The Student Movement The Plebiscite of 1973 `Markezinis

1973
The Student Movement
The swelling student movement, as early as autumn 1972, had expressed its
opposition to any intervention by the regime within the confines of the
universities. Organised reaction to the revocation by the dictatorship of
student deferments from military service for those not attending their
classes culminates in February 1973 when students take over the building of
the Athens Law School in the first mass mobilisation against the dictatorship.
One month later, another takeover of the building, this time with demands of
a purely political nature, is broken up violently following intervention by
the forces of repression. Dozens of demonstrators are injured and arrested,
provoking a reaction by both Greek and international public opinion.
21/2/1973
Students on the roof of the Athens Law School during their take-over of the building
21 February 1973
Public Radio Television Archives
31/3/1973
Demonstration against the dictatorship in Greece, Amsterdam
31 March 1973
The Contemporary Social History Archives – Photography Archives
The Navy Revolt
Toward the end of 1972, officers of the Navy - the branch of the Armed Forces
least involved in the coup - had begun organising an action against the regime.
Specifically, the plan was to occupy the island of Syros with the intention
of setting up a military administration under the command of Major Spyros
Moustaklis which would then hand over power to a provisional government of
National Unity. The former Foreign Minister Evangelos Averoff is involved
in this operation, while Constantine Karamanlis, though not taking part, has
already given his sign of approval in statements he had made in April. In
the end, however, the regime, forewarned of the impending action, prevents
its execution, arresting dozens of the officers and politicians involved. An
exception is the mutiny of the destroyer HNS VELOS during NATO exercises off
Italy. The withdrawal of the ship from the exercises and the request to Italy
for political asylum by the captain, Nikos Pappas, and members of the crew,
is covered extensively by the international media, dealing a serious blow to
the image of the regime abroad.
27/5/1973
Front Page article: ‘Italy grants political asylum to 39 Greek mutineers’
La Stampa, 27 Μay 1973.
Cartoon from the International Cartoon Fair of 1973
Archives of Constantine Mataranga, Navy Captain, Ret.
The Plebiscite of 1973
A plebiscite is held for the new form of government and the ratification by
the citizens of the already predetermined decision for appointing George
Papadopoulos ‘president of the Republic’, which followed those of ‘minister’,
prime minister’ and ‘regent’. With his decree of June 1st, the dictator had
already abolished the monarchy and declared Constantine deposed. The official
results of the plebiscite, according to which over 78% of the citizens
approved the decisions of the regime, are indicative of the repressive
conditions under which the plebiscite is held along with the extensive fraud.
Following the plebiscite, George Papadopoulos is sworn in as ‘president
of the Republic’. The assumption of his new position, is accompanied by
the repeal of martial law and the granting of a general amnesty for “all
political crimes that were committed within the country” after the 21st of
April 1967. The result of this decision is the gradual repatriation of many
of the important personalities who had fled abroad, as well as the release of
dozens of political prisoners.
7/1973
Propaganda leaflet in support of the ‘plebiscite’ of July 29
Library of the Hellenic Parliament
‘Markezinis Government’
Spyros Markezinis is charged with the formation of a new ‘government’ following
relevant proclamations by George Papadopoulos on the gradual liberalisation
of the regime. This ‘government’ consists of various former ministers of
the regime as well as personalities selected by Markezinis. The new ‘prime
minister’ receives the assurance of the dictator that elections will be held
without martial law during the first trimester of 1974.
Despite Markezinis’ efforts, the political scene views these new developments
with suspicion, expressing doubts as to the ability of the new ‘prime
minister’ to assert himself with the regime and insist on his positions.
14-15/11/1973
Athens Polytechnic
On 14 November, students from various schools in Athens take over the
Athens Polytechnic. Their slogans against the regime gradually reveal the
insurrectional character of the takeover against a repressive and reactionary
regime which had already lasted more than six years in power. At the same
time, the radio station of the Polytechnic begins to broadcast, calling out
to all Greeks for solidarity with the students’ struggle against the regime.
15-17/11/1973
Scenes from the events at the Athens Polytechnic
15-17 November 1973
Public Radio Television Archives -Aristotelis Sarrikostas Archives
16-17/11/1973
From the evening of 16 November, units of the police battle with demonstrators
at various points throughout the centre of the city, leaving behind dozens
of injured. That same night, a decision is taken for Army units stationed
outside the building of the Polytechnic on Patission Street to intervene,
culminating in a tank bursting through the gates into the courtyard of the
institution, at 2 am of the 17th of November. During the days that follow,
clashes spread to various parts of Athens, leading to a large number of dead
and wounded, hundreds of arrests and a declaration of martial law.
17/11/1973
A tank in front of the gates to the Athens Polytechnic
17 Νοvember 1973.
Flippress/ Vassilis Karageorgou Photography Archives
25/11/1973
Ioannides Coup
On the morning of 25 November 1973, the chief of the Greek Military Police
(ESA), Brigadier Dimitrios Ioannides, the head of a group of extremist
middle- and lower-ranked officers, overthrows George Papadopoulos. As armoured
vehicles appear once more on the streets of Athens, the radio stations
broadcast new orders imposing a curfew. At the same time, a decree is issued
which declares, among other things: “People of Greece, the Armed Forces of
the Nation, your very own offspring, cannot possibly accept your humiliation
nor can they compromise by allowing you to be deluded by the orchestration of
so-called honest elections. People of Greece, remain calm! Your Armed Forces
are forever vigilant!” Under the new regime, Maj. Gen. Phaidon Gizikis is
appointed ‘president of the Republic’, and Odysseus Androutsopoulos, ‘prime
minister’.