writes Konstantinos Konstantinidis Amfiktyon
On Sept. 28, 2024, the unveiling of the bust of my hero father Christos Konstantinidis (H.G.K.) took place in Sidirokastro (ancient Avlon) Trifylia, in Messinia. A modest event took place in the presence of representatives of the Military Authorities, Local Government, the Holy Clergy and relatives and friends. His three children unfurled the Greek Flag from the bust and afterwards there were speeches by the President of the Local Government, Mr. Athan. He ruled General and historical researcher Panag. Georgakopoulos and the university researcher of the history of the region Dr. Mrs. Maria Kyriazi, who spoke about the work of the hero Christos G, Konstantinidis
UNVEILING OF THE MONUMENT OF CHRISTOS G.KONSTANTINIDES Sidiokastro Messinia 28/9/2024
As I was 14 years old when the Germans executed my father, I knew him very little. In general, I knew his action: in the Wars of National Liberation 1912-1013, WWI, in Ukraine (Crimea) and finally in the Campaign in Asia Minor , that all the ranks from corporal to Major (PZ) were taken by heroism in the battles, but I did not know things that I heard for the first time from the General HH Pan.Georgakopoulos and I was really surprised:
First Surprise
1/ He was a hero of the Macedonian Struggle
Christos Konstantinidis, with the rank of Sergeant, participated as a volunteer along with his compatriots, the Macedonian Fighters: a/ Sarandelo (or captain Tello Agra) from the Gargalians of Messinia, b/ Lyberopoulos Const/nos (or captain Krombos) from Ithomi of Messinia c/ Vlahaki Antonis (or captain Nakos Litsas) from Gythio who formed squads of enthusiastic patriots who volunteered and operated in the areas of Central Macedonia, Florina and Kastoria where the hard core of the Komitatzides operated
Despite the importance given to the sacrifice of the volunteers, the Macedonian Struggle without the support of the Greek Army would not have started or come to fruition. The army facilitated the leakage of volunteers with combat experience, in significant numbers of junior officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers (mostly young men). The motto was
“Save Macedonia”
The fight against the Bulgarian Komitatzides did not leave Sergeant (PZ) Christos Konstantinidis (H.G.K ) unmoved. He fought the Bulgarian Komitatzides who were brazenly murdering the Greek population. They often clashed with the Ottoman Army that occupied Macedonia at the time. They fought fierce battles and risked their lives many times along with their officers. In the area of Kastoria they had killed the hero Pavlos Mela a little before. I feel a special honor because my father was a Macedonian fighter and fought for the liberation of the country of M. Alexander from the Bulgarian comitatzis, which I and my general brother served faithfully and dedication. .
Macedonian fighters
2/ Second Surprise
H.G.K fought in the Battle of Byzantium for the liberation of the Ioannina and the Northern Epirus during the First Balkan War (October 5, 1912- May 18, 1913) But the Northern Epirus was liberated three times and is still enslaved
The battles for the occupation of Ioannina lasted 85 days (November 29, 1912 – February 21, 1913) when the Ottoman forces surrendered to the heir Constantine. Epilochias H.G.K with the 9th Battalion under the heroic Major Ioannis Velissariou, with raiding action managed to reach the outskirts of Ioannina, in Agios Ioannis and this shortened the fall of the city. After the liberation of Ioannina, the IV and VI Divisions of the Epirus Army were transferred to Macedonia where they acted against the Bulgarian forces in the crucial Battles of Kilkis – Lachana, Doirani, Stenon Kresna, Tzoumaia
The losses of the Greek army in the battle of Byzantium amounted to 264 dead and wounded. This decisive victory opened the way for the liberation of Ioannina and Northern Epirus. H.G.K will go to Macedonia as an Anti-Hispanist and will participate in the great and deadly battle of Kilkis-Lachanas
3/ Third Surprise
H.G.K actively participated in the Goudi Movement in 1909 with Director Zorbas and became a confidant of Eleftherios Venizelos
In June 1909 the Republic Government Ralli targeted the Military Association with a wave of transfers and the referral of 12 officers to a board of inquiry, to be dismissed.
Then the Association attacked “the parliamentary feudalism of the party gangs and the Courts”, asking for reforms and the removal of Crown Prince Constantine, as well as the princes, from the army. The Dem. Rallis, ordered a vigil and made dozens of arrests. On the night of Aug. 15, 1909, the League launched the movement, which immediately prevailed because it had universal popular support.
Now the circumstases are similar to repeat civilian peaceful revolution:
1. For the removal of the rotten post-colonial party dictatorship that has devastated the country
2. Establishment of Direct Democracy
3. Solving the Demographic and Immigration problem
3. To bring Renaissance, Development and Visions to the Nation
4.To get the country out of misery (stagnation, punctuality, insecurity, lack of health, education, etc.)
5. To stop the phobic policy of appeasement towards the neighbors and to raise its stature among the powerful
4th Surprise
I knew the action of the H.G.K in the Wars of National Liberation in the Crimea campaign and the Asia Minor campaign. We played like children with his gold medals of valor, his war crosses, his gas masks, the military items he had in our house. I was informed by his older villagers that he had gone to the village wounded on sick leave and his hair was pierced by bullets. I knew that he reached the Sangarios River and after the collapse of the front he returned with his regimental Company.
But I did not know the detail that at the risk of his life he led with his company 120 horses to Western Thrace so that they would not fall into the hands of the Turks
He had undergone the baptism of fire in the “15 Years of Fire” (1907-1922) and survived, then married our mother and fathered five(5) children (I was the 2nd), after his execution on 14/9/1943 by the German troops were left orphans. It was fatal for him to survive all the battles and to be executed in his village because he remained to protect it with few guards so that it would not be burned, as they burned the Eagle.
Apologize
It was only at the end of my life that, at the urging of me and the historical researcher Lt. Gen. A. Pan. Georgakopoulou my sons Christos and Alexandros to honor their hero grandfather, and I am GRATEFUL to them. I apologize for my ignorance and ignorance.
Now I feel that I have paid a minimal debt of honor to him, his comrades-in-arms and the one million souls (1,000,000) that the Germans killed without trial, without being punished even without paying for the Genocide at the expense of the Greek Nation. But there is a Nemesis in Yvrin
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