On July 24, 1974, the plane carrying Konstantinos Karamanlis from Paris lands on Greek soil, marking the end of the seven-year dictatorship.

On hearing the news, crowds of people flooded the streets of Athens, carrying greek flags and celebrating the restoration of democracy. In the very next few days, the government of National Unity under the leadership of Karamanlis proceeds to abolish the concentration camps, release political prisoners and restore freedom of the press.

The road to the post-war period had been opened. On October 3, 1974 free elections would be held after a decade. The issue of the constitution, with the prevalence of an unconstitutional democracy, would be definitively closed with the referendum of 8 December 1974 and on 7 June 1975 the new Constitution of the country would be adopted, establishing a presidential parliamentary democracy as the constitution of Greece.

In those early days of post-independence, relief and enthusiasm were the dominant emotions for most of the people, as reflected in the telephotographs of the time. The Museum presents some of these moments, drawn from its rich collection of telephotographs.

Telephotos from the left:

1. With the fall of the junta and the news of Constantine Karamanlis' return from Paris, crowds of people took to the streets in celebration. 23/7/1974 (Floros Brothers Archive - Nikos L. Floros)
2. Citizens holding Greek flags outside the Polytechnic, celebrating the fall of the dictatorship and the appointment of a political government. 23/7/1974 (Floros Brothers Archive - Nikos L. Floros)
3. Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis presides over the first meeting of the Cabinet of the Government of National Unity. 29/7/1974 (Floros Brothers Archive - Nikos L. Floros)