Ioannis Demestichas

Who is Ioannis Demestichas?

Ioannis Demestichas was a Greek Navy officer and politician. He is best known for his participation in the Macedonian Struggle under the nom de guerre of Kapetan Nikiforos.

He was born in Athens on 1 January 1882. As a Lieutenant, he volunteered for the Macedonian Struggle and led an armed band in the region of Central Macedonia in 1906–1907. He fought in the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, the First World War and in the Asia Minor Campaign. In 1927–1928 he served as Chief of the Fleet Command and subsequently, until 1930, as Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff. He retired in 1934 with the rank of Vice Admiral and became involved in politics, being elected to parliament. In 1935 he participated in the abortive Venizelist coup. During the Second World War, he served in the Greek government in exile as Minister for Mercantile Marine in 1943–1944. He died in 1960.