A Greek military officer who led the country's resistance against the Ottoman Empire and later became a prominent politician, known for his bravery and strategic leadership.
Evripidis Bakirtzis, also known as the Red Colonel, was a Hellenic Army officer and politician who played a pivotal role in the Greek Resistance during World War II. As a co-founder of the National and Social Liberation (EKKA) resistance group, Bakirtzis was a key figure in the fight against the Axis occupation of Greece.
Born on January 16, 1895, in Serres, Ottoman Empire (now Greece), Bakirtzis was the son of Christos Bakirtzis, the secretary of the Greek consulate, and Efthalia Zaka, a teacher from a prominent military family. He had two half-brothers, one of whom was a distinguished Macedonian warrior, and another who was executed by the Bulgarians in 1916.
Bakirtzis was admitted to the Military School of Guards in 1911 and participated in the First Balkan War in 1912 as a sophomore. He served in the Army of Epirus with the Independent Cretan Regiment as a sergeant. During World War I, he was involved in the National Schism, a dispute between Eleftherios Venizelos and King Constantine over foreign policy.
Dismissed from the army twice due to his participation in pro-republican coup attempts, Bakirtzis was sentenced to death. However, he managed to escape and continued to fight against the occupation. In 1942, he co-founded the EKKA resistance group along with Dimitrios Psarros, becoming the military head of the organization.
Bakirtzis later joined the National Liberation Front (EAM) and its military wing, the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS). He served as the head of the Political Committee of National Liberation (PEEA), a government of Greek Resistance-held territories, from March 10 to April 18, 1944.
Bakirtzis was nicknamed the Red Colonel due to his association with the Communist Party of Greece, whose newspaper, Rizospastis, featured his pen name. His involvement with the Communist Party led to controversy, and he was eventually found dead in exile in 1947 during the Greek Civil War.
Despite his controversial legacy, Bakirtzis remains a significant figure in Greek history, known for his bravery and dedication to the Greek Resistance.
Evripidis Bakirtzis, the Red Colonel, will always be remembered as a hero of the Greek Resistance, whose bravery and sacrifices will continue to inspire generations to come.
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