The crisis of Cyprus in 1974 had its origins in the coup d'état by the junta of Giannidis against Archbishop Makarios on July 15. This provided Turkey with the opportunity to carry out the subsequent invasion.

Attila I, on July 20, and Attila II, on August 14, marked what was perceived in Greece and Cyprus as the greatest national catastrophe since 1922. The Turkish army occupied and still holds 36% of the island's territory, while 160,000 Greek Cypriots were forced to leave their homes and have not returned nor have their descendants.

The international community did not recognize the Turkish Cypriot state, which is only recognized by Turkey, but the occupation took on a permanent character.

However, the crisis of 1974 also had a positive side, as the national disaster in Cyprus simultaneously marked the collapse of the dictatorship and the Metapolitefsi, the return of Konstantinos Karamanlis to Greece, the formation of the National Unity government, the transition to a new parliamentary system, and the establishment of the most functional democracy in modern Greek history.