Georgios Grivas Impact On Society

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Georgios Grivas is arguably the most influential character in the political Cyprus events of the last century. His undying passion for Cypriot Enosis and leadership through the conception of EOKA, was crucial to the Greek Cypriot movements towards independence and unity. A natural leader and man of action, Grivas founded several organizations, such as Organization X, EOKA, and EOKA B, and orchestrated countless resistance movements and attacks to fulfill his vision of a Greek Cyprus.

Grivas had military ambitions from a young age. He first attended the Athens Military Academy at the age of eighteen and finished his studies at the Ecole Militaire in Paris1. As a sub-lieutenant he went directly to the Asia Minor front, beginning his life-long …show more content…

Grivas escaped capture twice in Spilia and Kykkos when surrounded by British forces4. Then he was secretly transferred to a hideout in Limassol by car with EOKA fighter, Kostis Efstathiou, commonly known as Pachykostis. From Limassol he directed military activities as well as the political campaign because Makarios had been exiled to the Seychelles in March 1956. Throughout the struggle, the British colonial administration offered a reward of 10,000 British pounds as well as a passage to anywhere in the world for information leading to the arrest of Grivas. It was crucial for Grivas to have passionate and loyal followers for this reason.

In 1959, the Zurich-London agreements were signed declaring Cyprus an independent state and Grivas ordered a cease-fire although his main goal of Enosis was not achieved. At this time, Grivas’ and Makarios’ views began to diverge more. Makarios accepted the agreements and Grivas came out of hiding and departed for Athens. There he received a hero’s welcome because he succeeded in liberating the Greek Cypriots and the Greek Parliament and Athens Academy gave him the highest honors and promoted to

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