Greek Naval Association Averof-II Established
Before the Balkan Wars, the prevailing idea in Ottoman state policy was "not to build a navy." Since the land forces had won the 1897 Ottoman-Greek War in three weeks and indirectly liberated the Aegean Islands, what was the need for a navy? We could build railways to enhance the strategic power of the land forces and defend the homeland better.
THE GREEK NAVY AND THE BALKAN WARS
However, the reality was very different. In 1910, under the leadership of Prime Minister Venizelos, the Greek army and navy entered a serious period of recovery, and the Greek Navy was strengthened. Notably, with an endowment of 8 million drachmas provided to the Greek government by George Averof, a wealthy businessman who had migrated to Egypt, the Averof Cruiser purchased from Italy had overturned the balance at sea. Averof became the flagship of the Greek Navy and represented Greece at the coronation ceremony of King George V in England on June 22, 1911. He returned to Greece in the autumn of 1911 and soon participated in the Balkan War, playing significant roles in the transition of the Aegean Islands into Greek hands. The ship's commander, Colonel Pavlos Kontouriotis, later became the Minister of the Navy, then regent for the King, and in 1924, President of Greece. He also earned the nickname "Helen Nelson" in Greek naval history.
After World War I, the Averof Cruiser took its place among the occupying forces' fleet that anchored in Istanbul on November 13, 1918, and occasionally ventured into the Black Sea to challenge the Ankara government. The same ship transported Greek soldiers and Greek civilians fleeing from the Turkish army in Izmir and the Aegean coast of Anatolia to the Aegean Islands in 1922. Although the Averof Cruiser was converted into a training ship in 1928, it resumed its role as the flagship of the Navy during World War II. After Greece was liberated from German occupation in October 1944, the first official flag ceremony was held on this ship by Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou, who was brought to power by the British. Averof continued its active duty until 1951 and later opened as a floating museum for visitors at the coast of Piraeus. Today, Averof stands as the "legendary" ship of the Greek Navy.
On October 23, 2020, 110 years after the Averof was integrated into the Greek Navy, an association named "Greek Naval Fund – Averof II" was established in Athens, Greece. The founding charter of the association outlines three goals. The first aim is to inform, raise awareness, and encourage all Greeks, association members, and the general public to contribute to the establishment of a fund for the purchase of a modern frigate for the Greek Navy, as well as for its maintenance, repair, and modernization expenses. The second aim is to carry out non-profit activities to contribute to the strengthening and maintenance of the navy. Lastly, a permanent Greek Naval Fund will be established to procure weapons and equipment for the Greek Navy through contributions and donations from association members and Greek friends both domestically and abroad.
The language used on the association's website (https://www.averof2.gr/en/) invites the public for help in a tone that almost begs against the growing Turkish maritime threat in the Aegean and Mediterranean. The site greets you with the slogan "Great things can be achieved if Greeks unite." The call made under the title "Greek Patriots" emphasizes that "Greece must be a state respected by its allies and feared by its enemies." The statement continues: "Our homeland is facing a situation similar to, or even more critical than, that of 1910. Our navy has been neglected for the last 20 years. Aside from our submarines, our other ships are very old and outdated. We need to renew our frigates and strengthen our navy. The Turkish threat is urgent and imminent. Our islands, seas, Exclusive Economic Zone, and Free Cyprus are under threat." The association has 23 founders, none of whom are retired admirals, generals, or officers. At the top is the Bishop of Kifisia. Kifisia is the name of a district where the wealthiest residents of Athens live. The association has managed to combine religion and money. On the other hand, five of the founders are businessmen and shipowners; two are members of the high court; four are academics. Additionally, there is a diplomat, a journalist, and two engineers among the founders.
I must state that I did not find it surprising that a pioneering group in Greece would undertake such an initiative to assist the state. We have had two similar initiatives, the first in 1909 and the second in 1965. During the 33-year reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II, the Navy was kept idle in the Golden Horn, and during the 1897 Ottoman-Greek War, it failed to even reach the Dardanelles in time. In 1909, under the rule of Mehmed V Reşat, the navy's weak status was revealed when it sailed out of the Golden Horn to greet the public on the morning of July 4, 1909, prompting some patriotic volunteers to launch a campaign for the revival of the Navy, collecting "one kuruş from every citizen." Under the leadership of Tanin Newspaper, the campaign quickly succeeded, leading to the establishment of the "Ottoman Naval Assistance Society" on July 19, 1909. The society was able to raise so much money that it purchased the Turgutreis and Barbaros battle cruisers, along with four destroyers and cargo ships. The Naval Society took the British "Navy League" organization as its model. Until 1919, the society engaged in significant activities and fundraising efforts, but was closed on April 2, 1919, by Grand Vizier Damat Ferit on the grounds that it was aiding the nationalists after the Mondros Armistice.
CYPRUS TURKISH MASSACRES AND THE NAVAL SOCIETY
Exactly 45 years after this date, when our compatriots began to be massacred in Cyprus after Bloody Christmas, Turkey decided to intervene in June 1964. The lives, properties, and ultimately the future of our compatriots needed to be protected. Military force had to be used, and amphibious forces had to be deployed to the island, located 60 miles from Turkish shores. With this force, armored units could be sent inland from the coastal head that would be held. However, the Navy had neither amphibious ships nor amphibious warriors, i.e., marines. First, there was a need to have ships. A decision was made with a protective reflex in the absence of resources. The intervention would be carried out with the available merchant ships and destroyers. The operation was halted by a letter written by U.S. President Johnson. President Johnson stated, "You cannot use the war materials donated by the U.S. in Cyprus." The sensitive Turkish public would respond to this humiliating letter. On the front page of the Cumhuriyet newspaper on May 2, 1965, the public was invited to donate for the navy with the campaign "The Nation Does It." The full text was: "What others do not give, THE NATION DOES." Donations were pouring in, fueled by the pain of the navy's inability to do anything to save our compatriots in Cyprus, and to enable the construction of new landing ships. In response to this magnificent interest and support from the public, 178 founding members, led by Prime Minister Suat Hayri Ürgüplü and Deputy Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel, came together at the Divanhane in Kasımpaşa (today's North Sea Command) on May 11, 1965, to establish the "Turkish Naval Society." The society took over the "The Nation Does It" campaign and made a historic step with the publication of its first issue of the maritime magazine "Derya" on October 4, 1966. "Derya" became the first civil maritime magazine published periodically in Turkey. Its last issue, published in August 1987, had "Issue: 180" on the cover. My late mother, Rahime Gürdeniz, regularly contributed poetry to this magazine. Within the framework of the "Build Your Own Ship" program, the society supported the construction programs of 10 patrol boats, 12 LCU, 20 LCM, as well as TCG Berk and TCK Peyk escort destroyers within five years of its establishment.
THE NAVAL SOCIETY CLOSED BY ÖZAL
The society transformed into a foundation on February 8, 1972, and on May 28, 1981, it was renamed "Turkish Naval Forces Strengthening Foundation," but under the pressures of then-Prime Minister Turgut Özal, it was transferred to the Turkish Armed Forces Strengthening Foundation on June 17, 1987, by Law No. 3388. The closure of this foundation dealt a significant blow to the development of the Maritime Power and thus to Turkey's maritime advancement. This foundation was not only collecting donations aimed at strengthening the force structure. It represented the Republic Navy and Turkish maritime power in Anatolia. It was much older and had a historical legacy compared to the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK). The THK was not closed. In this way, this maritime consciousness, organized in every city of Anatolia from Edirne to Kars, was deliberately destroyed. On the other hand, our state found the necessary resources for the development of our naval power in every government period, in line with the lessons learned from the Cyprus Peace Operation. However, the Naval Forces did the right thing and supported the development of the defense industry. It became the locomotive of this process. Today, our deficiency regarding such an association is not related to the force structure or the fundraising aspect. However, we have serious weaknesses in spreading maritime awareness and love for the navy. Therefore, the soft power-producing aspect of the Naval Foundation must be activated immediately.
Considering Greece's population and the economic situation of its people, we can say that the new association, whose primary job is to collect donations, will have a hard time operating domestically. On the other hand, let us remember that Greek shipowners are among the largest in the world. These shipowners, who keep their wealth abroad, can, if they decide, find money for at least one frigate by utilizing wealthy Greeks living in the U.S. It should not be forgotten that the Averof Cruiser, which took the Aegean Islands one by one from us, was a gift from a wealthy Greek from Alexandria, Egypt. It would not be surprising if the first warship donated by this new association named after the extremely disheartening name Averof II were to bear the name Averof. However, let us remind you once again that all these efforts are in vain. (Pante Rei!) Instead of establishing an Averof Association, if you were to establish a Peaceful Coexistence Association with the Turks, awakening from the dreams shattered by Enosis, Megali Idea, and Constantinople fantasies, and saying no to your country, which is under the occupation of the EU and the U.S., being dragged into an arms race with Turkey, how would that be? If Thucydides were alive today, I am sure he would give you this warning instead of me. If you believe that you can confine Anatolia to the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts by purchasing a warship with donations, then continue collecting donations. I am sure these donations will greatly contribute to your unpaid foreign debts until 2060.
PROFESSOR BILSAY KURUÇ'S COMMENT
Let us conclude this article with the invaluable comment sent by my esteemed elder, Prof. Dr. Bilsay Kuruç, in response to my article titled "The Greek People Continue to Pay the Price" last week:
"In the struggle for independence, the neighbor, who has been a captive of the geopolitical stage of great powers since its birth, which has never been able to break free from this chain and increasingly loses its ability to shape its political sphere, seems to be perpetually reenacting an ancient tragedy on a stage that stretches from its past to its future. As you pointed out, its only chance in history was created by the communists of the 1940s. However, they too had to be sacrificed, as in this 'theater of fate.' As you said, a single sword was not enough. Two swords were used simultaneously (Churchill and Stalin). We could also say, 'Churchill executed with the sword of Stalin.' This is politically more accurate. Because, since the gift of Abdulhamid, England, which had integrated the Mediterranean into Pax Britannica, viewed World War II as a great opportunity to solidify its dominance in this strategic area. Isn't it interesting that Churchill, who was reluctant to open a second front in Western Europe, insisted on opening this front in the Mediterranean (in his own artillery range) and actually targeted us for its temporary guardianship? In the end, whoever knew these matters well and read them well (we know!) did not fall for this game. However, the scale of the matters had grown significantly. The sacrifice of Greece's future was essential for the Mediterranean geopolitics to be taken over by the new 'immense power' (i.e., the new 'warfare state') in 1947 and for a new, dark era for the world to open up FROM THERE, so that the 'Great Theater' could unfold in Europe. And three months later, the announcement of the 'Marshall Plan' could be made by General Marshall (when there was still no plan or program!). We do not know what work the Greek communists would have staged in the theater of history if they had been able to establish an independent government in the country without being seduced by the promises of democracy. However, the people who dared to oppose the Anatolian invasion would have certainly made Greece different in terms of Turkey as well."
Source: www.denizhaber.com