How to Pronounce Alexandros Papagos

Meaning and Context

Alexandros Papagos (1883–1955) was a preeminent Greek military commander and statesman whose career profoundly shaped mid-20th century Greece. Rising to the rank of Field Marshal, he is celebrated for his leadership as Commander-in-Chief of the Greek Army during the Greco-Italian War of 1940–41, where his strategic acumen contributed to the initial repulsion of the Italian invasion, a pivotal moment in modern Greek history. Following the devastation of World War II and the subsequent Greek Civil War, Papagos transitioned to politics, founding the conservative Greek Rally party. Elected Prime Minister in 1952, his administration from 1952 to 1955 focused on national reconstruction, economic stabilization, and cementing Greece’s geopolitical alignment with the West. A key aspect of his legacy was securing Greece’s membership in NATO in 1952, a critical move for Cold War security and European integration. His tenure, though cut short by his death in office, established a foundation for political stability and post-war recovery in Greece.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling in the Latin alphabet is Alexandros Papagos. The most common alternative is the direct Greek transliteration Alexandros Papadgos, which is incorrect; the correct Greek spelling is Αλέξανδρος Παπάγος. A frequent typo, often arising from phonetic spelling in English, is Alexander Papagos or Alexandros Papagos, substituting the "o" with an "e". The surname is sometimes misspelled as Papagos (with a single 'p') or Papaggos. In historical texts, one might encounter the Hellenized version Alexander Papagos, though the formal Greek form is preferred in academic and encyclopedic contexts. Researchers should also be aware that archival materials may use the abbreviation "Papagos" alone.

Example Sentences

Following his decisive victory in the 1952 elections, Alexandros Papagos formed a government dedicated to economic recovery and national unity.

Historians often cite Field Marshal Papagos's leadership during the Battle of the Pindus Mountains as a turning point in the Greco-Italian War.

As Prime Minister, Papagos's foreign policy was unequivocally pro-Western, culminating in Greece's formal accession to the NATO alliance.

The political movement he founded, the Greek Rally, sought to consolidate the anti-communist vote and create a stable two-party system.

Despite his passing in 1955, the policies and political realignments initiated by Alexandros Papagos had a lasting impact on Greece's trajectory throughout the Cold War.

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