Konstantinos Miliotis Komninos (1874-1941)

Konstantinos Miliotis Komninos (1874-1941) was an iconic figure in the Greek military and athletics during the early 20th century. Born in Ermoupolis, he pursued a military career as an infantry officer. He participated in the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and distinguished himself during the Balkan Wars as the commander of the 6th Division. He also served as the commander of the Greek Army in Asia Minor (1919-1920). He was involved in the National Defense Movement and was appointed Minister of Military Affairs in Venizelos' government. Alongside his military career, Komninos was a fencing athlete, participating in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. He was a member of the Athenian Club, where he served as vice president, and also a member of the Olympic Games Committee (1901-1916). In 1941, when the Germans occupied the Athenian Club, Komninos resisted by striking a German soldier with his whip, resulting in his immediate execution. His act of resistance and self-sacrifice made him a heroic figure of the Greek National Resistance. Pictured: letter from the Board of Directors of the Iraklis Gymnastic Club of Thessaloniki, dated April 8, 1917, addressed to the Minister of Military Affairs of National Defense, Konstantinos Miliotis Komninos. ©Iraklis New Gymnastics Club of Thessaloniki 1908.