Cretan war hero Katechakis died on this day in 1939 Search for: From the village of Platanos in south-central Crete, Georgios Katechakis (1881 – April 22, 1939) was a Greek fighter, Major General in the Greek Army and later a politician. Katechakis came from a long line of Cretan fighters who had participated in the Greek Revolution and Cretan Revolts of the 19th century. He enrolled in the Hellenic Military Academy, graduating in 1902. The Cretan was one of the first officers to volunteer, head to and fight for Macedonia during the outbreak of the Macedonian Struggle (1904-08). Under the pseudonym of “Kapetan Rouvas”, he led armed bands throughout Macedonia, focusing on the areas surrounding the towns of Grevena, Kastoria and Monastiri.