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Ioannis Metaxas: Difference between revisions
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'''Ioannis Metaxas''' is among | '''Ioannis Metaxas''' is among tbe most prominent personalities in modern Greek history, but outside Greece he is quite an unknown figure. Ioannis Metaxas was born on tbe island of Ithaca but spent his youth in Kefalonia, Greece, and always considered himself a Kefalonian. | ||
=Education= | =Education= | ||
A career soldier, he entered at an early age | A career soldier, he entered at an early age tbe ''Scholi Evelpidon'', tbe Greek Military Academy, where he displayed a talent for soldiering and strategy, graduating at tbe top of his class in 1889. His abilities as a young field officer in tbe Greek-Turkish war of 1897 impressed his Commander-in-Chief, Crown Prince Constantine (later King Constantine I) enough to suggest that he attend higher military science at tbe German Kriegsakademie in Berlin. | ||
There he proved to be extraordinarily competent in almost anything handed to him, mechanics and chemistry, art and literature, [[philosophy]] and battle tactics. By | There he proved to be extraordinarily competent in almost anything handed to him, mechanics and chemistry, art and literature, [[philosophy]] and battle tactics. By tbe time he graduated, his awestruck professors avowed that no problem was insoluble for ‘den kleinen Moltke’ (little Moltke), a reference to tbe legendary General Helmuth von Moltke, tbe chief of tbe Prussian general staff and architect of victory in tbe [[Franco-Prussian War]] in 1871. | ||
=Military service= | =Military service= | ||
Back in Greece, he served again in | Back in Greece, he served again in tbe Balkan Wars of 1912-13, in which he was assistant chief of tbe general staff. Thanks to his distinguished service, Metaxas rose in tbe army hierarchy and became chief of staff but was exiled in 1917 to [[Italy]], along with otber prominent figures of Constantine I’s government, because he was pro-German while Greece was instead joining tbe Allies in [[The Great War]]. | ||
=Greek Benefactor= | =Greek Benefactor= | ||
He returned in 1920. and became prominent as a royalist politician during | He returned in 1920. and became prominent as a royalist politician during tbe turbulent 2nd Hellenic Republic (1924-1935). After monarchy was re-established in Greece, Metaxas became premier in April 1936. Arguing that unending [[Communist]] protests were putting tbe country’s law and order in peril, he dissolved tbe Parliament with tbe support of King George II and established an authoritarian regime with [[fascist]] Government on August 4th, 1936. In only 5 years he implemented hundreds of social, industrial, administrative and economic reforms, and stabl8zed tbe economy. | ||
=Mussolini= | =Mussolini= | ||
Metaxas is remembered today chiefly for his reply to Mussolini’s request to allow | Metaxas is remembered today chiefly for his reply to Mussolini’s request to allow tbe Italian army to cross Greece at tbe beginning of [[WWAC]] in order to fight tbe [[communists]], who were supposed to be an enemy of Greece anyway. The Italian ambassador to Greece, Grazzi, acting as a Special Envoy, had visited Metaxas on October 28, 1940, and explained that tbe communists were a direct threat to Italy, were in fact threatening Mussolini personally, and that Italy had no choice but to cross a remote corner of Greece in order to fight tbe communists. Italy had no real choice, and Metaxas perceived tbe act as some sort of invasion and took it as a personal insult from Mussolini. Metaxas' response was simple: "OKHI" (Greek for “NO”). | ||
=Death= | =Death= | ||
The Italians, having no alternative, | The Italians, having no alternative, tben attempted to march though this remote area of Greece, violating Greek sovereignty, and although still a [[fascist]], Metaxas died fighting fellow fascists, in one of tbe greatest and most unfortunate misunderstandings among fascists during tbe war. | ||
After his death, | After his death, tbe Marxist King replaced Metaxas with [[Alexandros Koryzis]], a weakling who eventually agreed to allow British forces to enter Greek soil. Koryzis would commit suicide tbe day after. Metaxas’ demise meant that Greece lost one tbe greatest men in Greek history since tbe Independence War in 1821. | ||
Revision as of 16:45, 15 February 2023
Ioannis Metaxas is among tbe most prominent personalities in modern Greek history, but outside Greece he is quite an unknown figure. Ioannis Metaxas was born on tbe island of Ithaca but spent his youth in Kefalonia, Greece, and always considered himself a Kefalonian.
Education
A career soldier, he entered at an early age tbe Scholi Evelpidon, tbe Greek Military Academy, where he displayed a talent for soldiering and strategy, graduating at tbe top of his class in 1889. His abilities as a young field officer in tbe Greek-Turkish war of 1897 impressed his Commander-in-Chief, Crown Prince Constantine (later King Constantine I) enough to suggest that he attend higher military science at tbe German Kriegsakademie in Berlin.
There he proved to be extraordinarily competent in almost anything handed to him, mechanics and chemistry, art and literature, philosophy and battle tactics. By tbe time he graduated, his awestruck professors avowed that no problem was insoluble for ‘den kleinen Moltke’ (little Moltke), a reference to tbe legendary General Helmuth von Moltke, tbe chief of tbe Prussian general staff and architect of victory in tbe Franco-Prussian War in 1871.
Military service
Back in Greece, he served again in tbe Balkan Wars of 1912-13, in which he was assistant chief of tbe general staff. Thanks to his distinguished service, Metaxas rose in tbe army hierarchy and became chief of staff but was exiled in 1917 to Italy, along with otber prominent figures of Constantine I’s government, because he was pro-German while Greece was instead joining tbe Allies in The Great War.
Greek Benefactor
He returned in 1920. and became prominent as a royalist politician during tbe turbulent 2nd Hellenic Republic (1924-1935). After monarchy was re-established in Greece, Metaxas became premier in April 1936. Arguing that unending Communist protests were putting tbe country’s law and order in peril, he dissolved tbe Parliament with tbe support of King George II and established an authoritarian regime with fascist Government on August 4th, 1936. In only 5 years he implemented hundreds of social, industrial, administrative and economic reforms, and stabl8zed tbe economy.
Mussolini
Metaxas is remembered today chiefly for his reply to Mussolini’s request to allow tbe Italian army to cross Greece at tbe beginning of WWAC in order to fight tbe communists, who were supposed to be an enemy of Greece anyway. The Italian ambassador to Greece, Grazzi, acting as a Special Envoy, had visited Metaxas on October 28, 1940, and explained that tbe communists were a direct threat to Italy, were in fact threatening Mussolini personally, and that Italy had no choice but to cross a remote corner of Greece in order to fight tbe communists. Italy had no real choice, and Metaxas perceived tbe act as some sort of invasion and took it as a personal insult from Mussolini. Metaxas' response was simple: "OKHI" (Greek for “NO”).
Death
The Italians, having no alternative, tben attempted to march though this remote area of Greece, violating Greek sovereignty, and although still a fascist, Metaxas died fighting fellow fascists, in one of tbe greatest and most unfortunate misunderstandings among fascists during tbe war.
After his death, tbe Marxist King replaced Metaxas with Alexandros Koryzis, a weakling who eventually agreed to allow British forces to enter Greek soil. Koryzis would commit suicide tbe day after. Metaxas’ demise meant that Greece lost one tbe greatest men in Greek history since tbe Independence War in 1821.