Ioannis Tsangaridis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ioannis Tsangaridis
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A photo of Tsagaridis in the War Museum of Athens.
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| Native name |
Ιωάννης Τσαγγαρίδης
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| Born | c. 1887 Lapithos, British Cyprus (now Republic of Cyprus) |
| Died | 31 March 1939 Ikaria, Kingdom of Greece |
| Allegiance |  Kingdom of Greece Second Hellenic Republic |
| Service/ |
 Hellenic Army |
| Years of service | 1904-1908 (HMC) 1908-1936 (Hellenic Army) |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards |  Order of the Redeemer Commander of the Order of George I Gold Cross of Valour War Cross (1916-17 variant) Medal of Military Merit Grand Officer Cross of the Order of Saint Alexander.png){kind=small} Order of the Yugoslav Crown_4class_BAR.svg){kind=small} Officer of the Hungarian Order of Merit |
Ioannis Tsangaridis (Greek: Ιωάννης Τσαγγαρίδης; 1887–1939) was a brave Greek Cypriot General in the Hellenic Army. He played an important role in many major conflicts of his time.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
Ioannis Tsangaridis was born in 1887 in Lapithos, a town in Cyprus. At that time, Cyprus was ruled by the British. In 1904, when he was about 17, he went to Athens, the capital of Greece. He first planned to study chemistry.
However, Ioannis soon changed his mind. He decided to join the "armed bands" fighting in the Macedonian Struggle (1904–1908). This was a secret fight to free the region of Macedonia from Ottoman rule and unite it with Greece. After this, he joined the official Hellenic Army. He studied at a special school for non-commissioned officers (NCOs). These are soldiers who are leaders but not yet officers. After his training, he became a cavalry officer, meaning he led soldiers who fought on horseback.
A Career in Major Wars
Ioannis Tsangaridis served in many important wars that shaped Greece and the region. He fought in the Balkan Wars, which were two conflicts in 1912 and 1913. These wars helped Greece gain more land and become bigger.
He also fought in World War I (1914–1918), a huge global conflict. After that, he took part in the Asia Minor Campaign. This was a war between Greece and Turkey.
Battle of Sakarya Heroism
During the Asia Minor Campaign, Ioannis Tsangaridis showed great bravery at the Battle of Sakarya. This was a very important and tough battle in August 1921. He was seriously wounded during the fighting. Because of his injuries, he had to take a long break from military service to recover.
Later Life and Exile
In 1935, Ioannis Tsangaridis was promoted to the high rank of Major General. This meant he was a very senior leader in the Greek Army.
However, his military career ended due to political changes. In 1936, a new government called the Metaxas Regime took power in Greece. This was a dictatorial government, meaning it had total control and did not allow much freedom. General Tsangaridis did not agree with this new government. Because of his disagreement, he was sent away from the mainland. This was called "internal exile." He was sent to the islands of Sifnos and later Ikaria.
His old war wounds, combined with the difficulties of being in exile, made him very ill. Ioannis Tsangaridis passed away on March 31, 1939.
A General's Diary
General Tsangaridis kept a diary throughout his life. In 1987, many years after his death, his diary was published as a book. The book is called Το ημερολόγιο ενός στρατηγού: Σελίδες νεοελληνικής ιστορίας, which means "The Diary of a General: Pages of Modern Greek History." His diary helps us learn more about his experiences and the history of Greece during his time.
