Ioannis Tsangaridis

Ioannis Tsangaridis (Greek: Ιωάννης Τσαγγαρίδης; 1887–1939) was a general of the Greek Army from Cyprus.

He was born in Lapithos in then British-ruled Cyprus, to Christophis Tsangaridis, in 1887.[1] In 1904 he went to Athens for studies in chemistry, but quickly abandoned them and volunteered for the armed bands of the Macedonian Struggle (1904–08).[1] On his return he enlisted in the Greek Army, and, after studies at the NCO School, was commissioned as a cavalry officer.

He took part in the Balkan Wars of 1912–13 and the Asia Minor Campaign (1919–22), where he particularly distinguished himself until being heavily wounded at the Battle of Sakarya in August 1921, forcing him to take an extended leave.[1] Promoted to Major General in 1935, he disagreed with the establishment of the dictatorial Metaxas Regime in 1936, leading to his internal exile in Sifnos and Ikaria.[1] His wounds, coupled with the hardships of exile, led to his death on 31 March 1939.[1]

His brother Theofanis (1895–1962) took part in the anti-British riots of October 1931 and was exiled, going to Athens where he became president of the Cypriot community, while the youngest brother, Odysseas, became an architect in his home town of Lapithos.[1]

His diary has been published in 1987 by the Estia bookshop as Το ημερολόγιο ενός στρατηγού: Σελίδες νεοελληνικής ιστορίας ("The diary of a general: Pages of modern Greek history").