Nicolas Grunitzky

Nicolas Grunitzy ( Atakpamé , April 5 1913 - Paris , September 27 1969 ) was a Togolese politician.

Grunitzky was the son of a Polish officer in the German service and a Togolese mother, coming from the royal family of Atakpame . He received his education in Atakpame and studied law in Bordeaux. During World War II he was in the resistance that opposes the Vichy -bewind returned in Togo. He was the founder of the Togolese Progressive Party(PTP). In 1956 Grunitzy became prime minister of an autonomous Togo chosen within the French Union . In 1958, however, the elections were won by the Committee de l'Unité Togolaise and was CUT president Sylvanus Olympio Prime Minister. In 1959 Grunitzy founded the Union Démocratique des Peuples Togolais (UDPT) on. In 1960 Togo became an independent republic with Olympio as president and prime minister.

In January 1963 committed military (including General Etienne Eyadéma ) a coup in which President Olympio was slain. The soldiers wore over power to Grunitzy who became president.

In January 1967 committed the troops led by General Etienne Eyadéma another coup. Grunitzy this was deposed and fled to Ivory Coast where he set up a trading company.Two years later he died in a Paris hospital from the effects of a car accident.