Apostolos Santas

Apostolos Santas ( Greek Απόστολος Σάντας or short Lakis Santas Λάκης Σάντας ), and Sanda ( born February 22, 1922 in Patras, † April 30, 2011 in Athens), was a veteran of the Greek resistance against the German occupation during the Second World War. He yanked on May 30, 1941 Manolis Glezos the swastika flag on the Acropolis from and hoisted the Greek flag.

Life

Santas ' parents came from the island of Lefkada, and came to Patras. His family went to Athens in 1934, where he completed his education. At the University of Athens, he began his legal studies, he was able to close in 1944 after the end of the occupation of Greece.

On April 27, 1941, the Wehrmacht had hoisted the flag with the symbol of the swastika after the conquest of Athens on the Acropolis. On the night of 30 May 1941, the 19 -year-old Apostolos Santas and Manolis Glezos climbed the Acropolis, the swastika flag located on the eastern edge of the Acropolis and tore down hoisted the Greek flag. Through this act of resistance on the Acropolis Santas and Glezos were not just anti-fascist heroes, but it was also a beacon, which stimulated many Greeks to resist. The German occupiers condemned the perpetrators, who hoisted the Greek flag, to death in absentia.

1942 Santas joined the Ethnikó Apelevtherotikó Métopo, the National Liberation Front of Greece ( EAM), and in 1943 the armed resistance movement in Greece, the Ellinikos / Ethnikos Laikos Apelevtherotikós Stratos ELAS at. This organization was involved in numerous militant clashes in central Greece against the Axis powers, including Italy and Bulgaria. After the end of the occupation of Greece, he was imprisoned in Ikaria because of his left views to the year 1946, then 1947 in Psittalia and from 1948 on the island Makronisos where a for the torture of political dissidents - was notorious prison camp - particularly communists. From there he was able to flee to Italy to subsequently obtain political asylum in Canada. In the asylum he remained until 1962 and then returned to Greece, where he lived until his death.

Awards

Apostolos Santas has received numerous awards from various institutions of Greece and countries that were involved in the Second World War.

The Greek Parliament awarded by the President of Parliament, Dimitris Sioufas, the silver medal in 2008 Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas. Sioufas emphasized in his laudation:

" The Nazi flag to be removed is an act of effort and an example of how people fight for freedom and democracy. [ ...] No other action has succeeded to the extent that during the occupation to cheer on the morale of the Greek people. "

Bronze plaque on the Acropolis

On the Acropolis in Athens, a bronze memorial plaque in the area of the flagpole at the feat of Glezos and Santas in 1941.

The text on the plaque reads:

" ΤΗ ΝΥΧΤΑ ΤΗΣ 30ης ΜΑΙΟΥ 1941 ΚΑΤΕΒΑΣΑΝ ΟΙ ΠΑΤΡΙΩΤΕΣ ΜΑΝΩΛΗΣ ΓΛΕΖΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΣΑΝΤΑΣ ΤΗ ΣΗΜΑΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΝΑZΙ ΚΑΤΑΚΤΗΤΩΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΙΕΡΟ ΒΡΑΧΟ ΤΗΣ ΑΚΡΟΠΟΛΙΣ. ΕΝΤΟΙΧΙΣΤΗΚΕ ΑΠΟ ΤΗ ' ΕΝΩΜΕΝΗ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΗ 1941 - 1944 ' ΤΟ 1982 ".

" In the night of 30 May 1941 Patriots Manolis Glezos and Apostolos Santas tore the flag of the Nazi occupiers from the sacred rock of the Acropolis. Installed from, United National Resistance 1941-1944 ' in 1982. "