    georgios grivas (george grivas; ) (5 july 1898 â 27 january 1974), also known by his nom de guerre digenis (ÎÎ¹Î³ÎµÎ½Î®Ï), which he adopted while in eoka, was a cyprus-born general in the greek army, leader of the eoka guerrilla organisation and eoka b paramilitary organisation. ==early life== georgios grivas (aka digenis) was born on 5 july 1898 in trikomo, famagusta district, to a greek cypriot family, the fourth child of theodoros grivas and kalomira hadjimichael. he grew up in his family home at trikomo. after attending his village school he studied at the pancyprian gymnasium in nicosia (1909â1915) where he stayed with his grandmother. ==early military career== in 1916, grivas moved to greece; according to his obituary in the times of london, he had left the family home after learning that his father intended him to become a physician. he took greek citizenship and enrolled at the athens military academy. he completed his military studies at the Ãcole militaire in paris. he graduated in 1919, and joined the greek army with the rank of sub-lieutenant and was immediately posted on the asia minor front of the greco-turkish war. he served in the greek army's 10th division and participated in its advance from Ä°zmir to panormos (today bandirma) and eskiÅehir, past bursa and the battle of sakarya. with the subsequent rout and defeat of the greek army and its complete withdrawal from asia minor in 1922 he was placed at redestos, thrace. he was decorated for his bravery and promoted to lieutenant. he was later selected to study at the french military academy and upon his return to greece he served in a number of posts, including that of a lecturer at the military school of greece. he was promoted to captain in 1925 and to major in 1935. two years later he married vasiliki deka, the daugh
1897_births 1974_deaths Cypriot_biographers Cypriot_military_personnel Cypriot_people_of_the_EOKA Cypriot_political_writers EOKA_B Greek_Resistance_members Greek_anti-communists Greek_monarchists Greek_nationalists Guerrilla_warfare_theorists Hellenic_Army_generals Memoirists