Interwar block of flats – Decembrian Bullets

What I can see

This modern building of the interwar period has classicist and Art Deco elements. It was designed by architect Emmanuel Lazaridis, who was a supporter of streamlined modern classicism with Art Deco elements. It is also an example of “erker” architecture, i.e. projecting volumes of the building, whose width can reach 1.40m from the façade. In this case, it is limited to 40 cm under the law of 1937. Quite impressive are the front door and the striations of the bases of lamps, which refer to ancient columns. In the building’s façade are scattered holes. They resulted from shots after riots that broke out in December 1944 (Dekemvriana) just before the Greek Civil War (1946-1949).

What I can't see

The so-called “Dekemvriana” (=December events) lasted for several days and was a conflict between government forces (in collaboration with British forces and security battalions, i.e. Greek Nazis and German collaborators) and the forces of EAM- ELAS (Greek National Liberation Front- Liberation Army) on the occasion of the power vacuum that had arisen with the end of the war. The clashes began after governmental and British forces shot at demonstrators of the EAM, who were protesting against the impunity of Nazi collaborators and the government’s ultimatum regarding the disarmament of rebel groups, which had contributed significantly to the resistance against the Nazis and had gained widespread support. 33 people were killed, and 148 were injured. The EAM- ELAS and the British, formerly allied against the Germans, became enemies and the Dekemvriana was the most severe and bloodiest conflict the capital had experienced.

Info

• Address: 42 Amalias Av. & Goura St.

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