Konstantinos Koukidis: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Greek military personnel}} |
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{{Infobox person |
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[[Image:Konstantinos Koukidis monument.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Plaque in memory of Konstantinos Koukidis]] |
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| image = Konstantinos Koukidis monument.jpg |
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| caption = Plaque in memory of Konstantinos Koukidis |
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| birth_place = 1922 |
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| death_date = 27 |
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April 1941 |
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| death_place = Acropolis |
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| death_cause = Suicide by jumping |
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| education = |
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| occupation = |
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| spouse = |
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| partner = |
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| known_for = Alleged [[Evzones|Evzone]] who resisted the Nazi invasion of [[Greece]] |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | The name '''Konstantinos Koukidis''' ({{langx|el|Κωνσταντίνος Κουκίδης}}) is used to refer to the alleged [[Greece|Greek]] [[Evzones|Evzone]] or member of the [[National Youth Organisation (Greece)|National Youth Organisation]] who was on flag guard duty on 27 April 1941 at the [[Acropolis of Athens]], the day [[Wehrmacht]] forces entered Athens and began the [[Axis occupation of Greece during World War II|Axis occupation of Greece]]. After the first Germans climbed up the Acropolis, an officer ordered him to surrender, give up the Greek flag, and raise the [[Flag of Nazi Germany|Nazi swastika flag]] in its place. Koukidis instead supposedly chose to stay loyal to his duty by hauling down the flag, wrapping it around his body, and jumping from the Acropolis rock to his death. |
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The first correspondence about the event occurred on 9 May 1941, and it since has been sporadically mentioned through eye witnesses and personal memoirs of supposed friends of Koukidis, mostly every [[Ohi Day]]. After research that took place in Greek government and military archives, no record had been found of a person named Koukidis, nor of any such event taking place. |
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| ⚫ | '''Konstantinos Koukidis''' ({{ |
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Despite that, in October 2000, then-mayor of Athens [[Dimitris Avramopoulos]] installed a commemorative plaque near the spot which the event supposedly took place, although he stated that there were no specific documentary evidence on Koukidis or his act, which modern historiography considers to be apocryphal. |
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During a television programme on 26 April 2000, the then mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos, stated that there was no specific documentary evidence on Koukidis or his deed. It was noted that a heroic legend of this nature had been important in maintaining national morale under a harsh occupation. On the same occasion, Lieutenant General Ioannis Kakoudakis, Director of the Department of the History of the Army, reported that an investigation had failed to confirm the existence of this soldier.<ref>[http://www.iospress.gr/ios2000/ios20001022a.htm Ο ήρωας φάντασμα], iospress.gr; accessed 8 December 2014. {{in lang|el}}</ref> ''The Daily Mail'' original article about Koukidis in 1941 as well as relevant discussion is available online. |
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== The narrative == |
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* [[Manolis Glezos]] and [[Apostolos Santas]] who tore down the Nazi flag from the Acropolis in May 1941 |
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According to popular narrative, Koukidis was a 17-year-old Evzone who had guard duty at the Acropolis on 27 April 1941, the day which the Wehrmacht entered Athens.{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=1}} According to another version, he was a member of the [[National Youth Organisation (Greece)|National Youth Organisation]].{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=1}} Nazis ordered him to lower the Greek flag and to raise the Nazi flag. Koukidis did not obey, lowered the Greek flag and, covering himself with the flag, committed suicide from the Acropolis.{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=1}} |
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== References to the event == |
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The first reference to the event took place on 9 May 1941, by the British newspaper ''[[Daily Mail]]''. Archbishop of Athens [[Chrysanthus of Athens|Crysanthus]] also mentioned the event in his memoirs, as well as historian and [[Special Operations Executive|SOE]] agent [[N. G. L. Hammond|Nicolas Hammond]] in his published diary in 1972.{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=2}} |
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The entire story had been forgotten until 1982, when authors Kostas Chatzipateras and Maria Fafaliou mentioned Koukidis in their book ''Memoirs 40-41''.{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=1}} In 1989, Greek [[Holocaust denier]] [[Konstantinos Plevris]] mentioned that the event is true and claimed that he had "the entire folder [of Koukidis and the event] from the [[Hellenic Army General Staff]]" in his possession.{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=2}} In 1994, a book released by [[Communist Party of Greece]], ''Έπεσαν για τη ζωή'' (They Died for Life), mentioned the alleged sacrifice.{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=2}} |
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== Modern views == |
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The head of the Hellenic Army General Staff History Department, Lt. General Ioannis Kakoudakis, in an interview for [[ET1 (Greece)|ET1]] state television in 2000, and the military history magazine ''Πόλεμος και Ιστορία'' in 2001 mentioned that, after research took place in the archives of the Greek Armed Forces as well as in Greek public institutions, no evidence of Koukidis had been found.{{Sfn|IOS|2000|p=2}} |
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The historian {{ill|Hagen Fleischer|de}} claimed that the entire story about Koukidis traces its roots to a joke that was circulating the day the Wehrmacht entered Athens, and that the story had been publicized as a way to highlight heroes that did not become involved in internecine conflicts (i.e. [[Aris Velouchiotis]]).{{Sfn|Fleischer|2006|pp=272-3, note 152}} |
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== Public memory == |
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The [[municipality of Athens]], under mayor [[Dimitris Avramopoulos]], erected in 2000 a commemorative plaque at the foot of the Acropolis, as well as in the [[Presidential Guard (Greece)|Presidential Guard]] barracks. In his speech during the revelation of the monument, Avramopoulos mentioned that Koukidis is honored despite the fact that historical research does not lend credence to the actual existence of him or his supposed deed, and that the more important question is if the Greeks of today ''want'' him to exist.{{Sfn|Fleischer|2006|p=272-3, note 152}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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<references/> |
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== |
== Sources == |
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*{{Cite book |title=Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes in Europe: Legacies and Lessons from the Twentieth Century |last=Fleischer |first=Hagen |editor-first1=Jerzy |editor-last1=Borejsza |editor-first2=Klaus |editor-last2=Ziemer |publisher=Bergham |isbn=978-1571816412 |year=2006 |chapter=Authoritarian Rule in Greece (1936-1974) and Its Heritage |location=New York |page= |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=olpKYhgrS48C&dq=Authoritarian+Rule+in+Greece+%281936-1974%29+and+Its+Heritage&pg=PA237 |access-date=31 October 2022 }} |
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*{{Cite news |last=IOS |date=22 October 2000 |title=Κωσταντίνος Κουκίδης: Ο ήρωας φάντασμα |trans-title=Kostantinos Koukidis: The Phantom Hero |pages=1 |work=[[Eleftherotypia]] |url=http://www.iospress.gr/ios2000/ios20001022a.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=29 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204646/http://www.iospress.gr/ios2000/ios20001022a.htm |archive-date=21 January 2022 }} |
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*[[Juan Escutia]] |
*[[Juan Escutia]] |
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{{Urban legends}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Koukidis, Konstantinos}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koukidis, Konstantinos}} |
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[[Category:1941 deaths]] |
[[Category:1941 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Greek military personnel killed in World War II]] |
[[Category:Greek military personnel killed in World War II]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Greek military personnel who died by suicide]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:People whose existence is disputed]] |
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[[Category:Place of birth unknown]] |
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[[Category:Suicides by jumping in Greece]] |
[[Category:Suicides by jumping in Greece]] |
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[[Category:Year of birth unknown]] |
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[[Category:Urban legends]] |
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{{Greece-mil-bio-stub}} |
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[[Category:Battle of Greece]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:25, 10 November 2024
Konstantinos Koukidis | |
|---|---|
 Plaque in memory of Konstantinos Koukidis | |
| Born | 1922 |
| Died | 27
April 1941 Acropolis |
| Cause of death | Suicide by jumping |
| Known for | Alleged Evzone who resisted the Nazi invasion of Greece |
The name Konstantinos Koukidis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Κουκίδης) is used to refer to the alleged Greek Evzone or member of the National Youth Organisation who was on flag guard duty on 27 April 1941 at the Acropolis of Athens, the day Wehrmacht forces entered Athens and began the Axis occupation of Greece. After the first Germans climbed up the Acropolis, an officer ordered him to surrender, give up the Greek flag, and raise the Nazi swastika flag in its place. Koukidis instead supposedly chose to stay loyal to his duty by hauling down the flag, wrapping it around his body, and jumping from the Acropolis rock to his death.
The first correspondence about the event occurred on 9 May 1941, and it since has been sporadically mentioned through eye witnesses and personal memoirs of supposed friends of Koukidis, mostly every Ohi Day. After research that took place in Greek government and military archives, no record had been found of a person named Koukidis, nor of any such event taking place.
Despite that, in October 2000, then-mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos installed a commemorative plaque near the spot which the event supposedly took place, although he stated that there were no specific documentary evidence on Koukidis or his act, which modern historiography considers to be apocryphal.
The narrative
[edit]According to popular narrative, Koukidis was a 17-year-old Evzone who had guard duty at the Acropolis on 27 April 1941, the day which the Wehrmacht entered Athens.[1] According to another version, he was a member of the National Youth Organisation.[1] Nazis ordered him to lower the Greek flag and to raise the Nazi flag. Koukidis did not obey, lowered the Greek flag and, covering himself with the flag, committed suicide from the Acropolis.[1]
References to the event
[edit]The first reference to the event took place on 9 May 1941, by the British newspaper Daily Mail. Archbishop of Athens Crysanthus also mentioned the event in his memoirs, as well as historian and SOE agent Nicolas Hammond in his published diary in 1972.[2]
The entire story had been forgotten until 1982, when authors Kostas Chatzipateras and Maria Fafaliou mentioned Koukidis in their book Memoirs 40-41.[1] In 1989, Greek Holocaust denier Konstantinos Plevris mentioned that the event is true and claimed that he had "the entire folder [of Koukidis and the event] from the Hellenic Army General Staff" in his possession.[2] In 1994, a book released by Communist Party of Greece, Έπεσαν για τη ζωή (They Died for Life), mentioned the alleged sacrifice.[2]
Modern views
[edit]The head of the Hellenic Army General Staff History Department, Lt. General Ioannis Kakoudakis, in an interview for ET1 state television in 2000, and the military history magazine Πόλεμος και Ιστορία in 2001 mentioned that, after research took place in the archives of the Greek Armed Forces as well as in Greek public institutions, no evidence of Koukidis had been found.[2]
The historian Hagen Fleischer claimed that the entire story about Koukidis traces its roots to a joke that was circulating the day the Wehrmacht entered Athens, and that the story had been publicized as a way to highlight heroes that did not become involved in internecine conflicts (i.e. Aris Velouchiotis).[3]
Public memory
[edit]The municipality of Athens, under mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, erected in 2000 a commemorative plaque at the foot of the Acropolis, as well as in the Presidential Guard barracks. In his speech during the revelation of the monument, Avramopoulos mentioned that Koukidis is honored despite the fact that historical research does not lend credence to the actual existence of him or his supposed deed, and that the more important question is if the Greeks of today want him to exist.[4]
References
[edit]Sources
[edit]- Fleischer, Hagen (2006). "Authoritarian Rule in Greece (1936-1974) and Its Heritage". In Borejsza, Jerzy; Ziemer, Klaus (eds.). Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes in Europe: Legacies and Lessons from the Twentieth Century. New York: Bergham. ISBN 978-1571816412. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- IOS (22 October 2000). "Κωσταντίνος Κουκίδης: Ο ήρωας φάντασμα" [Kostantinos Koukidis: The Phantom Hero]. Eleftherotypia. p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
