Movement of National Defence - The Revolution Breaks Out

The Revolution Breaks Out

On 17 August 1916 (O.S.), Venizelist officers of the Revolutionary Committee, rose up, despite Venizelos' own reservations. Although they could count on the support of many individual officers, the only major force to declare itself openly for the movement were the men of the Cretan Gendarmerie. Initial clashes between the rebels and the loyal 11th Division of Colonel Nikolaos Trikoupis left 3 dead, but French intervention soon ended the firefight. On Sarrail's orders, the officers still loyal to the government were dismissed and sent to Athens, while the troops were disarmed and interned in camps. The revolution established control of Thessaloniki and was soon reinforced by the remnants of the Serres Division, which gave some credibility to the movement.