Ioannis Metaxas - Revision history

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'''Ioannis Metaxas''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''Ιωάννης Μεταξάς''', [[April 12]], [[1871]] - [[January 29]], [[1941]]) was a [[Greece|Greek]] General and the Prime Minister of Greece from [[1936]] until his death.

Born in [[Ithaca]], Metaxas was a career soldier, first seeing action in [[1897]] fighting the Turkish army in the [[Thessaly|Thessalian]] campaign. Following studies in [[Germany]], he returned to join the General Staff and was part of the modernizing process of the Greek Army before the [[Balkan Wars]] ([[1912]]-[[1913]]). He was made Chief of the Greek General Staff in [[1913]] and was promoted to General.

A staunch monarchist, he supported [[Constantine I of Greece|Constantine I]] and opposed Greek entry into [[WW I]]. [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], the [[prime minister]], resigned over the refusal to aid the [[Dardanelles]] campaign and used the war as the major issue in the elections. When Venizelos won the March [[1915]] elections he mobilised the army but was dismissed by the king. In June [[1917]], with [[Allied]] support and 60,000 [[Crete|Cretan]] soldiers, the king was deposed and Venizelos empowered, declaring war on [[June 29]], [[1917]].

Metaxas left Greece with the king, neither returning until [[1920]]. When the monarchy was displaced in [[1922]] Metaxas moved into politics and founded the Party of Free Opinion in [[1923]].

After a disputed plebisite [[King George II|George II]], son of Constantine I, returned to take the throne in [[1935]]. The elections of [[1936]] produced a deadlock between [[Panagis Tsaldaris]] and [[Themistoklis Sophoulis]]. The political situation was further polarized by the gains made by the ''[[Communist Party of Greece]]'' (KKE). Disliking the Communists and fearing a coup, George II appointed Metaxas, then minister of war, to be interim prime minister.

Widespread industrial unrest in May allowed Metaxas to declare a [[state of emergency]]. He suspended the parliament indefinitely and annulled various articles of the constitution. By August [[1936]] Metaxas was effectively [[dictator]]. Patterning his regime on other authoritarian European governments (most notably [[Mussolini]]'s [[fascist]] regime), Metaxas banned political parties, arrested his opponents (around 15,000 Greeks were imprisoned and tortured or exiled for political offences by the Metaxas regime), criminalized strikes and introduced widespread censorship of the media. But he did not have great popular support or a strong ideology.

The Metaxas government sought to pacify the working classes by raising wages, regulating hours and working to improve working conditions. For rural areas agricultural prices were raised and farm debts were taken on by the government. Despite these efforts the Greek people generally moved towards the political left, but without actively opposing Metaxas.

In foreign policy Metaxas was caught in a dilemma. He saw [[Germany]] and [[Italy]] as 'natural' allies but in the [[Mediterranean]] the [[United Kingdom|British]] and their fleet were a major force while the expansionist goals of [[Mussolini]] were clearly threatening to Greece. The uncertain line between the opposing forces was decisively broken by the blunt demands of Mussolini in October [[1940]]. He demanded occupation rights to strategic Greek sites and was met with the single-word reply "no". [[Greco-Italian_War|Italy invaded Greece]] from [[Albania]] on [[October 28]].

The Greeks were able to mount a successful defense, forcing the Italians back into Albania and occupying large parts of Northern [[Epirus]] (Southern Albania). Metaxas died in [[Athens]] on [[January 29]] of a phlegmon of the pharynx which subsequently led to uncurable [[toxaemia]]. He was succeeded by [[Alexandros Korizis]].

Metaxas is a controversial figure in Greek history. He is reviled by some for his dictatorial state, and admired by others for his "No" stance, and his military victory against Italy.

==See Also==
*[[Greek Fascism]]
*[[Hellenic Civil War]]
*[[Greco-Italian_War]]
*[[Metaxas_Line]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.metaxas-project.com Metaxas Project]

[[Category:1871 births|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
[[Category:1941 deaths|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Greece|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
[[Category:World War II political leaders|Metaxas, Ioannis]]

{{start box}}
{{succession box|title=[[Prime Minister of Greece]]|before=[[Konstantinos Demertzis]]|after=[[Alexandros Korizis]]|years=April 13, 1936 - January 29, 1941}}
{{end box}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:11, October 29, 2010
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	[[Category:Prime Ministers of Greece\|Metaxas, Ioannis]]		[[Category:Prime Ministers of Greece\|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
	[[Category:World War II political leaders\|Metaxas, Ioannis]]		[[Category:World War II political leaders\|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
		+	[[Category:Ministers for the Military\|Metaxas, Ioannis]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Ioannis Metaxas''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''&#921;&#969;&#940;&#957;&#957;&#951;&#962; &#924;&#949;&#964;&#945;&#958;&#940;&#962;''', [[April 12]], [[1871]] - [[January 29]], [[1941]]) was a [[Greece|Greek]] General and the Prime Minister of Greece from [[1936]] until his death.
-[[Image:Metaxas1.jpg|thumb|200px|Ioannis Metaxas]]Born in [[Ithaca]], Metaxas was a career soldier, first seeing action in [[1897]] fighting the Turkish army in the [[Thessaly|Thessalian]] campaign. Following studies in [[Germany]], he returned to join the General Staff and was part of the modernizing process of the Greek Army before the [[Balkan Wars]] ([[1912]]-[[1913]]). He was made Chief of the Greek General Staff in [[1913]] and was promoted to General.
+[[Image:Metaxas1.jpg|thumb|200px|Ioannis Metaxas]]Born in [[Ithaca]], Metaxas was a career soldier, first seeing action in [[1897]] fighting the Turkish army in the [[Thessaly|Thessalian]] campaign. Following studies in Germany, he returned to join the General Staff and was part of the modernizing process of the Greek Army before the [[Balkan Wars]] ([[1912]]-[[1913]]). He was made Chief of the Greek General Staff in [[1913]] and was promoted to General.
 A staunch monarchist, he supported [[King Constantine I|Constantine I]] and opposed Greek entry into [[WW I]]. [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], the [[Prime Minister of Greece|prime minister]], resigned over the refusal to aid the [[Dardanelles]] campaign and used the war as the major issue in the elections. When Venizelos won the March [[1915]] elections he mobilised the army but was dismissed by the king. In June [[1917]], with Allied support and 60,000 [[Crete|Cretan]] soldiers, the king was deposed and Venizelos empowered, declaring war on [[June 29]], [[1917]].
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 After a disputed plebisite [[King George II|George II]], son of Constantine I, returned to take the throne in [[1935]]. The elections of [[1936]] produced a deadlock between [[Panagis Tsaldaris]] and [[Themistoklis Sofoulis]]. The political situation was further polarized by the gains made by the ''[[Communist Party of Greece]]'' (KKE). Disliking the Communists and fearing a coup, George II appointed Metaxas, then minister of war, to be interim prime minister.
-Widespread industrial unrest in May allowed Metaxas to declare a state of emergency. He suspended the parliament indefinitely and annulled various articles of the constitution. By August [[1936]] Metaxas was effectively [[dictator]]. Patterning his regime on other authoritarian European governments (most notably [[Mussolini]]'s [[fascist]] regime), Metaxas banned political parties, arrested his opponents (around 15,000 Greeks were imprisoned and tortured or exiled for political offences by the Metaxas regime), criminalized strikes and introduced widespread censorship of the media. But he did not have great popular support or a strong ideology.
+Widespread industrial unrest in May allowed Metaxas to declare a state of emergency. He suspended the parliament indefinitely and annulled various articles of the constitution. By August [[1936]] Metaxas was effectively dictator. Patterning his regime on other authoritarian European governments (most notably Mussolini's fascist regime), Metaxas banned political parties, arrested his opponents (around 15,000 Greeks were imprisoned and tortured or exiled for political offences by the Metaxas regime), criminalized strikes and introduced widespread censorship of the media. But he did not have great popular support or a strong ideology.
 The Metaxas government sought to pacify the working classes by raising wages, regulating hours and working to improve working conditions. For rural areas agricultural prices were raised and farm debts were taken on by the government. Despite these efforts the Greek people generally moved towards the political left, but without actively opposing Metaxas.
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 In foreign policy Metaxas was caught in a dilemma. He saw Germany and Italy as 'natural' allies but in the [[Mediterranean]] the British and their fleet were a major force while the expansionist goals of Mussolini were clearly threatening to Greece. The uncertain line between the opposing forces was decisively broken by the blunt demands of Mussolini in October [[1940]]. He demanded occupation rights to strategic Greek sites and was met with the single-word reply "no". [[Greco-Italian_War|Italy invaded Greece]] from Albania on [[October 28]].
-[[Image:Metaxas-papagos-paul-george.jpg|thumb|200px| Against the Italians on the Albanian front]]The Greeks were able to mount a successful defense, forcing the Italians back into Albania and occupying large parts of Northern [[Epirus]] (Southern Albania). Metaxas died in [[Athens]] on [[January 29]] of a phlegmon of the pharynx which subsequently led to uncurable toxaemia. He was succeeded by [[Alexandros Korizis]].
+[[Image:Metaxas-papagos-paul-george.jpg|thumb|200px| Against the Italians on the Albanian front]]The Greeks were able to mount a successful defense, forcing the Italians back into Albania and occupying large parts of [[Northern Epirus]] (Southern Albania). Metaxas died in [[Athens]] on [[January 29]] of a phlegmon of the pharynx which subsequently led to uncurable toxaemia. He was succeeded by [[Alexandros Korizis]].
 Metaxas is a controversial figure in Greek history. He is reviled by some for his dictatorial state, and admired by others for his "No" stance, and his military victory against Italy.
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 [[Category:1871 births|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
 [[Category:1941 deaths|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
 [[Category:Prime Ministers of Greece|Metaxas, Ioannis]]
 [[Category:World War II political leaders|Metaxas, Ioannis]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 [[Image:Metaxas1.jpg|thumb|200px|Ioannis Metaxas]]Born in [[Ithaca]], Metaxas was a career soldier, first seeing action in [[1897]] fighting the Turkish army in the [[Thessaly|Thessalian]] campaign. Following studies in [[Germany]], he returned to join the General Staff and was part of the modernizing process of the Greek Army before the [[Balkan Wars]] ([[1912]]-[[1913]]). He was made Chief of the Greek General Staff in [[1913]] and was promoted to General.
-A staunch monarchist, he supported [[King Constantine I|Constantine I]] and opposed Greek entry into [[WW I]]. [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], the [[prime minister]], resigned over the refusal to aid the [[Dardanelles]] campaign and used the war as the major issue in the elections. When Venizelos won the March [[1915]] elections he mobilised the army but was dismissed by the king. In June [[1917]], with [[Allied]] support and 60,000 [[Crete|Cretan]] soldiers, the king was deposed and Venizelos empowered, declaring war on [[June 29]], [[1917]].
+A staunch monarchist, he supported [[King Constantine I|Constantine I]] and opposed Greek entry into [[WW I]]. [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], the [[Prime Minister of Greece|prime minister]], resigned over the refusal to aid the [[Dardanelles]] campaign and used the war as the major issue in the elections. When Venizelos won the March [[1915]] elections he mobilised the army but was dismissed by the king. In June [[1917]], with Allied support and 60,000 [[Crete|Cretan]] soldiers, the king was deposed and Venizelos empowered, declaring war on [[June 29]], [[1917]].
 Metaxas left Greece with the king, neither returning until [[1920]]. When the monarchy was displaced in [[1922]] Metaxas moved into politics and founded the Party of Free Opinion in [[1923]].
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 After a disputed plebisite [[King George II|George II]], son of Constantine I, returned to take the throne in [[1935]]. The elections of [[1936]] produced a deadlock between [[Panagis Tsaldaris]] and [[Themistoklis Sofoulis]]. The political situation was further polarized by the gains made by the ''[[Communist Party of Greece]]'' (KKE). Disliking the Communists and fearing a coup, George II appointed Metaxas, then minister of war, to be interim prime minister.
-Widespread industrial unrest in May allowed Metaxas to declare a [[state of emergency]]. He suspended the parliament indefinitely and annulled various articles of the constitution. By August [[1936]] Metaxas was effectively [[dictator]]. Patterning his regime on other authoritarian European governments (most notably [[Mussolini]]'s [[fascist]] regime), Metaxas banned political parties, arrested his opponents (around 15,000 Greeks were imprisoned and tortured or exiled for political offences by the Metaxas regime), criminalized strikes and introduced widespread censorship of the media. But he did not have great popular support or a strong ideology.
+Widespread industrial unrest in May allowed Metaxas to declare a state of emergency. He suspended the parliament indefinitely and annulled various articles of the constitution. By August [[1936]] Metaxas was effectively [[dictator]]. Patterning his regime on other authoritarian European governments (most notably [[Mussolini]]'s [[fascist]] regime), Metaxas banned political parties, arrested his opponents (around 15,000 Greeks were imprisoned and tortured or exiled for political offences by the Metaxas regime), criminalized strikes and introduced widespread censorship of the media. But he did not have great popular support or a strong ideology.
 The Metaxas government sought to pacify the working classes by raising wages, regulating hours and working to improve working conditions. For rural areas agricultural prices were raised and farm debts were taken on by the government. Despite these efforts the Greek people generally moved towards the political left, but without actively opposing Metaxas.
-In foreign policy Metaxas was caught in a dilemma. He saw [[Germany]] and [[Italy]] as 'natural' allies but in the [[Mediterranean]] the [[United Kingdom|British]] and their fleet were a major force while the expansionist goals of [[Mussolini]] were clearly threatening to Greece. The uncertain line between the opposing forces was decisively broken by the blunt demands of Mussolini in October [[1940]]. He demanded occupation rights to strategic Greek sites and was met with the single-word reply "no". [[Greco-Italian_War|Italy invaded Greece]] from [[Albania]] on [[October 28]].
+In foreign policy Metaxas was caught in a dilemma. He saw Germany and Italy as 'natural' allies but in the [[Mediterranean]] the British and their fleet were a major force while the expansionist goals of Mussolini were clearly threatening to Greece. The uncertain line between the opposing forces was decisively broken by the blunt demands of Mussolini in October [[1940]]. He demanded occupation rights to strategic Greek sites and was met with the single-word reply "no". [[Greco-Italian_War|Italy invaded Greece]] from Albania on [[October 28]].
-[[Image:Metaxas-papagos-paul-george.jpg|thumb|200px| Against the Italians on the Albanian front]]The Greeks were able to mount a successful defense, forcing the Italians back into Albania and occupying large parts of Northern [[Epirus]] (Southern Albania). Metaxas died in [[Athens]] on [[January 29]] of a phlegmon of the pharynx which subsequently led to uncurable [[toxaemia]]. He was succeeded by [[Alexandros Korizis]].
+[[Image:Metaxas-papagos-paul-george.jpg|thumb|200px| Against the Italians on the Albanian front]]The Greeks were able to mount a successful defense, forcing the Italians back into Albania and occupying large parts of Northern [[Epirus]] (Southern Albania). Metaxas died in [[Athens]] on [[January 29]] of a phlegmon of the pharynx which subsequently led to uncurable toxaemia. He was succeeded by [[Alexandros Korizis]].
 Metaxas is a controversial figure in Greek history. He is reviled by some for his dictatorial state, and admired by others for his "No" stance, and his military victory against Italy.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Ioannis Metaxas''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] '''&#921;&#969;&#940;&#957;&#957;&#951;&#962; &#924;&#949;&#964;&#945;&#958;&#940;&#962;''', [[April 12]], [[1871]] - [[January 29]], [[1941]]) was a [[Greece|Greek]] General and the Prime Minister of Greece from [[1936]] until his death.
-Born in [[Ithaca]], Metaxas was a career soldier, first seeing action in [[1897]] fighting the Turkish army in the [[Thessaly|Thessalian]] campaign. Following studies in [[Germany]], he returned to join the General Staff and was part of the modernizing process of the Greek Army before the [[Balkan Wars]] ([[1912]]-[[1913]]). He was made Chief of the Greek General Staff in [[1913]] and was promoted to General.
+[[Image:Metaxas1.jpg|thumb|200px|Ioannis Metaxas]]Born in [[Ithaca]], Metaxas was a career soldier, first seeing action in [[1897]] fighting the Turkish army in the [[Thessaly|Thessalian]] campaign. Following studies in [[Germany]], he returned to join the General Staff and was part of the modernizing process of the Greek Army before the [[Balkan Wars]] ([[1912]]-[[1913]]). He was made Chief of the Greek General Staff in [[1913]] and was promoted to General.
 A staunch monarchist, he supported [[King Constantine I|Constantine I]] and opposed Greek entry into [[WW I]]. [[Eleftherios Venizelos]], the [[prime minister]], resigned over the refusal to aid the [[Dardanelles]] campaign and used the war as the major issue in the elections. When Venizelos won the March [[1915]] elections he mobilised the army but was dismissed by the king. In June [[1917]], with [[Allied]] support and 60,000 [[Crete|Cretan]] soldiers, the king was deposed and Venizelos empowered, declaring war on [[June 29]], [[1917]].