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Emmanouil Tsouderos | |
|---|---|
| Εμμανουήλ Τσουδερός | |
 | |
| Prime Minister of Greece (in exile) | |
| In office 21 April 1941 – 13 April 1944 | |
| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | Alexandros Koryzis |
| Succeeded by | Sofoklis Venizelos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 July 1882 Rethymno,Crete,Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 10 February 1956(1956-02-10) (aged 73) Nervi,Republic of Italy |
| Political party | Democratic Progressive Party |
| Children | Ioannes Tsouderos, Athena Tsouderos, Virginia Tsouderos |
| Residence(s) | Athens,Greece |
| Occupation | Lawyer, economist |
| Signature | .svg) |
Emmanouil Tsouderos (Greek:Εμμανουήλ Τσουδερός, also transliterated asEmmanuel Tsouderos; 19 July 1882 – 10 February 1956) was a political and financial figure ofGreece. DuringWorld War II, he was the internationally recognizedPrime Minister of Greece from 1941 to 1944 as head of theGreek government in exile. He resigned in 1944, following a mutiny in the exiled armed forces.[1]
Emmanuel Tsouderos was born in 1882 inRethymno,Crete (then part of theOttoman Empire). He studied law atAthens University, and economics in Paris and London.[2]
He returned to Crete aged 24, and was elected Member of Parliament of the Cretan Legislature (1906–1912), when Crete had autonomous status under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire and was under the protection of Russia, Britain, France and Italy.
After the union of Crete with Greece in December 1913, he was elected to theHellenic Parliament, and served as Minister of Transportation underEleftherios Venizelos, and Minister of Finances underThemistoklis Sophoulis.
In 1928, when the Central Bank of Greece was established, Tsouderos was appointed its first vice-Governor, and in 1931 its Governor.[3]
Following the suicide of Prime MinisterAlexandros Koryzis on 18 April 1941, amidst theGerman invasion of Greece, KingGeorge II of Greece sought for his successor. Several names, such asKonstantinos Kotzias, the former dictator GeneralTheodoros Pangalos, and theVenizelist generalAlexandros Mazarakis-Ainian were discussed, but either rejected or turned down the offer.[4] As the evacuation of the Greek government to Crete was being prepared, Tsouderos, as a Venizelist and Cretan, as well as a known Anglophile, emerged as a prominent choice for the post during the 20th. On the next day, after attending aséance in which the spirit of Venizelos urged him to accept, Tsouderos accepted and was sworn in as Prime Minister.[5] On the 20th, the Greek army in Epirus unilaterally surrendered to the Germans, and on the morning of the 23rd, the Greek government left Athens.[6]
Tsouderos fled again during theBattle of Crete. He went to the Middle East and laterEgypt. Tsouderos headed the Greek government in exile from 29 April 1941 until 13 April 1944. Although he was the internationally recognized as the Prime Minister of Greece (in opposition to the numerous prime ministers who were the figureheads of the collaborationistHellenic State), in practice he had little influence inside Greece's borders. This government was initially located in London, but subsequently moved toCairo. In Spring of 1944, theGreek Army andNavy mutinied.[7] Among their demands was resignation of theKing and Tsouderos.[7] He served in the subsequent government in exile underSofoklis Venizelos.
Following the Greek Civil War, Tsouderos would go on to lead the Democratic Progressive Party (Dimokratikon Proodefitikon Komma).[8] During the 1950 Election, Tsouderos formed a coalition government withNikolaos Plastiras' Progressive Liberal Center Party (Komma Proodefitkon Fileleftheron Kentrou),[8] to form theNational Progressive Center Union (Ethniki Proodetiki Enosis Kentrou)
After the end of World War II Tsouderos served in different capacities, until his death at the age of 73 inNervi,Genoa, Italy on 10 February 1956.[2]
He was married and had three children:
