Ioannis Tsangaridis

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Ioannis Tsangaridis (Greek: Ιωάννης Τσαγγαρίδης; 1887–1939) was a Greek Cypriot General of the Hellenic Army.

Major General

Ioannis Tsangaridis
MUSEUM-TSANGARIDIS.jpg
A photo of Tsagaridis in the War Museum of Athens.
Native name
Ιωάννης Τσαγγαρίδης
Bornc. 1887
Lapithos, British Cyprus (now Republic of Cyprus)
Died31 March 1939
Ikaria, Kingdom of Greece
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service1904-1908 (HMC)
1908-1936 (Hellenic Army)
RankGR-Army-OF7-1912.svg Major General
Battles/warsMacedonian Struggle
Balkan Wars

World War I

  • Macedonian Front

Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)

AwardsGRE Order Redeemer 5Class.png Order of the Redeemer
GRE Order of George I - Commander BAR.png Commander of the Order of George I
GRE Commander's Medal of Valour ribbon.svg Gold Cross of Valour
GRE War Cross 1940 ribbon.svg War Cross (1916-17 variant)
Greek Medal of Military merit ribbon.png Medal of Military Merit
Пластина на орден „Св. Александръ“.jpg Grand Officer Cross of the Order of Saint Alexander
Ordre de la Couronne de Yougoslavie (Royaume).png Order of the Yugoslav Crown
HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (military) 4class BAR.svg Officer of the Hungarian Order of Merit

He was born in Lapithos in then British-ruled Cyprus, to Christophis Tsangaridis, in 1887.[1] In 1904 he went to Athens for studies in chemistry, but quickly abandoned them and volunteered for the armed bands of the Macedonian Struggle (1904–08).[1] On his return he enlisted in the Hellenic Army, and, after studies at the NCO School, was commissioned as a cavalry officer.

He took part in the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the subsequent Asia Minor Campaign that followed. He distinguished himself at the Battle of the Sakarya where he was heavily wounded in August 1921, forcing him to take an extended leave.[1] Promoted to Major General in 1935, he disagreed with the establishment of the dictatorial Metaxas Regime in 1936, leading to his internal exile in Sifnos and Ikaria.[1] His lingering wounds, coupled with the hardships of exile, led to his death on 31 March 1939.[1]

His brother Theofanis (1895–1962) took part in the 1931 Cyprus revolt and was exiled, going to Athens where he became president of the Cypriot community, while the youngest brother, Odysseas, became an architect in his home town of Lapithos.[1]

His diary has been published in 1987 by the Estia bookshop as Το ημερολόγιο ενός στρατηγού: Σελίδες νεοελληνικής ιστορίας ("The Diary of a General: Pages of Modern Greek History").

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Λαπηθιώτες" (in Greek). Municipality of Lapithos. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
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