The start of the EOKA struggle
April 1 in Cyprus marks the foundation of EOKA and the beginning of an armed campaign in 1955 against British colonial rule on the island.
EOKA, short for Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters), was a Greek Cypriot nationalist group formed with the aim of ending British rule and achieving enosis– union with Greece.
The struggle officially began on 1 April 1955 with coordinated bomb attacks on government and military installations across Cyprus.
Why the campaign began
At the time, Cyprus was a British colony, having come under British administration in 1878 and formally annexed in 1914.
Many Greek Cypriots had long pushed for self-determination and union with Greece, particularly after World War II, when anti-colonial movements were growing worldwide.
Diplomatic efforts to achieve enosis had failed, leading some groups to turn to armed resistance.
Leadership and organisation
EOKA was led by Georgios Grivas, a former Greek army officer, under the political guidance of Archbishop Makarios III, who later became the first President of the Republic of Cyprus.
The organisation operated as a guerrilla movement, carrying out attacks on British military targets, infrastructure, and colonial authorities.
The course of the conflict
The EOKA campaign, which began on April 1, lasted from 1955 to 1959 and involved:
- Guerrilla warfare
- Sabotage operations
- British counter-insurgency measures
The British authorities responded with arrests, curfews, and the detention of suspects. Several EOKA members were captured and executed, becoming prominent figures in Cyprus’ historical memory.
The conflict also saw intercommunal tensions rise between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, adding complexity to the situation on the island.
The end of British rule
The EOKA struggle did not achieve enosis, but it played a key role in ending British colonial rule.
In 1960, Cyprus gained independence following the Zurich and London Agreements, becoming the Republic of Cyprus rather than uniting with Greece.
Why EOKA April 1 is commemorated
EOKA is commemorated on April 1 each year as the start of the anti-colonial struggle and is recognised as a public holiday.
For many, it represents a turning point in Cyprus’ modern history, a moment when the fight for self-determination moved from political demands to organised resistance.
Today, commemorations typically include school events, official ceremonies, and tributes to those who took part in the struggle.
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