List of defence ministers of Greece facts for kids
A Minister for National Defence in Greece is a very important person. They are in charge of keeping the country safe. This includes overseeing the army, navy, and air force. Their main job is to make sure Greece is protected from any threats.
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Protecting Greece: The Role of Defence Ministers
What Does a Defence Minister Do?
The Minister for National Defence leads the country's armed forces. They make big decisions about how the military operates. This includes planning for defence, managing military resources, and looking after the soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel. They work to ensure Greece is always ready to defend itself.
Over the years, the name of this important role has changed. It started as "Military Affairs." Later, it included "Naval Affairs" and "Aviation" as new branches of the military grew. Today, it is called "National Defence." No matter the name, the goal has always been the same: to protect Greece.
A Look Back: Early Defence Leaders (1899-1946)
From 1899 to 1946, the person in charge of Greece's military was called the Minister of Military Affairs. These leaders guided the country's defence during important times. This period included major conflicts like the Balkan Wars and both World Wars. They had to make tough decisions to keep Greece safe.
Some ministers during this time were also the Prime Minister. This meant they held two very powerful jobs at once. They were responsible for both leading the government and protecting the country.
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonel Konstantinos Koumoundouros | 14 April 1899 | 11 January 1900 | ||
| Nikolaos Tsamados | 11 January 1900 | 14 November 1901 | ||
| Georgios Korpas | 25 November 1901 | 6 December 1902 | ||
| Colonel Lymbrittis | 7 December 1902 | 27 June 1903 | ||
| Alexios Grivas | 28 June 1903 | 11 July 1903 | ||
| Ioannis Konstantinidis | 11 July 1903 | 19 December 1903 | ||
| Major General Konstantinos Smolenskis | 19 December 1903 | 29 December 1904 | ||
| Kyriakos Mavromichalis | 29 December 1904 | 30 July 1905 | ||
| Vasileios Voudouris | 30 July 1905 | 21 December 1905 | ||
| Georgios Theotokis | 21 December 1905 | 29 July 1909 | ||
| Colonel Emmanouil Manousogiannakis | 29 July 1909 | 28 August 1909 | ||
| Leonidas Lapathiotis | 31 August 1909 | 30 December 1909 | ||
| Ioannis Konstantinidis | 30 December 1909 | 31 January 1910 | ||
| Nikolaos Zorbas | 31 January 1910 | 18 October 1910 | ||
| Eleftherios Venizelos | 18 October 1910 | 10 March 1915 | Also Prime Minister | |
| Dimitrios Gounaris | 10 March 1915 | 23 August 1915 | ||
| Lt. General Panagiotis Danglis | 23 August 1915 | 7 October 1915 | ||
| Ioannis Giannakitsas | 7 October 1915 | 7 November 1915 | ||
| Major General Konstantinos Kallaris | 22 June 1916 | 16 September 1916 | ||
| Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos | 16 September 1916 | 9 October 1916 | ||
| Nikolaos Drakos | 10 October 1916 | 27 June 1917 | ||
| Eleftherios Venizelos | 27 June 1917 | 18 November 1920 | Also Prime Minister | |
| Dimitrios Gounaris | 18 November 1920 | 8 April 1921 | ||
| Nikolaos Theotokis | 8 April 1921 | 16 May 1922 | ||
| Nikolaos Stratos | 16 May 1922 | 22 May 1922 | ||
| Nikolaos Theotokis | 22 May 1922 | 9 September 1922 | ||
| Nikolaos Triantaphyllakos | 10 September 1922 | 29 September 1922 | Also Prime Minister | |
| Major General Theodoros Pangalos | 14 November 1922 | 12 December 1922 | ||
| Colonel Stylianos Gonatas | 12 December 1922 | 9 January 1923 | Prime Minister, minister pro tempore | |
| Periklis Pierrakos-Mavromichalis | 9 January 1923 | 24 June 1923 | ||
| Colonel Stylianos Gonatas | 24 June 1923 | 29 August 1923 | Also Prime Minister | |
| Periklis Pierrakos-Mavromichalis | 29 August 1923 | 18 October 1923 | ||
| Colonel Stylianos Gonatas | 18 October 1923 | 3 November 1923 | Prime Minister, minister pro tempore | |
| Major General Konstantinos Manetas | 3 November 1923 | 11 January 1924 | ||
| Konstantinos Gondikas | 11 January 1924 | 12 March 1924 | ||
| Georgios Kondylis | 12 March 1924 | 11 June 1924 | ||
| Theodoros Pangalos | 11 June 1924 | 24 July 1924 | ||
| Georgios Katechakis | 24 July 1924 | 9 March 1925 | ||
| Konstantinos Gondikas | 9 March 1925 | 26 June 1925 | ||
| Theodoros Pangalos | 26 June 1925 | 21 April 1926 | Dictator, concurrently Prime Minister | |
| Charalambos Tseroulis | 21 April 1926 | 22 August 1926 | ||
| Georgios Kondylis | 26 August 1926 | 4 December 1926 | Leader of the uprising that deposed Pangalos, concurrently Prime Minister | |
| Alexandros Mazarakis-Ainian | 4 December 1926 | 4 July 1928 | ||
| Themistoklis Sophoulis | 4 July 1928 | 11 November 1930 | ||
| Eleftherios Venizelos | 11 November 1930 | 23 December 1930 | ||
| Georgios Katechakis | 23 December 1930 | 26 May 1932 | ||
| Alexandros Papanastasiou | 26 May 1932 | 3 June 1932 | ||
| Theodoros Chavinis | 5 June 1932 | 31 October 1932 | ||
| Georgios Kondylis | 3 November 1932 | 13 January 1933 | ||
| Georgios Katechakis | 16 January 1933 | 6 March 1933 | ||
| Alexandros Othonaios | 6 March 1933 | 8 March 1933 | ||
| Georgios Kondylis | 10 March 1933 | 20 March 1935 | ||
| Ioannis Metaxas | 5 March 1935 | 13 March 1935 | ||
| Georgios Kondylis | 20 March 1935 | 10 October 1935 | ||
| Major General Alexandros Papagos | 10 October 1935 | 25 November 1935 | ||
| Konstantinos Demertzis | 30 November 1935 | 5 March 1935 | ||
| Ioannis Metaxas | 14 March 1936 | 29 January 1941 | ||
| Alexandros Koryzis | 29 January 1941 | 18 April 1941 | ||
| Theodoros Panagakos | 21 April 1941 | 2 June 1941 | ||
| Georgios Bakos | 30 April 1941 | 7 April 1943 | As part of the government that worked with the Axis powers during WWII | |
| Stylianos Dimitrikakis | 2 June 1941 | 4 May 1942 | ||
| Panagiotis Kanellopoulos | 4 May 1942 | 16 March 1943 | ||
| Vyron Karapanagiotis | 16 March 1943 | 3 April 1944 | ||
| Sofoklis Venizelos | 13 April 1944 | 23 April 1944 | ||
| Georgios Papandreou | 28 May 1944 | 31 December 1944 | ||
| Nikolaos Plastiras | 3 January 1945 | 7 April 1945 | ||
| Vice Admiral Petros Voulgaris | 9 April 1945 | 11 August 1945 | ||
| Alexandros Merentitis | 11 August 1945 | 1 November 1945 | ||
| Spyridon Georgoulis | 1 November 1945 | 20 November 1945 | ||
| Theodoros Manetas | 22 November 1945 | 4 April 1946 |
After 1946, the role of the defence minister grew. It began to include not just the army, but also the navy and the air force. This showed how important all parts of the military were becoming. These ministers were responsible for all three branches of the armed forces.
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petros K. Mavromichalis | 4 April 1946 | 3 November 1946 | People's Party |
Then, for a short time, the role went back to focusing only on Military Affairs.
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippos Dragoumis | 4 November 1946 | 24 January 1947 | People's Party | |
| Georgios Stratos | 27 January 1947 | 12 November 1948 | People's Party | |
| Konstantinos Rendis | 18 November 1948 | 19 January 1949 | Liberal Party | |
| Panayotis Kanellopoulos | 20 January 1949 | 6 January 1950 | National Unionist Party |
And then, it changed back again to include all three branches.
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ioannis Theotokis | 7 January 1950 | 23 March 1950 | ||
| Panagiotis Kanellopoulos | 23 March 1950 | 15 April 1950 | National Unionist Party |
Modern Defence: The Ministry Today (1950-Present)
Since 1950, the role has been known as the Minister for National Defence. This title shows that the minister is responsible for the overall defence of the entire nation. These ministers have guided Greece through many changes, ensuring its security in a modern world. They continue to play a vital role in protecting the country.
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippos Manouilidis | 15 April 1950 | 18 August 1950 | Democratic Socialist Party | |
| Sofoklis Venizelos | 21 August 1950 | 28 August 1950 | Liberal Party | |
| Konstantinos Rendis | 28 August 1950 | 13 September 1950 | Liberal Party | |
| Konstantinos Karamanlis | 13 September 1950 | 2 November 1950 | People's Party | |
| General (ret.) Panagiotis Spiliotopoulos | 30 July 1951 | 27 October 1951 | Former Chief of the Army General Staff | |
| Admiral (ret.) Alexandros Sakellariou | 27 October 1951 | 28 March 1952 | Former Chief of the Navy General Staff | |
| Sofoklis Venizelos | 10 April 1952 | 24 July 1952 | Liberal Party | |
| Georgios Mavros | 24 July 1952 | 11 October 1952 | Liberal Party | |
| Lt. General (ret.) Ioannis Pitsikas | 11 October 1952 | 18 November 1952 | ||
| Marshal (ret.) Alexandros Papagos | 23 November 1952 | 2 December 1952 | Greek Rally, former Commander-in-Chief of the Greek military | |
| Panagiotis Kanellopoulos | 2 December 1952 | 6 June 1955 | Greek Rally | |
| Konstantinos Karamanlis | 6 October 1955 | 10 January 1956 | Greek Rally | |
| Sotirios Stergiopoulos | 11 January 1956 | 27 February 1956 | ||
| Aristeidis Protopapadakis | 29 February 1956 | 2 March 1958 | National Radical Union | |
| Sotirios Stergiopoulos | 5 March 1958 | 17 May 1958 | ||
| Konstantinos Karamanlis | 17 May 1958 | 20 September 1961 | National Radical Union | |
| Air Vice Marshal (ret.) Charalambos Potamianos | 20 September 1961 | 4 November 1961 | ||
| Aristeidis Protopapadakis | 4 November 1961 | 11 June 1963 | National Radical Union | |
| Philippos Dragoumis | 19 June 1963 | 28 September 1963 | ||
| Dimitrios Papanikolopoulos | 29 September 1963 | 18 February 1964 | ||
| Petros Garoufalias | 18 February 1964 | 15 July 1965 | Center Union | |
| Stavros Kostopoulos | 15 July 1965 | 21 December 1966 | Center Union Dissident Center Union Liberal Democratic Center |
|
| Ioannis Paraskevopoulos | 22 December 1966 | 30 March 1967 | ||
| Panagiotis Papaligouras | 3 April 1967 | 21 April 1967 | National Radical Union | |
| Lt. General Grigorios Spandidakis | 21 April 1967 | 13 December 1967 | Military regime | |
| Colonel (Ret.) Georgios Papadopoulos | 13 December 1967 | 8 October 1973 | Military regime | |
| Nikolaos Efessios | 8 October 1973 | 25 November 1973 | Military regime | |
| Efstathios Latsoudis | 25 November 1973 | 24 July 1974 | Military regime | |
| Evangelos Averoff | 26 July 1974 | 19 October 1981 | National Radical Union (1974) New Democracy (1974–81) |
|
| Andreas Papandreou | 21 October 1981 | 25 April 1986 | Panhellenic Socialist Movement | |
| Colonel (ret.) Ioannis Charalambopoulos | 25 April 1986 | 1 July 1989 | Panhellenic Socialist Movement | |
| Ioannis Varvitsiotis | 2 July 1989 | 7 October 1989 | New Democracy | |
| Theodoros Degiannis | 12 October 1989 | 23 November 1989 | ||
| Tzannis Tzannetakis | 23 November 1989 | 12 February 1990 | New Democracy | |
| Theodoros Degiannis | 13 February 1990 | 11 April 1990 | ||
| Ioannis Varvitsiotis | 11 April 1990 | 13 October 1993 | New Democracy | |
| Gerasimos Arsenis | 13 October 1993 | 24 September 1996 | Panhellenic Socialist Movement | |
| Akis Tsochatzopoulos | 24 September 1996 | 23 October 2001 | Panhellenic Socialist Movement | |
| Yiannos Papantoniou | 23 October 2001 | 10 March 2004 | Panhellenic Socialist Movement | |
| Spilios Spiliotopoulos | 10 March 2004 | 15 February 2006 | New Democracy | |
| Evaggelos Meimarakis | 15 February 2006 | 7 October 2009 | New Democracy | |
| Evangelos Venizelos | 7 October 2009 | 17 June 2011 | Panhellenic Socialist Movement | |
| Panos Beglitis | 17 June 2011 | 11 November 2011 | Panhellenic Socialist Movement | |
| Dimitris Avramopoulos | 11 November 2011 | 17 May 2012 | New Democracy | |
| General (ret.) Frangoulis Frangos | 17 May 2012 | 21 June 2012 | Independent, former Chief of Army General Staff | |
| Panos Panagiotopoulos | 21 June 2012 | 25 June 2013 | New Democracy | |
| Dimitris Avramopoulos | 25 June 2013 | 3 November 2014 | New Democracy | |
| Nikos Dendias | 3 November 2014 | 27 January 2015 | New Democracy | |
| Panos Kammenos | 27 January 2015 | 28 August 2015 | Independent Greeks | |
| Air Chief Marshal (ret.) Ioannis Giagkos | 28 August 2015 | 23 September 2015 | Independent, former Chief of the National Defence General Staff | |
| Panos Kammenos | 23 September 2015 | 13 January 2019 | Independent Greeks | |
| Admiral (ret.) Evangelos Apostolakis | 14 January 2019 | 9 July 2019 | Independent, previously Chief of the National Defence General Staff | |
| Nikos Panagiotopoulos | 9 July 2019 | Incumbent | New Democracy |
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List of defence ministers of Greece Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.