Spyros Moustaklis
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Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
Spyros Moustaklis ( el, Σπύρος Μουστακλής;
Missolonghi Missolonghi or Messolonghi ( el, Μεσολόγγι, ) is a municipality of 34,416 people (according to the 2011 census) in western Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of Iera Polis ...
, 1926 – 1986) was an officer of the
Greek Army The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is the ...
. During the
military junta A military junta () is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term ''junta'' means "meeting" or "committee" and originated in the national and local junta organized by the Spanish resistance to Napoleon's invasion of Spain in ...
years in
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, he actively opposed the dictatorship and suffered permanent damage as the result of
torture Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons such as punishment, extracting a confession, interrogation for information, or intimidating third parties. Some definitions are restricted to acts c ...
, making him a symbol of the anti-junta resistance.PASOK tribute to anti-junta resistance
Quote: ''This reform is an important moment in the back of anti-dictatorship struggle with reference to the organizations who resisted the junta already from the first day of its imposal, the events during the funeral of Georgios Papandreou, in important ways the freedom struggle as the Alexandros Panagoulis, Moustaklis and Flora, in the responsibilities of the junta for the Cyprus tragedy and the heroic Navy Movement with interviews from some of the originators.'' 'sic''.html"_;"title="sic.html"_;"title="'sic">'sic''">sic.html"_;"title="'sic">'sic''(Translation_by_Google)

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Moustaklis became a member of EDES">sic">'sic''.html" ;"title="sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''">sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''(Translation by Google)

Moustaklis became a member of EDES on the 2th of April 1943, aged 17, following a confrontation with ELAS members which sent him to the hospital. Moustaklis fought with
EDES The National Republican Greek League ( el, Εθνικός Δημοκρατικός Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος (ΕΔΕΣ), ''Ethnikós Dimokratikós Ellinikós Sýndesmos'' (EDES)) was one of the major resistance groups formed during t ...
against the Wehrmacht, the Royal Italian Army and ELAS. He was wounded in action during the Battle of Profitis Ilias in Arta (21/12/1944), suffering a comminutive fibula fracture and hospitalized in the 5th Polish General Hospital in
Casamassima Casamassima ( Barese: ) is a town and ''comune'' of 19,786 inhabitants in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Apulia, southern Italy. Is also called "The Blue Town". The town is located inland from the Italian coastline, thrives and is built on agr ...
, near
Bari, Italy Bari ( , ; nap, label= Barese, Bare ; lat, Barium) is the capital city of the Metropolitan City of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy a ...
. Following the end of the war, Moustaklis, alongside other ex-
EDES The National Republican Greek League ( el, Εθνικός Δημοκρατικός Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος (ΕΔΕΣ), ''Ethnikós Dimokratikós Ellinikós Sýndesmos'' (EDES)) was one of the major resistance groups formed during t ...
members, was enrolled in the
Hellenic Military Academy The Hellenic Army Academy ( el, Στρατιωτική Σχολή Ευελπίδων), commonly known as the Evelpidon, is a military academy. It is the Officer cadet school of the Greek Army and the oldest third-level educational institution in G ...
. He graduated in 1948. He subsequently took part in the last phase of the
Greek Civil War The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος όλεμος ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom ...
(1948-1949) as an Anthypolochagos and the
Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
(30/4/1952 - 14/7/1953) as an
Ypolochagos ''Ypolochagos'' () is used in the modern Greek language to mean "First Lieutenant". In the modern Hellenic Army the rank is superior to that of ''Anthypolochagos'' (Literally: 'In place of-Lieutenant', i.e. Second Lieutenant) and inferior to ...
. Moustaklis was one of the few Army officers that took part in the attempted Navy revolt in 1973 against the
Papadopoulos Papadopoulos ( el, Παπαδόπουλος, ; meaning "son of a priest") is the most common Greek surname. It is used in Greece, Cyprus and countries of the Greek diaspora as well, such as the USA, United Kingdom, Australia and Scandinavian countri ...
junta. After the revolt was betrayed and suppressed, he was arrested and tortured by the
Greek Military Police The Greek Military Police ( el, Ελληνική Στρατιωτική Αστυνομία), generally known in Greek by the acronym ESA ( el, ΕΣΑ), was the military police branch of the Hellenic Army in the years 1951–1974. It developed into ...
in the
torture chamber A torture chamber is a room where torture is inflicted.
s of EAT/ESA. He was arrested on 22 May 1973 and stayed at the EAT/ESA torture centre for 47 days, but despite the efforts of his interrogators, he did not betray his colleagues.Kathimerini on Moustaklis
Quote: ''In response, three images, three people today do not live longer: the heroic antisminarchos Tasos Minis, o Kostas Kappos with kratires-wounds on his body and the exaflomenos tagmatarchis Spiros Moustaklis, disabled by torture, paralyzed, without voice. Οταν όμως τον ρωτούν «αν έσπασε, αν μίλησε», κουνάει αρνητικά και με πάθος τα χέρια του. When I asked if «broke, whether spoken», negative waves and bent their hands. Αυτό το βουβό «όχι, όχι!» ήταν το πιο συγκλονιστικό κομμάτι της εκπομπής... This silent «no, no!» Was the most shocking piece of the broadcast...'' 'sic''.html"_;"title="sic.html"_;"title="'sic">'sic''">sic.html"_;"title="'sic">'sic''(Translation_by_Google)original_Greek_article

_During_a_torture_session_he_suffered_
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_During_a_torture_session_he_suffered_Traumatic_brain_injury">brain_trauma_ A_traumatic_brain_injury_(TBI),_also_known_as_an_intracranial_injury,_is_an_injury_to_the_brain_caused_by_an_external_force._TBI_can_be_classified_based_on_severity_(ranging_from_mild_traumatic_brain_injury__TBI/concussionto_severe_traumatic_br_...
_after_a_violent_blow_to_his_Common_carotid_artery.html" "title="Traumatic_brain_injury.html" "title="sic">'sic''.html" ;"title="sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''">sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''(Translation by Google)original Greek article

During a torture session he suffered Traumatic brain injury">brain trauma A traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as an intracranial injury, is an injury to the brain caused by an external force. TBI can be classified based on severity (ranging from mild traumatic brain injury TBI/concussionto severe traumatic br ...
after a violent blow to his Common carotid artery">carotid artery Carotid artery may refer to: * Common carotid artery, often "carotids" or "carotid", an artery on each side of the neck which divides into the external carotid artery and internal carotid artery * External carotid artery, an artery on each side of t ...
 and was subsequently rushed to hospital in a vegetative state. His life was saved, but he was left paralyzed for the rest of his life.Eleftherotypia on Moustaklis
Quote: ''Τον ταγματάρχη Σπύρο Μουστακλή τον έφεραν φυτό στο ΚΑΤ το 1973. Συμμετείχε στο κίνημα του Ναυτικού και συνελήφθη στις 22 Μαΐου του 1973. Κρατητήρια. ΕΑΤ-ΕΣΑ. 47 ημέρες βασανιστήρια. (In Greek) Translation: They brought Tagmatarkhis Moustaklis to the hospital in a vegetative state in 1973. He took part in the Navy mutiny and was arrested on 22 May 1973'' and: ''Από το Μάιο του 1973 έως τις 28 Απριλίου του 1986 που πέθανε δεν μίλησε ποτέ όπως όλοι οι άνθρωποι. Οι μόνες λέξεις που έβγαιναν από το στόμα του ήταν οι βρισιές που έλεγε στους βασανιστές του τις ώρες της φρίκης. Ηταν οι μόνες που έμειναν χαραγμένες στον εγκέφαλό του. Οι άλλες σβήστηκαν από τα χτυπήματα. Translation: From May 1973 to 28 April 1986 when he died he never spoke like all people do. The only words that came out of his mouth were the curses he used to tell his torturers during the hours of terror. They were the only ones that remained inscribed in his brain. The others were erased because of the beatings.'' and ''εξαιτίας του εγκεφαλικού που προκλήθηκε από βίαιο χτύπημα στην καρωτίδα. Translation: because of the
stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...
caused by a violent blow to the carotid artery''Reportage without frontiers from ET (Greek National TV)
Interview with Vice Admiral Konstantinos Dimitriadis Quote: ''The fai (editor's note:food) was filled with salt. Απειλές. Threats. Με απειλές, με τέτοια πράγματα και υβρεολόγιο. With threats, with such things and profanity. Νυχθημερόν να παίζει κάποιο ραδιόφωνο. Nychthimeron (ed note: Day and night the radio was playing) to play a radio. Ένα ραδιόφωνο με διάφορα τραγούδια εκείνης της εποχής και τα λοιπά. A radio with various songs of the time and so on. Και μαγνητόφωνα με κραυγές για να σπάσει το ηθικό, ας πούμε. And tape with cries to break the morale, say. (Editor's note: Tapes with screams to break the morale of the prisoners) Αυτά και βέβαια ορισμένοι, δεν υπέστησαν όλοι με τον ίδιο τρόπο την μείωση αυτή. Those are certainly some, not all were in the same way to reduce this. (Editor's note: Not all prisoners suffered this on the same level) Είχανε κάτι ζωστήρες. Eichane zostires something (editor's note: They had belts (for beating)). Το κορύφωμα βέβαια ήταν του Μουστακλή ο οποίος χτυπήθηκε άσχημα και βγήκε εκτός ο άνθρωπος. The culmination of the course was Moustaklis who severely beaten and got out of the man. Editor's note: The worst was Moustaklis who was beaten so badly he went mad'' 'sic''.html" ;"title="sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''">sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''Translation by Google with editor's notes for clarification)Original Greek interview
br
Archived link from the Internet Archive
/ref> Only following physiotherapy and rehabilitation for five months he was able to regain limited movement. After the metapolitefsi, fall of the junta he became close friends with another resistance hero,
Alexandros Panagoulis Alexandros Panagoulis ( el, Αλέξανδρος Παναγούλης; 2 July 1939 – 1 May 1976) was a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels (1967–1974) in Greece. He became fa ...
. The
brain damage Neurotrauma, brain damage or brain injury (BI) is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors. In general, brain damage refers to significant, undiscriminating t ...
he sustained proved to be permanent and he never regained his ability to speak.Time Magazine archives
Answering to History Quote: "Witness after witness testified that within a week of Papadopoulos' April 21, 1967, coup more than 8,000 had been arrested. Of these, 6,188 were banished into exile. Another 3,500 were subsequently sent to ESA torture centers. One prosecution witness, former Colonel Spyridon Moustaklis, 49, was unable to answer questions because brain damage caused by beatings had left him mute and semiparalyzed. Communicating by groans and gestures, glaring at the defendants, Moustaklis clumsily tore his shirt open to reveal the scars that marked his body. Said his wife: "We have a little girl who has never heard her father's voice." Verdicts on the 31 accused, which could lead to maximum sentences of 25 years, are due next month." Monday, Sep. 01, 1975 Retrieved 7 July 2008 His emotional state froze permanently to the state he was in during his torture and he was known to curse his torturers and reenact the traumatic experiences of his captivity for the rest of his life. Despite that, years after the restoration of democracy, when asked during a documentary if he broke during interrogation, he was able to move his hands, in an animated fashion, to indicate that he did not. Posthumously, the Greek State dedicated a memorial to him as recognition of his contribution to the struggle for
democracy Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose gov ...
in Greece.George Papandreou at Moustaklis' memorial
/ref> He was awarded the honorary rank of
Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
, and his name was given to the military camp housing the Recruit Training Centre of his home town of
Missolonghi Missolonghi or Messolonghi ( el, Μεσολόγγι, ) is a municipality of 34,416 people (according to the 2011 census) in western Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of Iera Polis ...
.


Orders and decorations

Greece * Order of the Phoenix * War Cross * Medal for Excellent Actions (Μετάλλιο Εξόχων Πράξεων) * Medal of Military Merit * National Resistance 1941-1945 Commemorative Medal United Nations *
United Nations Korea Medal The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (UNKM) is an international military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950 as the United Nations Service Medal. The decoration was the first international award ever created by t ...


See also

*
Michalis Vardanis Michalis Vardanis ( el, Μιχάλης Βαρδάνης; 1936 – 14 January 2014) was a Hellenic Army officer, a lawyer and a major figure in the resistance against the Regime of the Colonels. Life Michalis Vardanis was born in the village of ...


Citations and notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moustaklis, Spyros 1926 births 1986 deaths People from Missolonghi Greek democracy activists Resistance to the Greek junta Greek torture victims Hellenic Army officers Greek prisoners and detainees