Papagos, Alexander

Papagos, Alexander (pä`pägôs), 1883–1955, Greek soldier and political leader. Commissioned an officer in the Greek army in 1906, he rose rapidly through the ranks. In 1935 he became minister of war, and the following year he was made army chief of staff. He was commander in chief of the Greek army in World War II and gained great prestige, particularly for the Albanian campaign. Later he directed (1949) the successful struggle against the Communist rebels, and by 1950 he had become field marshal and head of the armed forces. He resigned in May, 1950, and shortly afterward formed the conservative Greek Rally party. In 1952 he became prime minister, serving until his death in Oct., 1955. He strengthened Greek ties with the West and developed the country's economy. He concluded the 1954 alliance with Yugoslavia and Turkey and improved Greek relations with Bulgaria and Albania.