In an emotionally powerful event held in Lagadia, Peloponnese, on Sunday afternoon, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and hundreds of working men and women honored one of the most venerable figures of the Greek communist movement, Nikos Ploumpidis (1902-1954).
The event, which was attended by the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas and Ploumpidis' namesake grandson, Nikos, was marked by the unveiling of a bust and memorial dedicated to the heroic communist.
The event, which was attended by the General Secretary of the KKE Dimitris Koutsoumbas and Ploumpidis' namesake grandson, Nikos, was marked by the unveiling of a bust and memorial dedicated to the heroic communist.
“Ploumpidis' bust will stand here from now on, in order to remind his compatriots and visitors his heroic stance and selfless contribution to the people”, Koutsoumbas said in his speech. “It will remind the suprepe morality he displayed, remaining faithful to his ideas and his Party, even when he was treated very unfairly by it, defending the policy of the KKE and refusing to provide to the opponent the slightest word that could be used against the KKE, thus reaching the execution squad proud and unyielding”, Koutsoumbas underlined.
“Ploumpidis' stance consists a moral triumph of the communists, of our principles and ideology, as it proves that our words and actions go together”, the General Secretary said.
“Ploumpidis' stance consists a moral triumph of the communists, of our principles and ideology, as it proves that our words and actions go together”, the General Secretary said.
A few words about Nikos Ploumpidis
Ploumbidis was born in 1902 in Lagadia. A teacher by profession he developed his activity within the working class movement at a young age, thus becoming a KKE member in 1926. In 1938 he became a member of the Central Committee and later member of the Political Bureau.
After being imprisoned and tortured for his activity, he managed to escape and joined the anti-Nazi resistances movement in Greece. During the 1946-49 Civil War, Ploumpidis worked as a clandestine organizer for the KKE. He was again arrested in 1952 on the basis of anti-communist legislation and was executed by a firing squad on 14 August 1954. In the meantime, in a deeply erroneous decision, the then party leadership had publicly denounced him as a "provocateur" thus expelling him from the KKE. A few years later, in 1958, the Party officially rehabilitated Ploumpidis acknowledging that his expulsion was a mistake.
Despite the fact that his party's leadership had denounced him, Ploumpidis remained loyal to the KKE until his death. "I will die a communist", he wrote in his final letter. His heroic legacy and example will continue to inspire the new generations of communists in Greece and elsewhere.
Ploumbidis was born in 1902 in Lagadia. A teacher by profession he developed his activity within the working class movement at a young age, thus becoming a KKE member in 1926. In 1938 he became a member of the Central Committee and later member of the Political Bureau.
After being imprisoned and tortured for his activity, he managed to escape and joined the anti-Nazi resistances movement in Greece. During the 1946-49 Civil War, Ploumpidis worked as a clandestine organizer for the KKE. He was again arrested in 1952 on the basis of anti-communist legislation and was executed by a firing squad on 14 August 1954. In the meantime, in a deeply erroneous decision, the then party leadership had publicly denounced him as a "provocateur" thus expelling him from the KKE. A few years later, in 1958, the Party officially rehabilitated Ploumpidis acknowledging that his expulsion was a mistake.
Despite the fact that his party's leadership had denounced him, Ploumpidis remained loyal to the KKE until his death. "I will die a communist", he wrote in his final letter. His heroic legacy and example will continue to inspire the new generations of communists in Greece and elsewhere.
