Πως ο Παπαδόπουλος ξεγέλασε τους Αμερικανούς

Πρακτική Σκέψη

23 Apr 202417:48

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the military coup in Greece in April 1967, revealing how a group of military officers, known as the Regime of the Colonels, seized power. It details the political turmoil leading up to the coup, involving King Constantine, the CIA, and various political factions. The script also covers the international response, particularly from the US, and the subsequent events that unfolded, including the failed attempts by King Constantine to regain control and the establishment of a government fully aligned with the Colonels.

Takeaways

🙌 The video script is a narration of historical events leading up to the Greek military coup of 1967.
👑 It discusses the political turmoil and the struggle for power involving King Constantine, the military, and political factions.
🗓️ The coup was planned and executed by a group of military officers, known as the 'April Officers,' who aimed to seize control of the government.
🔍 The CIA was aware of the coup planning but did not know the full extent of the military's intentions.
🤝 There were secret negotiations between political leaders to form a government of national unity to restore order and hold elections.
🚩 The coup took place on April 21, 1967, and was led by Colonel George Papadopoulos, who deceived both the Americans and the King.
🛑 The United States was surprised by the coup and initially did not know how to react, fearing a possible communist takeover.
🏰 King Constantine sought American support to counter the military junta but was advised against direct intervention.
🛂 The coup led to the imposition of martial law, the arrest of politicians, and a period of military rule in Greece.
🌍 The events strained Greece's relationship with the United States and other Western allies, leading to an arms embargo.

Q & A

What significant event took place in Greece in April 1967?
-A military coup took place in Greece in April 1967, led by a group of military officers known as the 'April Colonels'.
Who were the key figures behind the military coup in Greece in 1967?
-The key figures behind the military coup in Greece in 1967 were Colonel George Papadopoulos and King Constantine II.
What was the role of the CIA in the events leading up to the coup?
-The CIA was aware of the coup preparations but did not have detailed information about the goals of the 'April Colonels'. They were informed about the coup by a source within the Greek military.
What was the political situation in Greece prior to the coup?
-Prior to the coup, Greece was experiencing political turmoil with various political factions, including the Royal Family, the military, and opposition politicians, vying for power.
What was the 'Plan Prometheus' and how did it relate to the coup?
-Plan Prometheus was a plan by the Greek military to seize critical infrastructure in a state of emergency. It was part of the preparations leading up to the coup.
How did King Constantine II attempt to handle the political situation before the coup?
-King Constantine II attempted to handle the political situation by seeking support from the CIA for a possible military intervention and by trying to form a government of national unity.
What was the United States' stance on the coup?
-The United States was initially surprised by the coup and did not support it openly. However, they did not oppose it directly either, leaving King Constantine II to interpret this as tacit approval.
What was the 'Operation Prometheus' and its significance?
-Operation Prometheus was the actual military operation that led to the coup. It involved the arrest of politicians and the takeover of the government by the military junta.
How did the coup impact the political landscape of Greece?
-The coup led to the establishment of a military junta in Greece, which ruled the country with authoritarian measures, including the arrest and imprisonment of political opponents.
What was the international reaction to the coup in Greece?
-The international reaction to the coup was varied. Some countries were concerned about the rise of a military dictatorship, while others, like the United States, were more concerned about the potential spread of communism in Greece.

Outlines

00:00

🇬🇷 Prelude to the Greek Military Coup of 1967

The paragraph discusses the events leading up to the Greek military coup of April 1967. It starts with a call for support for the channel's efforts in research and dissemination of knowledge, followed by a historical account of political turmoil in Greece. In 1966, a group within the military, with the approval of King Constantine, began planning to seize power. The plan involved taking control of vital locations and arresting political figures. By December 1966, the 'triumvirate' of the coup, known as the 'Aprilites,' was in the spotlight, with George Papadopoulos taking a leading role in the planning. The CIA was aware of the group's activities. Simultaneously, political leaders were secretly discussing forming a government of national unity to hold new elections in May 1967. However, the three colonels, as a third force, changed the situation in 1967. A meeting on January 4, 1967, saw the conspirators discussing their plans, with the Americans aware of the group's autonomous actions but not its objectives. By January 28, 1967, the King's faction was directly asking the CIA about the stance of the U.S. on a military movement, to which they received a negative response. Despite this, the King sought the green light for a dictatorship before the May elections. An attempt was made to form a national front in February 1967, but it failed, and by March, the military group decided to make a final appeal to Karamanlis to return and lead, which he refused.

05:01

🎬 The Execution of the Coup and International Reactions

This section details the execution of the coup on April 21, 1967, by the military junta led by Papadopoulos. It describes how the coup unfolded, with politicians being arrested and taken to military facilities initially, then later to a luxurious hotel. The military moved to the Pentagon and those who agreed with the junta returned to their duties, while those who didn't were released and discharged. The plan 'Prometheus' was implemented, which involved the preemptive arrest of approximately 6,500 individuals suspected of anti-government activities. Meanwhile, the U.S. was trying to understand the situation, surprised that the King had proceeded with the coup without informing them. The U.S. was initially concerned that the communists might have seized power. However, it became clear that the King was not behind the coup, and the U.S. decided to take a neutral stance, not interfering unless directly involved. The paragraph concludes with the formation of a government under Konstantinos Kollias, who was sworn in under the junta's direction.

10:01

🤔 The Complexities of Power Dynamics and U.S. Involvement

The paragraph delves into the complexities of the power dynamics following the coup, with a focus on the interactions between the King, the military junta, and the U.S. It discusses how the King sought to maintain control and considered leaving the country or resisting the junta with the help of the U.S. or Greek forces. The U.S. clarified that they would not intervene in a civil conflict. The King's concerns about the potential for civil war if elections were held and won by the Center Union party are highlighted. The U.S. advised the King to maintain a cold stance towards the new government and to strengthen his position. The paragraph also covers the U.S. decision to impose an arms embargo on Greece and the King's attempts to provoke a crisis with Turkey to escalate the situation and potentially overthrow the junta. The plan involved sending individuals to Cyprus to instigate incidents that would provoke a Turkish reaction, which would then be used as a pretext for action against the junta.

15:02

🔄 The Aftermath of the Coup and the King's Failed Counter-Movement

This section covers the aftermath of the coup, focusing on the King's failed attempt to counter the junta and the international implications. It discusses the King's plan to escalate tensions with Turkey over Cyprus as a means to provoke a reaction that would justify military action against the junta. However, the plan backfired as the military junta accepted the strategic withdrawal from Cyprus to avoid an unwinnable war. The paragraph also highlights the King's attempt in December 1967 to stage his own counter-coup, which failed, leading to his self-exile in Rome. The junta then formed a government completely independent of the King. The paragraph concludes with a description of the unprecedented situation where a Greek government, dictatorial in nature, came into conflict with the U.S. and sought to distance Greece from the Western bloc.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Coup d'état

A coup d'état is a sudden and often violent seizure of power from a government. In the context of the video, it refers to the military coup that took place in Greece in 1967, led by a group of colonels, which is central to the video's narrative as it discusses the events leading up to it and its aftermath.

💡Papadopoulos

George Papadopoulos was a Greek military officer who played a key role in the 1967 coup d'état in Greece. He is a significant figure in the video's story because he led the military junta that overthrew the existing government and established a dictatorship.

💡King Constantine II

King Constantine II was the former King of Greece whose reign was interrupted by the 1967 coup. The video discusses his role and the conflict between him and the military junta, particularly Papadopoulos.

💡Military Junta

A military junta is a group of military officers who have taken control of the government, often through a coup d'état. In the video, the term is used to describe the ruling body established after the 1967 coup in Greece.

💡CIA

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the intelligence agency of the United States government responsible for conducting foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations. In the video, the CIA is mentioned in relation to its knowledge and involvement in the events leading up to the coup in Greece.

💡Election

An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. The video discusses the planned elections in Greece that were disrupted by the coup d'état.

💡Political Exile

Political exile refers to the state of being expelled from one's country due to political reasons. The video discusses how King Constantine II had to flee Greece after the coup and live in exile.

💡Dictatorship

A dictatorship is a form of government where a single ruler holds absolute power. The video's main theme revolves around the establishment of a dictatorship in Greece following the 1967 coup.

Highlights

The video begins with gratitude towards channel members for their support in practical thought and monthly donations.

In April 1967, a military coup took place in Greece.

Political leaders and embassies were in conflict over who would prevail.

A third, separate group eventually took control of the situation.

Papadopoulos outmaneuvered the Americans and staged the first coup.

King Constantine and Papadopoulos clashed.

In November 1966, GE began preparing a plan for the seizure of power with the king's approval.

The plan aimed to seize critical locations in a state of emergency and included arrests of political and non-political figures.

By December 1966, the trio of known April plotters came to the fore again.

Papadopoulos took over the executive planning of the scheme from GE.

In January 1967, a meeting of conspirators took place, with the Americans aware of the group's independent action.

Political developments were also underway, with Kanellopoulos contacting Constantine and Papandreou for a government of mutual consent.

The three colonels changed the data as a third force in the critical year of 1967.

On January 4, 1967, a meeting of the conspirators took place, with the Americans noting the group's autonomous action.

On January 28, 1967, the king's side asked the CIA representatives in Greece about the stance of America towards a military movement.

In February 1967, an attempt was made to form a national front with Karamanlis as a counterweight to EDA's popular front.

On March 12, 1967, the military group decided to make a final appeal to Karamanlis to return.

On March 29, 1967, King Constantine had the energy plan ready and immediately contacted the US ambassador.

On April 3, 1967, a response arrived from the US stating they could not openly support such a decision.

On April 21, 1967, the day before the pre-election period, the conspirators decided to act.

Despite information about Papadopoulos reaching the Americans, they decided to ignore it.

On the night of April 20, 1967, the conspirators were alert, with Papadopoulos positioned as the leader.

The political figures were arrested and initially taken to the officers' mess, then later to the luxurious Pikermi hotel.

The liberation of most began after a few days, with the last being freed after 1.5 months.

The military moved to the Pentagon, and those who agreed with the junta returned to their duties.

According to the general plan of the armed forces, if Spantidakis did not accept the prime ministership, Zoitakis would take over.

At 2:10 am, a colonel informed Spantidakis of the movement and the need to go to YES.

The US was surprised and tried to understand what was happening, especially since King Constantine decided to proceed without informing them.

The US eventually confirmed that the king was not behind the movement.

The US decided to impose an arms embargo on Greece.

The US eventually confirmed that Papadopoulos was not a communist or anti-monarchist.

In May 1967, the US advised Constantine not to leave the country and to not give in to the military.

On November 14-15, 1967, an operation took place to provoke a reaction from Turkey over Cyprus.

The US confirmed that if the Greeks did not remove the archbishop from Cyprus, war with Greece was certain.

By November 28, 1967, the decision was made for Greek forces to withdraw from Cyprus.

The king's plan to escalate the situation did not succeed, as the weight of a Greco-Turkish war would fall on him.

In December 1967, the king attempted a movement against the April plotters, which was unsuccessful.

The April plotters formed a government completely their own.

The first time an official Greek government, a dictatorship, came into conflict with the US.