Georgios Grivas Digenis passes into the Pantheon of Heroes

In contrast to the Marxist mythologies and frauds that seek to distort historic events in order to create false heroes, Ethnic Hellenic Nationalism regards as it’s privilege to acknowledge many profound personalities, who in life, words and deeds, give a shining example to today’s and future generations of Ethnic Nationalists. One of these personalities, who without a doubt was a protagonist of the last century, participating in the great expansion of the Ethnic Idea was Georgios Grivas, the legendary “Digenis”.

The fourth of six children of the family of Theodore Ioanni Griva and Kalomira Hatzimixhael Griva, came into the world in July of 1897, in Nicosia Cyprus. Georgios Grivas passed his childhood years in the village of his father, Trikomo in the Ammohostos region, where he went to school prior to transferring to Nicosia – where his grandmother lived - to study at the Pan-Cypriot High School during the years 1909 – 1914. Deeply affected by the Struggles of the Hellenic Nation for Freedom and independence, Georgios Grivas quickly made the decision to participate in whatever way possible in the defence of his People and his Fatherland. Naturally then he consciously chose to study and gain entry to the Royal Hellenic Military School of Athens, despite the opposition of his parents.

In 1916 he leaves his beloved Cyprus, in order to travel to Mother Hellas. He enters the Military School Cadets from which he graduates with the rank of second lieutenant of Infantry in 1919. The enthusiastic youth and fiery Nationalist Officer doesn’t lose time: he participates in the Asia Minor Campaign, where he fights bravely as a member of that magnificent army that made it all the way to the Sakarya river. For his military efforts he was decorated and promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1926 to Captain following the struggle for Northern Epirus and the Greek –Italian war in 1938 he achieves the rank of Major.

He serves in the headquarters of the Army General Staff until the outbreak of Italian aggression in 1940. On his own will and after many applications he is transferred to the Northern Epirus battlefront, where he serves as Chief of Staff of Division II. During the German occupation, he forms in Athens the legendary, anti-communist Organisation X, which was known as the “Ethnic National Organisation of Internal Resistance”, with Royal decree on the 10th of March 1940. In 1946, Georgios Grivas retires with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after a bright and heroic military career.

He hasn’t yet reached the peak of his glory and doesn’t seem to be capable of abandoning the Ethnic National Battle so early. After participating in Organisation X and defeating the foreign backed communist uprising, he sets his sights on his birth country. The referendum on Unification with Hellas of 1950 and the categorical denial of the British to give Cypriots the right to self-determination are good enough reasons to lead the battlefield decorated Officer of the Hellenic Military to decide to launch an armed Struggle against the British occupiers. With this goal in mind he travels to Cyprus and chooses the name of his childhood hero Digenis (Grivas admired the historic person Digenis Akritas) and begins from 1951 the local organisation of the resistance to the British occupier, with two aims: the total disappearance of the British and the much desired Enosis (Union) of Cyprus with Mother Hellas. In the space of one year, Georgios Grivas Digenis has set the foundations of an epic Struggle for National Independence, forming EOKA, body and blood, blood and body from the best and brightest of the Hellenic Cypriot Youth.

Digenis and his offspring, the unforgettable fighters of EOKA, started an armed struggle against an empire, a fact that seems like an absurdity or straight out suicide. “No one will follow you” they told Grivas Digenis before he decorated Hellenic History with blood soaked pages of glory. He remained fearless however, and disproved them with courage, bravery and mainly, his undying Faith. His creation, the legendary EOKA, overwhelmed not only a few crazy individuals, but an entire People, and entire Race (Ethnos) and especially the Hellenic Youth.

The Struggle of EOKA during the years of 1955 – 59, is decorated with -unimaginable for the average mind- acts of self -sacrifice and courage. History is also ruthless and this is the Honour of Freedom. Under the guidance of the Leader and Father of the Fighters, Georgios Grivas Digenis, EOKA shone, giving a new life to the everlasting fighting virtue of the Hellenes. However the much-desired Union (Enosis) with Hellas was not successful, despite the fact that he paid his Ethnic National Duty in full, even with the renewed efforts of EOKA B in the summer of 1971.

On the 27th of January 1974, the Titan of Battle Field, genius of guerrilla warfare and special military operations, passes into the Pantheon of Hellenic History. Behind him, he leaves his legendary battles against the enemies of the Homeland and our People, with the crowning glory being the humiliation of the British Empire. Before him however, he leaves the seed of the undying Faith in the Ideal of the Union (Enosis) of Cyprus with Hellas. Grivas Digenis did not die, Grivas Digenis Lives, He Lives and he guides us!

Evangelos Karakostas

http://www.xryshaygh.com/enimerosi/view/san-shmera-perna-sto-pantheon-twn-hrwwn-o-gewrgios-gribas-digenhs1