George II file photo [675]

George II

Given NameGeorge
HouseSchleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Born20 Jul 1890
Died1 Apr 1947
CountryGreece
CategoryGovernment
GenderMale

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe son of King Constantine I was born at Tatoi, near Athens, in Greece. On 27 Sep 1922, he took the throne as King George II. In the following year, however, he was exiled by his own government while it considered the form of government for Greece's future; he was officially deposed on 25 Mar 1924 when Greece became a republic. On 3 Nov 1935, he returned to Greece as the king after a successful military coup led by General Ioannis Metaxas. When the German troops crossed Greek borders in Apr 1941, he fled to Crete, Egypt, then finally Britain. He remained the recognized head of state of Greece by the Allied powers throughout the German occupation. On 15 Jun 1942, he traveled to the United States and delivered a speech to the Congress to gather support for Greece's war effort. During his absence, however, a new leftist movement took form, gaining popularity as it resisted against German occupation. This leftist movement eventually led to the Greek Civil War that threatened the future of monarchy in Greece. On 28 Sep 1946, a national referendum restored his powers as a monarch, but he died of a heart attack less than a year after his return.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: May 2006

Photographs

Portrait of Crown Prince George of Greece in Prussian uniform, circa 1914Crown Prince George of Greece in Izmir, Ottoman Empire during the Greco-Turkish War, 1921Former Greek monarch George II and his wife Elisabeth of Romania in London, England, United Kingdom, circa 1931Metaxas, King George II, Prince Paul, and Papagos, Nov 1940
See all 10 photographs of George II

George II Timeline

20 Jul 1890 George II was born.
25 Nov 1935 King George II of Greece returned from exile and retained Georgios Kondylis as Prime Minister.
24 May 1941 King George II of Greece departed Crete, Greece for Cairo, Egypt.
22 Sep 1941 King George II of the Hellenes, with members of his family and government who have escaped from Crete, Greece arrived in England, United Kingdom.
30 Dec 1944 King George II of Greece declared a regency, leaving the throne vacant.
1 Apr 1947 George II passed away.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Athanatos Alexandros says:
19 Dec 2010 04:29:03 AM

Your site has amazing historical data, and I want to thank you for the information you provide. The reason I send this message is to correct one minor mistake, because the leader of the coup of 1935 that brought king George II back in Greece was general George Kondylis, who died later. The death of Kondylis and Eleytherios Venizelos in 1936, which were the politicians that ruled the political life in Greece, enabled general Ioannis Metaxas to become Prime Minister of Greece, and later dictator.
2. Anonymous says:
21 Aug 2016 06:31:42 AM

Was he born in 1890 or 1922? If born 1922 hardly able to wear German uniform in 1914.
3. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
21 Aug 2016 11:24:06 AM

Anonymous #2 above:
I think you are confusing the first two sentences as one sentence. I read it to say that George II was born at Tatoi near Athens and then, later, in the next sentence, he took the throne in 1922. No conflict.
4. Anonymous says:
12 Nov 2018 01:26:07 PM

My great grandad was the soldier who drove king George II to the airport from Crete. It was said to be a top secret mission. George II encouraged my great grandad to go with them to England, but he had been given orders to stay and fight. He was shot on that journey, captured by the Germans and taken to a prisoner of war camp.

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