EOKA (Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών, Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (Greek for National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters)) was a Greek Cypriot nationalist organisation that fought for the expulsion of British troops from the island, for self-determination and for union with Greece in the mid to late 1950s. The United Kingdom promised Greece that all the above would be a commitment to be fulfilled if Greece would enter World War I on the side of the Allies^{[citation needed]}. Britain did not honor this commitment and EOKA engaged to free the Greek Cypriots from British rule. The leadership of AKEL, at the time (a communist organisation), opposed EOKA's military action, preferring strikes and demonstrations. This came into direct contrast with the previous leadership who some 5 years ago organised the plebiscite of 1950, where the vast majority of all Cypriots who voted were for the union with Greece (98%); though the referendum was deeply flawed and widely boycotted.^{[citation needed]} Many members of the party fought in WWII on the side of the allies, in response to Britain's promise of union with Greece. Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... Self-determination is a principle in international law that a people ought to be able to determine their own governmental forms and structure free from outside influence. ... The word Ένωσις (enosis) is Greek for union. ... The Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) (Greek: Ανορθωτικό Κόμμα Εργαζόμενου Λαού) is a socialist party in Cyprus. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

The organisation was headed by George Grivas, a Cyprus born Colonel in the Greek army, who distinguished himself during World War II and the subsequent Hellenic Civil War. Grivas assumed the nom de guerre Digenis in honour of the Byzantine legend Digenis Akritas, who repelled invaders from the Byzantine Empire during the Middle Ages. The EOKA was clandestinely supported by the Greek Government in the form of arms, money and propaganda on radio stations broadcast from Athens. Its military campaign began on April 1, 1955 and while its main target was the British military, the EOKA also targeted civilian installations on the island as well as assassinating pro-British Cypriots, informants, Taksim (Turkish Cypriot supporters of partition), and members of the Turkish Cypriot insurgent organisation, the Turkish Resistance Organization. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the land force of the modern nation of Greece. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... An ELAS resistance fighter The Greek Civil War was a war fought between 1944 and 1949 in Greece. ... A pseudonym or allonym is a name (sometimes legally adopted, sometimes purely fictitious) used by an individual as an alternative to their birth name. ... Digenis Acritas (Greek: Διγενής Ακρίτας) is the medieval Greek hero of the most famous epic poem that emerged out of the 12th century Byzantine Empire, following the Acritic songs tradition. ... Byzantine redirects here. ... 1967 Chinese propaganda poster from the Cultural Revolution. ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Over the period 30,000 British troops were assigned to combat the organisation. Troops were used to bring down any action that would evoke patriotic feelings (Greeks were not allowed to sing their National anthem and the education was controlled) as well as actively hunt EOKA personnel.

On the 16 June 1956, the bombing of a restaurant by EOKA led to the death of William P. Boteler, a CIA officer working under diplomatic cover. Colonel Grivas immediately issued a statement denying a deliberate attempt to target American citizens. He further warned American officials, for their own safety, to avoid the establishments patronized by "our British enemy."^[1] is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ...

In October 1956 an EOKA leader, Pilots Christofi, was captured by HIMEOBS during Operation Sparrowhawk. The following year Grigoris Afxentiou was burned while still alive by the British troops^{[citation needed]}. A number of other Greek fighters were hanged, including a 18-year old poet, Evagoras Pallikarides. ^[2] This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

EOKA's activity continued until December 1959 when a cease-fire was declared which paved the way for the Zürich agreement on the future of the country. Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The EOKA aim to rid Cyprus of British rule was partially met when on 16 August 1960 Cyprus achieved independence from the United Kingdom with the exception of two "Sovereign Base Areas" (SBA) at Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The settlement explicitly denied enosis - the union with Greece sought by EOKA. Although Cyprus gained its independence, it came with a complex constitution and the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee - a security arrangement compromising of a three-way guaranteeship from Turkey, Greece and Britain that neither would annex the independent republic. (see History of Cyprus). is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The UK Sovereign Base Areas are those British military base areas located in countries formerly ruled by the United Kingdom which were retained by it and not handed over when those countries attained independence. ... Anthem God Save the Queen Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Occupied Areas) Sovereign Base Areas indicated in pink. ... The word Ένωσις (enosis) is Greek for union. ... The 1960 Treaty of Guarantee was a pact designed to preserve the territorial independence of the Republic of Cyprus. ... This article is about the History of Cyprus. ...

After independence EOKA fighters formed regional associations such as ΣΑΠΕΛ (Σύνδεσμος Αγωνιστών Πόλεως και Επαρχίας Λεμεσού; Union of Fighters of Limassol and district) that have been participating in commemorations, museum collections etc. In the 90's a dedicated old people's home for ex EOKA fighters was constructed in the village of Palodhia, near Limassol.

A museum dedicated to the EOKA struggle was created in 1960 and is located in the centre of Nicosia.^[3]

EOKA-B

EOKA-B was a Greek Cypriot right-wing pro-enosis paramilitary organisation formed in 1971 that was supported by the ruling Greek military junta which had come to power in 1967 overthrowing the legitimate Greek government of Panayiotis Kanellopoulos. The organization is commonly referred as a terrorist organization in countries such as the United Kingdom^[4] because EOKA-B was engaged in the murder of civilians. This terminology was shared by President Makarios on his speech at the UN following the coup.^[5] Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... The word Ένωσις (enosis) is Greek for union. ... The Greek military junta of 1967-1974, alternatively The Regime of the Colonels (Greek: ), or in Greece The Junta (Greek: ) and The Seven Years (Greek: ) are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974. ... ... Makarios was the adopted name of Mikhalis Khristodoulou Mouskos (August 13, 1913 - August 3, 1977). ...

When George Grivas returned to Cyprus in 1971, he created EOKA-B in response to President Archbishop Makarios' deviation from the policy of enosis. He was angered by Makarios' rejection of enosis in 1959 and was further riled when the President reaffirmed this position on his re-election in 1968. Grivas took the reins of EOKA-B and attempted to overthrow Makarios in order to achieve enosis through violent means. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The word Ένωσις (enosis) is Greek for union. ...

Whereas EOKA (1955-59) were seen by the majority of the Greek Cypriots as anti-colonialist freedom fighters, the EOKA-B did not have the overwhelming support of the Greek Cypriot population, who where skeptical over the organisation's involvement with the unpopular Greek dictatorship.^{[citation needed]} They did not want to swap their newly found independence for direct rule from Athens. The organisations unpopularity increased after attacks on Greek Cypriot socialists and supporters of independence, while public outrage followed the murder of government minister Polycarpos Georgadjis and a botched assassination attempt on Makarios. hey, frank the tank rocks ur mom. ... Freedom fighter is a relativistic local term for those engaged in rebellion against an established organization that is thought to be oppressive. ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... Polycarpos Georgadjis was a member of EOKA. He was appointed Minister of Labour in the transitional government set up immediately before the Republic of Cyprus became independent. ...

When Grivas Digenis died from heart failure in January 1974, the new leadership of EOKA-B increasingly came under the direct control and influence of the military junta in Athens. On July 15, 1974, the EOKA-B with approval of the Greek Dictator Dimitrios Ioannides and the help of the National Guard, launched a military coup, overthrowing Makarios and installing Nikos Sampson as the dictator of Cyprus. This action served only to provoke a Turkish military invasion on July 20, 1974, leading to the subsequent de facto division of the island. is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Dimitrios Ioannides (right) toasting with George Papadopoulos (middle) and Phaedon Gkizikis (left) Ioannides and Gizikis overthrew Papadopoulos in a later coup. ... The Cypriot National Guard (Greek Εθνική Φρουρά) is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus. ... Nikos Sampson (Greek: Νίκος Σαμψών; December 16, 1935 – May 9, 2001) was the de facto dictator of Cyprus installed by the coup détat that overthrew President Makarios in 1974. ... Combatants  Turkey  Cyprus  Greece On the 20th of July 1974, Turkey launched a military invasion by air, land and sea against Cyprus purportedly to restore constitutional order following an Athens orchestrated coup by the Cypriot National Guard against the President of Cyprus, Makarios III. Though Turkey had consistently refused to... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...

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