Anastasios Papadopoulos

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Anastasios Papadopoulos (Greek: Αναστάσιος Παπαδόπουλος 1896–1922) also known as Kotza Anastas, Koja Anastash, Gotsa Nastas or Kotsanastas, was a Pontic Greek guerilla who led several successful campaigns against Kemalist Turkish soldiers and Çetes during the Pontic Greek Genocide. Kotza Anastas was nicknamed the Kolokotronis of Pontos.

Early life

Kotza Anastas was born in 1896 in the village of Ediq Pounar in Erbaa, Pontos to a family of Pontic Greeks peasants. His grandfather was the village priest. At the age of 21 in 1915, Kotza was conscripted into the Turkish Labor Battalion and transported to the interior of Asia Minor like many other Christians of Turkey during the early 20th century. The harsh conditions and treatment in the Labor Battalions lead to the deaths of thousands of Christian Armenians and Pontians from starvation, exhaustion, exposure, dehydration or simply being worked to death. Kotza deserted the Labor Battalions and fled to the mountainous village of Topçam.

Guerilla activity

While in Topçam Kotza Anastas joined the guerilla band of Captain Yakov. During a battle in 1916, Captain Yakov was killed in the fighting and Kotza Anastas was chosen to replace the deceased Captain Yakov Karatelidis as the new captain of the guerillas due to his strong build, bravery and military discipline. Kotza Anastas and his band of Pontian guerillas numbered around 700 able bodied Pontian men. In April 1921, Topal Osman besieged the region of Erbaa with an army of 3,000 çetes looting, torching and destroying Pontian Greek villages and homes. 12,000 Pontians escaped Topal Osman and his çetes, fleeing to Topçam were they were under the protection of Kotza Anastas. After a close encounter with with Kotza Anastas and his guerillas, Topal Osman and his çetes are said to have quickly fled the area. On November 11, 1921, Liva Pasha and an entire division of Turkish soldiers entered Topçam and engaged in 52 days of fierce fighting with Kotza Anastas and his guerillas. Liva Pasha withdrew from the area after losing 700 of his own men in the clashes. Not long after Liva Pashas retreat General Chemel Jevit and a division from the Yildirim Army Group numbering 10,000 soldiers were said to have been personally sent to Topçam by Kemal Atatürk to destroy the Pontian guerillas. On February 23, 1922, the Yildirim Army Group were ambushed by the Pontian guerillas led by Kotza Anastas, General Chemel Jevit was killed in the ambush and the Yildirim Army Group quickly withdrew from the area. In October 1922, Liva Pasha entered Topçam to end hostilities with the Pontian guerillas and negotiate peace with the Pontians. Many of the Pontian Greeks hiding in Topçam were given safe passage to Greece, however Kotza Anastas and his band of guerillas remained in Pontos, where they continued to fight against Turks and protect remaining Pontic Greeks in the area.

Death

Kotza Anastas was assassinated by a family relative on 2 December 1922 after the Turkish government had put a large bounty on his head.

Legacy

Kotza Anastas is folk hero among Pontian Greeks. He is known as the Kolokotronis of Pontos and the Last Akritas of Pontos and a True son of Digenis Akritas. Several songs have been made in honor of Kotza Anastas by various Pontic Greek musicians.

External links

• Antonopoulos, P (2021). "The Pontic Greeks Who Fought Hard and Bravely against Genocidal Barbarity". Greek City Times.
• Papadopoulos, L; Kozani, N (2017). Κοτζά Αναστάς – O τελευταίος Ακρίτας του Πόντου. Pentapostagma (in Ελληνικά).
• Sam Topalidis (2022). "Freedom Fighters". Pontos World.
• Thodoros Pavlidis. O kotzanastas – via YouTube.

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