In a surprise move, Brigadier General Dimitrios Ioannidis led a coup on November 25, 1973, which culminated in the ousting of Georgios Papadopoulos from his leadership of the military regime that had ruled Greece since 1967. Under Papadopoulos, the junta had tried to establish a more moderate façade, but as public dissent grew, hardliners within the regime, including Ioannidis, believed that more extreme measures were necessary to maintain control. Ioannidis, who had been a key figure within the military hierarchy, aligned with other generals who supported a shift towards a more authoritarian approach to governance.

The coup unfolded with a swift and military precision, as forces loyal to Ioannidis took control of crucial government buildings and communications. Papadopoulos, who had once been a staunch proponent of a 'liberalized' military rule, was arrested. This drastic measure was seen as a signal to both the Greek populace and the international community that the military would not tolerate any form of dissent or opposition. Ioannidis’ coup also took place against a backdrop of rising political tensions and student protests, notably exemplified by the Athens Polytechnic uprising earlier that month, which had highlighted the growing discord within Greek society concerning military governance.

Following the coup, Ioannidis consolidated power and implemented a harsher form of repression against political dissidents. His rule signified the return to a more severe military dictatorship. The political landscape of Greece was altered permanently as the actions taken by Ioannidis directly impacted the eventual restoration of democracy in 1974, which came after a series of events including the Cyprus Crisis that further destabilized the regime. The coup is also significant for its role in the broader Cold War context, where the United States had vested interests in stabilizing the Greek military government, complicating the narrative of democratic processes during those years.