Nikolaos Plastiras

Nikolaos Plastiras
Name	Nikolaos Plastiras
Caption	General Nikolaos Plastiras in uniform
Birth date	4 November 1883
Birth place	Karditsa, Kingdom of Greece
Death date	26 July 1953 (aged 69)
Death place	Athens, Kingdom of Greece
Allegiance	Kingdom of Greece
Branch	Hellenic Army
Serviceyears	1904–1924
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	5/42 Evzone Regiment, Archipelago Division
Battles	Balkan Wars, World War I, Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)
Laterwork	Prime Minister of Greece (three times)

Nikolaos Plastiras was a prominent Hellenic Army officer and statesman, whose career was defined by his unwavering Venizelist loyalties and his profound impact on modern Greek history. He rose to national fame as a military leader during the catastrophic Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), later leading the 1922 Revolution that transformed the country's political landscape. His subsequent political career saw him serve three tumultuous terms as Prime Minister of Greece, where he advocated for centrist policies and national reconciliation during periods of intense crisis, including the Greek Civil War.

Early life and military career

Born in the village of Karditsa, he enlisted in the Hellenic Army as a volunteer in 1904. He first saw combat during the Balkan Wars, serving with distinction and being commissioned as an officer. His abilities were further honed during World War I, where he fought on the Macedonian front as part of the Army of National Defence, the Venizelist force supporting the Entente Powers. Following the war, he participated in the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, part of the Greek expeditionary force in Southern Russia and Crimea.

Role in the National Schism and Venizelism

Plastiras was a staunch and lifelong adherent of Venizelism, the liberal political movement led by Eleftherios Venizelos. This allegiance placed him firmly on one side of the deep political and social divide known as the National Schism, which split Greek society between royalists and Venizelists. He remained loyal to Venizelos's Provisional Government of National Defence based in Thessaloniki during World War I. His commitment to these republican and reformist ideals would dictate his military and political actions for decades, frequently bringing him into conflict with the monarchy and conservative factions in Athens.

Leadership during the Greco-Turkish War and the 1922 Revolution

Commanding the famed 5/42 Evzone Regiment, Plastiras earned the nickname "O Mavros Kavalaris" (The Black Rider) for his leadership during the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922). Following the decisive Battle of Sakarya and the subsequent collapse of the Greek front, he became a central figure in the revolutionary movement. Alongside fellow officers like Stylianos Gonatas and Dimitrios Fokas, he led the 11 September 1922 Revolution which deposed King Constantine I and the government, seeking accountability for the military disaster. This government, known as the Revolutionary Committee, presided over the Trial of the Six and the tumultuous transition after the Treaty of Lausanne.

Political career and premierships

After retiring from the army, Plastiras founded the centrist National Progressive Center Union party. He served as Prime Minister of Greece three times, each during a period of extreme national crisis. His first term followed the liberation from Axis occupation of Greece in 1945, where he sought to reconcile the nation after the bitter conflicts between ELAS and government forces. His second, very brief premiership occurred in 1950 amidst political instability. His final term began in 1951, leading a coalition government with Sophoklis Venizelos during the latter stages of the Greek Civil War, attempting to stabilize the country's economy and politics under the shadow of the Truman Doctrine.

Exile and later life

Due to his strong Venizelist and anti-monarchist stance, Plastiras faced significant opposition and spent considerable time in exile. Following a failed Venizelist coup attempt in 1933, he was forced to flee to France, where he lived for several years. He returned to Greece after the fall of the 4th of August Regime of Ioannis Metaxas and the end of the Axis occupation of Greece. Despite his later premierships, he remained a polarizing figure, criticized by both the far-right and the communist left until his death in Athens in 1953.

Legacy and honors

Nikolaos Plastiras is remembered as a patriot and a moderate reformer who consistently sought national unity. The large artificial Lake Plastiras in his native region of Karditsa is named in his honor. His political legacy is associated with the difficult center-ground in Greek politics, advocating for democracy between the extremes of monarchy and communism. While controversial, his role in the pivotal events following the Asia Minor Catastrophe and during the post-war reconstruction secures his significant place in 20th-century Greek history.

Category:Prime Ministers of Greece Category:Hellenic Army generals Category:Greek Venizelists Category:1883 births Category:1953 deaths