people praise this horrible regime
@@eljeffe3120 The narrative of people who their ansestors were German collaborators during occupation. Metaxas was puppet of England and economy during Papadopoulos dictatorship baced on building buildings. Both dictatorships were corrupt and deeply dangerous for the Greek nation.
@@eljeffe3120We have seen the deeds of those jerks at Cyprus.
They pulled back a whole brigade of the army from the island they messed with the Cypriots internal affairs giving the Turkish the justified reason to invade.
They tortured hundrends and silenced thousands.
When l see supporters of the Nazi collaborator Papadopoulos l feel like puking. Crawl back where you came from.
@@eljeffe3120 why he should focus on his politics. You speak as if you know Greek politics yet you seem particularly happy about defending Military Juntas.
'Oh no they built roads and industry'. Ok and? Does that offset the fact that Democracy didn't exist? The fact that people were suppressed, tortured or had to flee the country? The fact that people got killed or wrongly imprisoned? The fact that you couldn't hold you beliefs freely? Yes, I see now, you're a conaseur of politics. The Junta was great. Let's worship the Junta. People were afraid to think for themselves and hold their opinions. People had to go through all kinds of shit because a group of military boneheads and facists thought they had some short of right to rule the country. But I guess they built roads and industry so there's that....
As a Greek born much later (80s) I can say that this was a rather good summary. Thanks.
The former King proved useless and after the referendum of 1974, this is why Greece has King nomore.
More than useless. He waa olympic medalist jn sports but in his responsibilities aa king he was traitor. Recognizing demolition of system of government of state when you are supposed to support it as utmost responsibility of the role, is treason - betrayal.
Although I know that itvis way beyond your scope, I wish you could tackle the long string of military coups here in Thailand.
@@RandoUploader3 🤜🤛👊👏
Thoroughly researched, objective, and well presented - bravo! (and not too shabby on the pronunciation of all those Greek names).👍🙂
Great piece of history. Kudos to your work 👏
Thank you for covering it in such a sensitive way, it is still quite a divisive subject, there are still some who call it a "revolution". It destroyed so many families with many being exiled and tortured by this regime or choosing self exile and those supporters still refuse to accept what happened. If you're ever in Athens you might want to visit the Museum of EAT-ESA which is one of the spaces where this torture happened and you can speak to survivors who work there
The colonels donated to Nixon and Spiro Agnew, the CIA directly assisted the coup. The goal was not allowing Greece to fall into communism ala vietnam part 2. They succeeded in that goal. Everything else was dogshit and the US should have stepped in MUCH quicker to fix their mess.
Didn't the 21st of April realease convicts from prison and exile ?
it is officially recognised as a revolution (atleast before the american controlled post junta government started to ideologically call it a coup). It is by all means and all ways to describe it, a revolution. It was also a very necessary one. Either the colonels ruled and restored security or the commies do a civil war again and try to give the nation to the USSR OR the King does a coup like he wanted and calls himself the dictator king OR Papandreou with EDA (secret KKE) does a coup and brings like 50-80k EAM guerillas to impose his power like he said he was willing to do.
All in all, thank GOD for the colonels and what they did.
The King even suggested the Americans should help the him start a guerrilla war in northern Greece
Btw the junta of the colonels ruled for 6 years not 7. The 7th year it was Ioannidis's junta who overthrew them that ruled
Looking back it was probably a good idea not to do any of the kings plans.
@@SiPakRubahWhy?
@@SiPakRubahcringe
@@deprogrammThe king was nothing more than a US yesman, he was not looking for the good of the country, only to ensure he and the political elite, namely his buddies, stayed in power hand in hand with the imperialists of Washington. That's the status of the country ever since Papadopoulos's fall. The next man to lead the junta has Ioannedes, a US instalment, and then the transition to democracy, where the two parties that exchanged power purely served American interests
To be fair; as a constitutional monarch; there isn't much he could have done (apart from refusing to appoint one of the m PM).
It is interesting that the King had not much of an idea about how to behave in an event such as a coup, considering that he asked the Americans, who obviously had more important issues, to deploy troops on Greece and overthrow the government. Even I wouldn't have done that!
Huh?? And who was he supposed to ask if not the country that had bases relatively nearby, supported Greece against communist takeover and had a sizeable army and political will to deploy it? If I were him I'd also call the British
Tho I only think these powers would've staged an intervention only in the case of communist coup. Since this one was anti-communist, US didn't mind
Lol it wasn't the first time they did this.
He was arnd 25 years old when this happened and he was on the throne for only about 2.
@@georgenic64 That is no excuse, there have been many a king that were younger yet way more capable. Modern Greek monarchs, from Otto to Paul, were mostly incompetent and not particularly loved by the public.
@@nickklavdianos5136 because actually none of them were greek
Greece's geopolitical troubles and concerns from the Cold War remain the same today. Namely, the threat to Greece is from Turkey, (supposedly an ally!) not from "international communism" or from Russian revanchism. Most outsiders can't grasp this, and that is why you see so many people care about occupied Palestine or occupied Ukraine, but not occupied Cyprus...
You forgot to put quotation marks. You should've said "Russian revanchism"
@@outerspace7391wtf is ryssian
Makarios III and Colonel George Grivas created and Greece funded EOKA which was an organization aimed at ethnically cleansing Turkish Cypriots and uniting Cyprus with Greece. But somehow Turkey (supposedly an ally!) is the threat isn’t it? Typical ultranationalist hypocracy.
The "threat" from Turkey is nothing more than a nationalist lie for propaganda purposes, while New Democracy completely destroyed the working class they use the new wall they build in Evros for migrants or their new military airplanes to gain support from the people.
Great video. Informative. Well presented. Though I must say, in a gentle way, please keep talking to camera, not slightly to the side. I really don't know why I find that so distracting...
Nice introduction of that conflict between two allies of NATO membership
Very good documentary. I am Greek and I 100% approve!
I am Greek and I don’t approve. If you want the truth about this history, look to what Dr. Mathew Raphael Jonson has to say on this.
Karamanlis will go on to create New Democracy in 1974,lead Greece from 1974-1981 and was the president of Democracy in the early 90s. Andreas Papandreou will go on to create PASOK and will lead greece from 1981-1989. Papandreou ,and to a smaller extend Karamanlis,modernized Greece a lot economically, militarily, socially, in terms of infrastructure and quality of life (even though that was also because of the economic miracle of the past 3 decades) .
To this day the 80s,90s and early 2000s are considered the "golden age" of Greece even though they are the reason why the recent economic troubles that Greece faced and still faces happened.
Andreas Papandreou is responsible for some social progress but he deeply and thoroughly damaged the economy. We have very little to thank him for.
Also, who calls the 80s, 90s and 2000s the 'golden age of Greece'? I never heard that before and I would not agree at all. People do say that it is impressive how democracy was for once stable, which was a very refreshing change, maybe that's what you mean. But then why just those decades, democracy is still stable today.
@@megasbaladoros because those ages are when the quality of life reached its peak
I disagree. Those days were the beginning of the end for Greece. The leftists merely seized the means of corruption and made it 10x worse in what was already an unindustrialized, low-trust society. It was people like Metaxas and, to a lesser extent, Papadopoulos that gave you social services, industries, infrastructure, electrification, plumbing, plans for nuclear reactors and metros, etc. In the 80s, 90s, and 2000s inflation, corruption, and stagnation were the hallmarks of Greece (if you do not count the fake, debt-fueled GDP that is). We had less than a 25% debt-to-GDP ratio in the early 70s; the junta kept winning OSCE awards for economic development and the drachma among the most stable currencies.
I still cannot understand how there are clowns that still support PASOK, ND, SYRIZA, LAOS, etc. No political party, with very few and even then still questionable exceptions. Technocracy and stratocracy with local democratic institutions, federalization, corporatism, and industrialization (a la comrade Stalin-style) are the name of the game for us. Further proof that Greeks are uneducated and need firm guidance, better education, and bold leadership that takes the phrase "freedom or death" in the most literal way possible.
Economic miracle created only policy of colonel Markesinis.all after him destroyed the economy, created debt, scandals.i suggest to everyone to read the top historic writer of this period, Manos N.Chagidakis from Pelasgos publications and not someone write that the regin is bad because "harmed"his grandfather
Papandreou was against Greece entering the EU (EEC back then)! During the 80's he destroyed the greek economy. *The huge greek debt started amounting during the '80's because of his policies. Greek industry was actually exterminated in late '80's.*
The audacity of putting him above Karamanlis is pure hubris! The real greek miracle took place during the second half of the '50's under ERE administration, *when the greek economy had the highest growth rate in Europe and the forth highest growth rate in the world (only behind Japan, Taiwan and S. Korea)!*
This video must be viewed a few hours later with a bucket of pop corn and many comments
Nice
As a Turkish guy it is pretty strange to me how I am pretty familiar with some of the politicians names here Costas Caramannis, Yorgo Papandreo, these are very familiar to me, I guess these people or their prodigy maybe were still in politics all the way in the 90's where I would've heard those names spoken on TV.
Their kids were prime ministers and heads of big political parties until the early 2010s the guys in control in the 60s died long ago.
Saddly, many people in Greece cling even to this day to names of familiar politicians and figures, re-electing them. The current political situation reeks of populism and nepotism resulting in a 50% turnout in this years elections (2023), as half the population (and most importantly the young) regard elections as insignificant. Many people also embraced far-right ideologies with the ongoing economic crisis exacerbating the phenomenon. Yet these same people are blaming Turkey, Europe, anyone but themselves for their decline. "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”, I guess. But a man can always hope for the better, despite expecting the worst. Peace and salutations from a grumpy neighbor.
It makes sense
Georgios Papadreou was in politics since the 1922 coup - actually took part in it and was very close to it's leaders being a " venizelist"
Eventually became prime minister
His son Andreas Papadreou became also a prime minister in the 80s I would argue the most influential one his reforms made Greece a different country make in himself a sort of legend, the nation was fallen in love with him and he couldn't exist without people's admiration - literally he was bipolar..
His grandson Giorgos ( casual for Georgios) also known as giorgakis ( little George) also became a prime minister and was the one who mishandled the financial problems of late 00s
Although we have to give it to him that as foreign minister he was the one who tried the hardest to normalize the relations between Greece and Turkey
On the other hand Constantinos karamanlis was already a prime minister before the junta, he is really interesting because he was very conservative and authoritarian
But after returning from exile he returned a different man very willing to make deep reforms and pretty much restart the country
It was his decision to turn the death penalty of the junta leaders to life in prison - because he didn't want to have that first start "with blood on his hands "
His nephew Kostas karamanlis also nicknamed kostakis ( you see a pattern here?) also became prime minister he really tried to live up to his name but it was during his second run that more or less the financial problems started due to the global recession and some questioble decisions
He lost the elections after Giorgos Papadreou campaign known as " money exist" ( the coffers are not empty) and the rest is history
BTW the" apostate " they mentioned in the video, was Constantinos Mitsotakis he also became prime minister and his son Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the corrent prime minister of Greece
Although some say he is his grandson
@@JamesSarantidis you need to be cool headed bro, falling in to a nihilistic state isn't helpful either
" when the path ends we are going to open a new one"
@@Pavlos_Charalambous Our country threw out the king, but even with democracy we managed to form dynasties. Papandreou, Mitsotakis, Karamanlis, Venizelos...... I wonder if and when the Greeks will decide to stop voting for people just because they know their last names.
I learn so much from your channel. Thank you for all you do here.
You were pretty good with most pronunciations don't worry. Keep it up from Crete, Greece
If you want the truth about this history, look to what Dr. Mathew Raphael Jonson has to say on this.
You discussed Brezhnev in your Prague Spring episode, when are you going to get around to discussing how he came to power and ousted Khrushchev? That is one of the events that I have been anticipating for years.
Can you make a video over metapolitefsi (greek transition to democracy) in 1975 next
This could be a series of videos, this topic is really hard to cope with
Minute 02:30 The Greek politician in the video, is not Karamanlis. It is probably Ioannis Zigdis from sometime in the 70s.
Hello, am new subscriber. Save first and then listen to. Thank you for sharing this informative content.
I believe there are a few things that HAD to be mentioned for clarity.
- Papadopoulos did not ever cooperate with the CIA. His rhetoric was anti-American, the US only tolerated his regime as long as he didn't reach out to US enemy countries, something which he eventually did once he knew the West in cooperation with the king, former political elites and even members among the junta wanted to topple him.
- the centre party of Papandreou was NOT anti-American, sure, it was a bit critical, but nothing more. That rhetoric was used by the Colonels that it endangered the country with Czechoslovak-like communist coup, but it was never ever gonna side Greece with the USSR. Greece's stance with the West and NATO was accepted and embraced by the entirety of the political elites and the palace. Communist and nationalist elements were the only true anti-American voices.
- the bad treatment of communists and suspected communists by the junta was a thing of the first year exclusively, when the country was still unstable and there was chaos everywhere. Papadopoulos stopped these manhunts and even freed many communists, only after his US-backed fall were communists thrown back into cages.
- the junta revolution end goal WAS the re-transition to democracy. Thr authoritarian regime of Papadopoulos was seen provisional until the goals of the revolution were met and the country could proceed with stability. Ofc all that was cancelled after the US brought down Papadopoulos and installed Ioannedes, who also fell a year later and the American-puppet third Hellenic Republic followed, a US satellite to this very day
CIA supported Papadopoulos. He was CIA agent. Papadopoulos gave 500.000 us dollars to Nixon for his election campaign.
As an Έllen I have to admit that was quite good recount of the events occured during 1967 when the power shifted to the Colonels. Good job !
Although US was probably informed by the colonels and was aligned to it. In the video it says that it was supportive but then surprised - maybe the truth could be that the colonels informed CIA and CIA plans were aligned at the time to ones of Colonels.
Went to Greece recently and I noticed that these days there are much less pro-communist graffitis and propaganda than what in the preceding decades. Maybe conservatism is creeping back in the biggest way since the downfall of the Junta in the 70s.
Youth in Europe is generally more righ wing than their parents
Yep, fortunately, its true. Recenly elections proved that emphatically.
yes the entire patern that is now in usa started from greece in the 80's goverment took bunch of loans none asked where they got them from and we will repay them he expandet so much the public sector in order to have a secure number of army voters and turning those people to lazy and make the life of the rest greeks difficult and also intruduced political parties in the universities that work as a gang you have to belong in one of them in order to be able to suceed in the university i miss those days of order
Good point. It’s also a heavily aging society, and older people favor conservatism.
@@khaldrago911 not true in Europe
I think you pronounced the names just fine. But I could be wrong. Nice video.
I hope that you mentioned the "patriotic junta" disarmed the Greek army from Cyprus at 1967 so they open an opportunity fon easy invasion for the Turks
It was to harm Makarios. They put their own man to take Cyprus back as Greek island. Makarios then went to UN and asked that turkey to take actions.
Seccond Junta did that. First Junta/Papadopoulos has a special plan in place called Aphrodite in order to protect Cyprus
Very accurate work.
Georgios Papadopoulos was the greek liaison officer for CIA and was the one who took office as their dictator in 1967 after the coup. There was a lot of focus on the Greek coup here in Denmark cause His Majesty, King Konstantinos was married to the Danish Royal Highness, Princess Anne-Marie.
Warographics video about Greece vs Turkey today too 🔥
It's funny how much of this comes directly from Pattakos. It's a shame we don't have that many more voices from the time giving such accounts.
Pattakos was the only one who didn't died in prison and the only one willing to talk about the period
Also I don't know if you are familiar with Greek humor but people was making fun of him even during the junta calling him dumb witted ect.
That worked in favor of him making look" lesser evil " or" sidekick " like making people more comfortable asking him questions and him more willing to answer 😉
@@Pavlos_Charalambous Not only Pattakos,but also Makarezos (the third part of the leaders) died at home,not in prison.They both were released in the early 90s,due to health problems.I prison died only Papadopoulos,Ntertilis,Aggelis (who commited suicide) and Ioannidis.
@@trucktrucker5043 if I remember correctly Papadopoulos could be released for health reasons but chosen not to, for political reasons..
@@Pavlos_Charalambous True.Actually besides the health reasons,he was asked to sign for pardon,which he wouldn't do,so he died in the hospital as a prisoner.
Good documentary.
As Churchill once said : Democracy is not perfect, still nothing else humans know better... Since dawn of human life up until now, we try to improve that... paying heavy costs for that... we, Little PEOPLE...
Sadly many of the same political families are still at the heart of the Greek political power and many senior figures in Greece's ruling New Democracy look back at the Junta with fond nostalgia
The future will never be settled, it must always be fought for. The Greek nation is free now, the fight must never be lost so it will remain so.
Tsipras's father moment
Freaking greek left farm trolls 👆
Lol New democracy is extremely against the junta since it wasn't a thieve leading but an actual Colonel who cared about the country and boosted it so much. The communists and the modern liberal Democrats(New democracy panhellenic socialist party and more)have always been a disaster for Hellenic history
06:00 fun fact the son of the "apostate " is the Current prime minister of Greece 😉
mitsotaki gamiesai
Greek mafia's front puppet
Actually you pronounced almost everything correctly. Greetings from Greece.
This is a lovely channel I just discovered. If I had one tip: I think the lighting can be a bit improved. It looks like you are sitting in a shadow, can be fixed with a soft direct light. Otherwise keep up the incredible content!
My dad told me during this dictatorship the economy was booming, There was no debt. The military strength Was at a all time high Producing our own weapons and Military vehicles, Electricity was brought to every village, no matter how remote And there were some pakistanis Living in Greece saying that if there's ever a war between greece and Turkey, they will take the Turkish side, He immediately deported all of them and closed down the Pakistani embassy.
if that's the case, then why was Greece completely unable to stop Turkey during the invasion of Cyprus. The military was in shambles. Not even a proper draft could be organized.
@Atreas40000 All for show. Military types love their parades and expensive toys.
@@Atreas40000the Americans sabtoaged Greece for the sake of turkey. Spies in the greek general staff helped sabotage the nation during the crisis.
@Atreas40000 Due to fear of American involvement (who were on Turkey's side, look at the comments of kissinger regarding Cyprus)by the then dictator Ioannidis, who was an American puppet
Yes, it was always wonderful for the haves. How many Colonels stole swaths of land and built villas due to corruption.. their families still enjoy these unearned assets to this day? The economy was not booming. That just memory loss due to nostalgia.
Hello there,i am from Greece i am no fascists or autocratic but i have to admit that when Regime of the Colonels ruled Greece the country was way better compare to the messy state that democracy brought us.There was no debt crisis,no puppets who serve the interests for foreign powers,better army,a more self-relient country and i didn't even lived back then,but i appreciate them.But ,when you look how messy the situation was during Cold war with short governments,army intervetions,left vs right you dont need to wonder why Greece today face such chaos.
A few decades ago a guy I knew hitched a ride, in Greece, with a truck driver who spoke English. He described the day that it was announced on the radio that the Colonel's regime had ended. A crowd gathered at the village police station and caught the three policemen who manned the place slipping out the back door in civilian clothes. After a fair trial lasting about ten seconds the crowd attached concrete blocks to the men's feet and threw them in the harbour. Shows how popular the regime was...
Well it was popular the police officers of the village where probably from the ones that were abusing their power my great grandfather was a communist at the time got several beatings but when i was speaking to them they always said the country was way better its not randomly called the 7 gold years the Only reason it collapsed was because patakos the cia puppet did a coup to Papadopoulos and lost Cyprus
yeah sure buddy
Not such a thing 😂 in the other hand democracy keep all the policeman in their place and honoured them 😂
Good. Traitors are traitors
100% the people were communists. To this day based on their reign through investments they had been the best leadership Greece has ever seen.
Oh yes we live for your mispronounciations. Great topic, ευχαριστώ!
The 6 day War was the true reason for the Papadopoulos military attack. The "communism" fairy tale was supposed to say that was the reason. But Papadopoulos didnt keep same line and order when Egypt attacked Israel in 1973.Thats why Ioannides took ove threw Papadopoulos and 25 Nov 1973 took over. . Andreas Papandreou tried to make political dictatorship with ASPIDA in 1966-67 but failed on contrary with Papadopoulos who succeded (with the other two)
Extremist right narrative. Yom Kipur been held on October 1973 while Papadopoulos regime fallen after November 17th. Six days war been held on June of 1967 while dictatorship established on Aipril.
HELLO FROM GREECE.
We are sorry for you,it is okay
@@alexandruchira184 Any arguments?
Hello from Norway, I wish you people the best and safety in this terrible summer due to the extreme heat waves and hopefully full recovery
@@kingpriapatius5832 living în a courpt bankrupt contry who is depopulating and cant have decent ledership sucks,do I need to say more as an argument
@@alexandruchira184 Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the whole world. Where are you from?
And the British Royal Family would eventually bring Prince Philip’s mother back to England because of this…
As many forget of course, Philip was by birth a member of the Greek Royal Family, being the son of Konstantinos II's great uncle, making them cousins.
This reminded me that to this day, the extent of the King's incompetence during this pivotal moment is not well understood or spoken about in my country.
The man was genuinely confused as to why the people thought that he was complicit in the Coup since it should have been completely obvious that he was against it...because he didn't smile during the photos of the coup government's inauguration. Didn't they know that he was very smiling in general? He has repeated this with a stunned expression again and again throughout the years and he only looked even more confused about it as the years passed.
Why you dont have chronological playlist
Generally, this is stricktly the official American aspect on the topic.
In reality, the Junta coup d' etat had been organized since a long time ago from the CIA in Langley, in order to ensure that Greece would still be part of the American-led camp, at any cost...
Yes they wanted Greece to be part of their sheep-shed no matter what the cost on the Greek state.
@@MrThessalonikiman1 True! The Americans would never allow to anyone getting out of their "heard", no matter what..!
@@MrThessalonikiman1 This was a much more democratic, flexible, open to dialogue, mutually beneficial, just, and well managed party than the competing pne of USSR.
@@innosanto Nope. I have known people who lived both in Greece and the USSR. The USSRs only actual restraints were in traveling to the United States and religion. Other than that it had a lot of freedoms and social programs. The Greek Juniata on the other hand was nazi Germany strict. There was NO democratic processes, the economy sucked, political suppression was both enforced into citizens and politicians, foreign relations were below zero and multiple geopolitical catastrophes (Cyprus) . The USSR wasn't perfect but it mended and advanced the societies in it from the WW2 and political civil wars that regularly happened before it. The Greek junta completely disregarded democracy, depowered Greeces role in global relations, prevented reunification with Cyprus (which is Greek) and destroyed Greece economically.
I d like to inform you that the speaker in the parliament that you show isn't Karamanlis. I think he was Zigdis or Rallis but no Karamanlis for sure.
It was Pattakos's resolve to make the coup happen. He was the absolute worst of all of them. As for CIA ties, there are photos of Papadopoulos meeting with Greek-American CIA agents. It's just that CIA didn't expect Papadopoulos and the others to take the blame for something figures like Spantidakis and Zoitakis and some palace staff(Frederica mainly, that was the woman behind most of the instability as the king was merely a child) had been slowly trying to do for years. Amazing job anyway!
Great video! Also good pronounciations! Except for one :) Kaeamanlis is ain’t I, so like saying karamanlees. With the tone on the ees not the a.
I lived in Greece from 67 until 70. I saw tanks anD the shut down of Athens. There were jets flying . This was in 68 or 69.
Like learning about Greece, the one nation in the Balkans that's not Slavic.
*Albania, Romania and hungary left the chat*
@@constantinethecataphract5949 oops ;p
It's still very slavic, despite the best efforts of the gov to exterminate the slavic greek population.
Moldova
@@constantinethecataphract5949 a honest question, Hungary is considered Balkan? I always thought it was in the eastern European side of things 🤔
Interesting possible alt history if the Colonels had been resisted before they got the chance to fully cement themselves. Didn't know that they (for the lack of a better term) viewed themselves as a paper tiger relying on bluster and visual deterrents when they confronted the King.
When the coup broke out they roughly had 100 foot soldiers at their command and a handful of tanks - most of them without full crew but they Quickly took over the army's HQ placing this way themselves in command of the army
In that point without having clear orders from the government the king or anyone most commanders just accepted the fact..
Take it with a pinch of salt but allegedly when Papadopoulos arrived at the HQ.. Riding a taxi the guard at the gate was so Petrified that Papadopoulos just took his gun of his hands telling him something along the lines of " I will handle this before you get yourself or anyone else harmed"
Would it be possible for you guys to do an episode specifically if possible on the spy, Robert Hansen? He spied for the Soviet union through the FBI and later Russia. I’m sure you’re aware of him. I just haven’t seen a video.
Was he the FBI Agent who was tasked with finding moles who were leaking info to the Soviets?
Background music is here now by Hillsong?
Someone Get This Man A Podcast Platform ASAP‼️ Can Listen All Day In The Car And At Home
My dear friend, by watching your video it comes to mind a tv reportage by a Greek reporter that had the exact same content but with statements taken buy the protagonists of the junta.... Nice work by the way... 🎉
If only the King had stood up to them. He’d still have his kingdom.
I womder what else disaster he would create to Greece.
Great video however you have some inaccuracies for example Andreas Papandreou and his father weren't leftists like at all. And Andreas was never anti-American. They were politicians of the center. The army 'feared' EDA wich was leftists supported by the communist party of Greece.
best times ever srsly
My family lived through all that.
Please watch the Dean Acheson Plan of 1965, the situation in Cyprus, and the fact that the Papandreou - Papadopoulos families were related. Thank you for your time.
When the inventor of democracy was no longer democratic
If the Greek public so overwhelmingly approved of the current government why was the response to the coup so passive?
You do realize what you are talking about right? Most people who could do something about it was in jail or exile,jeeezzz do some homework
@@Pavlos_Charalambous You may be correct, but your statement is contradicted by the video near the end.
Because people were also sick of the political instability. Papandreou and Karamanlis were exposed for scandal after scandal. Papadopoulos actually brought six years of stability and progress, a true revolution
@@samswift102 it's human nature, most people won't react unless they see others take the first steps
Imagine it like the freeze reaction rape victims get but on a massive scale
When pattakos was interviewed he literally said that if people had raised resistance the coup would be impossible
When he was asked what if people had tried to stop them
He replied " bloodshed"..
A great uncle of mine at the first night had the brilliant idea to go and by milk for his children after dask
On his way a soldier gave him a warning shot between his legs
My uncle was like " for God sake am trying to buy milk for my children!"
The Corporal in charge of the 2 men patrol replied " it's Martial law!! You should be out in the street!!!"
Then proceed to the grosery store all together because the corporal wasn't convinced
They reach the store but couldn't find the owner
Eventually the owner opened the door really petrified
- what to you want
- milk
The shop owner gave the" evil eye "to my uncle, like" what the hell you was thinking? "
By the way the rape analogy was given by a American diplomat
He said to the Cia head in Greece" this is a rape of democracy "only to receive the answer" how you can rape a hore? “
If you can find it in English try to find Mikis Theodorakis interview about the period, and also the period before
Riots during dictatorship was practical joke. Don't consider those days with today's ethics.
Philip Seymour Hoffman had a hand in this, I think. It should have been a stepping stone to Finland, but....
Giorgos Papadoupoulos was the last true Ellina that loved his country. NA ZISI O PAPADOPOULOS KAI H XOUNTA!
I would think because if you're a general you've reached the top you have access , you have power , but if you're a colonel , a lot of them have been sidetracked into dead ends, they are RIGHT THERE, but for whatever reason are afraid they wont reach the top. But on the flip side they have enough rank.Did they actually carry authority in or able to pull it off?Maybe that's why but good catch on that
This channel feels like the CW version of The Great War and World War Two but seems to not be affiliated with those channels.
Second best thing to happen to this country was this dictatorship (first being the dictatorship of Metaxas)
Really interesting. To be honest, I am not really familiar with the modern history of Greece
Imagine throwing away your democracy, a concept birthed in your country, to avoid a government that was actively improving people’s lives, health and education. We’re so close to this happening again in a Western democracy it’s tragic.
Plato and Sparta are as Greek as Athens and Democracy.
@@IndustrialMilitiaActually the economy,health care etc improved in the dictatorship what was hard was the loss of freedom obviously…
Who told you that democracy is the perfect form of governance??? There is no such a thing in the real world.
The thing is that Bill Clinton in 1999 during his speach in the Greek parliament apologized about the US policy during Junta. Too late, too many bad made.
From the Biden Oval office.
Does anyone knows where the term "military junta" comes from? The word junta I believe is in Spanish. I'm used to hear about the junta from the 77 coup in Argentina but it seemed strange to me seeing the word in and English speaking context.
It’s a loan word from Spanish, and it’s use is traced back to various regimes in South America.
@@ProjectInsight44 I´m from Argentina, and I remember the last dictatorship was call "The junta" I look it up and it comes from Spain back when it had control over our countries as colonies, they had "Juntas de gobierno" when Napoleon invaded Spain and here in Argentina (back then provincias unidas del rio de la plata) we had the firts junta "la primera junta" de gobierno.
@@alejandro4300yes, this is correct. Various South American military dictatorships ultimately were referred to as Juntas, with the term being directly taken from the Spanish Junta. Combined with the Spanish origin and Military Juntas being an uncommon form of governance/dictatorship, the English language simply uses Junta as a loanword; it’s niche enough to where the invention of an English translation isn’t necessary.
Hello,The Cold War. I am a Greek Historian and i real liked this Video by you. But,i have to recommend to you to read the Books of the Greek Historian Mr. Manos Xatzidakis about this subject,named:"Βιογραφία του Γεωργίου Παπαδόπουλου (Vol A-D) and his book named "Γιατί, ποιοί και πώς Έγινε η Επανάσταση της 21ης Απριλίου 1967;". They are great books about this subject that you presented. I think that they will really help you in future videos about this subject.
If someone calls junta , επανάσταση (revolution) then nah ...
Excellent way to expose yourself as a fascist
Sure, I would recommend you to candidates students for private classes.
Interesting time in Greek history
May you live in uninteresting times!
David tries to say Greek names and well, it doesn't always go well. hehehe....
Doesn't matter. The information is what's important.
Karamanlis is been pronounced wrong
An act of monumental stupidity on the part of Konstantinos II in not openly opposing the coup: he doomed his people to seven years of dictatorship, and doomed the Greek (constitutional) monarcy's chances of ever being restored (again, it had already been restored twice).
So he basically doomed his people, and his families throne.
Good job they're a junior branch of the Danish Royal Family, and are directly related to the British one (Charles III is related in the direct male line through his father, who was Konstantinos II's cousin).
It was an American plot to install a junta in Greece and the purpose was to remove the greek Brigade in Cyprus, which the junta ordered at once. If that Brigade existed in Cyprus then the Turkish invasion wouldn't happen.
Greek nationalist conspiracy theory. Greek Junta literally made a coup in Cyprus in 1974 to start the unification of Cyprus and Greece. They installed a pro-enosis leader. But yeah I am sure Turkish invasion has nothing to do with Greece intervening militarily in Cyprus and installing pro-enosis sampson puppet to annex the island. It was all definitely planned. And who should we blame it? Yes, blame the Americans. It is easier to blame the Americans than taking responsibility for your own mistakes.
Thats the seccond Junta. The first junta/Papadopoulos had a special plan in order to protect Cyprus
@@DCCrisisclips No. The order for the withdrawal of the greek Brigade was given 1968 from Papadopoulos. They were the useful idiots that betrayed the greek Cypriots.
Power comes from the barrels of small pistol 🔫.
I feel sorry for the KING. He just wanted to be in power, but instead he was forced to live in London.
The only good thing dictatorship made.
@@no_name4080 correct, he failed his test. A King with no throne. The modern equivalent of a King losing on the battlefield.
We are grateful to the coupist Greek generals for preventing the massacre of the island Turkishness by means of Turkiye's intervention.
Let's start how many names you misspelled:
A) Καραμανλής - Karamanlis
Β) Μακαρέζος - Makarezos
C) Παττακός - Patakos
D) Πανουργιάς - Panourgias
E) Περικλής - Periklis
and 1909 Γουδί - Goudi & Σύνταγμα - Syntagma square
Next time you do something with Greece I can help you with the names....😃
Γεια σου ρε Γιώργη Παπαδόπουλε!!!
If only that damn monkey hadn't biten the king...