The most complete information guide about Athens, Greece
HISTORY OF ATHENS
The
Mid-War Period
The military coup of 1923
The impact of the Asia Minor catastrophe caused a number of chain
reactions in the interior of the country. The fall of the standards
of living of the middle classes and the general discontent from
the course of national developments are reflected in the new orientation
of reformation and democratic parties, founded during this period.
A dominant role in these was played by figures that have departed
from Venizelos' camp,
On 31 August the Italian General
Tellini and his four companions were assassinated at Kakavia,
Epirus. The Italians responded with the bombardment and occupation
of Corfu. With the departure of the Italian occupation army in
September 1923, the tensions between the two countries wore off.
The
proclamation of elections for 16 December 1923, with an electoral
system favoring the transfer of authority to a parliament controlled
by the Liberals and friendly disposed towards the Revolutionary
Committee, triggered a coup of army officers in October 1923.
Its major instruments (mainly
anti-Venizelists) were those who felt that they were put to the
margin by the looming electoral developments. Its leaders, Generals
Leonardopoulos and Gargalidis, failed to achieve their aims and
their coup was immediately suppressed.
However,
the coup acquired some importance because it reinforced opponent
forces (especially the organization of the Military League), which
in their turn took an active part in the process of resolving
the constitutional issue. The Republicans, a group of army officers
in co-operation with politicians such as Alexandros Papanastasiou,
having established their position against the moderate Liberals
(among them Eleftherios Venizelos), accused King George for complicity
in the coup and demanded his departure from the country.