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{{Infobox Prime
{{Infobox Prime Minister
<!-- DO NOT ADD HONORIFICS OR NUMBERS OF SUCCESSION; THEY ARE NOT USED IN GREECE -->
|honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]]
|name = Petros Voulgaris
|name = Petros Voulgaris
|image =
|image =
|imagesize =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|caption =
| order = [[List of Prime Ministers of Greece|56th]]
| office = [[Prime Minister of Greece]]
| office = Prime Minister of Greece
|monarch = [[George II of Greece|George II]]
|monarch = [[George II of Greece|George II]]
|term_start = 9 April 1945
|term_start = 9 April 1945
|term_end = 17 October 1945
|term_end = 17 October 1945
|1blankname = Regent
|1namedata = [[Damaskinos of Athens|Archbishop Damaskinos]]
|predecessor = [[Nikolaos Plastiras]]
|predecessor = [[Nikolaos Plastiras]]
|successor = [[Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens]]
|successor = [[Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens]]
|birth_date = 13 September 1884{{Greece Old Style dating}}
|birth_date = 13 September 1883{{Greece Old Style dating}}
|birth_place = [[Hydra Island|Hydra]], [[Greece]]
|birth_place = [[Hydra Island|Hydra]], [[Greece]]
|death_date = 26 November 1957
|death_date = 26 November 1957
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|party =
|party =
<!--Military service-->
<!--Military service-->
|allegiance = {{flagicon|Greece|royal}} [[Greece]]
|allegiance = {{flagicon|Greece|old}} [[Greece]]
|branch = [[Royal Hellenic Navy]]
|branch = [[Royal Hellenic Navy]]
|serviceyears = 1903–21, 1922–25, 1926–35, 1943–45
|serviceyears = 1903–21, 1922–25, 1926–35, 1943–45
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|battles = [[Balkan Wars]] ([[Battle of Elli|Elli]]), [[World War I]], [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War]], [[World War II]]
|battles = [[Balkan Wars]] ([[Battle of Elli|Elli]]), [[World War I]], [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War]], [[World War II]]
}}
}}
'''Petros Voulgaris''' ({{lang-el|Πέτρος Βούλγαρης}}, 13 September 1884 – 26 November 1957) was a [[Greece|Greek]] [[Admiral]] who served briefly as [[Prime Minister of Greece]] in 1945.
'''Petros Voulgaris''' ({{langx|el|Πέτρος Βούλγαρης}}, 13 September 1883 – 26 November 1957) was a [[Greece|Greek]] [[Admiral]] who served briefly as [[Prime Minister of Greece]] in 1945. He was famous for his role in suppressing the [[1944 Greek naval mutiny]] and restoring the fleet to combat readiness, for which he was awarded the Commander's Cross of the [[Cross of Valour (Greece)|Cross of Valour]].


== Life ==
== Life ==


=== Early career ===
=== Early career ===
He was born in the island of [[Hydra Island|Hydra]] on 13 September 1883,<ref name="PN">{{cite web | url = http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/el/organwsi/geniko-epiteleio-naftikou/diatelesantes-arxigoi-gen/206-gr/viografika/2015-03-23-19-16-51/1044-2015-03-23-19-38-37 | title = Διατελέσαντες Αρχηγοί ΓΕΝ: Βούλγαρης, Πέτρος | publisher = [[Hellenic Navy]] | language = Greek | accessdate = 12 July 2015}}</ref> to Georgios Voulgaris and Archonto Vatsaxi. After the death of his father in 1885, his family settled in [[Athens]], with his mother's relatives.
He was born in the island of [[Hydra Island|Hydra]] on 13 September 1883,<ref name="PN">{{cite web | url = http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/el/organwsi/geniko-epiteleio-naftikou/diatelesantes-arxigoi-gen/206-gr/viografika/2015-03-23-19-16-51/1044-2015-03-23-19-38-37 | title = Διατελέσαντες Αρχηγοί ΓΕΝ: Βούλγαρης, Πέτρος | publisher = [[Hellenic Navy]] | language = el | access-date = 12 July 2015}}</ref> to Georgios Voulgaris and Archonto Vatsaxi. After the death of his father in 1885, his family settled in [[Athens]], with his mother's relatives.


After finishing school, he entered the [[Hellenic Naval Academy]] on 10 October 1899, and was commissioned as [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] of the Line on 16 July 1903.<ref name="PN"/> In 1908–1910 he was detached for training abroad, and briefly served aboard the [[French Navy]] cruiser ''[[French cruiser Ernest Renan|Ernest Renan]]'' in 1912.<ref name="PN"/> Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant on 29 March 1910, he participated in the [[Balkan Wars]] of 1912–13 aboard the destroyer [[Greek destroyer Panthir|''Panthir'']], taking part in the [[Battle of Elli]] and the operations to capture [[Imbros]], [[Samothrace]], and [[Mount Athos]].<ref name="PN"/> On 2 June 1913 he was promoted to Lieutenant and to Lieutenant First Class on 16 July 1916, serving as adjutant to the Minister for Naval Affairs, Admiral [[Pavlos Kountouriotis]] (1915–16) and captain of the torpedo boat ''Thetis''.<ref name="PN"/>
After finishing school, he entered the [[Hellenic Naval Academy]] on 10 October 1899, and was commissioned as [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] of the Line on 16 July 1903.<ref name="PN"/> In 1908–1910 he was detached for training abroad, and briefly served aboard the [[French Navy]] cruiser ''[[French cruiser Ernest Renan|Ernest Renan]]'' in 1912.<ref name="PN"/> Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant on 29 March 1910, he participated in the [[Balkan Wars]] of 1912–13 aboard the destroyer {{ship|Greek destroyer|Panthir|1912|2}}, taking part in the [[Battle of Elli]] and the operations to capture [[Imbros]], [[Samothrace]], and [[Mount Athos]].<ref name="PN"/> On 2 June 1913 he was promoted to lieutenant and to lieutenant first class on 16 July 1916, serving as adjutant to the [[Minister for Naval Affairs (Greece)|Minister for Naval Affairs]], Admiral [[Pavlos Kountouriotis]] (1915–16) and captain of the torpedo boat ''Thetis''.<ref name="PN"/>


When the [[Movement of National Defence|National Defence revolt]] broke out in [[Thessaloniki]] in August 1916, the pro-[[Venizelism|Venizelist]] Voulgaris, like his mentor and fellow Hydriot Kountouriotis, left Athens and joined the revolutionary government.<ref name="PN"/> On 26 December 1917 he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, retroactive to 3 March.<ref name="PN"/> From 1916 to 1919 he commanded the destroyer [[Greek destroyer Velos|''Velos'']], participating in the Allied naval operations in the Aegean during [[World War I]], the 1919 [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War#Allied Intervention in Southern Russia|Allied Expedition to the Ukraine]], and the opening phase of the [[Asia Minor Campaign]].<ref name="PN"/> In 1919–20 he served as adjutant and then as head of the private office of the Minister for Naval Affairs [[Athanasios N. Miaoulis]], being promoted to Commander on 22 March 1920.<ref name="PN"/>
When the [[Movement of National Defence|National Defence revolt]] broke out in [[Thessaloniki]] in August 1916, the pro-[[Venizelism|Venizelist]] Voulgaris, like his mentor and fellow Hydriot Kountouriotis, left Athens and joined the revolutionary government.<ref name="PN"/> On 26 December 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant commander, retroactive to 3 March.<ref name="PN"/> From 1916 to 1919 he commanded the destroyer {{ship|Greek destroyer|Velos|1907|2}}, participating in the Allied naval operations in the Aegean during [[World War I]], the 1919 [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War#Allied Intervention in Southern Russia|Allied Expedition to Ukraine]], and the opening phase of the [[Asia Minor Campaign]].<ref name="PN"/> In 1919–20 he served as adjutant and then as head of the private office of the Minister for Naval Affairs [[Athanasios N. Miaoulis]], being promoted to commander on 22 March 1920.<ref name="PN"/>


After the Venizelist [[Greek legislative election, 1920|electoral defeat]] in November 1920, he was suspended from active service on 18 March 1921 by the new royalist government. Following the collapse of the Asia Minor front and the outbreak of the [[11 September 1922 Revolution]], he was recalled to active duty on 15 September.<ref name="PN"/> He then served as captain of the destroyer [[Greek destroyer Leon|''Leon'']] (1922–23), commander of the [[Faliro]] [[Hellenic Naval Air Service|Naval Aviation]] Base (1923), and captain of the ''Panthir'' (1923–24).<ref name="PN"/> He was one of the leaders of the so-called "Navy Strike" of June 1924, he resigned from the Navy but was recommissioned on 21 August. On 28 August 1925, following the coup d'état of general [[Theodoros Pangalos (general)|Theodoros Pangalos]], Voulgaris again resigned his commission, with the rank of Captain in retirement. Following Pangalos' overthrow in August 1926, he re-entered service as having never retired. He was promoted to the rank of [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] on 15 September 1926.<ref name="PN"/>
After the Venizelist [[1920 Greek legislative election|electoral defeat]] in November 1920, he was suspended from active service on 18 March 1921 by the new royalist government. Following the collapse of the Asia Minor front and the outbreak of the [[11 September 1922 Revolution]], he was recalled to active duty on 15 September.<ref name="PN"/> He then served as captain of the destroyer {{ship|Greek destroyer|Leon|1912|2}} (1922–23), commander of the [[Faliro]] [[Hellenic Naval Air Service|Naval Aviation]] Base (1923), and captain of the ''Panthir'' (1923–24).<ref name="PN"/> He was one of the leaders of the so-called "Navy Strike" of June 1924, he resigned from the navy but was recommissioned on 21 August. On 28 August 1925, following the coup d'état of general [[Theodoros Pangalos (general)|Theodoros Pangalos]], Voulgaris again resigned his commission, with the rank of captain in retirement. Following Pangalos' overthrow in August 1926, he re-entered service as having never retired. He was promoted to the rank of [[Captain (naval)|captain]] on 15 September 1926.<ref name="PN"/>


Voulgaris served as Superior Commander of Naval Aviation in 1926–30. When the Aviation Ministry was established in 1930, he became Director of the Air Force office in the ministry. In 1931, he was appointed commander of the [[Salamis Naval Base]], and in 1931–34 he served as Superior Submarines Commander. In 1934, he was placed as [[military attaché]] to [[Ankara]] and [[Belgrade]], based at [[Istanbul]].<ref name="PN"/> It was there that the unsuccessful [[1935 Greek coup d'état attempt|Venizelist coup attempt]] of March 1935 found him. Being a committed Venizelist, he was suspended (3 May) and then dismissed (30 July) by the subsequent purges of the armed forces. On 11 November 1935 however, with the return of the monarchy and a partial pardon, his dismissal was revoked and he was listed as placed in reserve, with the rank of [[Rear Admiral]] in retirement.<ref name="PN"/>
Voulgaris served as Superior Commander of Naval Aviation in 1926–30. When the Aviation Ministry was established in 1930, he became Director of the Air Force office in the ministry. In 1931, he was appointed commander of the [[Salamis Naval Base]], and in 1931–34 he served as Superior Submarines Commander. In 1934, he was placed as [[military attaché]] to [[Ankara]] and [[Belgrade]], based at [[Istanbul]].<ref name="PN"/> It was there that the unsuccessful [[1935 Greek coup d'état attempt|Venizelist coup attempt]] of March 1935 found him. Being a committed Venizelist, he was suspended (3 May) and then dismissed (30 July) by the subsequent purges of the armed forces. On 11 November 1935 however, with the return of the monarchy and a partial pardon, his dismissal was revoked and he was listed as placed in reserve, with the rank of [[rear admiral]] in retirement.<ref name="PN"/>


=== World War II and aftermath ===
=== World War II and aftermath ===
For the next few years, he worked in the private sector, eventually working for the Greek industry magnate [[Prodromos Bodosakis-Athanasiadis]] in [[Egypt]].<ref name="PN"/> On 6 May 1943, the [[Greek government in exile]] recalled him to service, alongside many other officers who had been expelled in 1935, and promoted him to Rear Admiral (retroactively since 26 February 1937). He was again retired on 15 September 1943 as a Vice Admiral in retirement.<ref name="PN"/> On 20 May 1943, he received the post of Aviation Minister in the cabinet of [[Emmanouil Tsouderos]] on 20 May, which he held until 14 April 1944, when the Tsouderos cabinet resigned.<ref name="Tsouderos">{{cite web | publisher=General Secretariat of the Government | url=http://www.ggk.gov.gr/?p=1029 |title=ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛ ΤΣΟΥΔΕΡΟΥ - Από 2.6.1941 έως 14.4.1944 | language=Greek | accessdate=12 July 2015}}</ref> With the ongoing pro-[[National Liberation Front (Greece)|EAM]] Navy mutiny reaching its climax, on 20 April he was recalled to active service with the rank of Vice Admiral, and was placed as Chief of Fleet Command on the next day. From this position, he oversaw the violent recapture of the mutinied ships by officer detachments.<ref name="PN"/> In October 1944, he led the Greek fleet back to Greece, and assumed the duties of Chief of the Navy General Staff.
For the next few years, he worked in the private sector, eventually working for the Greek industry magnate [[Prodromos Bodosakis-Athanasiadis]] in [[Egypt]].<ref name="PN"/> On 6 May 1943, the [[Greek government in exile]] recalled him to service, alongside many other officers who had been expelled in 1935, and promoted him to Rear Admiral (retroactively since 26 February 1937). He was again retired on 15 September 1943 as a vice admiral in retirement.<ref name="PN"/> On 20 May 1943, he received the post of Aviation Minister in the cabinet of [[Emmanouil Tsouderos]], which he held until 14 April 1944, when the Tsouderos cabinet resigned.<ref name="Tsouderos">{{cite web | publisher=General Secretariat of the Government | url=http://www.ggk.gov.gr/?p=1029 | title=ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛ ΤΣΟΥΔΕΡΟΥ - Από 2.6.1941 έως 14.4.1944 | language=el | access-date=12 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714111124/http://www.ggk.gov.gr/?p=1029 | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> With the ongoing pro-[[National Liberation Front (Greece)|EAM]] [[1944 Greek naval mutiny|Navy mutiny]] reaching its climax, on 20 April he was recalled to active service with the rank of vice admiral, and was placed as Chief of Fleet Command on the next day. From this position, he oversaw the violent recapture of the mutinied ships by officer detachments.<ref name="PN"/> In October 1944, he led the Greek fleet back to Greece, and assumed the duties of Chief of the Navy General Staff.


In the months after liberation, the political situation in Greece was extremely unstable: following [[Dekemvriana|month-long clashes]] between government and British forces and the guerrillas of [[EAM-ELAS]], the [[Treaty of Varkiza]] had resulted in the latter's disarmament. However the situation remained explosive. The moderate government of [[Nikolaos Plastiras]] resigned under British pressure on 8 April 1945, and the Regent, [[Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens]], appointed Voulgaris to head an interim government.
In the months after liberation, the political situation in Greece was extremely unstable: following [[Dekemvriana|month-long clashes]] between government and British forces and the guerrillas of [[EAM-ELAS]], the [[Treaty of Varkiza]] had resulted in the latter's disarmament. However the situation remained explosive. The moderate government of [[Nikolaos Plastiras]] resigned under British pressure on 8 April 1945, and the Regent, [[Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens]], appointed Voulgaris to head an interim government.


While remaining an active officer,<ref name="PN"/> Voulgaris headed two consecutive cabinets, from 8 April to 11 August, during which he also held the posts of Minister for Military Affairs, Naval Affairs, and Aviation,<ref name="Voulgaris1">{{cite web | publisher=General Secretariat of the Government | url=http://www.ggk.gov.gr/?p=1053 |title=ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΒΟΥΛΓΑΡΗ (De Facto) - Από 8.4.1945 έως 11.8.1945 | language=Greek | accessdate=12 July 2015}}</ref> and from 11 August until 17 October, where he initially also headed the Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries, but gradually passed them on to civilian ministers.<ref name="Voulgaris2">{{cite web | publisher=General Secretariat of the Government | url=http://www.ggk.gov.gr/?p=1056 |title=ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΒΟΥΛΓΑΡΗ (De Facto) - Από 11.8.1945 έως 17.10.1945 | language=Greek | accessdate=12 July 2015}}</ref> On 8 October 1945, he retired from active service for the last time.<ref name="PN"/>
While remaining an active officer,<ref name="PN"/> Voulgaris headed two consecutive cabinets, from 8 April to 11 August, during which he also held the posts of Minister for Military Affairs, Naval Affairs, and Aviation,<ref name="Voulgaris1">{{cite web | publisher=General Secretariat of the Government | url=http://www.ggk.gov.gr/?p=1053 |title=ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΒΟΥΛΓΑΡΗ (De Facto) - Από 8.4.1945 έως 11.8.1945 | language=el | access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> and from 11 August until 17 October, where he initially also headed the Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries, but gradually passed them on to civilian ministers.<ref name="Voulgaris2">{{cite web | publisher=General Secretariat of the Government | url=http://www.ggk.gov.gr/?p=1056 |title=ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΒΟΥΛΓΑΡΗ (De Facto) - Από 11.8.1945 έως 17.10.1945 | language=el | access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> On 8 October 1945, he retired from active service for the last time.<ref name="PN"/>


On 1 July 1947, in recognition of his role in suppressing the Navy Mutiny, rapidly restoring its combat effectiveness, and leading it again to home waters, he was awarded the highest Greek decoration for valour, the Commander's Cross of the [[Cross of Valour (Greece)|Cross of Valour]].<ref name="PN"/> He died in the Athens Naval Hospital on 26 November 1957 of heart failure and was buried in the [[First Cemetery of Athens]].
On 1 July 1947, in recognition of his role in suppressing the Navy mutiny, rapidly restoring its combat effectiveness, and leading it again to home waters, he was awarded the highest Greek decoration for valour, the Commander's Cross of the [[Cross of Valour (Greece)|Cross of Valour]].<ref name="PN"/> He died in the Athens Naval Hospital on 26 November 1957 of heart failure and was buried in the [[First Cemetery of Athens]].


== References ==
== References ==
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{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sofoklis Venizelos]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sofoklis Venizelos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Aviation of Greece<br>''([[Greek government in exile|Government-in-exile]])''|years=20 May 1943 – 14 April 1944}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Aviation (Greece)|Minister of Aviation]]<br />''([[Greek government in exile|Government-in-exile]])''|years=20 May 1943 – 14 April 1944}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sofoklis Venizelos]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sofoklis Venizelos]]}}
{{s-bef|rows=4|before=[[Nikolaos Plastiras]]}}
{{s-bef|rows=4|before=[[Nikolaos Plastiras]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Greece]]|years=8 April – 17 October 1945}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Greece]]|years=8 April – 17 October 1945}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Military Affairs of Greece|years=8 April – 22 August 1944}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister for Military Affairs (Greece)|Minister for Military Affairs]]|years=8 April – 22 August 1944}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Alexandros Merentitis]]}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Alexandros Merentitis]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Naval Affairs of Greece|years=8 April – 17 October 1944}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister for Naval Affairs (Greece)|Minister for Naval Affairs]]|years=8 April – 17 October 1944}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Aviation of Greece|years=8 April – 17 October 1944}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Aviation (Greece)|Minister of Aviation]]|years=8 April – 17 October 1944}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Georgios Alexandris]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Georgios Alexandris]]}}
{{s-vac|last=[[Ioannis Sofianopoulos]]}}
{{s-vac|last=[[Ioannis Sofianopoulos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] of Greece|years=11–18 August 1945}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]|years=11–18 August 1945}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ioannis Politis]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ioannis Politis]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Konstantinos Tsatsos]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Konstantinos Tsatsos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of the Interior (Greece)|Minister of the Interior]] of Greece|years=11–30 August 1945}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister of the Interior (Greece)|Minister of the Interior]]|years=11–30 August 1945}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Petros Gounarakis]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Petros Gounarakis]]}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-mil}}
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{{Greece during World War II}}
{{Greece during World War II}}
{{Recipients of the Commander's Cross of the Cross of Valour}}
{{Recipients of the Commander's Cross of the Cross of Valour}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Voulgaris, Petros}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Voulgaris, Petros}}
[[Category:1884 births]]
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:1957 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century prime ministers of Greece]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Hellenic Navy General Staff]]
[[Category:Chiefs of the Hellenic Navy General Staff]]
[[Category:Commander's Crosses of the Cross of Valour (Greece)]]
[[Category:Commander's Crosses of the Cross of Valour (Greece)]]
[[Category:Foreign ministers of Greece]]
[[Category:Foreign ministers of Greece]]
[[Category:Greek military personnel of the Balkan Wars]]
[[Category:Greek military personnel of the Balkan Wars]]
[[Category:Greek military personnel of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–22)]]
[[Category:Greek military personnel of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)]]
[[Category:Greek military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Greek military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Royal Hellenic Navy admirals of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Hellenic Navy admirals of World War II]]
[[Category:Ministers of Military Affairs of Greece]]
[[Category:Ministers of military affairs of Greece]]
[[Category:Ministers of Naval Affairs of Greece]]
[[Category:Ministers of naval affairs of Greece]]
[[Category:Ministers of the Interior of Greece]]
[[Category:Ministers of the interior of Greece]]
[[Category:People from Hydra (island)]]
[[Category:People from Hydra (island)]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Greece]]
[[Category:Burials at the First Cemetery of Athens]]

Latest revision as of 14:15, 22 October 2024

Petros Voulgaris
Prime Minister of Greece
In office
9 April 1945 – 17 October 1945
MonarchGeorge II
RegentArchbishop Damaskinos
Preceded byNikolaos Plastiras
Succeeded byArchbishop Damaskinos of Athens
Personal details
Born13 September 1883[1]
Hydra, Greece
Died26 November 1957
Athens
Military service
AllegianceGreece Greece
Branch/serviceRoyal Hellenic Navy
Years of service1903–21, 1922–25, 1926–35, 1943–45
RankVice Admiral
Battles/warsBalkan Wars (Elli), World War I, Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, World War II

Petros Voulgaris (Greek: Πέτρος Βούλγαρης, 13 September 1883 – 26 November 1957) was a Greek Admiral who served briefly as Prime Minister of Greece in 1945. He was famous for his role in suppressing the 1944 Greek naval mutiny and restoring the fleet to combat readiness, for which he was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Cross of Valour.

Life

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

He was born in the island of Hydra on 13 September 1883,[2] to Georgios Voulgaris and Archonto Vatsaxi. After the death of his father in 1885, his family settled in Athens, with his mother's relatives.

After finishing school, he entered the Hellenic Naval Academy on 10 October 1899, and was commissioned as Ensign of the Line on 16 July 1903.[2] In 1908–1910 he was detached for training abroad, and briefly served aboard the French Navy cruiser Ernest Renan in 1912.[2] Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant on 29 March 1910, he participated in the Balkan Wars of 1912–13 aboard the destroyer Panthir, taking part in the Battle of Elli and the operations to capture Imbros, Samothrace, and Mount Athos.[2] On 2 June 1913 he was promoted to lieutenant and to lieutenant first class on 16 July 1916, serving as adjutant to the Minister for Naval Affairs, Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis (1915–16) and captain of the torpedo boat Thetis.[2]

When the National Defence revolt broke out in Thessaloniki in August 1916, the pro-Venizelist Voulgaris, like his mentor and fellow Hydriot Kountouriotis, left Athens and joined the revolutionary government.[2] On 26 December 1917 he was promoted to lieutenant commander, retroactive to 3 March.[2] From 1916 to 1919 he commanded the destroyer Velos, participating in the Allied naval operations in the Aegean during World War I, the 1919 Allied Expedition to Ukraine, and the opening phase of the Asia Minor Campaign.[2] In 1919–20 he served as adjutant and then as head of the private office of the Minister for Naval Affairs Athanasios N. Miaoulis, being promoted to commander on 22 March 1920.[2]

After the Venizelist electoral defeat in November 1920, he was suspended from active service on 18 March 1921 by the new royalist government. Following the collapse of the Asia Minor front and the outbreak of the 11 September 1922 Revolution, he was recalled to active duty on 15 September.[2] He then served as captain of the destroyer Leon (1922–23), commander of the Faliro Naval Aviation Base (1923), and captain of the Panthir (1923–24).[2] He was one of the leaders of the so-called "Navy Strike" of June 1924, he resigned from the navy but was recommissioned on 21 August. On 28 August 1925, following the coup d'état of general Theodoros Pangalos, Voulgaris again resigned his commission, with the rank of captain in retirement. Following Pangalos' overthrow in August 1926, he re-entered service as having never retired. He was promoted to the rank of captain on 15 September 1926.[2]

Voulgaris served as Superior Commander of Naval Aviation in 1926–30. When the Aviation Ministry was established in 1930, he became Director of the Air Force office in the ministry. In 1931, he was appointed commander of the Salamis Naval Base, and in 1931–34 he served as Superior Submarines Commander. In 1934, he was placed as military attaché to Ankara and Belgrade, based at Istanbul.[2] It was there that the unsuccessful Venizelist coup attempt of March 1935 found him. Being a committed Venizelist, he was suspended (3 May) and then dismissed (30 July) by the subsequent purges of the armed forces. On 11 November 1935 however, with the return of the monarchy and a partial pardon, his dismissal was revoked and he was listed as placed in reserve, with the rank of rear admiral in retirement.[2]

World War II and aftermath

[edit]

For the next few years, he worked in the private sector, eventually working for the Greek industry magnate Prodromos Bodosakis-Athanasiadis in Egypt.[2] On 6 May 1943, the Greek government in exile recalled him to service, alongside many other officers who had been expelled in 1935, and promoted him to Rear Admiral (retroactively since 26 February 1937). He was again retired on 15 September 1943 as a vice admiral in retirement.[2] On 20 May 1943, he received the post of Aviation Minister in the cabinet of Emmanouil Tsouderos, which he held until 14 April 1944, when the Tsouderos cabinet resigned.[3] With the ongoing pro-EAM Navy mutiny reaching its climax, on 20 April he was recalled to active service with the rank of vice admiral, and was placed as Chief of Fleet Command on the next day. From this position, he oversaw the violent recapture of the mutinied ships by officer detachments.[2] In October 1944, he led the Greek fleet back to Greece, and assumed the duties of Chief of the Navy General Staff.

In the months after liberation, the political situation in Greece was extremely unstable: following month-long clashes between government and British forces and the guerrillas of EAM-ELAS, the Treaty of Varkiza had resulted in the latter's disarmament. However the situation remained explosive. The moderate government of Nikolaos Plastiras resigned under British pressure on 8 April 1945, and the Regent, Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens, appointed Voulgaris to head an interim government.

While remaining an active officer,[2] Voulgaris headed two consecutive cabinets, from 8 April to 11 August, during which he also held the posts of Minister for Military Affairs, Naval Affairs, and Aviation,[4] and from 11 August until 17 October, where he initially also headed the Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries, but gradually passed them on to civilian ministers.[5] On 8 October 1945, he retired from active service for the last time.[2]

On 1 July 1947, in recognition of his role in suppressing the Navy mutiny, rapidly restoring its combat effectiveness, and leading it again to home waters, he was awarded the highest Greek decoration for valour, the Commander's Cross of the Cross of Valour.[2] He died in the Athens Naval Hospital on 26 November 1957 of heart failure and was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens.

References

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  1. ^ Note: Greece officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 16 February 1923 (which became 1 March). All dates prior to that, unless specifically denoted, are Old Style.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Διατελέσαντες Αρχηγοί ΓΕΝ: Βούλγαρης, Πέτρος" (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  3. ^ "ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΗΛ ΤΣΟΥΔΕΡΟΥ - Από 2.6.1941 έως 14.4.1944" (in Greek). General Secretariat of the Government. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  4. ^ "ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΒΟΥΛΓΑΡΗ (De Facto) - Από 8.4.1945 έως 11.8.1945" (in Greek). General Secretariat of the Government. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  5. ^ "ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΒΟΥΛΓΑΡΗ (De Facto) - Από 11.8.1945 έως 17.10.1945" (in Greek). General Secretariat of the Government. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Aviation
(Government-in-exile)
20 May 1943 – 14 April 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Greece
8 April – 17 October 1945 		Succeeded by
Minister for Military Affairs
8 April – 22 August 1944 		Succeeded by
Minister for Naval Affairs
8 April – 17 October 1944
Minister of Aviation
8 April – 17 October 1944 		Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Ioannis Sofianopoulos 		Minister of Foreign Affairs
11–18 August 1945 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of the Interior
11–30 August 1945 		Succeeded by
Military offices
Vacant
Title last held by
Rear Admiral Charalambos Delagrammatikas 		Chief of the Navy General Staff
3 September 1944 – 11 April 1945 		Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Grigorios Mezeviris
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