Following the Russo-Turkish war (1877 – 1878), Cyprus was leased to the British Empire and was formally annexed by Britain at the end of the First World War.
Among the Greek Cypriots, the concept of ‘enosis’ – union with Greece had been a movement that had taken hold during the previous century, under the Ottoman rule.
On April 1st 1955, the EOKA (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston) whose aim was unification with Greece through armed struggle, started their guerilla campaign, targeting British military installations on the island.
The campaign against the British lasted for the next four years. On August 16th 1960, a cease-fire was reached and Cyprus attained independence after the Zurich and London Agreement between the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey.