Summary
Vasileios Vrachnos (Greek: Βασίλειος Βραχνός; 1887–1971) was a Hellenic Army General, most notable for his leadership in the Greco-Italian War of 1940–41, and post-war conservative politician.
Lieutenant General Vasileios Vrachnos | |
|---|---|
 Vrachnos c. 1940 | |
| Native name | Βασίλειος Βραχνός |
| Born | c. 1887 Nafplio, Kingdom of Greece |
| Died | c. 1971 Athens, Kingdom of Greece |
| Allegiance | |
| Service/ |  Hellenic Army |
| Years of service | 1907–1941 1945–1948 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | 1st Infantry Division |
| Wars | Balkan Wars |
| Awards |  Order of the Redeemer Grand Cross of the Order of George I Order of the Phoenix Gold Cross of Valour (twice) War Cross (1916-17 and 1940 variant) Medal of Military Merit |
| Alma mater | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens |
| Other work | Member of Parliament Deputy Minister for the Interior |
Biography edit
He was born in Nafplio in 1887.[1] After studying law at the University of Athens, he enlisted in the Hellenic Army and participated in the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the Asia Minor Campaign.
At the outbreak of the Greco-Italian War on 28 October 1940 he was Major General commanding the 1st Infantry Division, with which he played a major role in the Greek victory in the Battle of Pindus. During the Axis occupation of Greece, he was arrested and imprisoned in Italy and Germany, being released in 1945. Reinstated in the Army, he was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1946, before retiring in 1948. He was elected an MP in 1951 and 1952.
He was also briefly Deputy Minister of the Interior from 16 April to 15 December 1954 in the National Radical Union cabinet of Alexander Papagos, the former Greek commander-in-chief in 1940–41.[2]
He died in Athens in 1971.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b "Vrachnos Vasileios". PANDEKTIS - A Digital Thesaurus of Primary Sources for Greek History and Culture. Institute for Neohellenic Research / NHRF. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ Κυβέρνησις ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΠΑΠΑΓΟΥ - Από 19.11.1952 έως 6.10.1955 (in Greek). General Secretariat of the Greek Government. Retrieved 25 January 2015.