Georgios Katechakis (1881 – April 22, 1939)

Georgios Katechakis (1881 – April 22, 1939)

From the village of Platanos in south-central Crete, he was a Greek fighter, Major General in the Greek Army and later a politician.

Katechakis came from a long line of Cretan fighters who had participated in the Greek Revolution and Cretan Revolts of the 19th century. Georgios Katechakis himself enrolled in the Hellenic Military Academy, graduating in 1902.

He was one of the first officers to volunteer, head to and fight for Macedonia during the outbreak of the Macedonian Struggle (1904-08).

Under the pseudonym of “Kapetan Rouvas”, he led armed bands throughout Macedonia, focusing on the areas surrounding the towns of Grevena, Kastoria and Monastiri.

In 1908, Katechakis returned to Crete, to assist in the establishment of a finally, free from Ottoman rule Crete. By the time the 1st Balkan War broke out in 1912, he had risen to the rank of Captain.

He participated in the Balkan Wars (1912-13) as leader of various Cretan volunteer corps, fighting both in Macedonia and in Epirus.

Following victory in the Balkan Wars and the liberation and union of both Epirus & Macedonia with Greece, he became Major General of the Greek Army.

He was active during WW1 and led the Greek military delegation in Constantinople, when it was brought under the control of the victors after WW1 (British, French, Italians, Greeks).

Following the Asia Minor Catastrophe (1922), Katechakis was appointed Governor-General of Thrace as a defensive means, should the Turks launch an attack.

He later would turn his hand to politics serving as a member of Parliament from Heraklion, later serving as Minister of Military Affairs and later as Governor-General of Crete.