Polytechnic University - Athens, Greece
17th of November 2024
The Polytechnic Uprising of November 17, 1973, was a pivotal event in modern Greek history. It was a student-led protest at the Athens Polytechnic University against the military junta that had ruled Greece since 1967. The students, supported by left-wing groups, intellectuals, and some workers, demanded the restoration of democracy, freedom, and the end of the dictatorship.
On November 14, students occupied the Polytechnic campus…
… broadcasting their resistance via a homemade radio station. The uprising gained broad public support, and on November 17, the junta sent tanks to crush the protest. The military's violent crackdown led to several deaths, though the exact toll is debated.
The uprising became a symbol of resistance, and although it was suppressed, it played a key role in the junta's downfall.
The 17th of November is now a national day of remembrance for those who died and a symbol of the ongoing struggle for democracy in Greece.
