Greek Junta - Presentation for Erasmus+ Project

Created for the educational purposes of the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange, called Human Rights and Democracy in the Age of Information Warfare

For more information about other European mobilities for young people, see the link below:

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/opportunities/opportunities-for-organisations/learning-mobility-of-individuals/young-people-and-youth-workers

1. The Greek Junta
1967-1974

2. The Greek junta or Regime of the Colonels was a right-wing military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. On
21 April 1967, a group of colonels overthrew the caretaker government a month before scheduled elections. The
dictatorship was characterised by policies such as anti-communism, restrictions on civil liberties, and the imprisonment,
torture, and exile of political opponents. It was ruled by Georgios Papadopoulos from 1967 to 1973, but an attempt to renew
its support in a 1973 referendum on the monarchy and gradual democratisation was ended by another coup by the hardliner
Dimitrios Ioannidis, who ruled it until it fell on 24 July 1974 under the pressure of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, leading to
the Metapolitefsi ("regime change") to democracy and the establishment of the Third Hellenic Republic.

3. Georgios Papadopoulos
●Papadopoulos was a Greek military officer and one of the primary architects of the 1967
coup d'état that brought the junta to power. He initially served as the junta's Minister of
Defense before assuming the role of Prime Minister and later President of Greece.
●As the de facto leader of the junta, Papadopoulos wielded significant influence ov
er the
regime's policies and decisions. He implemented authoritarian measures, including the
suspension of civil liberties, censorship of the media, and suppression of political dissent.
●Papadopoulos' rule was characterized b
y a cult of personality and an authoritarian
leadership style. He centralized power within the regime and sought to maintain control
through repression and propaganda.

4. Key factors leading to the junta's rise to power
➢ Political Instability: Greece experienced chronic political instability in the 1960s, marked by
frequent changes in government, polarization between left and right-wing factions, and
widespread corruption. This instability created a fertile ground for military intervention.
➢ Fear of Communism: The junta justified its seizure of power by citing the threat of
communism and the need to protect Greece from internal subversion and external
aggression. They portrayed themselves as saviors of the nation against leftist and
communist influences.
➢ External Support: The junta received tacit support from conservative elements within Greek
society, as well as backing from Western powers like the United States, who viewed the
regime as a bulwark against communism in the strategically important region of the
Eastern Mediterranean.

5. Alignment with Western Powers:
●The Greek Junta cultivated close ties with Western powers, particularly the
United States, which viewed Greece as a crucial ally in the Cold War
struggle against communism.
●The United States provided military and economic assistance t
o the junta,
seeing it as a bulwark against leftist and Soviet influences in the
strategically important Eastern Mediterranean region.
●Greece's alignment with the West was reinforced b
y its membership in
NATO, where it played a significant role in the alliance's defense strategy
against perceived threats from the Soviet bloc.

6. The junta's consolidation of power was marked by draconian policies aimed at stifling
dissent and maintaining control over Greek society.
1.Censorship of the Press: The junta tightly controlled the media, imposing strict censorship laws to suppr ess any
criticism or opposition. Newspapers, radio stations, and television channels were subject to government scrutiny,
leading to the suppression of independent journalism and the dissemination of propaganda.
2.Suppression of Political Dissent: Opposition parties, trade unions, and civil society organizations wer
e banned or
severely restricted under the junta. Political opponents faced harassment, arrest, and imprisonment, with dissenting
voices silenced through intimidation and violence.
3.Suspension of Civil Liberties: Fundamental rights and freedoms were suspended or curtailed b
y the junta, including
the right to free speech, assembly, and association. Martial law was declared, allowing the regime to bypass legal
procedures and enforce its authoritarian rule through military force.

7. Specific examples of human rights abuses perpetrated by the junta
include:
1.Torture: Political prisoners and dissidents were subjected to torture and abuse by security forces, including beatings,
electric shocks, and psychological torment. Torture chambers were established in prisons and detention centers,
where detainees endured brutal interrogation tactics to extract confessions or information.
2.Imprisonment of Political Opponents: Thousands of individuals deemed as threats to the regime were arbitr
arily
detained and imprisoned without trial. Political activists, students, intellectuals, and union leaders were among those
targeted for their opposition to the junta's rule, languishing in overcrowded prisons under harsh conditions.
3.Military Tribunals: The junta established military tribunals to prosecute perceived enemies of the state, b
ypassing
civilian courts and denying defendants basic legal rights. These tribunals operated with impunity, handing down
severe sentences, including death sentences, to dissidents and regime opponents accused of subversion or treason.

8. The Fall of the Greek Junta
Throughout the junta period, Greece witnessed a courageous and persistent resistance movement that challenged the
regime's authoritarian rule and demanded the restoration of democracy. This resistance took various forms, including
underground political organizations, labor strikes, and mass protests, and was led by courageous individuals who risked
their lives in the pursuit of freedom and justice.

9. Polytechnic Uprising of 1973:

10. Polytechnic Uprising of 1973:
●The Polytechnic uprising of November 1973 was a watershed moment in the anti-junta struggle, symbolizing the
courage and resilience of the Greek people in the face of tyranny. It began as a student-led protest against the
regime's oppressive policies and rapidly escalated into a mass uprising.
●Thousands of students and citizens gathered at the Polytechnic University in Athens, demanding an end t
o the
junta's rule and the restoration of democracy. Their chants of "Bread, Education, Freedom" echoed through the
streets, galvanizing support for the anti-regime movement.

11. Polytechnic Uprising of 1973:
●The junta's brutal crackdown on the protesters, culminating in a violent military assault on the Polytechnic campus,
shocked the world and fueled international outrage. The sacrifice of those who lost their lives in the uprising served
as a catalyst for the eventual downfall of the junta and the restoration of democracy in Greece.

12. Cyprus Crisis:
●The Cyprus crisis of 1974 proved to be a pivotal moment that accelerated the junta's demise. The crisis was triggered by a
Greek Cypriot coup aimed at unifying the island with Greece, which prompted a Turkish military intervention and the
subsequent division of Cyprus.
●Ultimately, the Cyprus Crisis eroded the junta's legitimacy and support base, both domestically and internationally
. Many
Greeks came to view the junta's involvement in the crisis as reckless and detrimental to Greek interests, leading to widespread
condemnation and calls for the regime's overthrow. The crisis served as a catalyst for the junta's downfall, accelerating its
demise and paving the way for the restoration of civilian rule and democracy in Greece.

13. The Greek Junta dissolved in July 1974, following a failed coup attempt by hardline elements within the regime. This event,
coupled with the disastrous consequences of the Cyprus Crisis and mounting domestic opposition, precipitated the
downfall of the junta. Subsequently, a transitional government was established, overseeing the return to civilian rule.
Democracy was officially restored in Greece with the holding of democratic elections in November 1974.
This marked the definitive end of seven years of military dictatorship and the beginning of a new era of democratic
governance in Greece.

14. Thank you for
watching!