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Konstantinos Koukidis (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Κουκίδης) was the Greek Evzone on flag guard duty on the 27th of April 1941 at the Athens Acropolis, at the beginning of the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II. After the first Germans climbed up the Acropolis, an officer ordered him to surrender, give up the Greek flag and raise the Nazi swastika flag in its place. Koukidis instead chose to stay loyal to his duty by hauling the flag down, wrapping it around his body and jumping down the Acropolis rock to his death. A commemorative plaque is placed on the Acropolis today, to remind people of his act of pride and sacrifice.

During a TV programme on 26/04/2000, then mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos noted that not any evidence on Koukidis or his deed was documented, bringing forward the importance of such a widespread legend during the Occupation. Further, on the same occasion, Vice General Ioannis Kakoudakis, Director of the Department of the History of the Army, denies the existence of any such person, following purposely and purposeful investigation.[1]

Daily Mail's original article about Koukidis in 1941 as well as relevant discussion is available online.[2]

References

^ Ο ήρωας φάντασμα, Ιός, Ελευθεροτυπία, 22/10/2000 (in greek)
^ The Koukidis mystery

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