Konstantinos Koukidis

Who was Konstantinos Koukidis?

Konstantinos Koukidis was the Greek Evzone on flag guard duty on 27 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 down the flag, wrapping it around his body and jumping from the Acropolis rock to his death. A commemorative plaque near the spot marks the event.

During a TV programme on 26 April 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 an investigation.

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