Alexandros Sakellariou
Encyclopedia
Alexandros Sakellariou was a Greek
admiral and politician.
Sakellariou entered the Hellenic Naval Academy
in 1906, and served in the Royal Hellenic Navy in the Balkan Wars
and until 1918, when he was discharged due to his royalist convictions during the National Schism. As with many other royalist officers, he rejoined the military in the 1920s. In March 1935, as Rear Admiral, he commanded the naval forces that were dispatched to subdue the naval units that took part in the Venizelist coup attempt. After the coup's suppression, he served as president of the court martial that tried the mutinous officers, and was promoted to Chief of the Fleet.
From this post he played a key role in the bloodless coup of Georgios Kondylis
on 10 October 1935, which quickly abolished the Second Hellenic Republic
and restored the monarchy. In 1937, Sakellariou was appointed as Chief of the Navy General Staff, and continued in this post during the Greco-Italian War
. Following the suicide of Prime Minister
Alexandros Koryzis on 18 April 1941, during the German invasion
of Greece, King George II
named Sakellariou as Minister for Naval Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister
(with Emmanouil Tsouderos
assuming office as Prime Minister on 20 April). In the face of the German advance and the heavy losses suffered by the surface vessels to the Luftwaffe
, Sakellariou ordered the remaining ships to evacuate Greece towards British
-held Egypt
, where the Greek king and his government arrived later to form a government in exile
, which was based in Cairo
until Liberation in 1944. Sakellariou resigned his government posts on 2 May 1942, but remained at the head of the Greek Navy throughout the war.
After Liberation, in 1946 he successfully stood for election in Parliament in the Atticoboeotia prefecture. On 29 July 1947 he was named Minister of Supply and Minister of Merchant Marine in the Konstantinos Tsaldaris
cabinet. In the succeeding cabinet of Themistoklis Sofoulis, he was once again Minister for Naval Affairs (until 18 November 1948).
Finally, in the 1951-1952 Nikolaos Plastiras
cabinet, Sakellariou was appointed as Minister for National Defence
, until his resignation on 31 March 1952. He died in 1982.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
admiral and politician.
Sakellariou entered the Hellenic Naval Academy
Hellenic Naval Academy
The Hellenic Naval Academy is a military academy with university status and has the responsibility to educate and suitably train competent Naval Officers for the Hellenic Navy. Its full name is Hellenic Naval Cadets Academy and was founded in 1845. The academy is one of the oldest educational...
in 1906, and served in the Royal Hellenic Navy in the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
and until 1918, when he was discharged due to his royalist convictions during the National Schism. As with many other royalist officers, he rejoined the military in the 1920s. In March 1935, as Rear Admiral, he commanded the naval forces that were dispatched to subdue the naval units that took part in the Venizelist coup attempt. After the coup's suppression, he served as president of the court martial that tried the mutinous officers, and was promoted to Chief of the Fleet.
From this post he played a key role in the bloodless coup of Georgios Kondylis
Georgios Kondylis
Georgios Kondylis was a general of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece. He was nicknamed Keravnos, Greek for "Thunder" or "Thunderbolt".-Military career:...
on 10 October 1935, which quickly abolished the Second Hellenic Republic
Second Hellenic Republic
The Second Hellenic Republic is the term used to describe the political regime of Greece from 1924 to 1935. It followed from the period of the constitutional monarchy under the monarchs of the House of Glücksburg, and lasted until its overthrow in a military coup d'état which restored the monarchy...
and restored the monarchy. In 1937, Sakellariou was appointed as Chief of the Navy General Staff, and continued in this post during the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
. Following the suicide of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Greece
The Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following...
Alexandros Koryzis on 18 April 1941, during the German invasion
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
of Greece, King George II
George II of Greece
George II reigned as King of Greece from 1922 to 1924 and from 1935 to 1947.-Early life, first period of kingship and exile:George was born at the royal villa at Tatoi, near Athens, the eldest son of King Constantine I of Greece and his wife, Princess Sophia of Prussia...
named Sakellariou as Minister for Naval Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
The Deputy Prime Minister of Greece is the deputy of the Prime Minister of Greece and the second most senior member of the Greek Cabinet. The post is not permanent, rather it is created on an ad hoc basis...
(with Emmanouil Tsouderos
Emmanouil Tsouderos
Emmanouil Tsouderos was a political and financial figure of modern Greece, serving as Prime Minister of the Greek government in exile during World War II.-Early life:...
assuming office as Prime Minister on 20 April). In the face of the German advance and the heavy losses suffered by the surface vessels to the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, Sakellariou ordered the remaining ships to evacuate Greece towards British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-held Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, where the Greek king and his government arrived later to form a government in exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
, which was based in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
until Liberation in 1944. Sakellariou resigned his government posts on 2 May 1942, but remained at the head of the Greek Navy throughout the war.
After Liberation, in 1946 he successfully stood for election in Parliament in the Atticoboeotia prefecture. On 29 July 1947 he was named Minister of Supply and Minister of Merchant Marine in the Konstantinos Tsaldaris
Konstantinos Tsaldaris
Konstantinos Tsaldaris was a Greek politician and twice Prime Minister of Greece.Tsaldaris was born in Alexandria, Egypt. He studied law at the University of Athens as well as Berlin, London and Florence...
cabinet. In the succeeding cabinet of Themistoklis Sofoulis, he was once again Minister for Naval Affairs (until 18 November 1948).
Finally, in the 1951-1952 Nikolaos Plastiras
Nikolaos Plastiras
Nikolaos Plastiras was a Greek general and politician, who served thrice as Prime Minister of Greece. A distinguished soldier and known for his personal bravery, he was known as "O Mavros Kavalaris" during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922...
cabinet, Sakellariou was appointed as Minister for National Defence
Minister for National Defence (Greece)
The Minister for National Defence of Greece is a government minister responsible for the running of the Ministry of National Defence. The current minister is Dimitris Avramopoulos.-Recent Ministers for National Defence:-External links:*...
, until his resignation on 31 March 1952. He died in 1982.