Sofoklis Dousmanis (December 25, 1868 – January 6, 1952)

Sofoklis Dousmanis (December 25, 1868 – January 6, 1952)

From Corfu, he was a Greek naval officer who distinguished himself in the Balkan Wars (1912-13), was Chief of the Greek Navy General Staff and was also a Minister for Naval Affairs.

He entered the Hellenic Naval Academy in 1884, graduating 4 years later in 1888 as a Line Ensign. He became Sub-Lieutenant in 1890. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1896, Lt. Commander in 1905 and Commander in 1910. He would be promoted to Captain and then Rear Admiral following the Balkan Wars.

He served aboard various ships and in staff positions, including as an instructor at the Navy Academy (1908-09) and as Captain of the destroyer Nafkratousa, the ironclad Psara, the troop carrier Sfaktiria and of the newly delivered cruiser Georgios Averof, as well as chief of staff of the Exercise Squadron.

With the outbreak of the First Balkan War in October 1912, he became captain of the Averof as well as chief of staff to the Aegean Fleet commander, Rear Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis, who used the Averof as his flagship.

In this capacity he participated in the two victorious naval battles of Elli and Limnos, which liberated the Aegean from the Turks and retained it under Greek control. As well as liberating Mount Athos, Kavala and Alexandroupoli.

In 1935, he entered politics becoming Minister for Naval Affairs.