Emmanouil Zymvrakakis (Army general)
Encyclopedia
Emmanouil Zymvrakakis was a Greek
army officer who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General, and was distinguished in World War I.
He was born to the expatriate Cretan
Charalambos Zymvrakakis in Nafplio in 1861. He graduated the Greek Army Academy and was named 2nd Lieutenant in 1881, and went on to continue his studies at Orléans
in France. In 1897, he volunteered for and fought in the Cretan Revolt. He later became an active member of the Military League, and it was he who suggested, following the Goudi coup
, to call upon the Cretan Eleftherios Venizelos
to come to Greece. Subsequently he served as adjutant to King George I of Greece
, was appointed as CO of the newly raised 11th Infantry Division at Thessaloniki
in late 1913 and raised to the rank of Major General on 8 December 1914. A close friend and supporter of Venizelos, he was instrumental in the revolt that led to the establishment of the pro-Venizelist and pro-Allied
"State of National Defence
" in northern Greece during World War I. He led the first Greek units on the Macedonian front
, and commanded the Greek forces in the Battle of Skra-di-Legen in May 1918. Subsequently he was tasked with the occupation of Western
and Eastern Thrace, territories that had been ceded to Greece from Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire
respectively. In the latter case he defeated the resistance offered by the remaining Ottoman forces in the region. Following the electoral defeat of the Venizelists in 1920, he was dismissed from his post. He died in Athens
in 1928.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
army officer who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General, and was distinguished in World War I.
He was born to the expatriate Cretan
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
Charalambos Zymvrakakis in Nafplio in 1861. He graduated the Greek Army Academy and was named 2nd Lieutenant in 1881, and went on to continue his studies at Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
in France. In 1897, he volunteered for and fought in the Cretan Revolt. He later became an active member of the Military League, and it was he who suggested, following the Goudi coup
Goudi coup
The Goudi coup was a military coup d'état that took place in Greece on the night of , starting at the barracks in Goudi, a neighbourhood on the eastern outskirts of Athens. The coup was a pivotal event in modern Greek history, as it led to the arrival of Eleftherios Venizelos in Greece and his...
, to call upon the Cretan Eleftherios 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...
to come to Greece. Subsequently he served as adjutant to King George I of Greece
George I of Greece
George I was King of Greece from 1863 to 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was only 17 years old when he was elected king by the Greek National Assembly, which had deposed the former king Otto. His nomination was both suggested and supported by the Great Powers...
, was appointed as CO of the newly raised 11th Infantry Division at Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
in late 1913 and raised to the rank of Major General on 8 December 1914. A close friend and supporter of Venizelos, he was instrumental in the revolt that led to the establishment of the pro-Venizelist and pro-Allied
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
"State of National Defence
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...
" in northern Greece during World War I. He led the first Greek units on the Macedonian front
Macedonian front (World War I)
The Macedonian Front resulted from an attempt by the Allied Powers to aid Serbia, in the autumn of 1915, against the combined attack of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. The expedition came too late and in insufficient force to prevent the fall of Serbia, and was complicated by the internal...
, and commanded the Greek forces in the Battle of Skra-di-Legen in May 1918. Subsequently he was tasked with the occupation of Western
Western Thrace
Western Thrace or simply Thrace is a geographic and historical region of Greece, located between the Nestos and Evros rivers in the northeast of the country. Together with the regions of Macedonia and Epirus, it is often referred to informally as northern Greece...
and Eastern Thrace, territories that had been ceded to Greece from Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
respectively. In the latter case he defeated the resistance offered by the remaining Ottoman forces in the region. Following the electoral defeat of the Venizelists in 1920, he was dismissed from his post. He died 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...
in 1928.