Ioannidis' response to the Turkish invasion of …

Years: 1974 - 1974
July

Ioannidis' response to the Turkish invasion of the northern part of Cyprus is to mobilize for war with Turkey.

The Greek military, however, has already shown disaffection by scattered revolts, and the mobilization proves chaotic.

The regime, bitterly unpopular domestically and totally isolated diplomatically, collapses in complete disarray.

Thus, the Cyprus crisis makes clear that the regime's most fundamental base of support is crumbling.

Gizikis, recognizing the need for a return to civilian rule, recalls several former politicians from their self-imposed exile.

Former premier Konstantinos Karamanlis, having remained in Paris since 1967, has repeatedly called for the junta to resign but has not otherwise actively opposed the regime.

On July 24, 1974, Karamanlis returns to Athens as prime minister of an emergency government.

He demands and obtains the subordination of the armed forces to civilian authority, reinstates the constitution, and averts a catastrophic war with Turkey over Cyprus without loss of prestige.

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