Evangelos Florakis
Encyclopedia
Evangelos Florakis was a Greek
Army officer who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General
. After retiring from the Hellenic Army
, from 2000 until his death in a helicopter accident in 2002 he commanded the Cypriot National Guard
.
near Arta
on 14 February 1943. He entered the Hellenic Army Academy in 1962 and graduated as an Infantry four years later, seventh of his class. Trained as a special forces
officer, he served as commanding officer of the 31st Infantry Regiment, and served twice in Cyprus, as an officer with ELDYK
and later, as a Colonel
, as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Cypriot National Guard
.
In 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier
and served as Deputy Commander of the 15th Infantry Division and subsequently as CO of the 50th Infantry Brigade. In 1996 he was promoted to Major General
and given command of the 16th Mechanized Infantry Division. He subsequently served as Director of the Supreme War Academy in Thessaloniki
. In 1999, as a Lieutenant General
, he assumed command of the II Army Corps, which he led until his retirement in May 2000.
He was immediately recalled to service as Chief of the Cypriot National Guard (the senior command positions of the CNG are customarily filled by active or retired Greek officers), replacing Lt. General Dimitrios Dimou. Florakis was married to a Cypriot, Athina Savvidou from Paphos
, and quickly became a popular and well-liked officer in Cyprus. He was killed in an accident on 10 July 2002 near Paphos, when his Bell 206
helicopter crashed. Aside from Florakis, the Air Force Commander Brigadier Stylianos Demenagas and three other officers were killed.
The main naval base of the CNG, the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base
in Paphos, was later named after him.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Army officer who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. After retiring from the Hellenic Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
, from 2000 until his death in a helicopter accident in 2002 he commanded the Cypriot National Guard
Cypriot National Guard
The Cypriot National Guard , also known as the "Greek Cypriot National Guard" or simply as "National Guard", is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus...
.
Life
Evangelos Florakis was born in TzoumerkaTzoumerka
Tzoumerka is a former municipality in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality North Tzoumerka, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 1,228 . The seat of the municipality was in Chouliarades....
near Arta
Arta, Greece
Arta is a city with a rich history in northwestern Greece, capital of the peripheral unit of Arta, which is part of Epirus region. The city was known in ancient times as Ambracia . Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos River, situated west of downtown...
on 14 February 1943. He entered the Hellenic Army Academy in 1962 and graduated as an Infantry four years later, seventh of his class. Trained as a special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
officer, he served as commanding officer of the 31st Infantry Regiment, and served twice in Cyprus, as an officer with ELDYK
ELDYK
The Hellenic Force in Cyprus , commonly known in its abbreviated form as ELDYK , is the permanent Greek military force stationed in Cyprus. ELDYK was formed on November 20, 1959 at Agios Stefanos, Athens, soon after the Zürich and London Agreements established the independence of Cyprus...
and later, as a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Cypriot National Guard
Cypriot National Guard
The Cypriot National Guard , also known as the "Greek Cypriot National Guard" or simply as "National Guard", is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus...
.
In 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
and served as Deputy Commander of the 15th Infantry Division and subsequently as CO of the 50th Infantry Brigade. In 1996 he was promoted to 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...
and given command of the 16th Mechanized Infantry Division. He subsequently served as Director of the Supreme War Academy in 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 1999, as a Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, he assumed command of the II Army Corps, which he led until his retirement in May 2000.
He was immediately recalled to service as Chief of the Cypriot National Guard (the senior command positions of the CNG are customarily filled by active or retired Greek officers), replacing Lt. General Dimitrios Dimou. Florakis was married to a Cypriot, Athina Savvidou from Paphos
Paphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
, and quickly became a popular and well-liked officer in Cyprus. He was killed in an accident on 10 July 2002 near Paphos, when his Bell 206
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
helicopter crashed. Aside from Florakis, the Air Force Commander Brigadier Stylianos Demenagas and three other officers were killed.
Honours
Lt. General Florakis was awarded the Commander's crosses of the Order of Honour and of the Order of the Phoenix, as well as numerous other distinctions and commemorative medals.The main naval base of the CNG, the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base
Evangelos Florakis Naval Base
The Evangelos Florakis Naval Base is a Cyprus Navy base, situated on the island's southern coast adjacent to the Vasilikos industrial area and power plant, near Zygi, between Limassol and Larnaca. Prior to 11 July 2011, it was the main location of the Command of the Navy Base, one of the five...
in Paphos, was later named after him.