Title:ANNALES DE LA GUERRE 19 - LES EVENEMENTS DE GRECE JUIN-JUILLET 1917 [Main Title]
Film Number:IWM 508-19
Other titles:
Summary: Events following the French-backed coup d'état in Greece, Athens 25th June to 14th July 1917.
Description: French soldiers on the Acropolis on 25th June guarding Athens from the Parthenon. They are armed and have machine gun posts set up, but there is an element of sightseeing in their behaviour. This is followed by the requiem service for Greek soldiers killed on the Salonika Front held at the Piraeus on 24th June, used to display the French military presence and the new Greek ministry. A crowd lines the way to the church waving banners as the dignitaries approach. First, two of the new ministers, Repoulis and Michalopoulis in procession with the town mayor. Next the French Admiral de Gueydon with his staff, and General Régnault, whose two divisions backed the coup, with his staff. Led by the banners, the dignitaries leave after the ceremony. On 27th June a formal ceremony is planned for the new Prime Minister, Venizelos. French troops march past the Arch of Hadrian on their way into Athens. The crowd outside the Hotel de Grande Bretagne waits for the Prime Minister while dignitaries come and go to their cheers. A day later, back at the Arch of Hadrian, General de Monterou watches as his troops march past into the city. On 30th June, in the deserted Stadium in Athens, General Régnault decorates some of his men after the operation. On 1st July Greek troops are drawn up in a large hollow square to take the oath of allegiance to the new king, Alexander (after his father's abdication in the coup) led by the members of the new government. Venizelos and his cabinet take the oath, after which General Miloth addresses the troops while the others watch. Senior officers of the Greek forces then march past leading their troops. In the crowded Stadium on 14th July Venizelos and his cabinet watch a military revue and demonstration of loyalty.
Production Details: Section Cinématographique de l'Armée Française (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Venizelos, Eleftherios (person)
Repoulis (person)
Michalopoulis (person)
Athens, Mayor of (person)
Gueydon, de (Admiral) (person)
Regnault (General) (person)
Monterou, de (General) (person)
Alexander, King of Greece (person)
Miloth (General) (person)
French Army (regiment/service)
Hellenic Army (regiment/service)
Keywords: intervention, French/Greek, governmental (object name)
politics, Greek - institutional (object name)
law and order, Greek - use of troops (object name)
arts, Greek - architecture (object name)
buildings, Greek - historic: Parthenon (object name)
buildings, Greek - religious: church (object name)
buildings, Greek - commercial: hotel (object name)
08/3(495) [1917 Coup d'Etat] (event)
Greece & Athens, Central Greece <Piraeus, the> (geography)
Greece & Athens, Central Greece <Acropolis> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Silent
Soundtrack language: None
Title language: French
Subtitle language: French
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 554 ft; Running time: 9 mins