The War in Cyprus - and Cyprus in the War

The exhibition "1940|Faces and Images. Cyprus – Greece" brings you a captivating lecture on Cyprus' role in World War II

The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, in the context of its cooperation with the National Archives of the United Kingdom and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, organizes the lecture «The War in Cyprus – and Cyprus in the War».

The speakers will be Dr Juliette Desplat, Head of Modern Overseas, Intelligence and Security Records at The National Archives, and Dr George Hay, Official Historian at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The lecture will examine the significance of Cyprus as a base for military operations during the Second World War, as well as the major contributions of Cypriots to that war effort despite the sometimes-tense relations between the local population and the British colonial government. It will draw on archival materials concerning the British administration of colonies and overseas territories, as well as those that document the country’s relations with foreign powers, the operations of its armed forces and the establishment and work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

In addition, the lecture will investigate the rekindling of political activity on the island during the war, disputes relating to the future of Cyprus, the potential ways of using change for propaganda, the first attempts at reform undertaken immediately after the war, and the legacy of the conflict today.

The lecture will be delivered in English on Friday, 21 February 2020 at 7pm at the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, Faneromenis 86-90.

For more information call 22128175.

The lecture complements the Cultural Foundation's exhibition "1940|Faces and Images. Cyprus – Greece" (Open Mon-Sun 10am to 7pm, running until 30 June 2020).