Antonis Vratsanos
Encyclopedia
Antonis Vratsanos ' onMouseout='HidePop("992")' href="/topics/Larissa">Larissa
– November 25, 2008 in Athens
), was a saboteur of the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS), the military branch of the National Liberation Front (EAM), and the Democratic Army of Greece
.
On February 1944, he blew up a German train, full of soldiers and officers, on their way to the Eastern Front
. This cost the Wehrmacht
450 dead, including 150 officers and a general with all his staff. This action is considered as one of the biggest sabotages in Europe, against the German occupation. After the Communists' defeat in the Greek Civil War
, he spent 33 years in exile in Romania.
On February 28, 2007, he was awarded by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias
, the "Grand Commander of the Order of Honor" for his actions in the Greek Resistance
in the years 1941-44.
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
– November 25, 2008 in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
), was a saboteur of the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS), the military branch of the National Liberation Front (EAM), and the Democratic Army of Greece
Democratic Army of Greece
This article is based on a translation of an article from the Greek Wikipedia.The Democratic Army of Greece , often simply abbreviated to its initials DSE , was the army founded by the Communist Party of Greece during the Greek Civil War, 1946–1949...
.
On February 1944, he blew up a German train, full of soldiers and officers, on their way to the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. This cost the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
450 dead, including 150 officers and a general with all his staff. This action is considered as one of the biggest sabotages in Europe, against the German occupation. After the Communists' defeat in the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, he spent 33 years in exile in Romania.
On February 28, 2007, he was awarded by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias
Karolos Papoulias
-Honours:*Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic *Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav *Knight of the Order of the Elephant- External links :*...
, the "Grand Commander of the Order of Honor" for his actions in the Greek Resistance
Greek Resistance
The Greek Resistance is the blanket term for a number of armed and unarmed groups from across the political spectrum that resisted the Axis Occupation of Greece in the period 1941–1944, during World War II.-Origins:...
in the years 1941-44.