General Georgios Grivas |
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Born | 6 July 1897 Chrysaliniotissa, Nicosia, Nicosia District, British Cyprus |
Died | 27 January 1974 (aged 76) Limassol, Cyprus |
Alma mater |
Evelpidon Military Academy École Militaire |
Organization |
Organization X EOKA EOKA B |
Georgios Grivas (Greek: Γεώργιος Γρίβας; 6 July 1897 – 27 January 1974), also known by his nom de guerre Digenis (Διγενής), which he adopted while in EOKA, was a Cyprus-born general in the Greek Army, leader of the EOKA guerrilla organisation and EOKA B paramilitary organisation.
Born on 6 July 1897 in Chrysaliniotissa, Nicosia, Cyprus, to a Greek Cypriot family, he was the fourth child of Theodoros Grivas and Kalomira Hadjimichael. He grew up in his family home at Trikomo. After attending his village school he studied at the Pancyprian Gymnasium in Nicosia (1909–1915) where he stayed with his grandmother.
In 1916, Grivas moved to Greece; according to his obituary in The Times of London, he had left the family home after learning that his father intended him to become a physician. He took Greek citizenship and enrolled at the Athens Military Academy. He completed his military studies at the École Militaire in Paris. He graduated in 1919, and joined the Greek Army with the rank of Sub-Lieutenant and was immediately posted on the Asia Minor front of the Greco-Turkish War. He served in the Greek Army's 10th Division and participated in its advance from İzmir to Panormos (today Bandirma) and Eskişehir, past Bursa and the Battle of Sakarya. With the subsequent rout and defeat of the Greek Army and its complete withdrawal from Asia Minor in 1922 he was placed at Redestos, Thrace. He was decorated for his bravery and promoted to Lieutenant. He was later selected to study at the French Military Academy and upon his return to Greece he served in a number of posts, including that of a lecturer at the Military School of Greece. He was promoted to Captain in 1925 and to Major in 1935. Two years later he married Vasiliki Deka, the daughter of an Athens pharmacist.