Greek Junta and Its Context

Overview of the Greek Junta (1967-1974)

• The Greek Junta refers to a military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974.

Discriminatory Legal Measures

• The junta employed discriminatory legal measures aimed at eradicating civil liberties in Greece.
    - Notably targeted civil liberties include:
      - Freedom of thought.
      - Freedom of the press.
      - Freedom of assembly.

• The suppression of these freedoms is common in dictatorships and fascist regimes worldwide.

Abolition of Key Constitutional Articles

• Article 14 of the Greek Constitution:
    - Established Greek citizens' rights to assemble, protest, and voice opinions.
    - Upon its establishment, the junta immediately abolished Article 14, making protests illegal.

Dismantling of Democracy

• Within the first six months of governance, the junta completely dismantled Greek democracy:
    - Abolished the existing civil court system, replacing it with military courts.
    - Dissolved all political parties.

Targeting of Dissidents

• The junta actively targeted dissenters, labeling them as communists:
    - An estimated 6,000 dissidents were arrested and forced into exile on the island of Lailos, which was utilized as a concentration camp.
    - Previous regimes, such as the Metaxas regime, used similar tactics for political repression.

Foreign Relations

• The junta sought foreign approval and recognition for its rule:
    - The U.S. government supported the Greek dictatorship while
    - The UK and France rejected it due to its human rights abuses.

Leadership of George Papadopoulos

• George Papadopoulos became a prominent leader of the junta and was recognized as the prime minister.
    - He embodied both the military and monarchy during this time, becoming a focal point of the regime.

Internal Opposition and Corruption

• By the early 1970s, increased dissidence emerged against the junta due to:
    - Corruption allegations, with significant sums of money going missing from government coffers.
    - Economic failures leading to public unrest and protests.

Emergence of Student Protests

• In 1972-1973, students, especially at the Polytechnic University in Athens, organized protests.
    - Notable events included a sit-in from November 14 to November 17, 1973.
    - Students barricaded themselves inside the university, initiating hunger strikes and calling for overthrowing the junta.

Military Response to Protests

• In response to student protests:
    - On November 17, the junta unleashed military force, deploying tanks to crush the protests.
    - Estimates suggest that between 40 to 100 students were killed during this military intervention.

Consequences of Protest

• The violent crackdown on protests only intensified public discontent,

• Although external political pressures and internal protests did not immediately overthrow the junta, they signaled its impending decline.

Involvement in Cyprus

• The junta's involvement in Cyprus escalated tensions:
    - Greek troops were sent to Cyprus, leading to a Turkish invasion as a counter-response.
    - This conflict contributed to the junta's political isolation and eventual unpopularity.
    - The participation in this conflict complicated relationships with Greece's traditional allies.

Diplomatic Changes and Overthrow

• Papadopoulos was eventually overthrown in November 1973 due to internal dissent related to the Cyprus debacle.
    - Dimitris Ioannidis, another military officer, led the coup against Papadopoulos and established a more repressive regime.

Conclusion of the Junta

• The regime ended in 1974 due to a combination of internal pressures, public protests, and international diplomatic challenges.

• The experiences of dissent and protest during the junta displayed how active student movements can challenge oppressive regimes.

Cinema and Cultural Context

• The cultural landscape of Greece was influenced significantly by cinema during the entire period, especially in the context of government corruption.

• An example provided in class was "The Thief Screaming" (1965), which highlighted government corruption and abuses, coinciding with the rise of the junta.