THREAD: On this day in 1955, The National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) began an armed campaign to end British colonial rule and unify Cyprus and Greece.
Georgios Grivas, with only 300 fighters, won Cyprus' Independence from the British.
Georgios Grivas, with only 300 fighters, won Cyprus' Independence from the British.
1) On 1 April, EOKA launched simultaneous attacks against various British or British-linked facilities in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Famagusta - radio stations, courts, police stations, military camps, and colonial administrators homes.
2) The most glorious battle for EOKA was the Battle of Spilia, fought on 12 December 1955 when 12 Greeks took on 700 British soldiers in the Troodos mountains and won.
The British Army attempted to encircle the headquarters of EOKA . But it did not work out that way. Instead...
The British Army attempted to encircle the headquarters of EOKA . But it did not work out that way. Instead...
3) Grivas divided EOKA fighters in two and retreated to the summit of the mountain after fighting the British in heavy fog. Eventually the British reached the summit and thought they surrounded the EOKA fighters and begun shooting and calling airstrikes at each other for 8 hours.
4) In this battle, the British suffered 127 deaths, 102 injuries, & 21 missing. A lot of this came from the confusion EOKA made by withdrawing from their positions in heavy fog with two British units fighting against each other. EOKA picked off straddlers. EOKA lost not one man.
5) In typical Greek fashion, as well always battle better when the odds are against us, we could see how 12 men managed to make 127 British occupiers soldiers die. There are many more stories like this in the Cypriot struggle and I will cover a few more.
6) In the 15-minute Battle of Yialousa, 12 EOKA fighters took on 25 British ( + police) and killed an English lieutenant and sustained no casualties.
7) The 1956 Troodos Mountains campaign saw the British attempt to destroy EOKA. Instead, 300 EOKA warriors took the fight to the 40,000 British. Not only was the British campaign unsuccessful, they only captured 17 EOKA and lost 20 men to a forest fire started by EOKA.
8) Although EOKA only had 300 fighting men, they had the immense support from the people who wanted unity with Greece and independence from the British.
Women provided food and clothes, children (like in Ireland) would throw stones, nearly the whole people supported EOKA.
Women provided food and clothes, children (like in Ireland) would throw stones, nearly the whole people supported EOKA.
9) The situation was uncontrollable for the British, forcing the The London and Zürich Agreements between Greece, Cypriot leaders, Turkey and the United Kingdom in 1959, allowing independence.
Cyprus was accordingly proclaimed an independent state on 16 August 1960.
Cyprus was accordingly proclaimed an independent state on 16 August 1960.
10) However, the price of independence for Cyprus was not cheap. British soldiers were so merciless that they even tortured children. metro.co.uk/2018/05/23/bri…
11) A 15 year old girl was taken by Turkish Cypriot police in 1956. She was driven a forest, beaten and raped by Turkish and British police.
She was "pushed between her tormentors like a ball," before passing out.
They also tied a noose around her neck. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5…
She was "pushed between her tormentors like a ball," before passing out.
They also tied a noose around her neck. dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5…
12) Another Cypriot Greek man lost a kidney as a result of his interrogation and torture by the British colonialists in a notorious facility in Limassol. bbc.com/news/uk-469782…
13) British soldiers tortured Greek Cypriots by stubbing cigarettes out on their rectums, simulating executions and using a metal contraption that caused eyes to bleed.
knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/uk-sol…
knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/uk-sol…
14) Although many had suffered at the hands of the British, this is the story how General Georgios Grivas with only 300 Greek Cypriot men liberated Cyprus from colonial rule.
Άγιος Γεώργιος Γρίβας.
Georgios Grivas iconized as a saint in the East Roman/Byzantine art style.
Georgios Grivas iconized as a saint in the East Roman/Byzantine art style.
16) A true hero. His dying words were
"Long Live Union [with Cyprus and Greece]."
Another martyr in the great pantheon of Hellenic heroes and martyrs.
"Long Live Union [with Cyprus and Greece]."
Another martyr in the great pantheon of Hellenic heroes and martyrs.
17) The youngest hero of the Cypriot liberation struggle was 7-year-old Dimitrakis Dimitriadis who was murdered by British soldiers on 14/3/1956. He was shot in the head by the British because he shouted: "Long Live The Union, Long Live Greece!"
18) Words by the honorable Cypriot Greek martyr Stelios Mavrommatis who fought for Cyprus' independence & was executed by the British colonial occupiers.
"I want you to know that your son and brother dies with a smile because God allowed me not to bend."
"I want you to know that your son and brother dies with a smile because God allowed me not to bend."
Thank you Mr. Ambassador!
