Honoring Aris Velouchiotis, 80 years since his death

By Nikos Mottas

The 16th of June 2025 marks the 80th anniversary since the death of the iconic Greek communist guerrilla Aris Velouchiotis. 

A member of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and First Captain of the Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS) during World War Two, Velouchiotis has been a legendary personality of the Greek Resistance against the Axis occupation. 

KKE to honor the 80th death anniversary of legendary guerrilla Aris Velouchiotis

With events in Lamia and Arta, his birthplace and place of death respectively, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) will honor the 80th anniversary since the death of the iconic communist guerrilla Aris Velouchiotis. 

More specifically, on Friday 13 June, political and cultural events, with the participation of the General Secretary of the Party, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, will be held in the city of Lamia, birthplace of Velouchiotis, 

Farewell to Greek militant communist Maria Sideri

Maria Sideri, an emblematic figure of the Greek communist movement, passed away at the age of 98. “With pride and respect we pay farewell to our comrade, Maria Demseri-Sideri who passed away full of days, having closed a long and full cycle or life, uninterrupted action and relentless struggles", underlines a statement issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

Maria Sideri was born in Kozani, northern Greece, in 1923. In 1943 she joined resistance youth organization EPON and took active part in all its activities against the Nazi occupation. Later she joined the KKE.

Aris Velouchiotis: The soul of Greek Resistance

Today, June 16th, marks the 75th anniversary since the death of the iconic Greek communist guerrilla Aris Velouchiotis. A member of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and First Captain of the Greek People’s Liberation Army (ELAS) during World War Two, Velouchiotis is a leading personality of the Greek Resistance against the Axis occupation. 

Aris Velouchiotis, whose real name was Thanasis Klaras, Born in Lamia to a wealthy family on August 27, 1905, Aris studied at Larisa’s Averoff Agricultural School and worked briefly as an agronomist. 

Moving to Athens, he became a member of the Communist Youth (OKNE) in 1922 and a member of the KKE in 1925. Due to his radical, communist views he was sent to Kalpaki Disciplinary Platoon, an army camp where communist soldiers were imprisoned and tortured.