April 21: The fateful day of the coup that led to the junta of the colonels. Tanks descend on Athens, the army arrests those considered a threat to the new regime, radio stations broadcast messages from the junta, the former king Constantine swears in the government of the coup plotters and the Greek people get to know George Papadopoulos through – the then new medium – the TV.

Which politician was arrested in his pyjamas? How close did Andreas Papandreou come to execution and who had to intervene to prevent it? Who said that with a “blow” the junta would fall in those early hours? Did the former king ever regret swearing in the junta? What did Americans know about the coup and how did they react that day?

This is the third episode (watch here or on SKAI’s hybrid TV by pressing the red button on your remote control in the documentary menu)of the new major documentary series “Dark Decade 1964-1974”, by Alexis Papachelas, which illuminates unknown behind-the-scenes of the most turbulent decade of our modern history.

Watch here the first episode and here the second episode or on SKAI’s hybrid TV by pressing the red button on your remote control in the documentary menu

Through an audio document, we hear the voice of the then director of “Kathimerini” Eleni Vlachos, who describes what she saw and heard in the early hours of April 21. “It is almost impossible for me to believe it, just as it is impossible to believe the image I saw. Tons of tanks which are apparently coming from afar, covered in mud and army, standing upright and menacing outside the parliament, outside the Ministry of the Military, in the squares” we hear her say.

Eleni Vlachou records her reactions in the first moments of the coup

A few hours before, the then young King Constantine was spending a quiet evening in Tatoi.

King Constantine learns of the coup

At the same time, the secret phone at the home of the Minister of Public Order, Georgiou Ralli, rings. On the other end of the line is the head of the gendarmerie.

Georgios Rallis remembers how he tried to stop the coup

In the meantime, special teams of police and soldiers begin the first arrests on the order of the conspirators. Junta officers arrive at the homes of leading politicians.

The Con. Mitsotakis and L. Kyrkos talk about their arrest

Army men knock on Andreas Papandreou’s door in Psychiko.

“Either tell us where your father is or we kill you”

Another group goes up to Villa Galini in Kastri to arrest George Papandreou.

Officer Aristidis Palainis goes to the house of Defense Minister Panagi Papaligoura that same evening. “So that they wouldn’t worry, because he had young children, I tried not to let his children understand anything, I explained to him what it was all about. I remember his wife saying to him ‘But you don’t understand, there’s been a revolution, there’s been a movement, you have to follow him captain.”

Americans learn the news in an unusual way. “At three in the morning we were woken up by the butler, who called into the bedroom and said there was a man at the gate who said he was the nephew of Prime Minister Kanellopoulos and that he needed to see me urgently. So I let him in, went downstairs and he said that some men in military uniform had come to his uncle’s apartment, had argued with his uncle, and told him that the king wanted him. He replied, ‘Well, if the king wants me, why doesn’t he call me?’ ‘.”

At the same time, the streets of Athens are filled with soldiers and tanks.

“I picked up the phone and it was dead. Then I got dressed, got the Cadillac, which I had never driven again. We went to the Prime Minister’s house and went up to see Mrs. Kanellopoulou. She fully confirmed the nephew’s story, she was very upset. I told her that I did not we had no knowledge of anything going on and that I would do my best to find out and let her know as soon as we had news. I then sent a lightning signal to Washington saying that something was going on. I didn’t know what it was yet.” continues Talbot.

In the White House, Talbot’s message means alarm.

President Johnson’s national security adviser, Walt Rustow, is also immediately informed.

The coup plotters have not yet revealed their faces. At “Kathimerini”, however, someone is suspected.

“Besides extreme right what else can…” Eleni Vlachou can be heard saying.

By morning the conspirators arrest the leaders of the political parties, deputies and officers of Constantine. Minister Georgios Rallis makes a phone call to his wife at home: I say to her, “do you have any news?” “Oh lots of news here…we have visitors.” And I understood that they came to get me.

When Rallis finally returns home, a junta officer is waiting for him.

Rallis is taken to Goudi and together with Papaligoura they meet Stylianos Pattakos in his office.

Army and police arrest politicians, artists, leftists and those they consider a threat to the new regime. They are also looking for Mikis Theodorakis.

Soldiers load the politicians into an army truck.

The Con. Mitsotakis and A. Papandreou talk about their transfer and stay in Pikermi

One of the first actions of the junta is to stop the publication of the morning newspapers. Kathimerini manages to print an extraordinary edition.

“Single column what we have come to! A military movement erupted, civilian men were arrested, at 2:30 a.m., a force of armored personnel occupied the center of Athens. Under the astonished gaze of the few Athenians who were circulating at this appointed hour, armored blockaded the old palaces while military forces occupied OTE, the EHR radio booths in Zappeion, and the ministries.” says Eleni Vlachou.

The MP Spyros Markezinis learned the news from this newspaper at the time.

In the first hours of the coup, many believe that the army took to the streets on Constantine’s orders in view of the spring elections. On the radios, the junta’s message ends with an appeal to the King.

The main streets of Athens are deserted of cars and pedestrians, but full of tanks and police.

Meanwhile the conspirators go up to Tatoi and surround the palace with tanks.

The coup plotters meet King Constantine

The king is locked with the coup plotters in a room. He negotiates with the government. When the new officers hear that some old politicians will be sworn in as ministers things get out of hand.

Pattakos, many years later, admits in an interview that everything could have been over for the junta that morning of April 21.

“If you blew, at noon on April 21, we would leave”

“Until further orders, traffic of all types of vehicles and pedestrians is prohibited on the streets of the city. Those walking on the streets should immediately return to their homes. Bearing in mind that after sunset, anyone walking on the streets will be shot without warning. warning.

In the palaces of Athens, before His Majesty the king, the new national government was sworn in under the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, Mr. Chrysostomos. Mr. Konstantinos Kollias, Attorney General of the Supreme Court, as President of the National Government, Lieutenant General Mr. Grigorios Spantidakis, Chief of the General Staff of the Army as Vice President of the Government and Minister of National Defense came to the palace and were sworn in. Artillery Colonel George Papadopoulos as Minister of the Presidency of the Government. Artillery colonel Mr. Nikolaos Makarezos as Minister of Coordination. And Brigadier General Stylianos Pattakos as Minister of Foreign Affairs.” the radio broadcasts.

At the palace, at 5 pm, Konstantinos swears in the government of the coup plotters with Supreme Court prosecutor Konstantinos Kollias as prime minister.

Video – Former King Constantine explains why he swore off the dictatorial government Kollias 30:40-31:20

The American ambassador tries to meet Constantine to find out what has happened.

Although some in the embassy claimed they did not know the conspirators, in fact they were all old acquaintances of the CIA people. Especially George Papadopoulos.

The Greek-American agent Gast Avrakotos also had a close relationship with the coup plotters and Papadopoulos. This was confided to journalist George Crail, as he reads from the notes he had after a long interview with Avrakotis.

Dictator George Papadopoulos’ first order to his associate Nikos Farmakis is to find and visit Ambassador Talbot. The reception they have in store for him is somewhat paradoxical.

Video How the Americans intervened to prevent Andreas Papandreou from being executed 37:10-40:34

Andreas is finally released from prison in December 1967 and shortly after leaves Greece with his family. First stop, Paris.

After a long journey to European capitals, Andreas and his family arrive in Sweden. There he founds the PAK.

From Paris, Konstantinos Karamanlis disapproves of the coup with his statement on April 23, 1967 and warns of the suffering to come.

Back in Athens, Mikis Theodorakis is arrested.

Mikis Theodorakis remembers his arrest and transfer to Bouboulinas