Greek junta

The Greek junta, also known as the Regime of the Colonels, was a period of right-wing military rule in Greece. This dictatorship lasted from 1967 to 1974. It began when a group of military officers seized power through a coup d'état. A coup is when a group uses force to overthrow a government. This event changed the course of Greek history and led to the creation of the Third Hellenic Republic.

The coup occurred on 21 April 1967. At that time, Greece was under a caretaker government. Elections were scheduled for May 1967. Many people expected Georgios Papandreou and his Centre Union party to win. The colonels acted to prevent this political shift. Their government was defined by strict anti-communism and the removal of civil liberties. This meant citizens lost many of their basic legal rights.

To maintain control, the junta used harsh methods against political opponents. They used imprisonment, exile, and torture to silence those who disagreed. Georgios Papadopoulos served as the primary leader from 1967 until 1973. He attempted to gain support through a 1973 referendum regarding the monarchy. He also tried to introduce gradual democratization. However, these efforts were cut short by another coup led by a hardliner named Dimitrios Ioannidis.

The roots of this era lie in decades of political division. For 30 years, Greece was split between left-wing and right-wing forces. This tension grew during the resistance against Axis occupation in World War II. After the war, a Greek Civil War took place from 1946 to 1949. This conflict involved communist partisans and the government-in-exile. The British and the United States intervened to support the government. They wanted to prevent communist influence from spreading in Europe.

American influence played a significant role in Greek politics during this time. In 1947, the United States introduced the Truman Doctrine. This policy aimed to support authoritarian governments in Greece, Turkey, and Iran. The goal was to ensure these nations stayed out of the Soviet sphere of influence. Many future junta leaders were members of a secret society called IDEA. This group advocated for military control. Some historians note that the CIA and the Greek military worked closely together after Greece joined NATO in 1952.

Before the coup, Greece faced a period of intense political instability. In 1964, Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou clashed with King Constantine II. The King wanted to protect certain officers from the IDEA group. This led to massive demonstrations in Athens. In 1965, a constitutional crisis known as the "Iouliana" occurred after the King accepted Papandreou's resignation. This deadlock created a climate where a military takeover seemed possible to many conservatives. Some politicians even suggested the King should declare martial law.

The military regime finally collapsed on 24 July 1974. This downfall was triggered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The pressure from this international crisis forced a change in leadership. Greece transitioned back to a democratic system. This period of change is known as the Metapolitefsi. Later, the leaders of the junta faced legal consequences. They were brought to trial for their actions during the dictatorship.