49 years passed since the 17 November student uprising

The resistance against the military junta administration of the 1967-1973 period in Greece at the Polytechnic University in Athens, which started on November 14, 1973, and those who lost their lives in the bloody events that lasted for 3 days are commemorated.

The discomfort felt by the junta administration, which caused suffering such as the suspension of personal freedoms, the closure of political parties, the exile of dissidents or the imprisonment and torture of the country in the 1967-1973 period, also led to a clear reaction among students.

Geology student Kostas Yorgakis committed suicide in Italy to protest the coup in 1970, university students did not attend classes to protest, students occupied the school building at the University of Athens Law School in response to the forced conscription of students and police intervention, youth before the Polytechnic Student Uprising and were the first reflections of the unrest among the students.

TANKS AGAINST STUDENTS

Students in the Polytechnic University started an action on 14 November 1973 to protest the military coup administration, and messages were broadcast against the junta administration on the radio established by the students.

The tank that the provisional government sent to the Polytechnic University on the morning of 17 November 1973 broke down the university's central gate and entered in.

Although it is said that some students were crushed during the events, these deaths were not officially recorded.

Despite the expulsion of students from the university, the events continued. Many people lost their lives and were injured by the intervention of the police and soldiers around Athens, especially the Polytechnic building.

Although the number of people who lost their lives in the events could not be determined for many years, the National Research Center announced the death toll as 24 in 2003.

Despite the loss of life, events that encouraged the restoration of democracy in the country 49 years ago marked the beginning of the end for the junta administration.

The junta government collapsed rapidly after 1974 and handed over power to civilians in July.

For this reason, the people who gather in front of the Polytechnic University every year on November 17, pass through Syntagma Square, where the Parliament building is located, and make a commemoration march towards the US Embassy in Athens.

On November 17, various commemorations are held in all schools.