50th anniversary – resistance against Greek military junta
Wanneer: 17/11/2023 - 18:16
November 17 is a day dedicated to students in Greece. Schools and universities remain closed. Commemorative events are held in the courtyard of the National Technical University of Athens. This date commemorates the uprising of the students of the National Technical University of Athens (Polytechnio for short) against the military dictatorship that ruled Greece for seven years, from 1967 to 1974.
50th anniversary – resistance against Greek military junta
November 17 is a day dedicated to students in Greece. Schools and universities remain closed. Commemorative events are held in the courtyard of the National Technical University of Athens. This date commemorates the uprising of the students of the National Technical University of Athens (Polytechnio for short) against the military dictatorship that ruled Greece for seven years, from 1967 to 1974.
While Papadopoulos believed himself to be at the height of his power in 1973 and the fascist secret police ESA were also unable to identify any opponents, the opposition forces organized themselves in secret. Students protested against forced conscription into the military. As early as spring 1973, there were occupations of institutes and other protests. Those in power reacted with bans and reprisals. In this situation, the bourgeois forces hoped for the deposed head of government Karamanlis and a return of the king to replace the junta. However, this was not possible with the left-wing opposition. The junta tried to confirm Papadopoulos in a referendum on July 29, 1973. Despite reprisals and compulsory voting, around 25 percent of voters stayed away from the polls. In fact, 77% voted YES and 22% voted NO. But this result showed the crisis of the junta. On October 1, 1973, Papadopoulos, as president, dismissed all previous ministers, including the six members of the original junta.
On the occasion of a memorial event for Georgios Papandreou, street clashes broke out between demonstrators and the police in Athens at the beginning of November, resulting in numerous injuries. This police assault caused anger to explode. On November 14, many students occupied the Polytechnic in the center of Athens despite a massive police presence. The next day, traffic was blocked by bus drivers who left their vehicles in front of the building and stuck slogans on the vehicles. Many students joined the occupation of the polytechnic after breaking through the police cordon.
During the night, the occupiers barricaded doors and the courtyard gate, installed a shortwave transmitter and discussed their next steps. Around midnight, an elected committee, which also included representatives of the political opposition, took over the leadership. Athenian sympathizers brought food. Around 2 a.m. on November 15, the first Radio Polytechnio broadcast was aired.
The radio station provided information and leaflets were printed. There was even an improvised newspaper. Loudspeakers blared slogans in the surrounding streets. In the afternoon, there were around 6,000 people at the Polytechnic, students, pupils and workers. By 8 p.m., the number had risen to around 15,000. Two workers and one student were associated with the leadership committee. The first attempt by the police to end the occupation on November 15, 1973 failed due to mass resistance on the street.
The following day, there were demonstrations and clashes with the police in Syntagma Square. Now it was students from other Athens universities, schoolchildren and workers.
From the evening of the 16th, the Athens police prepared the suppression of the uprising with the army command. Special units and paratroopers were mobilized. At 10.30 pm, 10 tanks and 3 armored personnel carriers drove towards the center. At 2 a.m. on November 17, the march was completed. The students were given an ultimatum, but at the same time the storming began. For two days, the city of Athens experienced a bloody military regime. The junta also imposed martial law.
Despite support for the junta from NATO and the USA, there was also opposition abroad. A few days later, Georgios Papadopoulos fell and was succeeded by Dimitrios Ioannidis, head of the ESA. Despite increased domestic repression, he was unable to stop the final overthrow of the junta in July 1974.
The occupation of the Polytechnic is considered a "student uprising", but the list of those arrested shows that only 49 students came from the Polytechnic. 268 students belonged to other Athens universities. 74 were pupils and 475 were workers. There is still no reliable information about the number of victims. Trials have spoken of 700 to 1,000 people arrested, almost 200 injured and 23 dead.
The uprising has not been forgotten. In many cities in Greece, streets are named after the "Heroes of Polytechnio". A commemorative demonstration will take place in Athens on November 17. When the commemorative gathering organized by the KKE was to be banned in 2020, it took place with a large turnout despite coronavirus restrictions. The deputy mayor of Athens, Alexia Evert, who had railed against the commemoration on Facebook, was forced to resign.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, FIR commemorates this courageous protest by Greek students, who undoubtedly made an important contribution to the overthrow of the military junta.