The Korizis family was well known in Greek society during the interwar period. Before the Second World War, Alexandros Korizis was Governor of the National Bank (1939-1941). He contributed to the organization of the agricultural credit branch in the National Bank, from the spin-off of later came the Agricultural Bank (1929) of which he was the first chairman of its Board of Directors. He had served as Minister of Finance (1933), Minister of State Hygiene (1936-1939) and on January 29, 1941, and during the war, King George II appointed him the Prime Minister of the country.

Attached is his letter to all the staff of the National Bank on the day of the country’s entry into World War II and the beginning of the Greek-Italian war of 1940.

Korizis encourages the staff of the National Bank.

As Prime Minister, Korizis said the 2nd “NO” when on April 6, 1941 he rejected the request of the Germans for the withdrawal of British forces from Greece, rejecting the ultimatum delivered to him by the German ambassador Victor zu Erbach-Schönberg – half an hour after the beginning of the German invasion in clear violation of the relevant Hague Convention, where under these circumstances the war is characterized as “sudden”.

On April 18, twelve days after the start of the German invasion, and while the fighting was raging, Korizis participated in a Cabinet meeting – followed by a private conversation with King George. Exactly what was said in this conversation was never known, although it is speculated that the two men may have disagreed over the continuation of the fight with a possible move of the Greek government to Crete, or British colony Cyprus. However, Korizis came out of the meeting with the King devastated and headed to his house on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue.

The King, worried about Korizis, sent the successor Paul to his house. When Paul arrived and was talking at the entrance of the prime minister’s residence with his wife Korizis, shots were heard from the first floor. Korizis had committed suicide.

Alexandros Korizis had two daughters, Eleni (Lena, Lady in Honor by Queen Frederick) and Irene (Rena, wife of shipowner Stratis Andreadis), and Catherine and George .

His brother, Stelios Korizis, was arrested during the Dekemvriana by ELAS and later executed while he was a prisoner. Stelios Korizis had two sons, Georgios, who was also arrested and executed in Dekemvriana, and Chariton, to whom this site is dedicated.