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EOKA-B or Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston B (EOKA B /eɪˈoʊkə/; Greek: Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών, lit. 'National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters') was a Greek Cypriot paramilitary organisation formed in 1971 by General Georgios Grivas. It followed an ultra right-wing nationalistic ideology and had the ultimate goal of achieving the enosis (union) of Cyprus with Greece. During its short history, the organisation's chief aim was to block any attempt to enforce upon the Cyprus people what the organisation considered to be an unacceptable settlement to the Cyprus issue. In addition, the organisation drafted various plans to overthrow President Makarios. The organisation continued its activities until it officially declared its dissolution and disbanded on 11 February 1978.[1]

Key Information

Due to its attacks on civilians (Post Grivas), it was considered a criminal organization and was outlawed by the Republic of Cyprus after the death of George Grivas.[2] Among the attacks it is responsible for is the Maratha, Santalaris and Aloda massacre. EOKA-B members were arrested for the kidnapping of the son of president Spyros Kyprianou[3] and for being involved in the assassination of US ambassador Rodger Paul Davies.[4][5] Homicide charges were dropped on 4 June 1977 by a Cypriot court against the two men accused of killing the ambassador.[6] According to the Washington Post's 1970s Cyprus correspondent, Joseph W. Fitchett, EOKA-B members were "motivated by a mixture of patriotism, money and macho".[7]

Formation

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EOKA-B was founded by General George Grivas as his last organizational attempt before his death on 17 January 1974. Grivas, a stridently anti-communist military leader during the Greek Civil War, was among the founders of EOKA in the early 1950s. After the declaration of independent Cyprus state he took over the Supreme Command of the Greek Cypriot forces organised under the National Guard as well as the Greek military division in early 1960s. Following Turkey's ultimatum of November 1967 he was recalled by the Greek junta to Athens, only to return under cover in 1971.[8]

After Grivas returned to Cyprus in 1971, he created EOKA-B in response to President Archbishop Makarios' deviation from the policy of enosis in 1959 and the reaffirmation of this position during his re-election in 1968. Grivas, along with his new EOKA-B organisation, attempted to forcefully oust Makarios in order to enact his original goal of enosis with Greece.

Whereas EOKA (1955–1959) were seen by the majority of the Greek Cypriots as anti-colonialist freedom fighters, the EOKA-B did not have the overwhelming support of the Greek Cypriot population, as Makarios had called an election after a failed assassination attempt on him and his coalition won 27 out of the 35 seats.[9] The main supporters of EOKA B were pro-enosis supporters who won 7 seats in the previous election, old EOKA fighters who felt they never received the recognition that they deserved after the revolt, right wing military personnel and some pro-enosis elements of the Church of Cyprus.[9] The only armed, organized resistance to EOKA-B came from the Army Reserve, "Efedriko", a special police force set up by Makarios and the members of the Socialist Party EDEK as well as armed supporters of Makarios in every town. The Communist Party AKEL, despite the mild verbal opposition to EOKA-B, had not organized any form of resistance against it.

Coup d'etat and Turkish invasion

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When Grivas Digenis died from heart failure on 27 January 1974, the post-Grivas EOKA-B increasingly came under the direct control and influence of the military junta in Athens. EOKA-B was on the verge of dissolution by July 1974. Yet on 15 July 1974 the Greek dictator Dimitrios Ioannides used the National Guard which was led by Greek officers and consisted of Greek-Cypriot conscripts, and EOKA-B to launch a military coup. EOKA-B attempted to assassinate Makarios but failed, and he fled to London.[10] Nikos Sampson was installed as the new president of Cyprus.[11]

This action provoked a Turkish invasion of Cyprus on 20 July 1974,[11] leading to the subsequent de facto division of the island. Ioannides was taken by surprise by the Turkish invasion and failed to convince or coerce the Greek generals to send military reinforcements to Cyprus. The subsequent toppling of the Greek junta led to Sampson's resignation on 23 July 1974.

On 14 August 1974, Turkey mounted an illegal second invasion into Cyprus. By the end of hostilities, about 180,000 Greek Cypriots (almost one third of the population), were forcibly uprooted from their homes and properties, while 80,000 Turkish Cypriots were forced north.[12] Thousands more were killed or listed as missing.[13]

Atrocities on 14 August 1974

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On 14 August, during the invasion, EOKA-B committed massacres and crimes against Turkish-Cypriots in Maratha, Santalaris, Aloda, Tochni and Kiti. They massacred 84 Turkish-Cypriot men and boys from the village of Tochni, leaving one survivor.[14] 126 were killed in the villages of Maratha, Santalaris and Aloda.[15]

Later testimony

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On 17 April 1991, Ambassador Nelson Ledsky testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee that "most of the 'missing persons' disappeared in the first days of July 1974, before the Turkish invasion on the 20th. Many killed on the Greek side were killed by Greek Cypriots in fighting between supporters of Makarios and Sampson."[16]

See also

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References

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EOKA B

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EOKA B (Greek: Εθνική Οργάνωσις Κυπρίων Αγωνιστών Β, Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston B) was a Greek Cypriot paramilitary organization founded clandestinely in 1971 by General Georgios Grivas, leader of the original EOKA during the 1950s anti-British insurgency, with the explicit goal of achieving enosis—the unification of Cyprus with Greece—through armed struggle against the post-independence Republic of Cyprus. Opposing President Archbishop Makarios III's policy of pragmatic independence over enosis, which Grivas and his supporters viewed as a betrayal of Greek Cypriot nationalist aspirations, the group drew from former EOKA veterans and right-wing elements disillusioned with the 1960 Zurich-London agreements that established a consociational state with power-sharing between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. From its inception, EOKA B conducted a sustained campaign of guerrilla tactics, including bombings, assassinations, and intimidation targeting Makarios loyalists, state security forces, left-wing political opponents, and Turkish Cypriot communities perceived as barriers to . Makarios outlawed the in April 1974 amid escalating violence, but EOKA B played a pivotal role in the July 15, 1974, backed by the Greek , which ousted Makarios and briefly installed hardline advocate as president. This action, intended to force , instead triggered Turkey's military intervention on July 20, 1974, leading to the island's de facto partition, mass displacement, and the collapse of EOKA B following Grivas's death earlier that year; the group's activities intensified intercommunal conflict and contributed causally to the failure of while exacerbating ethnic divisions that persist today.

Historical Background

Roots in Original EOKA and Post-Independence Tensions

EOKA B drew its ideological foundation and personnel from the original , a Greek Cypriot guerrilla group established by Lieutenant-General in early 1955 to achieve through armed resistance against British rule, including ambushes, sabotage, and assassinations that claimed over 500 British lives and numerous Cypriot collaborators. The organization's campaign, which began with coordinated attacks on 1 April 1955, concluded with a in March 1959 after international pressure forced Britain to negotiate. Cyprus transitioned to on 16 August 1960 under the 1959 and Agreements, which created a bi-communal with power-sharing mechanisms—such as , veto rights for on key issues, and separate municipalities—while treaty provisions by , , and Britain explicitly barred enosis or partition to safeguard minority interests. Hardline enosists, led by Grivas, condemned the accords as a dilution of EOKA's objectives, arguing they entrenched Turkish Cypriot influence at the expense of Greek Cypriot and union with . Constitutional strains emerged rapidly, as President Makarios III's 13-point proposal on 30 November 1963 sought to eliminate Turkish Cypriot vetoes, separate majorities in the and military, and other protections, prompting immediate rejection and igniting intercommunal violence from 21 December 1963—"Bloody Christmas"—that killed at least 364 people, mostly , and confined over 20,000 to enclaves defended by irregular forces. Grivas re-entered Cyprus in June 1964 to lead the , reorganizing it for offensive actions against to advance , but his autonomy and escalatory tactics—contrasting Makarios' diplomatic overtures—fueled disputes over command and policy, culminating in Grivas' enforced departure to on 19 November 1967 to defuse a near-war crisis between and . By the late , Makarios' pivot toward pragmatic , non-alignment, and resistance to Greek influence—coupled with failed constitutional revisions and perceived concessions in UN-mediated talks—alienated enosist veterans and nationalists, who saw his governance as perpetuating a flawed status quo vulnerable to Turkish leverage; this discontent directly spurred Grivas' covert 1971 return to resurrect as EOKA B, framing it as a bulwark against "betrayal" and a means to compel amid eroding faith in political channels.

Intercommunal Violence in the 1960s

Following the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 under a power-sharing constitution agreed in the Zurich and London treaties, intercommunal tensions persisted due to disagreements over its implementation, particularly regarding Turkish Cypriot veto rights and separate municipal administration. On November 30, 1963, President Archbishop Makarios III issued a proposal for thirteen constitutional amendments, seeking to abolish separate Turkish Cypriot municipalities, reduce veto powers on key issues, and integrate security forces, measures viewed by Turkish Cypriots as undermining their communal safeguards. Turkish Cypriot leadership rejected the proposals, heightening mistrust amid underlying Greek Cypriot aspirations for enosis (union with Greece) and Turkish Cypriot fears of marginalization. Violence ignited on December 21, 1963, in —termed "Bloody Christmas" by —when Greek Cypriot policemen shot and killed two during an identity verification at a roadblock, prompting retaliatory clashes that escalated into widespread attacks on areas. Greek Cypriot irregular forces, comprising former fighters and organized under secretive structures like the Akritas group, conducted offensive operations, including ambushes and assaults on Turkish enclaves, as part of a strategy outlined in the Akritas plan to assert control and advance objectives. , initially outnumbered, established defensive positions and formed the TMT for protection. The initial wave of fighting from December 1963 to early 1964 resulted in heavy casualties, with estimates of 364 and 174 Greek Cypriots killed by August 1964, alongside the displacement of approximately 25,000 into fortified enclaves comprising less than 3% of the island's territory. These figures remain contested, with Turkish sources citing higher losses exceeding 500, reflecting differing accounts of the violence's asymmetry. In response to the crisis, Turkish Cypriots withdrew from joint government institutions in December 1963, effectively collapsing the constitutional order and leading to Greek Cypriot unilateral control of the state apparatus. The United Nations Security Council authorized the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on March 4, 1964, deploying over 6,000 troops to monitor ceasefires, protect minorities, and facilitate resupply to enclaves, though intermittent clashes persisted through the decade. Sporadic incidents, such as the 1967 Kofinou crisis where Greek Cypriot National Guard units clashed with Turkish Cypriot forces, underscored ongoing divisions, with Turkey mobilizing troops along its border in response. This era of intercommunal strife, marked by one-sided Greek Cypriot offensives followed by Turkish Cypriot self-defense, entrenched segregation and fueled radicalization on both sides, setting the stage for further escalation in the 1970s.

Formation and Organization

Secret Revival by Grivas in 1971

, the former commander of the original during the 1955–1959 campaign against British rule, grew increasingly disillusioned with President Makarios III's governance, which he viewed as a betrayal of —the union of with —following the 1960 independence agreements that preserved Cypriot sovereignty instead. After serving briefly as head of the in 1964–1967 and being recalled to , Grivas planned a return to reignite armed resistance but faced opposition from Cypriot authorities who uncovered his intentions. On 31 August 1971, Grivas secretly reentered , evading detection by Cypriot and operating from hidden locations to avoid Makarios' , which controlled the island's official institutions. Using the Digenis Akritas—the same alias from the original struggle—he immediately began recruiting a clandestine network of loyalists, including veterans of the 1950s insurgency, sympathetic officers from the , and right-wing nationalists opposed to Makarios' pragmatic diplomacy with and the international community. This underground revival drew on residual fervor among , framing Makarios as an obstacle to national unification under Greek auspices. The formation of EOKA B emerged directly from these efforts, establishing a paramilitary structure modeled on the original but adapted to target perceived internal enemies rather than colonial forces, with initial activities focused on stockpiling arms, , and low-level to pressure Makarios toward or removal. Grivas' secrecy was essential, as public acknowledgment would have invited immediate arrest or suppression by the , which remained under government control; his presence was rumored but unconfirmed until later leaks, allowing the group to consolidate before escalating operations. By late 1971, EOKA B had begun issuing anonymous leaflets and conducting , signaling the revival's operational launch while maintaining deniability.

Structure, Recruitment, and External Support

EOKA B functioned as a clandestine network, organized into armed underground cells distributed across various regions of to enable guerrilla-style operations while reducing vulnerability to detection. This cellular structure was complemented by a military-style chain of command, shaped by General Georgios Grivas's experience as its founder and supreme leader from its inception in 1971 until his death on , 1974. Regional branches, such as the Paphos unit under Andonis Kalogirou, handled localized activities, while the military arm was directed by figures like Stavros Stavrou until his arrest in 1973. After Grivas's passing, George Karousos assumed overall leadership, maintaining the group's operational cohesion amid escalating tensions. Recruitment occurred covertly among Greek Cypriot nationalists, prioritizing individuals with military backgrounds such as reserve officers and those disillusioned with President Makarios III's rejection of . The process emphasized ideological alignment with unionist goals, drawing from anti-Makarios elements, former veterans, and youth sympathetic to Grivas's calls for . Active membership estimates varied between 500 and 700 armed operatives, bolstered by a broader support base of 2,000 to 4,000 sympathizers who provided , , or safe houses. Arms procurement supplemented recruitment efforts through raids on , yielding handguns, automatic weapons, and explosives like for bombings. The provided critical external backing, dispatching Grivas to in late 1971 to revive the organization and coordinating support via Greek officers stationed in the . This included unverified allegations of arms diversion from Guard stocks to EOKA B cells, alongside rumored financial aid potentially exceeding $1 million channeled through Greek government sympathies or Cypriot diaspora networks. Some operatives reportedly received training abroad, including in alongside Palestinian groups, further extending the junta's indirect influence until the 1974 coup planning phase.

Ideology and Goals

Pursuit of Enosis and Anti-Makarios Stance

EOKA B's core ideology revolved around the pursuit of , the political union of Cyprus with , which the group viewed as the legitimate expression of Greek Cypriot national and the unfinished goal of the original 's anti-colonial struggle. Founded clandestinely by in November 1971, the organization rejected the 1960 Zurich and agreements establishing Cypriot independence as a betrayal of this aspiration, arguing that independence perpetuated division rather than resolution. Grivas positioned EOKA B as a militant force to revive armed resistance, emphasizing that only through enosis could Cyprus achieve true sovereignty aligned with its ethnic Greek majority. The group's anti-Makarios stance stemmed from accusations that President Archbishop had abandoned in favor of a pragmatic policy of , which included tolerating communist influence via the AKEL and seeking accommodations with . By the late , Makarios' post-1968 shift toward without union was seen by enosists as a capitulation that undermined Greek Cypriot interests and exposed the island to external manipulations. EOKA B members proclaimed their intent to "complete the job of ," targeting Makarios as an obstacle who, alongside perceived communist allies, had forsaken the union objective. Grivas explicitly sought to coerce Makarios into adopting a platform of leading to or to depose him, viewing his resistance to directives as further evidence of disloyalty. On 17 January 1972, Grivas appealed to British authorities for support in ousting Makarios, contending that the president's policies jeopardized Western strategic interests in the . This opposition manifested in and operations aimed at destabilizing Makarios' government, including attacks on his supporters starting in March 1973, as part of a broader campaign to realign with .

Relations with Greek Junta and Internal Greek Cypriot Divisions

EOKA B was established in 1971 under the direction of General Georgios Grivas, who returned to Cyprus covertly with the backing of the Greek military junta ruling Athens since 1967, aiming to revive the enosis movement against President Makarios III's policies of pragmatic independence. The junta provided logistical, financial, and personnel support, including the assignment of Greek officers to the Cypriot National Guard to facilitate EOKA B's operations, viewing Makarios as an obstacle to Hellenic unification due to his rejection of immediate enosis and outreach to Turkish Cypriots. This collaboration intensified after Grivas's death from a heart attack on January 27, 1974, when junta leader Dimitrios Ioannides sought direct control over the group, channeling resources through Athens to sustain its campaign of sabotage, assassinations, and propaganda against perceived traitors. The relationship culminated in joint planning for the July 15, 1974, , where EOKA B militants, augmented by junta-loyal units, overthrew Makarios and installed , a hardline enosist, as president; this action reflected the junta's strategic extension of its authoritarian influence to , prioritizing territorial union over stable governance. However, the junta's support was not unconditional; internal Greek regime shifts, such as the 1973 transition to a "small junta" under Ioannides, occasionally strained coordination, yet EOKA B remained dependent on for arms and directives, lacking independent capacity for large-scale action. Within the Greek Cypriot community, EOKA B exacerbated preexisting ideological rifts, polarizing supporters of —who aligned with right-wing nationalists and viewed the group as defenders of Hellenic purity—against Makarios loyalists, moderates, and the leftist AKEL party, which advocated Cypriot independence and condemned EOKA B as a tool of foreign dictation. Makarios formally banned EOKA B on , 1974, following assassinations of his allies and attacks on state institutions, framing it as a terrorist threat undermining national ; this decree deepened divisions, as EOKA B retaliated by labeling the government "traitorous" and targeting leftists, clergy, and civilians suspected of disloyalty, fostering a climate of intimidation that alienated broader segments of the population. The group's narrow base, confined to ultranationalist circles and reliant on junta patronage rather than mass mobilization, highlighted these fractures, with many prioritizing economic stability and intercommunal over revivalist violence, a that persisted into the coup's chaotic aftermath.

Pre-Coup Activities (1971-1974)

Clandestine Operations and Propaganda

EOKA B's clandestine operations began shortly after General ' covert return to in November 1971, where he reestablished the group as a of small, autonomous units to minimize infiltration risks and coordinate sabotage against the Makarios administration. These cells, drawn from disaffected Greek Cypriot nationalists, elements, and veterans of the original , focused on low-intensity guerrilla tactics including arms smuggling from and improvised explosive devices sourced locally or via junta-supplied channels. The operations aimed to destabilize the by targeting symbols of , with Grivas directing actions from hidden bases to enforce operational . By early 1973, EOKA B escalated its campaign, detonating bombs at 17 Cypriot National Police stations on February 7 as a coordinated strike to erode capabilities and signal widespread support for . This period saw over 100 documented explosive incidents in the first half of 1973 alone, including attacks on government offices, power infrastructure, and vehicles associated with Makarios loyalists, which collectively aimed to create a climate of insecurity and force political concessions. Assassination attempts on Makarios occurred repeatedly, such as rigged explosives and ambushes in 1972 and 1973, though all failed due to security measures; these were complemented by shootings against his supporters, like the June 16, , killing of a pro-Makarios farmers' union official and wounding of two others. Operations extended to and leftist Greek Cypriot figures, with bombings and raids intended to suppress perceived threats to ethnic unification, resulting in civilian casualties that heightened intercommunal tensions. Propaganda efforts paralleled these operations, leveraging Grivas' proclamations—disseminated via handwritten leaflets, wall posters, and couriers—to claim responsibility for attacks, vilify Makarios as a communist sympathizer obstructing , and rally Greek Cypriot youth to the cause. These materials emphasized first-principles loyalty to Hellenic identity and accused the president of betraying the 1950s struggle, drawing on original rhetoric adapted to post-independence grievances. External amplification came through Greek junta-controlled media, including Athens Radio broadcasts that framed EOKA B actions as patriotic resistance, thereby sustaining morale and recruitment despite government and proscription threats in April 1974. This dual approach of and messaging sought to manufacture consent for escalation toward coup, though it alienated moderates and invited reprisals.

Attacks on Turkish Cypriots and Political Opponents

EOKA B, operating clandestinely from 1971 to 1974, directed violence primarily against Greek Cypriot political opponents who favored independence over or supported President , viewing them as betrayers of the national cause. The organization assassinated individuals associated with leftist parties like AKEL, labeling them "traitors" for opposing union with . A documented case occurred on July 1, 1973, when 17-year-old AKEL supporter Kyriakos Papalazarou was murdered by EOKA B militants in a aimed at suppressing pro-Makarios elements. Similar attacks included bombings of pro-government newspapers, police stations, and leftist offices, escalating internal divisions within the Greek Cypriot community. The group also attempted to eliminate Makarios directly, with multiple failed plots, including one in 1972 that involved explosives and prompted heightened security measures and elections where Makarios's secured a strong mandate. These actions were part of a broader strategy to destabilize the government and pave the way for a pro-enosis , often involving letter bombs, drive-by shootings, and against perceived collaborators. Regarding , B's activities contributed to heightened intercommunal tensions through sporadic attacks on enclaves and infrastructure, intended to intimidate the minority community and portray them as barriers to . Turkish Cypriot accounts document bombings and armed incidents in mixed areas during this period, though specific pre-coup attributions to B are often intertwined with broader Greek Cypriot actions. Such violence aimed to provoke responses that could justify escalation, aligning with Grivas's directives to undermine the status quo of the 1960 constitution. However, the scale of direct confrontations with remained lower than internal political targeting until the 1974 events, reflecting B's primary focus on consolidating Greek Cypriot support for .

Role in the 1974 Coup d'état

Planning and Collaboration with Greek Military Junta


Following the death of Georgios Grivas on January 27, 1974, the Greek military junta, led by Dimitrios Ioannides after his November 25, 1973, seizure of power, initiated a campaign to assume control of EOKA B, Grivas's pro-enosis paramilitary organization, to facilitate operations against President Makarios III. This collaboration was evidenced by the junta's provision of support for EOKA B's activities, including arms and coordination through Greek officers embedded in the Cypriot National Guard, amid escalating tensions over Makarios's efforts to reduce Greek military influence on the island. Nikos Sampson, who succeeded Grivas as EOKA B leader, aligned the group with junta directives, positioning it as a key operational arm for the impending overthrow. Coup planning formalized in June 1974 under Ioannides's direction, with integrating into strategies developed alongside commanders, culminating in the "Aphrodite Three" operational plan by early July. The junta's mid-May to mid-June assessments emphasized rapid execution, leveraging approximately 9,000 troops and 1,000 Greek officers, supplemented by 's paramilitary networks for ground-level enforcement and potential arms diversion to dissidents. This coordination aimed to install a pro-enosis regime, with Sampson designated as the post-coup figurehead, reflecting the junta's view of him as a controllable hardliner committed to union with . The collaborative framework relied on the National Guard's Greek-officered structure for military execution, while provided ideological mobilization and auxiliary forces, though the group lacked independent capacity for the full operation without junta backing. Ioannides's unilateral decisions, informed by long-standing aspirations and anti-Makarios sentiment—exacerbated by Makarios's July 2, 1974, letter rejecting Greek oversight—ensured EOKA B's subsumption into junta command, setting the stage for the July 15 assault on government institutions.

Execution on July 15, 1974, and Installation of Nikos Sampson

On July 15, 1974, units of the , directed by officers loyal to the Greek military junta and supported by EOKA B militants, initiated the by assaulting the Presidential Palace in at approximately 8:20 a.m. The attackers deployed tanks and infantry, engaging in heavy fighting with presidential guards, during which President Archbishop escaped via after his , 19-year-old Haralambos Mouskos, delayed the assailants. Cyprus Radio soon broadcast false reports of Makarios's death and the establishment of a new regime, while coup forces secured key government buildings, the international airport at , and other strategic sites across the island. EOKA B members actively participated in the operations, targeting perceived opponents of and suppressing resistance from Makarios loyalists, contributing to the coup's violent character. The clashes resulted in several hundred deaths, primarily among Greek Cypriot supporters of the ousted government and security personnel. By midday, the coup leaders had consolidated control in and proclaimed the "Hellenic Republic of Cyprus," signaling the intent to pursue union with . Nikos Sampson, a journalist, former EOKA combatant from the 1950s struggle, and vocal advocate for aligned with EOKA B's objectives, was installed as provisional president later that day. His selection by the junta-backed plotters, including deputy coup leader Colonel Konstantinos Kombokis, reflected the aim to legitimize the regime with a figure of nationalist credentials amid internal Greek Cypriot divisions. Sampson's brief presidency, lasting until his resignation on July 23, 1974, symbolized the coup's pro-junta and orientation before the ensuing Turkish military response.

Involvement in the Turkish Invasion

Military Response to Turkish Landings on July 20, 1974

The , heavily influenced by EOKA B following the coup, responded to the Turkish amphibious landings at Pentemili near on July 20, 1974, with immediate artillery fire and small-scale counterattacks aimed at repelling the initial 6,000 Turkish troops and 40 tanks. EOKA B irregulars, numbering around 5,000 members with limited firearms, supplemented regular forces in defensive positions along the northern coast, though their integration into organized resistance was hampered by the recent leadership upheaval and absence of air cover. Turkish drops inland and naval gunfire support overwhelmed these efforts, securing the by July 22 despite Greek Cypriot shelling that inflicted initial casualties on advancing units. Further Greek Cypriot attempts to contain the incursion focused on blocking Turkish advances along the Kyrenia-Nicosia road at Geunyeli, where units, including EOKA B-aligned militias, engaged in skirmishes but failed to halt the momentum due to superior Turkish armor and air strikes. EOKA B urged total mobilization against the "Turkish aggressors," framing the invasion as a defense of , yet operational disarray—exacerbated by the coup's purge of Makarios loyalists—limited coordinated action, resulting in the rapid loss of 3% of Cypriot territory by the first ceasefire on July 22. Casualties in these initial clashes were not systematically documented, but Greek Cypriot forces suffered disproportionately from the lack of reinforcements from mainland , which withdrew support amid the junta's collapse.

Specific Atrocities and Civilian Targeting in August 1974

In the second phase of the Turkish invasion, commencing on August 14, 1974, EOKA B fighters, alongside elements of the , conducted targeted assaults on Turkish Cypriot villages in the to liquidate civilian populations ahead of advancing Turkish forces. These operations exemplified deliberate civilian targeting, with perpetrators herding residents—predominantly women, children, and the elderly—into confined spaces before executing them en masse through gunfire and arson. The assaults resulted in the near-total depopulation of affected enclaves, which were subsequently looted and razed. The Maratha, Santalaris, and Aloda massacres, occurring on , 1974, claimed 126 Turkish Cypriot lives across the three villages. In Maratha, 86 civilians were killed after being gathered and shot or burned alive; Santalaris saw 31 victims similarly executed; and Aloda recorded 9 deaths under comparable brutality. EOKA B units, motivated by orders to eliminate Turkish Cypriot holdouts, justified the actions as preemptive measures against potential collaboration with invaders, though the victims included no combatants. These events drew international condemnation, including from observers who documented the systematic nature of the killings. Concurrently, the Tochni massacre on August 14, 1974, involved EOKA B forces detaining and executing 84 Turkish Cypriot men from the village, who were marched to a and shot, with bodies later bulldozed into mass graves. Survivors recounted prisoners being selected for elimination to terrorize the community, reflecting EOKA B's strategy of collective punishment against perceived as threats to objectives. Additional incidents included the killing of at least 11 Turkish Cypriot children on August 11, 1974, in an EOKA B operation aimed at suppressing civilian resistance in southern enclaves. These atrocities contributed to an estimated several hundred Turkish Cypriot civilian deaths in August alone, exacerbating intercommunal displacement amid the invasion's chaos.

Dissolution and Immediate Aftermath

Death of Grivas and Leadership Vacuum

, the founder and supreme commander of EOKA B, died of on January 27, 1974, while in hiding at a safehouse in . His death at age 76 occurred amid escalating tensions between EOKA B and Cypriot President , who had publicly denounced the group as a threat to the republic's stability. Grivas' passing triggered an immediate within EOKA B, as no single figure possessed his military prestige or ability to unify the organization's disparate guerrilla cells and ideological factions. Internal power struggles ensued, with figures like Major Karousos briefly assuming interim roles, but lacking Grivas' authority, they failed to consolidate control or moderate the group's militant agenda. This disarray weakened EOKA B's operational cohesion, evidenced by fragmented command structures that relied increasingly on arms shipments and directives from rather than local initiative. The vacuum facilitated direct oversight by Greece's , particularly under Brigadier , who assumed de facto leadership influence over EOKA B activities following his consolidation of power in in November 1973. Ioannidis, head of the junta's and a hardline advocate, redirected the group toward coordinated sabotage and anti-Makarios operations, bypassing Cyprus-based commanders. This externalization intensified EOKA B's alignment with junta objectives, including preparations for a coup, but eroded its indigenous support base amid growing Cypriot fears of foreign manipulation. By April 1974, the leadership disorganization contributed to Makarios' formal proscription of as an illegal entity, prompting arrests of mid-level operatives and further splintering the group. Despite this, junta-backed elements persisted in low-level attacks, sustaining pressure until the coup, though the absence of Grivas' strategic oversight left vulnerable to infiltration and operational errors. The vacuum ultimately hastened the organization's marginalization, as Cypriot nationalists increasingly viewed it as a proxy for Athenian adventurism rather than a genuine liberation force.

Collapse of Coup Regime and Outlawing by Cyprus Government

The coup regime established on July 15, 1974, under President rapidly unraveled in the wake of Turkey's military intervention beginning July 20, 1974. Turkish forces secured beachheads and advanced southward, overwhelming disorganized Greek Cypriot defenses and exposing the regime's military vulnerabilities. The loss of direct support from the Greek , which collapsed on July 23, 1974, amid domestic unrest in , further undermined the coup leaders. Sampson resigned the presidency on July 23, 1974, transferring authority to Glafkos Clerides, president of the , who assumed the role of to coordinate cease-fire efforts and international negotiations. Clerides' interim administration prioritized stabilizing the southern-controlled areas and averting total collapse amid the second phase of the Turkish offensive from August 14 to 16, 1974, which resulted in the capture of additional territory and the displacement of over 160,000 . The disintegration of the Sampson regime effectively dismantled EOKA B's hold on power, as the organization had provided the paramilitary backbone for the coup alongside elements of the . With unattainable and its leadership discredited, EOKA B fragmented, its armed units either absorbed into defensive efforts against or neutralized through internal disarray. The government, operating under Clerides and later reinforced by Archbishop Makarios' return from exile on December 7, 1974, classified EOKA B activities as criminal, building on prior restrictions and initiating prosecutions against key figures like for and coup-related offenses. was convicted in 1976 and initially sentenced to death, later commuted, reflecting the government's resolve to delegitimize the group. While isolated EOKA B-linked violence persisted sporadically into the late 1970s, the organization's structured operations ceased, supplanted by the imperatives of postwar reconstruction and bi-communal tensions.

Legacy and Controversies

Contribution to Cyprus Partition and Long-Term Division

EOKA B's collaboration with the Greek in executing the on July 15, 1974, against President Archbishop fundamentally altered 's trajectory toward partition by creating the immediate for Turkish military action. The organization provided paramilitary support through the , which it had infiltrated, to overthrow Makarios—viewed by EOKA B as an obstacle to (union with Greece)—and install Nikos , a former EOKA fighter and hardline enosist, as interim president. Sampson's regime signaled explicit intent to pursue enosis, violating the 1960 Zurich-London agreements that established Cyprus's independence and guaranteed the Turkish Cypriot community's security, thereby invoking Turkey's rights under Article IV of the Treaty of Guarantee to intervene militarily. This sequence directly precipitated Turkey's "Peace Operation," with landings commencing on July 20, 1974, initially securing a narrow northern before expanding to control roughly 3% of the island; a second phase in late July and August 1974, amid failed talks, extended Turkish-held territory to approximately 37% of Cyprus's land area. The resultant de facto partition, formalized along the Attila Line (later the UN Green Line), displaced over 200,000 from the north and consolidated around 60,000 into southern enclaves or northern areas, marking the largest in Europe since . EOKA B's prior campaign of violence from 1971 onward, including attacks on Turkish Cypriot villages and moderate Greek Cypriots, had already heightened intercommunal tensions, but the coup's collapse of constitutional order enabled Turkish advances with minimal organized Greek Cypriot resistance, as EOKA B-aligned forces focused inward rather than defending against external threats. In the long term, this division—patrolled by the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) since its 1964 inception and expanded post-1974—has entrenched ethnic segregation, with the north's Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (declared November 15, 1983) receiving international recognition solely from . Reunification initiatives, including the UN's 2004 proposing a bizonal federation, collapsed due to Greek Cypriot rejection (76% against), perpetuating economic isolation in the north, unresolved missing persons cases (estimated 1,500-2,000 from 1974 events), and property disputes affecting hundreds of thousands. While intercommunal fatalities have plummeted to fewer than 20 since 1974, reflecting a mitigated through physical separation, EOKA B's actions solidified irreconcilable nationalisms, perverting earlier aspirations into a that prioritizes communal vetoes over integrated governance.

Diverse Viewpoints: Nationalist Heroism vs. Terrorism and War Crimes

Greek Cypriot nationalists portray EOKA B as heroic patriots extending the legacy of the original EOKA's anti-colonial resistance, dedicated to achieving (union with ) against perceived betrayals of Hellenic aspirations by figures like Archbishop Makarios, whom they accused of compromising with Turkish Cypriot demands for bi-zonality. Fighters are commemorated in nationalist narratives for their armed struggle to preserve Greek Cypriot identity and resist communist influences allegedly embedded in Makarios's policies, with Grivas's return in 1971 framed as a revival of national resolve. In contrast, Turkish Cypriot perspectives unequivocally classify EOKA B as a fascist terrorist entity, citing its campaign of bombings, assassinations, and ethnic targeting from 1971 onward, which intensified intercommunal violence and culminated in atrocities like the August 14, 1974, massacres in Maratha, Santalaris, and Aloda, where 126 Turkish Cypriot civilians—including women and children—were systematically killed by EOKA B militants. These acts are described as state-orchestrated terror rather than rogue violence, with former Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis acknowledging EOKA B's unpunished role in the schoolchildren killings, underscoring demands for recognition of war crimes. Even within Greek Cypriot society, divisions persist: left-wing groups like AKEL denounce EOKA B's 1974 coup against as ultra-nationalist treason that invited Turkish intervention, lacking the broad legitimacy of EOKA's 1950s campaign and instead representing junta-backed extremism. International assessments frequently align with terrorism designations, viewing EOKA B's tactics—such as civilian-targeted violence, kidnappings, and collaboration with Greece's —as deviations from legitimate into deliberate provocation of conflict, with U.S. intelligence documents from the era labeling it a undermining Cyprus's stability. This framing emphasizes causal links between EOKA B's actions and the ensuing partition, prioritizing empirical records of civilian casualties over nationalist .

Empirical Assessments of Casualties and International Perspectives

Empirical assessments of casualties attributed to EOKA B during its active period from 1971 to 1974, particularly amid the July 1974 coup and subsequent Turkish invasion, remain contested due to partisan reporting and incomplete records, with Greek Cypriot sources often minimizing intercommunal while accounts emphasize systematic targeting. Documented incidents include the massacres at Maratha, Santalaris, and Aloda on August 14, 1974, where EOKA B forces killed approximately 84 to 89 , primarily civilians including women and children, in coordinated village assaults. Similarly, the Tochni massacre on the same date resulted in 84 deaths by EOKA B members, involving executions and mass burials. Greek Cypriot investigations have acknowledged war crimes in areas like Alaminos, confirming targeted killings by EOKA B-aligned forces against during the invasion phase. Overall, EOKA B's actions contributed to hundreds of civilian deaths in 1974, with estimates for specific pre-invasion and coup-related ranging from dozens to over 100, though comprehensive tallies are hampered by the overlap with operations. EOKA B also conducted assassinations and bombings against Greek Cypriot opponents, including Makarios supporters and leftists, from 1971 onward, with the 1974 coup triggering internecine clashes that killed hundreds of Greek Cypriots, many attributable to EOKA B factions suppressing pro-Makarios elements. The leftist AKEL party has documented EOKA B murders of Greek Cypriots as part of a fascist campaign, including executions of political rivals prior to and during the coup. These internal killings numbered in the dozens to low hundreds, distinct from the broader 1974 conflict's total of around 3,000 deaths across military and civilian lines, where EOKA B's role blurred with state forces post-coup. Independent verification is limited, as Greek Cypriot narratives often frame such violence as collateral from the anti-Makarios struggle, while points to EOKA B's ideological of non-enosists as a primary . International perspectives on EOKA B diverged sharply along geopolitical lines, with Western powers and the UN framing it as a terrorist entity destabilizing , while Greek nationalists viewed it as a legitimate resistance against perceived independence betrayals. The explicitly described EOKA B as a "terrorist organization" directed and financed from in 1974 reports, linking its violence to the coup that prompted Security Council Resolution 353 demanding foreign military withdrawal. The assessed EOKA B as a tool of the Greek junta for subversion, with declassified documents labeling it a terrorist group used to control Cypriot affairs post-Grivas's death. The , maintaining sovereign bases, echoed this by classifying EOKA B's tactics as terrorist insurgency, drawing parallels to the original 's campaigns against British rule. consistently designated EOKA B a terrorist outfit responsible for attempts, citing its massacres as justification for the 1974 intervention under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. In contrast, under the junta provided covert support, portraying EOKA B as heroic defenders of , a view perpetuated in nationalist historiography despite post-junta disavowals; Cypriot leftists like AKEL condemned it as treasonous fascism allied with . These views reflect causal realities: EOKA B's enosis pursuit exacerbated ethnic divisions, with biased institutional sources—such as Greek-aligned academia downplaying atrocities—necessitating cross-verification against primary admissions like those from Greek Cypriot witnesses.

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