Well on this day in 1973 the Greeks had a small military coup to replace their rather corrupt president Papadopoulos. Unlike most military coups this actually led to a much better quality of life for Greeks, and greater freedom (especially of the press).
I'm a big fan of Greece (I love the diving in Rhodes), and used to spend 3 weeks there every summer.
So HOORAY for the Greeks. I'm off to have some Ouzo and a good salad with roast lamb

Well I've got the usual receipes Doug, I just like it Greek style with a nice goats cheese salad...

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I am terribly terribly terribly sorry to drag this ancient thread out of the deep depths of the forum, but as the resident Greek I have to clarify a few things here, I am afraid.

Papadopoulos was indeed a corrupt barsteward. However, he wasn't the "President." He was a former SS collaborateur who, with CIA backing, performed a military coup in 1967 and took control of the country. Him and his friends were known as "the Colonels", as the ringleaders of this coup were all Colonels in the army.

He increased the size of the Greek version of the CIA (called KYP) and under his direct instructions, thousands of "commies" (whether they actually were members of the Communist party, or just uncomfortable to the colonels is irrelevant) were systematically tortured to such an extent that the international press slated Greece for these occurrences of mass torture. I must stress that this was all done in the name of the American crusade against communism.

On a sidenote, I am not having a go at our esteemed American co-forumers; merely a go at the State Department and the CIA.

Anyway, on November 17, 1973, Greek students of the Athens Polytech staged a sit-in on their campus, demanding the abdication of the Colonels and a return to democracy. Papadopoulos, may he rot in hell, decided to take the Polytech by force. He sent in a couple of tanks and some shock troops, I think they were members of the mountain warfare unit (LOK). Either way, during this action, many many students were killed. Official records indicate 23, but according to several eye wittnesses, up to 500 people were killed that night, amongst them some close friends of my mum's.

After this action, Papadopoulos was betrayed by his fellow Colonels and deposed by them - nothing, absolutely nothing, changed for Greece though. On the contrary, it got worse as this bunch of muppets then proceeded to muck up the Cyprus situation.

In 1974, the Junta and the Colonels FINALLY fell and democracy returned to its birthplace, carried by Andreas Papandreu.


As for the plane spotters that got arrested - they were explicitly told to not record the tail numbers. Furthermore, one of them was a special guest on a Turkish airbase just two weeks prior to his visit to Greece!! Play with fire and you get burned

Once again, my apologies for resurrecting this thread.

I've noticed the Greeks started to go down hill after the end of Ancient History....


A.

I lived in Greece when I was very young. My dad was in the USAF and was stationed at Hellenikon AFB before it was handed over to the Greek government (To whom it rightfuly belonged). I don't remember much of Greece, but what I do remember is nice. Nice people, beautiful cities, and the food... my god, the food. I would love to go back sometime.


P.S. My Grandfather fought alongside Greek soldiers in WW2, I dont know anything specific, just what he mentioned in passing.

Yes I did attend the American schools. I was 6 years old when we moved away so I can only remember the name of one of the schools. Glifada? I know I didn't spell it right.

My grandfather may have been part of that operation. I do know that he eventually ended up in northern Europe.