Anastasios Papoulas (1859-March 1935) was a Greek general and commander-in-chief during the Graeco-Turkish War of 1919-1922.

Born in 1859, Anastasios Papoulas entered politics in his early twenties eventually becoming a close friend and confidant of King Constantine. Appointed commander of Greek forces in Anatolia by Constantine in late 1920, however his offensive to establish Greek control over western Anatolia was halted at the First Battle of Inonu in January 1921. After being reinforced, Papoulas resumed his offensive on March 23, however his army, numbering 100,000 men, were again defeated at the Second Battle of Inonu on March 28-30.

Relieved of command by Constantine, Papoulas continued to command forces at the Battles of Eskisehir (August 16-17) and Sakaria (August 24-September 16) before taking command of retreating Greek forces from Afyon from late August to September 9, narrowly preventing a rout by the Turkish army.

Following war's end in 1922, Papoulas became a strong opponent to the Monarchy after the establishment of the Greek republic as a supporter of the Venizelos government during the late 1920s to the early 1930s. Leading a coup in support of the Venizelos Liberal party in early 1935, his failure resulted in his capture and eventual execution for treason later that year.

Commander-in-chief Anastasios Papoulas. Athens, Photographic Archive of War Museum

References

Forster, Edward S. A Short History of Modern Greece, 1821-1940, London, 1941.