Ioannis Veryvakis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ioannis Veryvakis
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General Veryvakis in 1993, during a visit in Washington, DC
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| Born | November 3, 1930 Edessa, Greece |
| Died | June 19, 2019 (aged 88) Athens, Greece |
| Allegiance |  Greece |
| Service/ |
Hellenic Army |
| Years of service | 1950–1993 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands held | Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff |
Ioannis Veryvakis (Greek: Ιωάννης Βερυβάκης; born November 3, 1930 – died June 19, 2019) was a very important Greek Army officer. He reached the highest rank, a full General. He was in charge of the entire Greek Army and later all of Greece's armed forces.
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Ioannis Veryvakis: A Top Greek General
Ioannis Veryvakis was born in Edessa, a city in northern Greece, on November 3, 1930. His parents came from Crete, a large Greek island. His father, Dimitrios Veryvakis, was also a high-ranking military officer, a Lieutenant General. Ioannis also had a brother, Lefteris Veryvakis, who became a politician and a minister.
Early Military Training and Ranks
Ioannis Veryvakis started his military journey in 1950. He joined the Hellenic Army Academy, which is like a special college for future army officers. He finished his studies on August 9, 1953, becoming an Infantry Second Lieutenant. This was his first officer rank.
Over the years, he moved up through many ranks:
- In 1956, he became a Lieutenant.
- By 1960, he was a Captain.
- He became a Major in 1967.
- In 1975, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
- He became a Colonel in 1981.
- In 1983, he was a Brigadier.
- He reached Major General in 1984.
- Finally, he became a Lieutenant General in 1986.
Ioannis Veryvakis also went to many special training courses. He studied infantry and parachuting in Greece. He also attended military schools in the United States and West Germany. He even graduated with top honors from an anti-tank missile school. He also completed advanced courses for military leaders.
Important Roles in the Army
Throughout his career, Ioannis Veryvakis held many different jobs in the army. He worked in various units and served in important leadership roles. He was an instructor, teaching new soldiers at the Infantry School. He commanded groups of soldiers, like an infantry battalion and a special forces battalion.
He also worked in important planning roles, like chief of staff for the 3rd Special Forces Division. He commanded an infantry regiment and directed important departments within the Hellenic Army General Staff. Later, he commanded larger units, including the 3rd Special Forces Division and the ASDEN. He also served as the Army Inspector-General, checking on how the army was doing.
Leading the Greek Armed Forces
On July 5, 1989, Ioannis Veryvakis was chosen for a very important job. He became the Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff (GES). This meant he was the top leader of the entire Greek Army. He held this position for almost a year.
Then, on May 7, 1990, he was promoted to the highest military rank, a full General. He was then appointed Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff. This made him the head of all of Greece's armed forces – the Army, Navy, and Air Force. He was in charge of defending the entire country.
He retired from the military on March 11, 1993. During his time as the top general, from July 1991 to June 1992, he also led the NATO Military Committee. This was a big international role, showing his importance on the world stage. He helped guide military decisions for the NATO alliance.
At the time, there were strong political differences in Greece. The socialist PASOK party and the conservative New Democracy party often disagreed. Ioannis Veryvakis's brother was a well-known politician from the PASOK party. Despite this, the conservative government chose Ioannis Veryvakis to lead the armed forces. This showed that they trusted his abilities and leadership, even with his family's political ties.
Awards and Family Life
General Veryvakis received many awards from Greece for his long and distinguished service. He also received special honors from other countries:
- He was given the Commander of the Legion of Merit from the United States.
- He received the Commander of the Legion of Honour from France.
- He was awarded the Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class with Swords, from Bulgaria.
Ioannis Veryvakis was married and had two children.
