George Papadopoulos
Prime Minister of Greece
Died when: 80 years 53 days (961 months)Star Sign: Taurus
Geórgios Papadopoulos (/?pæp?'d?p?l?s/;Greek: Ge?????? ?apad?p????? [?e'or?i.os papa'ðopulos]; 5 May 1919 – 27 June 1999) was a Greek military officer and political leader who ruled Greece as a military dictator from 1967 to 1973.
He joined the Royal Hellenic Army during the Second World War and resisted the 1940 Italian invasion.Later on, he allegedly became an active Axis collaborator with the Security Battalions, although this claim has been disputed by historians.
He remained in the army after the war and rose to the rank of colonel.In April 1967, Papadopoulos and a group of other mid-level army officers overthrew the democratic government and established a military junta that lasted until 1974.
Assuming dictatorial powers, he led an authoritarian, anti-communist and ultranationalist regime which eventually ended the Greek monarchy and established a republic, with himself as president.
In 1973, he was overthrown and arrested by his co-conspirator, Brigadier General Dimitrios Ioannidis.After the Metapolitefsi which restored democracy in 1974, Papadopoulos was tried for his part in the crimes of the junta, and spent the remainder of his life in prison.
Related People
Prime Minister of Greece
Prime Minister of Greece
Prime Minister of Greece