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Stylianos Pattakos

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Greek politician and military officer (1912–2016)
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Stylianos Pattakos
Στυλιανός Παττακός
Pattakos in 1967
Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
In office
13 December 1967 – 8 October 1973
Serving with
Prime MinisterGeorgios Papadopoulos
Preceded byGrigorios Spandidakis
Succeeded byCharilaos Mitrelias
Minister of the Interior of Greece
In office
21 April 1967 – 25 August 1971
Prime Minister
Preceded bySpiros Theotokis
Succeeded byAdamantios Androutsopoulos
In office
10 May 1973 – 8 October 1973
Prime MinisterGeorgios Papadopoulos
Preceded byAdamantios Androutsopoulos
Succeeded byIoannis Agathangelou
Personal details
Born(1912-11-08)8 November 1912
Agia Paraskevi, Rethymno, Cretan State
Died8 October 2016(2016-10-08) (aged 103)
Patisia, Athens, Greece
Resting placeAgia Paraskevi, Rethymno, Greece
Citizenship
  • Cretan State (until 1913)
  • Greece (from 1913)
PartyIndependent
Spouse
Dimitra Nikolaidou
​
​
(m. 1940; died 2013)​
Children2
EducationHellenic Military Academy
Occupation
  • Military officer
  • politician
  • writer
Civilian awards
Nickname"Trowelman"
Military service
Allegiance
Branch/service
Years of service
1930–1967
RankMajor general
Unit
CommandsArmored Training Center
Battles/wars
Military awards
Criminal information
Criminal status
Deceased
Criminal charge

Stylianos Pattakos (Greek: Στυλιανός Παττακός; 8 November 1912 – 8 October 2016) was an officer of the Hellenic Army who was one of the principal leaders of the 1967 Greek coup d'état, along with Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos, and Colonel Nikolaos Makarezos. Together they overthrew Prime Minister Panagiotis Kanellopoulos and established a military dictatorship that ruled Greece from 1967 until 1973. He served as Deputy Prime Minister (1967–1973) and Minister of the Interior (1967–1971).[1][2]

Biography

Stylianos Pattakos was born on 8 November 1912, in Agia Paraskevi, Rethymno.[3] His parents were farmers.[4][5][6] He studied at the Hellenic Military Academy and graduated in 1937.[7] He served as a Lieutenant during the Greco-Italian War (1940-1941) and as cavalry captain and cavalry major during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949).[8] He was a deeply religious man.[9]

Pattakos eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier and was assigned to the tank training centre at Goudi in Athens.[10]

He, along with Georgios Papadopoulos and Nikolaos Makarezos, planned and executed the coup on the night of April 20 to April 21, 1967, claiming political anomaly had made them do so.[11][12] Many leading politicians and journalists were arrested that night and were led to a hotel in Pikermi. Among them were Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Andreas Papandreou, Georgios Rallis, Manolis Glezos.[13] Pattakos was assigned the Ministry of the Interior.[14] He became also the vice president of Kollias government.[8] As head of that post, Pattakos made the decision to strip Greek actress and political activist, Melina Mercouri, of her Greek citizenship and to also confiscate her property.[15] Mercouri retorted "I was born Greek. I will die Greek. Mr. Pattakos was born a fascist. He will die a fascist".[16][17][18][19][20] On 25 November 1973, Brigadier General Dimitrios Ioannides overthrew Papadopoulos.[21] The following year, the 7-year Junta came to an end in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.[22]

The newly restored democratic government of Konstantinos Karamanlis put the junta officials on trial with charges of high treason and insurrection against Georgios Papadopoulos and other co-conspirators.[23] Pattakos, along with the other leaders of the 1967 coup, Papadopoulos and Makarezos,[24] were sentenced to death for high treason, following the trial.[25][26] Shortly after the sentences were pronounced, they were commuted to life imprisonment by the Karamanlis government.[27] Pattakos spent 17 years in prison.[28] He was released from prison on 28 September 1990 by a judicial council, pursuant to article 557 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which provides for the suspension of the sentence for irreversible health damage (Greek: ανήκεστος βλάβη) and was put under house arrest.[29][8] He was obliged to report to the police office for registration every 15 days.[30] He later stated that he did not regret any of his actions during the dictatorship.[31] In addition, he denied that people were tortured during the dictatorship, except Alekos Panagoulis and Spyros Moustaklis, who "had it coming".[8]

Personal life, death and funeral

Pattakos married Dimitra Nikolaidou in 1940, and they had two daughters, Roza (b. 1946), and Rena (b. 1949).[32][33] Dimitra died of a heart attack on 10 February 2013, at age 90.[34] Pattakos was taken to a hospital two days later, due to a health problem he suffered after his wife's death, but he recovered and allowed to return home the same day.[35]

The loss of his wife cost him dearly, to the point he had stopped eating and wanted to end his life. In the last years of his life, his health had been seriously failing to the point he was bedridden, blind, and also broke, while since 2010 he had been using a pacemaker.[36][37]

Pattakos died of a stroke in his sleep, at his home in the Patisia neighborhood of Athens, on 8 October 2016, at age 103.[38][39] Two days earlier, three unknown guys who had their faces covered, broke down the door of his home, and after immobilizing his home nurse, they stole jewelry, collectible coins, and many of his military medals. However, he didn't notice the incident, because he was sleeping.[40][41]

His body arrived with a ship in Souda, on 11 October 2016, and was transported to his birthplace, Agia Paraskevi, Rethymno, where he was buried the same day at the Church of Saint Paraskevi. The funeral was attended by Golden Dawn MPs Konstantinos Barbarousis, Christos Pappas, and other members of the party.[42][43]

References

  1. ^ Terence Roehrig (2002). The Prosecution of Former Military Leaders in Newly Democratic Nations: The Cases of Argentina, Greece, and South Korea. McFarland. pp. 98–. ISBN 978-0-7864-1091-0. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Within 24 hours, and before the generals could move on their plan, the colonels launched their own coup.62 Thus, the ... as leaders of the group: Colonel George Papadopoulos, Colonel Nicolaos Makarezos and Brigadier Stylianos Pattakos.
  2. ^ Barbara Jelavich (1983). History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century. Volume 2. Cambridge University Press. pp. 427–. ISBN 978-0-521-27459-3. Retrieved 17 March 2013. ...contingency plan designed to protect the government from a Communist takeover. ... Pattakos, in charge of the tank corps in Athens, had little difficulty in securing the capital, and the coup proceeded without outright opposition or bloodshed.
  3. ^ 55 1991-92 (1991). The International Who's Who, 1991-92. Europa Publications Limited. ISBN 978-0-946653-70-6. {{cite book}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  4. ^ Rudolf Augstein (1970). Der Spiegel. Spiegel-Verlag. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Zuweilen verbreitet Pattakos nicht Schrecken, sondern Segen — zum Beispiel in seinem Heimatdorf Aghia Paraskevi...
  5. ^ Henry Robinson Luce (1969). Time. Time, Inc. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Deputy S. Pattakos. Aghia Paraskevi village, p. 18
  6. ^ Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Südosteuropa-Arbeitskreis (1 January 1980). Südosteuropa-Handbuch: Griechenland. Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht. ISBN 978-3-525-36202-0. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Pattakos,. Stylianos. geb. 1912, Agia Paraskevi, Kreta
  7. ^ Terence Roehrig (2002). The Prosecution of Former Military Leaders in Newly Democratic Nations: The Cases of Argentina, Greece, and South Korea. McFarland. pp. 98–. ISBN 978-0-7864-1091-0. Retrieved 17 March 2013. All were military academy graduates with seven completing their studies in 1943, four in 1940 and one in 1939. As the ... as leaders of the group: Colonel George Papadopoulos, Colonel Nicolaos Makarezos and Brigadier Stylianos Pattakos.
  8. ^ a b c d Σήμερα .gr, Σαν. "Στυλιανός Παττακός". Σαν Σήμερα .gr. Cite error: The named reference "Στυλιανός Παττακός" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Ο ΣΤΥΛΙΑΝΟΣ ΠΑΤΤΑΚΟΣ ΜΙΛΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΟΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΑ". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14.
  10. ^ James Edward Miller (1 February 2009). The United States and the Making of Modern Greece: History and Power, 1950-1974. Univ of North Carolina Press. pp. 132–. ISBN 978-0-8078-8794-3. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Brigadier Stylianos Pattakos, the most senior plotter, had command of tank units at the Goudi military reservation in Athens. ...
  11. ^ Barbara Jelavich (1983). History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century. Volume 2. Cambridge University Press. pp. 427–. ISBN 978-0-521-27459-3. Retrieved 17 March 2013. ...contingency plan designed to protect the government from a Communist takeover. ... Pattakos, in charge of the tank corps in Athens, had little difficulty in securing the capital, and the coup proceeded without outright opposition or bloodshed.
  12. ^ James Edward Miller (1 February 2009). The United States and the Making of Modern Greece: History and Power, 1950-1974. Univ of North Carolina Press. pp. 132–. ISBN 978-0-8078-8794-3. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Pattakos labeled Kanellopoulos's April 3 assumption of power a "coup." The conspirators began final planning. They chose the night of April 20–21 because most key political leaders would be in Athens where they could be rounded up ...
  13. ^ "Η μαρτυρία του Μανώλη Γλέζου για τη σύλληψη του από τη Χούντα". 30 March 2020.
  14. ^ Greece: The First 100 Days Time Magazine "Brig. Gen. Stylianos Pattakos Minister of the Interior"
  15. ^ Newsweek. Newsweek. 1967. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Greek word for honey (rneli), but there was acid in her throaty voice last week as vibrant Melina Mercouri condemned Brig. Gen. Stylianos Pat- takos, strong man of the Greek revolutionary junta which had just stripped her of citizenship and property ... Mr. Pattakos was born a Fascist; he will die a Fascist," said the passionate performer who until the recent coup did as ...
  16. ^ Newsweek. Newsweek, Incorporated. 1967. Retrieved 17 March 2013. "I was born Greek. I will die Greek. Mr. Pattakos was born a Fascist. He will die a Fascist," said the passionate performer who until the recent coup did as much to spur Creek tourism as all the ancient ruins combined. Curled barefoot in a ...
  17. ^ Books and Bookmen. Hansom Books. 1971. Retrieved 17 March 2013. When asked if she had any comment on this she replied : 'I was born Greek. I shall die Greek. Mr Pattakos was born a fascist. He will die a fascist.' C ASANOVA (trans WILLARD TRASK) History of My Life 4.W PP II I I S LONGMAN 14.
  18. ^ Labor Today. National Center for Trade Union Action and Democracy. 1965. Retrieved 17 March 2013. No wonder the talented actress Melina Mercouri, after being stripped of her Greek citizenship in absentia, said of junta member Colonel Pattakos : "I was born a Greek and I will die a Greek. Pattakos was born a Fascist and will die a Fascist.
  19. ^ Helen Vlachos (1971). Free Greek voices: a political anthology. (10 Gayfere St., SWIP 3HN), Doric Publications Ltd. ISBN 9780902999008. Retrieved 17 March 2013. He repeated it. And my answer came like water from a fountain: 'I was born a Greek, I will die a Greek; Pattakos was born Fascist, he will die Fascist . . .' "And now what will happen, Melina?" I am asked. Now there will be a trial at some ...
  20. ^ Balkania. Balkania Publishing Company. 1967. Retrieved 17 March 2013. ... Patakos was born a fascist and will die a fascist," Miss Mercouri said at a press conference she called shortly after hearing that her citizenship had been ...
  21. ^ Dimitris Keridis (1 July 2009). Historical Dictionary of Modern Greece. Scarecrow Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-8108-6312-5. Retrieved 17 March 2013. On 25 November 1973, Brigadier Dimitris Ioannides replaced Papadopoulos with his loyal officers. ... On 20 July 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, and on 24 July the junta's president of Greece, General Phaidon Gizikis, appointed Konstantinos ...
  22. ^ Korina Miller; Kate Armstrong; Michael Stamatios Clark; Chris Deliso (1 March 2010). Greece 9. Lonely Planet. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-74220-342-3. Retrieved 17 March 2013. 1974 A botched plan to unite Cyprus with Greece prompts the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish troops and results in the fall of the military junta. This acts as a catalyst for the restoration of...
  23. ^ The Colonels on Trial Time Magazine Retrieved 15 August 2008 Quote: "Along with 19 other former members of the ousted military junta, the ex-dictator was charged with acts of high treason and insurrection that had subjected Greece to 7½ years of dictatorship, from 1967 to 1974."
  24. ^ Terence Roehrig (2002). The Prosecution of Former Military Leaders in Newly Democratic Nations: The Cases of Argentina, Greece, and South Korea. McFarland. pp. 98–. ISBN 978-0-7864-1091-0. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Within 24 hours, and before the generals could move on their plan, the colonels launched their own coup.62 Thus, the ... as leaders of the group: Colonel George Papadopoulos, Colonel Nicolaos Makarezos and Brigadier Stylianos Pattakos.
  25. ^ Richard Clogg (20 June 2002). A Concise History of Greece. Cambridge University Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-521-00479-4. Retrieved 17 March 2013. The original troika behind the coup, Colonels Papadopoulos and Makarezos and Brigadier Pattakos, were sentenced to death. ...
  26. ^ Answering to History Time magazine Retrieved 18 August 2008
  27. ^ Book: The Trials of the Junta, 12 Volumes Pericles Rodakis (publisher), The Trials of the Junta: A: The Trial of the Instigators, B: The Trial of the Polytechnic, C: The Trials of the Torturers (Περικλής Ροδάκης (εκδ.), Οι Δίκες της Χούντας: Α: Η Δίκη των Πρωταιτίων, Β: Η Δίκη του Πολυτεχνείου, Γ: Οι Δίκες των Βασανιστών, 12 τόμοι, Αθήνα 1975-1976)
  28. ^ "Στυλιανός Παττακός". YouTube. 7 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14.
  29. ^ "Ο Στυλιανός Παττακός έγινε 100".
  30. ^ "Ποιός ήταν ο Στυλιανός Παττακός". 8 October 2016.
  31. ^ "Παττακός: Δεν μετανιώνω για όσα έκανα – Η Χρυσή Αυγή είναι η ελπίδα". 24 November 2012.
  32. ^ 55 1991-92 (1991). The International Who's Who, 1991-92. Europa Publications Limited. ISBN 978-0-946653-70-6. {{cite book}}: |last= has numeric name (help)
  33. ^ "Δείτε πια ήταν η τελευταία επιθυμία του Παττακού - Alldaynews.gr" (in Greek). 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  34. ^ ΣΤΟΧΟΣ. "ΠΕΘΑΝΕ Η ΓΥΝΑΙΚΑ ΤΟΥ ΣΤΥΛΙΑΝΟΥ ΠΑΤΤΑΚΟΥ..." Εφημερίδα "Στόχος" - Stoxos newspaper. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  35. ^ "Στο νοσοκομείο ο Παττακός ,μετά το θάνατο της γυναίκας του". Onalert (in Greek). 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  36. ^ "Η κόρη του Παττακού ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΠΤΕΙ: «Ο πατέρας μου ήθελε να αυτοκτονήσει»". Makeleio.gr (in Greek). 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  37. ^ "Τι κάνει σήμερα ο Στυλιανός Παττακός;". Newsbeast (in Greek). 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  38. ^ "«Εφυγε» (πάμφτωχος) στα 104 από εγκεφαλικό ο Στυλιανός Παττακός" (in Greek). 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  39. ^ Μπέσκος, Σωτήρης (2016-10-08). "Πέθανε ο πραξικοπηματίας Στυλιανός Παττακός - Dnews". www.dnews.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  40. ^ Karra, Evanthia (2016-10-06). "Έπεσε θύμα ληστείας ο πραξικοπηματίας Παττακός". Ελεύθερος Τύπος (in Greek). Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  41. ^ "Θύμα ληστείας έπεσε ο Στυλιανός Παττακός". eReportaz (in Greek). 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  42. ^ "Κηδεύτηκε στο Ρέθυμνο ο πραξικοπηματίας Παττακός (video)". Neakriti (in Greek). 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  43. ^ "Κρήτη: Η κηδεία του Παττακού - Οι παρουσίες που συζητήθηκαν και η σκηνή που προκάλεσε αίσθηση [pics]". NewsIT (in Greek). 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister for the Interior of Greece
21 April 1967 – 25 August 1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of Greece
13 December 1967 – 8 October 1973
(from 26 August 1971 along with Nikolaos Makarezos) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Interior of Greece (interim)
10 May – 8 October 1973 		Succeeded by
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