AGONA Legends: Manolis Glezos, the national hero who stood up to the Nazis
The AGONA Legends series takes a glance at the life of legendary left-wing politician, Manolis Glezos, who was known to be a supporter of AEK.
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A legend in the true sense of the word. On the morning of May 30, 1941, Glezos and Apostolos Santas heard on the radio that the island of Crete had fallen into Nazi hands; a development which convinced the pair to take matters into their own hands. During the night, both Glezos and Santas jumped wired fences, climbed up the Acropolis and subsequently tore down the Nazi swastika which was flying at the top. Luckily, no German guards noticed them.
“Hitler had said that Europe was free, but we wanted to show him that the fight was just beginning.” Glezos was 18 years of age and Santas 19.
“It was a large flag, and it covered us when we took it down,” said Glezos when speaking to national television. “We got it off us and even hugged and danced a little.” Their show of defiance against the wicked Nazi regime inspired not only Greece, but also the rest of Europe to believe in justice and that good will prevail over evil.
Something which eventually happened in May 1945.
A year after ripping down the swastika from the Athenian Acropolis, Glezos was arrested by German officials, subjected to imprisonment and torture. However, while the Nazis tortured him, his life was spared. Glezos was arrested on numerous occasions during his life as he never fully left formal politics until 2015.
The left-wing politician and activist, a known support of AEK, sadly died on March 30 at the age of 97.
POST-WAR LIFE
The completion of World War II certainly didn’t signify the end of Glezos’ punishments.
On March 3, 1948, Glezos was arrested and put on trial for his participation in the Greek Civil War, before he was sentenced to death. Nevertheless, his punishment was reduced to a life sentence in 1950, and he even became a member of the Greek parliament a year later while still sitting in a prison cell. Glezos was a member of the United Democratic Left (EDA) organisation, serving as president of the group between 1985 and 1989.
Over the course of the upcoming decades, Glezos was regularly arrested and handed prison sentences, notably drawing support from the Soviet Union, who openly supported his powerful political statements and actions. Glezos received the Lenin Peace Prize from the Russians in 1963.
A stamp with the phrase ‘Freedom to the Hero of the Greek People, Manolis Glezos!’ etched on it was released by the USSR:
Glezos returned to politics in 2012 with the left-wing SYRIZA party. Twenty-four months down the line, he became the oldest person to be elected to the European Parliament, gaining more than 430,000 votes. A year later, Glezos did opt to retire from official activity in political affairs, however, he continued to support initiatives mainly against damaging economic austerity, which arose because of the financial crisis.
“The death of Manolis Glezos leaves the Greeks poorer. But his life has left Greece richer because his example is a guiding light that arms us with strength so that we may remain united through difficult times like the present,” said Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Monday. “Together with every Greek, I bow my head in respect at the memory of Manolis Glezos. He is a symbol of our nation’s freedom.”
AEK CONNECTION
Glezos, in an interview with Ora ton Spor, had revealed that he was an AEK supporter: “I am AEK and Original. The event which bonded me with AEK was the match with Partizan in Serbia during the NATO bombings, I saw a club which went beyond sport and got involved in politics. You can’t imagine the terrible things which we saw there. I only watch AEK play now.”
The Original 21 fan movement is very much a left-wing organisation.
AEK released this tribute after Glezos’ death was announced.
Original 21 paid their respects to the legendary activist too.
Other clubs, namely Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, also expressed their sadness at Glezos’ passing:
