Nikolas Lioumbus

Nikolas Lioumbus, initially a citizen of Giannochori then moving on to be a high ranking marshal in the Greek Army, was an extremely influential ambassador of Giannochori. 

A town's saviour

It was the 2nd World War and Italian and Greek troops that had led a march into through Greece and Albania were turned back by the Germans. On their return, troops made their way through Giannochori and in fear of being caught by the Germans, exchanged military clothing and weapons for civilian clothing.

There came a time after the war when the Greek government were obviously very sensitive to the communist mutterings through the country and it was at this time that someone had tipped off the government to there being a stash of weapons in Giannochori. Although these weapons were being harboured for hunting and non-political purposes, the village was raided by the government and in 1946, 6 boys from Gionnochori who were accused of harbouring these weapons were arrested and sentenced to execution in the Greek city of Kozuni.

The village of Giannochori was in mourning - 6 of their children were going to die by firing squad. Black clothing was adourned by all village members and the grieving was intense.

It was with a desperate plea that the mayor of Giannochori at the time, Mr Grevelis, rang Nikolas Liombus. Having been a citizen of Gionnochori and high standing in the government, Liombus moved the trial to his Salonica where he lived. It was here that the sentence was turned and the 6 boys freed.

Celebrations in Gionnochori rang out for weeks following.

Next... PaPou's uncle Petros and the direct influence of Liombus on him...