CYPRUS IN THE HANDS OF BRIGADIER DEMETRIOS IOANNIDES AND THE GREEK OFFICERS 15-23 JULY 1974: The 8 day Coup Union of Cyprus with Greece that collapsed after the Turkish invasion of 20 July 1974

On July 15 1974 the "invisible dictator" of Greece Brigadier General Denetrios Ioannides took the President of Cyprus Makarios by surprise and carried out a successful coup d' etat which forced Makarios to flee Cyprus after a two-day resistance of his followers which resulted in 98 casualties from both sides. By July 17 the whole of Cyprus was under Ioannides's control and a government of union with Greece sympathizers was installed, yet real power was in the hands of the Greek officers of the National Guard that imposed martial law after the successful coup.