Michael Georgallas
Timeline Events
Michael Georgallas
Destroyed Grave Famagusta Kokkinotrimithia Occupied Area OHEN Palaichori Pancypriot GymnasiumBiography
He was born in the village of Marathovounos1, Famagusta district, on November 6, 1936.
He fell in the early hours of December 31, 1956 in the village of Zoopigi2, Limassol district, in a battle against British agents.
Michael Georgallas finished the Marathovounos primary school and then the Pancyprian Gymnasium3 in Nicosia and worked for a month at the Chamber of Commerce. He was an active member of Christian student groups and joined the struggle in 1954.
With his leadership skills and his devotion to Greek Christian ideals, he inspired the youth, leading the demonstrations as the head of the students of the Pancyprian Gymnasium. Later, he joined the groups of the Nicosia executive and developed a lot of activity. He was arrested for his action, sentenced to eight months in prison and then locked up in the Kokkinotrimithia detention center4.
On September 13, 1956, he escaped with six other prisoners. He was the first, hiding behind a board, to cut the barbed wire and open an exit for the others. They all fled to the Pitsilia area and from there Georgallas ended up in Palaichori5, where he joined the guerrilla group of Grigoris Afxentiou. Afxentiou assigned him the organization of counterintelligence in the villages of Kannavia, Omodos, Platres, Klirou, Kakopetria and Evrychou.
In addition to counterintelligence, he helped Lenas in the manufacture of bombs. He operated under the pseudonym 'Liakos'. He distinguished himself for his militancy, courage, initiative and strength of soul.
“ Don’t see him as thin and weak, he is very strong in his soul. ”
In matters of weapons and ammunition manufacturing, transportation and other problems of the Organization, he had admirable judgment, despite his nineteen years. His entire life and behavior showed a complete God-fearing man.
He fell at dawn on December 31, 1956, after being shot by traitorous British agents and Turkish auxiliaries, with whom the guerrilla group of Grigoris Afxentiou, led by himself, clashed, in the village of Zoopigi. Before he died, he managed to shout to Afxentiou:
“ My brother, my brother, I am dying. Long live Greece. ”
The blood choked the word “Greece” in his throat.
