Dimitrios Psarros
Encyclopedia
Dimitrios Psarros was a Greek
army officer and resistance leader. He was the founder and leader of the resistance group National and Social Liberation , the third-most significant organization of the Greek Resistance
movement after the National Liberation Front (EAM) and the National Republican Greek League (EDES).
. He attended the Greek Army Academy, and in 1916 he graduated as Second Lieutenant
of Artillery.
Psarros first saw action in the Balkan Wars
as a volunteer, while still being a cadet in the Army Academy. In 1916 he joined the Venizelist National Defence government
and fought in the Macedonian front of World War I
, the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War
(in Crimea
) as a Captain
, where he was injured and the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
where, thanks to his bravery, his men were able to pass into Greece from Asia Minor
without many casualties. Before the war with the Turks, he was sent to France
for superior war studies and after his return of Asia Minor he served in the Staff of the Army of Evros
, which played a critical role to Greek strategy and politics during these years. Subsequently he taught in the newly created Greek War Academy. Later, he was among the organizers of the new Ministry of Aviation and served as Chief of Staff of an Army division.
In March 1935 he took part in the failed Velizelist coup d'état. Along with scores of other Venizelist and Republican officers, he was court-martialled and dismissed from the Army, opening the way for the royalist Army leadership to restore the Greek monarchy in October. When Greece entered World War II
, he sought re-appointment into the armed forces but was refused by the Ioannis Metaxas
dictatorship.
Following the collapse of the front through the German invasion of Greece in April 1941 and the onset of a triple occupation by Germany, Italy and Bulgaria, Psarros first attempted to organise a resistance group in Amfissa
with the help of Lt. Andreas Mitalas, but without success. Next he went to Macedonia
. There, in July 1941, he founded the organization Freedom , which deployed guerilla forces in the area of Nigrita
, Lachana, and Kalokastro of Central Macedonia
, to fight the Bulgarians
, who had followed the Germans into Greece, occupied much of northern Greece and had set their sights on permanent annexation. Unfortunately, Psarros was betrayed to the Axis Forces and was chased by them.
He fled to Athens, where in April 1942 he founded EKKA along with other significant figures such as the politician Georgios Kartalis
, Colonel Evripidis Bakirtzis and other army officers like Dimitrios Karachristos and Dimitrios Georgantas. The organisation's aims were to fight the Axis
occupation forces as long as the occupation lasted and, after liberation, work for social change, in a social democratic
direction. EKKA was also an anti-communist, liberal
and venizelist organisation. EKKA soon fielded its own guerrilla forces, named after the famed 5/42 Evzone Regiment and took action mainly in Central Greece
, in the area of Mount Gkiona
, but its forces were of small size (around 1,000 fighters at its peak) in comparison to the size of ELAS (with 50,000 fighters at its peak) and EOEA (military arm of EDES, about 14,000 fighters).
On Easter Monday, April 17, 1944, the 5/42 Regiment was attacked by the forces of ELAS (controlled by the Communist Party of Greece
), who sought to have a monopoly in the political future of Greece after liberation, to disarm EKKA and further strengthen its dominant military and political position after the anticipated liberation of Greece. Colonel Psarros was captured, shot, stabbed and beheaded. His body lay unburied for several days before it was interred at the local cemetery.
The assassination of Colonel Psarros was a very dark point of Greek Resistance era. Psarros was a very capable and educated officer, a man of honour and value. People of all resistant groups were shocked in the announcement of his death. In 1945 he was promoted posthumously by the Hellenic Army tο the rank of Major General
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
army officer and resistance leader. He was the founder and leader of the resistance group National and Social Liberation , the third-most significant organization of the Greek Resistance
Greek Resistance
The Greek Resistance is the blanket term for a number of armed and unarmed groups from across the political spectrum that resisted the Axis Occupation of Greece in the period 1941–1944, during World War II.-Origins:...
movement after the National Liberation Front (EAM) and the National Republican Greek League (EDES).
Life
Psarros was born in 1893 in the village of Chryso, in the province of Parnassida, PhocisPhocis
Phocis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. It stretches from the western mountainsides of Parnassus on the east to the mountain range of Vardousia on the west, upon the Gulf of Corinth...
. He attended the Greek Army Academy, and in 1916 he graduated as Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
of Artillery.
Psarros first saw action 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...
as a volunteer, while still being a cadet in the Army Academy. In 1916 he joined the Venizelist National Defence government
Movement of National Defence
The Movement of National Defence was an uprising by Venizelist officers of the Hellenic Army in Thessaloniki in August 1916 against the royal government in Athens. It led to the establishment of a separate, Venizelist Greek government in the north of the country, which entered the First World...
and fought in the Macedonian front of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War
Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War
The Allied intervention was a multi-national military expedition launched in 1918 during World War I which continued into the Russian Civil War. Its operations included forces from 14 nations and were conducted over a vast territory...
(in Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
) as a Captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
, where he was injured and the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
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...
where, thanks to his bravery, his men were able to pass into Greece from Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
without many casualties. Before the war with the Turks, he was sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for superior war studies and after his return of Asia Minor he served in the Staff of the Army of Evros
Maritsa
The Maritsa or Evros , ) is, with a length of 480 km, the longest river that runs solely in the interior of the Balkans. It has its origin in the Rila Mountains in Western Bulgaria, flowing southeast between the Balkan and Rhodope Mountains, past Plovdiv and Parvomay to Edirne, Turkey...
, which played a critical role to Greek strategy and politics during these years. Subsequently he taught in the newly created Greek War Academy. Later, he was among the organizers of the new Ministry of Aviation and served as Chief of Staff of an Army division.
In March 1935 he took part in the failed Velizelist coup d'état. Along with scores of other Venizelist and Republican officers, he was court-martialled and dismissed from the Army, opening the way for the royalist Army leadership to restore the Greek monarchy in October. When Greece entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he sought re-appointment into the armed forces but was refused by the Ioannis Metaxas
Ioannis Metaxas
Ioannis Metaxas was a Greek general, politician, and dictator, serving as Prime Minister of Greece from 1936 until his death in 1941...
dictatorship.
Following the collapse of the front through the German invasion of Greece in April 1941 and the onset of a triple occupation by Germany, Italy and Bulgaria, Psarros first attempted to organise a resistance group in Amfissa
Amfissa
Amfissa is a town and a former municipality in Phocis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Delphi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is also the capital of the regional unit of Phocis...
with the help of Lt. Andreas Mitalas, but without success. Next he went to Macedonia
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
. There, in July 1941, he founded the organization Freedom , which deployed guerilla forces in the area of Nigrita
Nigrita
Nigrita is a town and a former municipality in the Serres regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Visaltia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is situated between the Strymonian plain of the Strymon river and the Vertiskos...
, Lachana, and Kalokastro of Central Macedonia
Central Macedonia
Central Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the central part of the region of Macedonia. With a population of over 1.8 million, it is the second most populous in Greece after Attica.- Administration :...
, to fight the Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
, who had followed the Germans into Greece, occupied much of northern Greece and had set their sights on permanent annexation. Unfortunately, Psarros was betrayed to the Axis Forces and was chased by them.
He fled to Athens, where in April 1942 he founded EKKA along with other significant figures such as the politician Georgios Kartalis
Georgios Kartalis
- Early life and political career :Kartalis was born in Athens to a distinguished family from Volos. He went to school in Geneva and enrolled in the ETH Zürich, only to change after the first year to Economics at the University of Munich and the University of Leipzig...
, Colonel Evripidis Bakirtzis and other army officers like Dimitrios Karachristos and Dimitrios Georgantas. The organisation's aims were to fight the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
occupation forces as long as the occupation lasted and, after liberation, work for social change, in a social democratic
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
direction. EKKA was also an anti-communist, liberal
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
and venizelist organisation. EKKA soon fielded its own guerrilla forces, named after the famed 5/42 Evzone Regiment and took action mainly in Central Greece
Central Greece
Continental Greece or Central Greece , colloquially known as Roúmeli , is a geographical region of Greece. Its territory is divided into the administrative regions of Central Greece, Attica, and part of West Greece...
, in the area of Mount Gkiona
Mount Giona
Mount Giona is a mountain in Central Greece, in the prefecture of Phocis, located between the mountains of Parnassus and Vardousia. Known in classical antiquity as the Aselinon Oros , it is the highest mountain south of Olympus and the fifth overall in Greece...
, but its forces were of small size (around 1,000 fighters at its peak) in comparison to the size of ELAS (with 50,000 fighters at its peak) and EOEA (military arm of EDES, about 14,000 fighters).
On Easter Monday, April 17, 1944, the 5/42 Regiment was attacked by the forces of ELAS (controlled by the Communist Party of Greece
Communist Party of Greece
Founded in 1918, the Communist Party of Greece , better known by its acronym, ΚΚΕ , is the oldest party on the Greek political scene.- Foundation :...
), who sought to have a monopoly in the political future of Greece after liberation, to disarm EKKA and further strengthen its dominant military and political position after the anticipated liberation of Greece. Colonel Psarros was captured, shot, stabbed and beheaded. His body lay unburied for several days before it was interred at the local cemetery.
The assassination of Colonel Psarros was a very dark point of Greek Resistance era. Psarros was a very capable and educated officer, a man of honour and value. People of all resistant groups were shocked in the announcement of his death. In 1945 he was promoted posthumously by the Hellenic Army tο the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
.
Sources
- Solon Grigoriadis, History of Modern Greece 1941-1974, Athens, Polaris
- Dionisis Charitopoulos, Aris, the Leader of the Rebels, Athens, Ellinika Grammata
- Ioannis Papathanasiou, Resistant organization of EKKA
- Special edition of Greek newspaper Eleftherotipia, Occupation and Resistance 1941-1945, 2008