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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2009
In this century military intervention in the political arena on the part of the Greek armed forces has been, either directly or indirectly, the rule and not the exception (i). The forms of and the motivations for this political activism have varied greatly, but in spite of the often decisive effects of their intervention in political affairs the Greek military and the reasons for their intervention have not been studied in any serious or systematic manner.
(1) Seven coups d'état have taken place in this century: 1909, the military group led by Col. Zorbas; 1922, group led by Col. George Plastiras; 1933 and 1936, led by Gen. John Metaxas; 1926 and 1935, led by Gen. George Kondyles; 1925, led by Gen. Theodoros Pangalos. In addition, many attempted coups either failed or never got “ off the ground ” as recently as 1951 and March and early April of 1967.
(2) George Papadopoulos, one of the original triumvirate of the 1967 coup, was deposed as President of the Republic on November 25, 1973. His successor as President is Lt. Gen. Phoedon Ghizikes, First Army Commander. Ghizikes is a graduate of the Military Academy class of 1939 and formerly was commander of the Raiding Forces (1970–1971) and com-manding general of the Athens Military Command (1968–1970).
(3) Janowitz, Morris, The Military in the Political Development of New Nations (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1964), pp. 28–29Google Scholar.
(4) Huntington, Samuel P., The Soldier and the State (New York, Vintage Books, 1964), pp. 8–18Google Scholar.
(5) Finer, S. E., The Man on Horseback (New York, Frederick A. Praeger, 1962), pp. 25–27Google Scholar.
(6) Ibid. p. 28.
(7) Sapin, Burton and Snyder, Richard, The Role of the Military in American Foreign Policy (New York, Doubleday, 1954), p. 52Google Scholar.
(8) Feld, M. D., Professionalism, Natio-nalism, and the Alienation of Military, in Doorn, Jacques Van (ed.), Armed Forces in Society (The Hague, Mouton, 1968), p. 68Google Scholar.
(9) Huntington, S., op. cit. pp. 11–18Google Scholar.
(10) Janowitz, Morris, The Professional Soldier (New York, The Free Press, 1960), p. viiiGoogle Scholar.
(11) Interviews were conducted with Greek officers during the Spring of 1969 and the Fall of 1971.
(12) Janowitz, , The Military in the Polit- ical Development of New Nations, op. cit. pp. 47–48Google Scholar.
(13) Discussions and serious planning have taken place in the Greek officer corps for coups d'état in 1951 and early in 1967.
(14) Interviews with officers of the Greek General Staff (Athens Greece, Spring, 1969).
(15) Two events set the stage for the April, 1967 coup: first, the discovery in May, 1965 of a left-wing secret organization known as ASPIDA (Shield) and connected with Andreas Papandreou; second, the elections scheduled for May of 1967, which George Papandreou's Center Union and the Left were certain to win.
(16) Interviews with American Military Advisors, JUSMAGG, Athens Greece, Spring, 1969.
(17) The Professional Soldier, op. cit. p. 81.
(18) Ibid. p. 85.
(19) The Military in the Political Development of New Nations, op. cit. p. 50. In addition, this observation has been further substantiated by Johnson, John J., The Military and Society in Latin America (Stanford, Stanford University Press, 1964)Google Scholar, and Lieuwen, Edwin, Arms and Politics in Latin America (New York, Frederick A. Praeger, 1965)Google Scholar.
(20) Studies conducted by this writer indicate that there is no favoritism accorded either academy class with regard to promotions or favors since the 1967 coup d'état.
(21) Vatikiotis, P. J., The Egyptian Army in Politics: Pattern for New Nations? (Bloomington, University of Indiana Press, 1961), p. 45Google Scholar.
(22) Ibid. p. 46.
(23) Times, April 18, 1969, p. 33.
(24) For amplification on this subject see: SirNamier, Lewis, The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III (New York, Macmillan Co., 1957)Google Scholar; Dogan, Mattei, Political Ascent in a Class Society, in Marvick, Dwaine (ed.). Political Decision Makers (Chicago, The Free Press of Glencoe, 1961)Google Scholar.
(25) The Military in the Political Development of New Nations, op. cit. p. 58.
(26) Ibid.
