Alexandros Papagos (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Παπάγος; 9 December 1883 – 4 October 1955) was a Greek Army officer who led the Hellenic Army in World War II and the later stages of the Greek Civil War. The only Greek career officer to be raised to the rank of Field Marshal, he became the first Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff from 1950 until his resignation in 1951. He then entered politics, founding the Greek Rally party and becoming the country's Prime Minister after his victory in the 1952 elections. His premiership was defined by several events. The Cold War, and the aftermath of the Greek Civil War; Greece becoming a member of NATO; American military bases were allowed on Greek territory; a powerful and vehemently anti-communist security apparatus was created; and the communist leader Nikos Ploumpidis was executed by firing squad. His tenure also saw the start of the Greek economic miracle, and rising tensions with Britain and Turkey over the Cyprus issue.
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