# George II of Greece

> King of Greece (r. 1922-1924, 1935-1947)

**Wikidata**: [Q152935](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152935)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_II_of_Greece)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/george-ii-of-greece

## Summary
George II of Greece was a monarch and human who served as the King of Greece during two distinct periods, from 1922 to 1924 and again from 1935 to 1947. His reign encompassed significant historical conflicts including the Balkan Wars, World War II, and the Greek Civil War, and he held the position of head of state for the Hellenic Republic.

## Biography
- **Born:** July 19, 1890 (or August 1, 1890)
- **Nationality:** Greece
- **Known for:** Reigning as King of Greece during the early to mid-20th century
- **Employer(s):** Monarchy of Greece
- **Field(s):** Monarchy, Governance

## Contributions
George II's primary contributions are defined by his leadership of the Greek state during periods of intense geopolitical activity. He led the nation through the First and Second Balkan Wars, World War II, and the Greek Civil War. His service was recognized internationally through the receipt of numerous high-level military and chivalric orders, including the Distinguished Service Order from the UK, the War Cross from Norway, and the Order of the Redeemer from Greece.

## FAQs
**When did George II of Greece serve as King?**
George II served as King of Greece during two separate tenures: his first rule lasted from 1922 to 1924, and his second rule lasted from 1935 until his death in 1947.

**What military conflicts was George II involved in?**
He was associated with four major conflicts: the First Balkan War, the Second Balkan War, World War II, and the Greek Civil War.

**What awards and honors did George II receive?**
He received the Distinguished Service Order (UK), the War Cross (Norway), the Order of the Redeemer (Greece), the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark), and was named a Knight of the Order of the Elephant (Denmark).

**What is the Order of the Redeemer?**
The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state, which was conferred upon George II.

## Why They Matter
George II holds historical significance as the head of the Greek state during a transformative era that included the Balkan Wars and World War II. His reign bridged the interwar period and the mid-20th century, placing him at the center of Greece's political and military struggles. His recognition by various foreign powers, including the United Kingdom, Norway, and Denmark, highlights his standing in international diplomacy during a tumultuous time for Europe.

## Notable For
- Serving as King of Greece from 1922–1924 and 1935–1947.
- Receiving the Order of the Redeemer, the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state.
- Being awarded the Distinguished Service Order, a UK military decoration.
- Receiving the War Cross, Norway's highest military honor.
- Being a Knight of the Order of the Elephant from Denmark.
- Involvement in the First and Second Balkan Wars, World War II, and the Greek Civil War.

## Body

### Identity and Role
George II of Greece was a human and a monarch. As a monarch, he served as the person at the head of a monarchy, specifically the Kingdom of Greece. His official title in Greek was Γεώργιος Βʹ (Georgios II). He is also known by the alias "King George II of Greece."

### Reign and Timeline
George II's tenure as King was divided into two distinct periods. His first reign began in 1922 and lasted until 1924. Following a hiatus, he resumed his rule in 1935 and continued as the monarch until his death on April 1, 1947. His leadership spanned a total of approximately 14 years, covering critical junctures in early 20th-century history.

### Military Conflicts
The military history of George II is marked by his involvement in several major wars:
*   **First Balkan War:** A conflict involving the Balkan League and the Ottoman Empire.
*   **Second Balkan War:** A continuation of the First Balkan War in which Bulgaria fought Serbia, Greece, Romania, and the Ottoman Empire.
*   **World War II:** The global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945.
*   **Greek Civil War:** A civil war in Greece lasting from 1946 to 1949.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout his career, George II received numerous awards and decorations from various countries:
*   **Distinguished Service Order:** A UK military decoration instituted in 1886.
*   **War Cross:** Norway's highest military honor, instituted in 1941.
*   **Order of the Redeemer:** The oldest and highest decoration awarded by the modern Greek state, instituted in 1833.
*   **Order of the Dannebrog:** An award from Denmark.
*   **Knight of the Order of the Elephant:** The only grade of the Order of the Elephant, a Danish honor.

### Geopolitical Context
As King of Greece, George II ruled a sovereign state located in Southeast Europe, officially known as the Hellenic Republic. The country is characterized by its strategic position in the Mediterranean region. During his era, the capital of Greece was Athens. The state is recognized for its rich cultural heritage and ancient history, including being the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy.

### Associated Organizations
George II's era is associated with key organizations within Greece, including the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Committee of the country. The committee is headquartered in Athens and represents Greece in the Olympic movement.

### Archival and Bibliographic Identifiers
George II of Greece is cataloged in numerous international databases and archives with the following identifiers:
*   **ISNI:** 0000000052763756
*   **VIAF:** 26974227
*   **GND:** 124327214
*   **Library of Congress Control Number:** nr98000453
*   **Bibliothèque nationale de France:** 16561395p
*   **IdRef:** 154531197
*   **BNF (Ark):** mp54059
*   **SELIBR:** 2352573
*   **RERO:** 034847
*   **NLA Trove:** 49716
*   **NKC:** 10585387
*   **BNE:** XX5276375
*   **NLI:** 00000000184
*   **B2B:** 617/000206996
*   **Lattes:** 8079309
*   **SNAC:** 863
*   **Rkzahts:** I00006855
*   **KULTURNAV:** 410529
*   **MusicBrainz:** G7BC-6DJ
*   **NLA (Trove):** 3917750
*   **LNB:** 241809
*   **WORLDCATID:** 5298
*   **VIAF (Georg-ii-(1890-1947-kung-av-grekland)):** 136530
*   **LIR:** 15003831
*   **NUKAT:** 120020
*   **B611:** 1201122
*   **ICCU:** 19035
*   **NLI (Jurgis-ii-1):** 16948
*   **BNF (Giorgio+II+(re+di+Grecia)):** 6706
*   **BIBSYS:** 1259
*   **DBNL:** 20110803095848947
*   **LNB (Giorgio-ii-re-di-grecia):** 6404
*   **OpenAlex:** E39PBJvRT8kVVFTQYVBkqrBdcP
*   **B611 (Georg_2.):** 8313
*   **VIAF (George_II_of_Greece_(1)):** 4159
*   **B2B (pe/005997):** 4293
*   **BNE (Jordi-ii-de-grecia):** 12385
*   **B611 (zn2e-6qwg-bnrd):** 9482
*   **B2B (02408/eu_g_1547/g1547):** 10242
*   **B611 (m015520):** 10297
*   **Wikidata:** Q6411
*   **Wikipedia:** George II of Greece

### Associated Media
Various media files are associated with George II of Greece, including:
*   **Image:** Georgeiiofgreece.jpg
*   **Coat of Arms:** Royal Coat of Arms of Greece (accurate).svg
*   **Signatures:** George II of Greece signature in Greek.svg, George II of Greece Signature.svg
*   **Tomb:** GrabGeorg II.jpg
*   **Monogram:** Royal Monogram of King George II of Greece.svg

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. The Peerage
3. general catalog of BnF
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. BnF authorities
6. Find a Grave
7. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
8. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
9. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
10. Croatian Encyclopedia
11. Proleksis Encyclopedia
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. IdRef
14. Sejm-Wielki.pl