The monarchist anti-communist who established the 4th of August dictatorship
“Then, it is war.”
A Greek military officer turned politician, Metaxas sought an authoritarian national order that joined monarchism to hostility toward parliament. With King George II's support, he suspended parliament in 1936 and established the 4th of August Regime, banning parties and strikes while repressing the left. He also used state intervention and a youth organization to mobilize society, and historians have debated whether his rule is best understood as fascist, authoritarian-conservative, or a regime with a strong fascist component. In 1940 he rejected Italy's ultimatum and led Greece into war, but died in 1941 before the German invasion.
Career Timeline
- 1890Second lieutenant, Hellenic Army Engineers
- 1899–1903Studied at the Berlin War Academy
- 1910–1912Adjutant to Eleftherios Venizelos, Minister of Military Affairs and prime minister
- 1912–1913Operations staff officer in the Balkan Wars and military adviser at the London Conference
- 1922–1936Founder and parliamentarian of the Freethinkers' Party
- 1926–1928Minister of Communications in Alexandros Zaimis's cabinet
- 1932–1933Minister of the Interior under Panagis Tsaldaris
- 1936–1941Prime Minister of Greece and leader of the 4th of August Regime