Anastasios Papoulas
Encyclopedia
Anastasios Papoulas was a Greek general and commander-in-chief during the Greco-Turkish War
of 1919-1922.
. He was appointed commander of Greek forces in Anatolia
by Constantine in late 1920. However his offensive to establish Greek control over western Anatolia stopped after the First Battle of İnönü
in January 1921. After being reinforced, Papoulas resumed his offensive on March 23, however his army, numbering 100,000 men, were again defeated at the Second Battle of İnönü
on March 28–30.
Relieved of command by Constantine, Papoulas continued to command forces at the Battle of Afyonkarahisar-Eskişehir
(August 16–17) and Sakarya
(August 24-September 16) before taking command of retreating Greek forces from Afyonkarahisar
from late August to September 9, narrowly preventing a rout by the Turkish army.
Following the end of the war in 1922, Papoulas became a strong opponent of the monarchy after the establishment of the Second Hellenic Republic
as a supporter of the Venizelos
government during the late 1920s and the early 1930s. As one of the leaders of a pro-Venizelos coup attempt
in March 1935, his failure resulted in his capture and eventual execution for treason later that year in Athens
.
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
of 1919-1922.
Life
Born in Missolonghi in 1859, Anastasios Papoulas entered politics in his early twenties eventually becoming a close friend and confidant of King ConstantineConstantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
. He was appointed commander of Greek forces in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
by Constantine in late 1920. However his offensive to establish Greek control over western Anatolia stopped after the First Battle of İnönü
First Battle of Inönü
The First Battle of İnönü took place between 9 and 11 January 1921 near İnönü in present-day Eskişehir Province, Turkey during the Greco-Turkish War , part of Turkish War of Independence...
in January 1921. After being reinforced, Papoulas resumed his offensive on March 23, however his army, numbering 100,000 men, were again defeated at the Second Battle of İnönü
Second Battle of Inönü
The Second Battle of İnönü was fought between 26 and 31 March 1921 near İnönü in present-day Eskişehir Province, Turkey during the Greco-Turkish War , part of Turkish War of Independence...
on March 28–30.
Relieved of command by Constantine, Papoulas continued to command forces at the Battle of Afyonkarahisar-Eskişehir
Battle of Afyonkarahisar-Eskisehir
The Battle of Afyonkarahisar–Eskişehir was fought between June 27 and July 10, 1921 when the Greek army defeated the Turkish troops commanded by İsmet Pasha in defence of the line of Kara Hisâr-ı Sahib -Kütahya-Eskişehir...
(August 16–17) and Sakarya
Battle of Sakarya
The Battle of Sakarya , also known as the Battle of the Sangarios , was an important engagement in the Greco-Turkish War and Turkish War of Independence....
(August 24-September 16) before taking command of retreating Greek forces from Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar is a city in western Turkey, the capital of Afyon Province. Afyon is in mountainous countryside inland from the Aegean coast, south-west of Ankara along the Akarçay River. Elevation...
from late August to September 9, narrowly preventing a rout by the Turkish army.
Following the end of the war in 1922, Papoulas became a strong opponent of the monarchy after the establishment of the Second Hellenic Republic
History of the Hellenic Republic
The history of the Hellenic Republic constitutes three discrete republican periods in the modern history of Greece: from 1822 until 1832; from 1924 until 1935; and from 1974 through to the present...
as a supporter of the Venizelos
Eleftherios Venizelos
Eleftherios Venizelos was an eminent Greek revolutionary, a prominent and illustrious statesman as well as a charismatic leader in the early 20th century. Elected several times as Prime Minister of Greece and served from 1910 to 1920 and from 1928 to 1932...
government during the late 1920s and the early 1930s. As one of the leaders of a pro-Venizelos coup attempt
Greek coup attempt of 1935
The attempted coup of March 1935 was a Venizelist revolt against the People's Party government of Panagis Tsaldaris, which was suspected of pro-royalist tendencies....
in March 1935, his failure resulted in his capture and eventual execution for treason later that year in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.