Grivas Digenis and Northern Epirus – EOKA's plan for guerrilla warfare

In 1959, a group of Cypriot EOKA fighters found themselves in Athens and Thessaloniki to continue their studies, which had been interrupted during the period of the Liberation Struggle against the British colonialists.

In a revolutionary climate, with great dreams that had matured in a heroic struggle, they cast their gaze far away, towards other struggles of Hellenism. That is why they recommended the Cyprus Student Association of Fighters (PSAK).

The Association's first goal was to carry the flame and revolutionary climate of the Struggle 1955 – 1959 from the border island of Aphrodite to another border region of enslaved Hellenism, Northern Epirus.

Cyprus, the martyred island, always open to the winds and dangers, stands vigilant on the ramparts of the nation.

Cyprus always listened to the voice of need and was the first to generously offer its own help to its enslaved brothers. Its contribution to the Balkan Games of 1912 – 13, in the legendary struggle of 1940 and at other critical moments.

The case of the unredeemed brothers was one of the serious issues that occupied the discussions of the Agonists of EOKA in the British concentration camps, in their hideouts and in their other activities.

The Cypriot students, hard-core cadres of the Struggle and experienced fighters, thus wanted to imitate the Cretan guerrillas who, at the beginning of the 20th century, massively strengthened the Macedonian Struggle, making great sacrifices for the liberation of Macedonia.

The initiative for preparing the entry of armed Cypriots into albanian-held territories was taken by the historian Yannis Spanos.

The team met with the legendary leader of EOKA, General George Grivas – Digeni, who had successfully directed the Struggle of the Cypriot people.

Digenis was a great figure, his fame had long since surpassed the borders of the island and not even his enemies doubted him.

And a british newspaper had called him "the greatest rebel leader of all time."

So they asked him to lead an infiltration of the Agonists of EOKA in the northern Epirus territories. As Mr. remembers. Yannis Spanos "the old man was moved and asked us to keep it completely confidential."

He asked them for time to think and advised them "In the meantime, act with extreme caution since there is no reason to announce this decision."

OR PSAK it assigned roles to its members for those who would be on the front line and would infiltrate Northern Epirus armed, and for those who would remain on the second line to strengthen the Struggle, with supply convoys and a campaign in the diplomatic sector.

The centers were Athens and Thessaloniki, while they faced a serious problem with Ioannina, as long as there were no Cypriot connections, on the Albanian border.

Meanwhile, while making other contacts with the Chief, he one day told them: "Guys, let's wait because it looks like we won't be going up, but we will be going down."

It had now become certain that the Turks were preparing the Turkish invasion by equipping paramilitary groups. The case of the liberation of Northern Epirus by the organization of a guerrilla war by Cypriot fighters of EOKA remained unrealized because "Debt called us to come here to defend ourselves and prevent new Turkish treachery."

New challenges, new heroic pages would be written by most of the Fighters who participated in the group for the liberation of Northern Epirus, who led the descent of the volunteer student units into Cyprus in 1963 – 1964.

Some of the protagonists are today personalities with international fame "and they had no reason to make revelations about a case that was interrupted at its birth", says Mr. Spanos.

Petros Tserkezis, May 15, 2006 (from the newspaper "Tachidromos tis Epirou")

Snapshots from the event for the liberation of Northern Epirus on Monday, March 2, 1964 and the participation of Grivas Digenis*

* The sound of this rare video has unfortunately not been preserved, but in the archives of its transcription, we read that Grivas, during his speech at the event for the Liberation of Northern Epirus, addressed a call to the political leadership of Greece for the liberation of Northern Epirus after the end of the crisis in Cyprus.

"GENERAL GRIVAS DEMANDED A QUICK LIBERATION OF THE NORTHERN EPIRUS AS SOON AS THE CYPRUS CRISIS WAS OVER. AT THIS WREATH LAYING CEREMONY AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER HE REPEATED HIS CALL"