Second Hellenic Republic
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The Second Hellenic Republic (Greek: Β' Ελληνική Δημοκρατία) is the term used to describe the political regime of Greece from 1924 to 1935. It followed from the period of "crowned republic" under the monarchs of the Glücksburg dynasty, and lasted until its overthrow in a military coup d'état which restored the monarchy. The Second Republic marks the second period in modern Greek history where Greece was not headed by a king, with the assemblies and provisional governments of the Greek Revolution being regarded as the First Republic.
The Second Republic was proclaimed on 25 March 1924, in the aftermath of Greece's defeat by Turkey in the Asia Minor Campaign, which was widely blamed on the royalist government. During its brief existence, the Second Republic proved unstable. Greek society remained divided, ever since the National Schism, between the pro-Republican Venizelists and the monarchists represented by the People's Party, who for long refused to acknowledge even the legitimacy of the Republic. To this polarization was added the destabilizing involvement of the military in politics resulted in several coups and attempted coups. The economy was in ruins following a decade of warfare and unable to support the 1.5 million of refugees from the population exchange with Turkey. Despite the efforts of the reformist government of Eleftherios Venizelos in 1928-1932, the Great Depression had disastrous impact on Greece's economy. The electoral victory of the People's Party in 1933, and two failed Venizelist coups, paved the way to the restoration of King George II.
[edit] History
After the defeat of Greece by Turkey (the "Asia Minor Disaster") of 1922, the defeated army revolted against the royal government. Under Venizelist officers like Nikolaos Plastiras and Stylianos Gonatas, King Constantine I was again forced to abdicate, and died in exile in 1923. His son and successor, King George II, was soon after asked by the parliament to leave Greece so the nation could decide what form of government it should adopt, ultimately selecting a Republic. These events marked the culmination of a process that had begun in 1915 between King Constantine and his political nemesis, Eleftherios Venizelos.
The first President of the Hellenic Republic was Pavlos Kountouriotis, an Admiral and supporter of Venizelos who resigned after a coup d'etat in 1925. He was succeeded by the coup's leader General Theodoros Pangalos, who was likewise deposed by the military 5 months later after embroiling Greece in the War of the Stray Dog. Kountouriotis was reinstated and reelected to the office in 1929, but was forced to resign for health reasons later that year. He was succeeded by Alexandros Zaimis, who served until the restoration of monarchy in 1935.
Despite a period of stability and relative prosperity under the last government of Eleftherios Venizelos in 1928-1932, the effects of the Great Depression were severely felt, and political instability returned. As the prospect of the return of the monarchy became evident, Venizelist officers launched a coup in March 1935, which was suppressed by General Georgios Kondylis. On October 10, 1935, the chiefs of the Armed Forces overthrew the government of Panagis Tsaldaris, and Kondylis declared himself Regent. He abolished the Republic and staged a plebiscite on 11 November which resulted in return of the monarchy, in the person of King George II.
