Greek Cypriots Rebel for Enosis with Guerrilla Warfare against British Rule.

In 1955, Greek Cypriots launched a guerrilla war against British colonial rule, led by the National Organization of Cypriot Fighters, or EOKA, with the ultimate goal of achieving Enosis—the union of Cyprus with Greece. This marked the beginning of a violent and turbulent chapter in Cypriot history, as tensions between Greek Cypriots, British authorities, and the Turkish Cypriot minority escalated. The roots of this conflict can be traced back to the long-standing desire of many Greek Cypriots to unite with Greece, a sentiment that had been building since the late 19th century. By the mid-20th century, the demand for Enosis became a unifying political cause for Greek Cypriots. The island of Cyprus had been a British colony since 1878, and following World War II, many Greek Cypriots grew increasingly impatient with British rule, particularly as other colonies across the world were gaining independence. Diplomatic attempts to negotiate Enosis had failed, and frustration with the British refusal to allow a plebiscite on the island’s future led to the decision to pursue armed struggle. On April 1, 1955, EOKA, under the leadership of Colonel Georgios Grivas, launched its first coordinated attacks against British military and police installations. These bombings were intended to demonstrate the beginning of a broad-based insurgency. Grivas, a fervent nationalist, believed that guerrilla warfare was the only way to force the British out of Cyprus and achieve Enosis. He and EOKA fighters, supported by segments of the Greek Cypriot population, carried out sabotage, ambushes, and targeted assassinations in the cities and mountains of Cyprus. The British administration, under Governor Sir John Harding, responded swiftly by imposing martial law, implementing curfews, and deploying large numbers of troops to crush the rebellion. A state of emergency was declared, and counter-insurgency measures were put in place, including mass arrests, detentions without trial, and the use of auxiliary police forces. Many of these auxiliary forces were composed of Turkish Cypriots, who opposed Enosis and feared the consequences of Cyprus becoming part of Greece. The recruitment of Turkish Cypriots into British forces deepened the ethnic divide between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island. While EOKA's campaign was primarily targeted at the British, the conflict soon exacerbated tensions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots, who made up about 18% of the population, began advocating for Taksim, or partition, fearing they would become second-class citizens in a Greek-dominated Cyprus. As violence increased, intercommunal clashes also became more frequent, adding a new layer of complexity to the struggle. The political and religious leader of the Greek Cypriots, Archbishop Makarios III, played a central role in the movement for Enosis. Although initially advocating for a diplomatic solution, he eventually became associated with the EOKA campaign. His involvement led to his exile to the Seychelles by the British in 1956, further inflaming Greek Cypriot nationalism. The guerrilla war waged by EOKA lasted until 1959, leaving hundreds dead and the island deeply polarized. The Zurich-London Agreements were signed in 1959, which created the independent Republic of Cyprus in 1960. Under the agreements, Cyprus would not be united with Greece, but would remain an independent republic with a complex power-sharing arrangement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Britain, Greece, and Turkey would serve as guarantors of this new republic. While the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus ended British colonial rule, the underlying tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots were not resolved. The violence and political instability during the EOKA campaign laid the groundwork for further conflict in the years to come, culminating in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the subsequent division of the island, which remains unresolved to this day. The EOKA guerrilla war in 1955 was a defining moment for Cyprus, as it set the course for both the island’s independence and the intercommunal strife that has continued to shape its history. #EOKA #CyprusConflict #Enosis #GeorgiosGrivas #ArchbishopMakarios #BritishColonialism #CyprusHistory #Taksim #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife