Death of Admiral Antonis Theoharis, Naval Movement Leader

The news in Greek

1. ναύαρχος (m.)
   Ανώτατος αξιωματικός στο πολεμικό ναυτικό. ↩︎
2. σημαντικός
   Που έχει μεγάλη αξία ή ενδιαφέρον. ↩︎
3. προσωπικότητα (f.)
   Ένα άτομο που ξεχωρίζει για την επιρροή ή τα χαρακτηριστικά του. ↩︎
4. προσπάθεια (f.)
   Ενέργεια που καταβάλλεται για την επίτευξη ενός στόχου. ↩︎
5. ανατροπή (f.)
   Η απότομη αλλαγή μιας κατάστασης, συνήθως με βίαιο τρόπο. ↩︎
6. δικτατορία (f.)
   Πολίτευμα με έναν ηγέτη ή ομάδα που έχει απόλυτη εξουσία. ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: How old was Admiral Antonis Theoharis when he died?

Question: In what decade did Admiral Theoharis participate in efforts to overthrow the dictatorship?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
ναύαρχος (m.)	admiral
σημαντικός	important
προσωπικότητα (f.)	personality
προσπάθεια (f.)	effort
ανατροπή (f.)	overthrow
δικτατορία (f.)	dictatorship

Read the full story

The Naval Movement of May 23, 1973, was an orchestrated uprising involving 207 officers and non-commissioned officers, endeavoring to dethrone the then authoritarian regime. Although meticulous planning began as early as 1969, the movement faced premature exposure and was subsequently quashed just before its execution. The junta’s swift retaliation led to the arrest and exile of many involved, including Theoharis.

Leading up to the movement, Theoharis served as the captain of the destroyer “Kanaris”, where he was instrumental in drafting the initial action plans. His leadership extended beyond naval duties during tense political periods. In 1974, under orders from Evangelos Averoff, he directed the “Kanaris” to Thessaloniki to safeguard then Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis from a potential assassination attempt.

Outside his military career, Theoharis was closely linked with Greek media, contributing as the General Director and later CEO of the MEGA Channel. He forged a lasting connection with co-founder Vardis Vardinogiannis during their naval academy days, reflecting his diverse influence across sectors.

The Naval Movement notably included a dramatic event where the Greek destroyer “Velos”, under Lieutenant Commander Nikos Pappas, deviated from NATO exercises to seek political asylum in Italy for its officers, underscoring the internal discord against the junta. This incident significantly undermined the junta’s authority, exposing internationally the widespread disapproval among both citizens and military personnel alike.

Admiral Theoharis’s legacy extends through his contributions to the resistance against dictatorship and his subsequent civilian roles, marking him as a multifaceted leader who left a lasting impact on Greece’s modern history.

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