George II of Greece

The reign of George II of Greece began in 1922 and ended in 1947, a period defined by profound domestic instability and international conflict. Born at Tatoi Palace in 1890, he occupied the position of King of the Hellenes twice, serving through periods of forced exile, military coups, and the shifting geopolitical landscape of a nation during the World Wars.

Early Career and Military Service

As the eldest son of Constantine I, George received a formal military education at the Hellenic Military Academy. He held the rank of field marshal and served in the Balkan Wars. His early training included time with the Prussian Guard. During his youth, he participated in the capture of Thessaloniki in 1912 before political volatility led to his first period of exile.

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Accession and Political Turmoil

George II first ascended to the throne in 1922 following his father's abdication. His initial reign was short-lived, concluding in 1924 when he was deposed and stripped of his Greek nationality following a failed royalist coup. He spent over a decade in exile before the monarchy was restored in 1935 following a referendum.

Dictatorship and Conflict

Upon his return in 1935, George II supported the self-coup led by Ioannis Metaxas, which established the authoritarian 4th of August Regime. This domestic stability was shattered by the 1941 German invasion of Greece. George subsequently led a government-in-exile from London, Egypt, and Crete until he returned to Greece in 1946.