Brief biography of Spyridon Vennis :

Spyridon Kon. Vennis, was born on 24/12/1913 in Kalamata, the tenth of ten siblings from a historical family of Souliot origin. He completed his secondary studies at the Commercial School (Lyceum) of Kalamata and studied law at the Law School of the University of Athens.

It is noted that Spyridon Vennis, as a student, worked hard to earn a living, while for the same purpose he also worked in Macedonia during the summer season in agricultural work – harvesting machines.

Lieutenant Colonel Spyridon Vennis, on active duty, served, as mentioned, as an adjutant of Konstantinos Davakis, and together they founded in the dark years of the occupation the Association of Disabled Officers (On Active Duty) of the War of ’40-’41. That is, those who not only led our army to Victory but also gave their very physical integrity, a sacrifice to the Homeland. (On active duty is an honorary status given to officers who became disabled during the performance of duty and means that they are always considered active.)

His first assignment as a Reserve Officer was in the historic 8th Infantry Regiment (Nafplio) where he took on the training of the Machine Gun Company as a Reserve Second Lieutenant.

Thus, he subsequently participated in the Epic of ’40 and specifically in the Central Sector of the Front, as a platoon commander of the III Platoon of the 3rd Machine Gun Company of the aforementioned 8th Regiment .

Spyridon Vennis distinguished himself for his bravery on the battlefield during the Northern Epirus Epic of ’40, even being recommended for promotion for bravery, since he alone and standing fired machine gun shots at attacking Italian planes while leaning on ammunition boxes, defying the danger that surrounded him (for this event he was awarded the Golden Order of Andreas).

He took part in all the important battles, in Kalpaki, Dervitsani, Drino, Kolonia, Pogonati and entered first with the vanguard and reconnaissance unit, in Argirokastro. He eventually suffered severe frostbite in this titanic effort of our Army to confront the fascist invasions. Covered in blood he was transferred to the military surgery of Ioannina where he was amputated.

As mentioned above, he was the Founding Secretary General of the Association of Disabled Officers (War Availability), having himself drafted its Statute in 1941 and, during the Nazi Occupation, showing special care for the distribution of rations and the provision of basic care not only to the suffering War Disabled but also to starving children on the streets of Athens (the distribution of rations was carried out on Phidiou Street in Athens, where the Association’s offices were located). And not only that, but he also saved many Israelis from the persecutions of the Nazis, granting them, with the help of patriotic civil servants, documents that identified them as Christians. For this national and military action, he was honored with the highest military distinctions (Golden Medal of Valor, War Crosses, Ministry of Foreign Affairs medal, etc.) – and as an officer, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Spyridon Vennis was also a brilliant lawyer, for a decade Legal Advisor to the Piraeus Port Authority – contributing to the reorganization of the Coast Guard after the War, and a legal author (his work is the “Codification of the Provisions on the Port of Piraeus”) and then a Notary Public in Athens at Themistikleous 4.

He continued his contribution until the end of his life, always being elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Officers of the Hellenic Republic, but also being actively involved in the Association of Friends of Greek-Speaking Abroad (SFEE), which for forty-two years has been fighting for the salvation of the historical communities of Magna Grecia, Corsica, etc.

Spyridon Vennis died on January 16, 1998, and was buried at the First Cemetery of Athens with the honors of a senior officer killed in the line of duty.

His funeral was attended by the current Mayor of Alimos, Municipal Councilors of Alimos, Paleo Faliro and Hymettus, a six-member delegation on behalf of the General Assembly, the President and delegation of the Panhellenic Union of War Readiness Officers, the former MP Dim. Ioannou, a War Invalid and fellow soldier of the deceased, as well as representatives of Associations. An honorary procession after military music paid the honors befitting a dead hero.

Funeral prayers were delivered by the head of the General Staff delegation, the aforementioned Dim. Ioannou, as representative of the Disabled Officers, and by Lawyer Mr. Michael Tzanoglou. During the burial, the Flag March was praised and three gunshots were fired from the Regiment as a show of highest honor to the deceased.