on 28 January 1917, Georgios Papandreou is appointed general commander of the Aegean, based in Chios.
………………………………………..
He and his wife arrive on the island and rent the two-storey mansion of the Mitarakis family
(by Notis Mitarakis)
in Bella Vista,
smothered in lemon trees, greenery and scents
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George Papandreou throws himself headlong into the big bet that was also Venizelos' bet,
to prepare the archipelago division
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It was essentially a division of volunteers from the islands, who would fight in Macedonia, alongside ANTAD.
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In February, his wife, Sophia Mineiko, announces to him:
«I'm expecting a child»
28 year old George Papandreou jumps out and runs drunk with happiness
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and the good news continues.
in April the division is ready
………………………………………..
He leaves for Macedonia and comes under the command of General Maneta
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Papandreou is triumphant
He has already become the “father” of the archipelago division and expects to become a real father,
but the Turks have a different view
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on July 25, 1917, they bomb Chios, trying to hit the British base
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Papandreou panics and they leave Bella Vista aron aron
but
and the new house they're going to, it's raining bombs...
finally,
When they reach safety in the morning, they can't find a doctor and the baby's hasty birth will not go well.
an inexperienced neighbour who will take charge of the birth, will drown the newborn girl, on her attempt to
………………………………………..
Papandreou and Sophia are inconsolable
………………………………………..
Venizelos of Athens does not understand pain.
has again become Prime Minister of the whole of Greece,
(Konstantinos has left)
and
invites Papandreou to go to Athens where he is given the food ministry
(SG, with Empeirikos as minister)
………………………………………..
will stay in Athens for 5 months and return to Chios, in February 1918.
………………………………………..
one day in May, Papandreou exclaims, holding a telegram
«We won in Scratch»
and all of Chios celebrates...
You see, one of the keys to Victory was the 6th Archipelago Regiment, which consisted mainly of volunteers from Chios.
………………………………………..
In those days comes the other great news.
announced by Sophia
«I'm pregnant.»
………………………………………..
but Papandreou is a political animal and cannot keep away from the political developments in Athens.
that way
leaves the 6-month pregnant Sophia and goes to Athens to see Venizelos
………………………………………..
He is very happy with him and gives him 600.000 for the road network of Chios, which is practically non-existent.
is the most money given to any county that year.
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Papandreou returns to Chios where the celebrations for their constitution have not ceased.
so,
by popular demand, sends a silver sword to the commander of the regiment,
a lieutenant colonel by the name of Nikolaos Plastiras
………………………………………..
while in rainy Paris in 1919, Venizelos was bargaining for Smyrna, eastern Thrace, the Dodecanese, northern Epirus and Cyprus,
Sophia enters her month
………………………………………..
On this day, February 5, 1919, he will give birth to a boy, whom George Papandreou will name after his late priest father, Andreas.
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after a couple of months, George Papandreou, over little Andreas' crib, will say:
He was born at a good time,
at the moment when the Greeks are crossing the threshold of Asia Minor,
Dreams of centuries become reality...
Blessed Child
………………………………………..
Andreas Papandreou, before he was even born,
fermented with the history of Greece
and he himself became an integral part of it,
one of its brightest pieces
