Nikolaos Plastiras

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Nikolaos Plastiras
Νικόλαος Πλαστήρας
Nikolaos Plastiras as a colonel, c. 1923
Prime Minister of Greece
In office 1 November 1951 – 11 October 1952
Monarch	Paul
Preceded by	Sophoklis Venizelos
Succeeded by	Dimitrios Kiousopoulos
In office 15 April 1950 – 21 August 1950
Monarch	Paul
Preceded by	Sophoklis Venizelos
Succeeded by	Sophoklis Venizelos
In office 3 January 1945 – 9 April 1945
Monarch	George II
Regent	Archbishop Damaskinos
Preceded by	George Papandreou
Succeeded by	Petros Voulgaris
Personal details
Born	(1883-11-04)4 November 1883 Karditsa, Kingdom of Greece
Died	26 July 1953(1953-07-26) (aged 69) Athens, Kingdom of Greece
Resting place	First Cemetery of Athens
Political party	National Progressive Center Union
Profession	Soldier Politician
Signature
Nickname(s)	Black Rider Μαύρος Καβαλάρης Black Pepper Kara Biber
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Greece
Branch/service	Hellenic Army
Years of service	1904–1924
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Archipelago Division
Commands	5/42 Evzone Regiment
Battles/wars	Macedonian Struggle Goudi Coup Balkan Wars First Balkan War Battle of Yenidje Second Balkan War Battle of Kilkis-Lachanas World War I Macedonian front Battle of Skra-di-Legen Russian Civil War Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War Southern Front Southern Russia Intervention Soviet invasion of Ukraine Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) Greek Summer Offensive Battle of the Sakarya Greek Retreat Battle of Dumlupınar 11 September 1922 Revolution 1935 Greek coup d'état attempt

Nikolaos Plastiras (Greek: Νικόλαος Πλαστήρας; 4 November 1883^[1] – 26 July 1953) was a Greek general and politician, who served twice as Prime Minister of Greece. A distinguished soldier known for his personal bravery, he became famous as "The Black Rider" during the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, where he commanded the 5/42 Evzone Regiment. After the Greek defeat in the war, along with other Venizelist officers he launched the 11 September 1922 Revolution that deposed King Constantine I of Greece and his government. The military-led government ruled until January 1924, when power was handed over to an elected National Assembly, which later declared the Second Hellenic Republic. In the interwar period, Plastiras remained a devoted Venizelist and republican. Trying to avert the rise of the royalist People's Party and the restoration of the monarchy, he led two coup attempts in 1933 and 1935, both of which failed, forcing him to exile in France.

During the Axis Occupation of Greece in the Second World War he was the nominal leader of the EDES resistance group, although he remained in exile in Marseilles. After the occupation, he returned to Greece and served as a centrist Prime Minister three times, often in coalition with the Liberal Party. In his last two governments, he tried to heal the rift caused in Greek society by the Greek Civil War, but was unsuccessful.