ALEKO PISHUTOV (1918-1947) - Part 02

539 T. Popovski, Romev Petso. Honour and glory of the fallen fighters. Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1952, March 13, III, no. 20, p. 4. 540 Ibid. 217 At the beginning of May 1945, after the First Aegean Assault Brigade was disbanded, Petso, still in the Republic of Macedonia, was sent to military school.

In the fall of 1946, Petso was among the first to voluntarily join NOF, the Macedonian liberation organization for Aegean Macedonia and its armed groups where he continued the struggle against the Greek reactionaries to defend and protect the Macedonian people’s freedom.

In November 1946, after the Macedonian NOF partisan detachments were combined with the Greek CPG units under a single headquarters in “Vicho”, Petso joined Pando Vaina’s detachment. 541 He then continued to fight against the Greek right as a platoon commander in that detachment.

One of the first battles Petso fought was to capture the village Neveska. But even though DAG failed to take the village, it caused the enemy a lot of losses. From his first battle Petso proved to be a good fighter and earned his position as platoon commander. 542

Time and time again, in subsequent battles Petso proved himself to be an excellent leader and fighter. This included the battle for the village Srebreno in Lerin Region, fought on January 8, 1947 against a large number of Greek forces from the Sorovich garrison, which ended successfully, 543 as well as the battles to capture the villages Lehovo, Negovan, the locality Vrapchinia, Tsereovo (Kili Derven), etc. During these battles Petso Romev confirmed his qualities as a

541 The following detachments were part of DAG “Vicho” Headquarters: the Vicho Detachment under Pando Vaina’s command with Commissar Giorgi Hristovski-Fotinos. The Kailari Region Detachment under Karaberas’s command with Commissar Zanis. The detachment led by Giorgi Kalkov from the village Visheni, Kostur Region. According to the recollections of Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela from the village Srebreno, Lerin Region. Lambro was a participant in the National Liberation War since 1943. He also served in DAG as company commander, and then led a DAG battalion as a Major in the DAG 18th brigade. 542 Ibid. 543 Recollections of Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela for the period 1945-1949. Kept in INI. 218 fighter and stood out with great authority among his fellow fighters. Petso was also an exemplary commander well-respected by all. 544

On April 25, 1947, during an attack on the gendarmerie station in the village Zagorichani, Pando Vaina, commander of the attacking detachment, was wounded. The next day, after Pando was sent to the hospital for treatment, his detachment, numbering about 180 fighters, by order of DAG “Vicho” headquarters, was divided into two units. Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela 545 was appointed commander of the first unit and Petso Romev of the second unit. This event is historically important for DAG in Vicho because this was the first time DAG “Vicho” Headquarters created units from existing detachments. 546

On April 30 and May 1, 1947, the Mount Vicho partisan units, assisted by other DAG units, attacked the village Neveska for the second time. Petso Romev’s unit, as tasked by DAG “Vicho” Headquarters, was to attack and destroy the gendarmerie station in Neveska. That task was successfully completed. The village was captured and so was the surrounding area which became DAG’s free territory. 547 Petso again proved himself a good commander and gained even more combat experience in his new role.

A few days later, on May 8, 1947, Petso was given orders to destroy the gendarmerie station in the village L’k in Prespa. After a short battle the station was completely destroyed along with the 30 or so Monarcho-Fascists defending it. In fact, by being assisted by DAG units in joint actions, the entire Prespa area was cleared of Monarcho-Fascists and became part of DAG’s free territory.

A short time later, Petso Romev’s unit, assisted by other DAG units, moved from Vicho to the Siniak area and, together with local units, participated in the battles against the Greek government held Kailari Region villages. Petso was ordered to destroy the gendarmerie and other Greek forces protecting the area and liberate the village Blatsa

544 V. Shamanovski, Petso Romev. “For the holy national freedom”. Characters of fallen national fighters..., p. 239. 545 Recollections of Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela for the period 1945-1949 546 Ibid. 547 Ibid. 219 in Kailari Region populated by Greeks, which was to become an integral part of the free DAG territory on Vicho.

After these successful actions carried out by the DAG units, the enemy was ejected from the countryside and forced into the cities Kostur, Kailari, Sorovich and Lerin.

After the enemy was driven out of the villages, Petso’s unit and other DAG units stationed on Vicho were tasked with defending the Vicho free territory from possible enemy attacks. DAG’s sudden burst of victories inspired many young people to join the partisans and DAG battalions began to form out of the previous detachments. Petso’s unit became part of the battalion led by Argir Kovachev from the village Zreltsa, Kostur Region. As part of this battalion, Petso continued to fight against the Greek government armies on Vicho, Siniak and Kaimakchalan.

At the end of August 1947, the battalion led by Argir Kovachev, which included Petso Romev’s unit, was given to Pando Vaina to lead after he came back from the hospital. 548

On September 1, 1947, Monarcho-Fascist government special units from Kostur, Kailari, Sorovich and Lerin were launched to begin the so-called “fall offensive” against DAG on Vicho in order to capture DAG’s free territory. Pando Vaina’s battalion successfully repulsed the first attacks that came from Kostur and Sorovich. 549 Petso Romev’s unit demonstrated special courage when, on September 27, 1947, it obliterated an entire enemy platoon. Petso’s unit was especially praised for this heroic act. 550

After the enemy failed on its mission, Petso Romev’s unit, still part of Pando Vaina’s battalion, continued to fight against government

548 According to the recollections of Argir Kovachev, from the village of Zreltsa, Kostur Region. Argir was an active participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. 549 Agitation and propaganda Newsletter No. 19 from DAG Vicho Headquarters dated September 22, 1947, regarding military actions DAG “Vicho” carried out in September 1947. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1947”, Vol. IV, doc. 76, pp. 290-291. 550 DAG Vicho Headquarters daily order for DAG units achieving success in this area. See doc. 81, p. 302. 220 forces on Vicho. Petso’s unit was also tasked with performing independent actions at Siniak and Kaimakchalan.

After they were defeated on Vicho, the Monarcho-Fascist government forces withdrew to the cities, leaving behind detachments in strategic places to monitor and control partisan movements. Government detachments were stationed in the villages Neveska and Srebreno and a battalion was stationed in the city Klisura. That way the enemy was able to restrict the free movement of partisans going in and out of the Sorovich Pole and Siniak areas during the day. In order to remove these restrictions imposed by the enemy, in November 1947, Pando Vaina’s battalion was ordered to organize an attack against a government company stationed in the village Strebreno. Petso Romev’s unit played an important role in winning this battle and destroying the enemy company. 551 As a result the road to Sorovichko Pole was cleared. In appreciation, Battalion Command entrusted Petso Romev with even more complex combat tasks.

At the beginning of March 1948 the DAG 18th Brigade, which included Pando Vaina’s battalion and Petso Romev’s unit, by order of DAG General Staff, was dispatched to Mount Gramos. It traveled through Siniak, Burino, Ventsa, Hasia and Antihasia in order to meet and escort a heroic but unarmed column coming from the south of Greece in order to facilitate its way to Mount Gramos. But before this order was executed, DAG 18th Brigade command staff was reorganized. Pando Vaina replaced Kozmas Spanos-Aminda as commander of the brigade. Pando Vaina’s Battalion was taken over by Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela. Ianis Kevrekidis-Fokas was appointed commander of the 2nd Battalion. Petso Romev remained unit commander in the same battalion now under Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela’s command. 552

The incoming unarmed column was met by two battalions from the DAG 18th Brigade composition. After leaving the Siniak terrain the brigade fighters arrived in Burino where they were immediately engaged in heavy fighting by units from the 9th government division that had arrived from the city Kozheni. The 18th Brigade resisted all

551 According to the recollections of Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela... 552 Ibid. 221 enemy attacks and didn’t allow government troops to block the road to the unarmed column. Fighting heroically, the 18th Brigade repulsed the enemy attack and continued on its way crossing the Hasia and Antihasia fields and arrived in time to help the unarmed column escape danger. In other words, the 18th Brigade completed its mission successfully.

At the same time all food supplies were running out because the entire village population from all the neighbouring villages had been evacuated to the cities and there was no way of supplying the brigade with food. To solve that problem the partisans came up with a plan to attack the village Agnadia and acquire food from there. Petso Romev and his unit were dispatched to destroy the enemy defenses. After Petso’s unit broke through the main bunker the gendarmes abandoned their posts and fled in panic. The brigade fighters confiscated large quantities of food and took about 4,000 head of livestock. 553

Throughout the entire campaign, Petso Romev proved his military qualities again and again. As a result brigade headquarters decided to promote him to battalion commander as soon as the opportunity arose. That happened sometime later.

In April 1948, DAG Headquarters for Western Macedonia ordered Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela’s battalion to separate from the DAG 18th Brigade and go to Mount Vicho, and Ianis Kevrikidis-Fokas’s battalion was to remain on Mount Gramos.

After arriving on Vicho, Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela’s battalion immediately engaged the enemy, attacking the cities Sorovich and Lerin in the Siniak vicinity. Petso Romev’s unit was ordered to attack the village Chegan in Voden Region, which it did and kept the enemy blockaded throughout the day.

On May 25, 1948, Petso Romev and his unit played a decisive role in the operation to destroy the enemy stronghold in the village

553 According to the recollections of Naum Dimovski-Chakalo from the village Opsirino, Lerin Region. Naum was a participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. He was commander of a company in Petso Romev’s battalion. 222 Gorentsi. 554 A little later, in June 1948, Petso successfully led his unit against the gendarmerie forces during the attack on the villages Gorna and Dolna Kleshtina, where all the enemy strongholds were destroyed. Petso also fought bravely in the “Tsrna Voda” locality, outside the village Zelenich, Sorovich Region, where he obliterated a convoy of cars. During the same battle he also captured Lieutenant Vegli, a Greek agent who at the time was serving in the Sorovich intelligence service.

At the beginning of July 1948, Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela’s battalion which included Petso Romev’s unit, by order of DAG Headquarters for Western Macedonia, left for Mount Gramos. This is where the main DAG operations against the government forces were taking place in response to the so-called “summer offensive” initiated by the Greek government on Mount Gramos. Petso Romev and his unit were deployed to the “Gupata” locality, one of the most sensitive places in the defense system. During the daily bloody battles, even though the enemy had larger forces and more military equipment, Petso and his fighters didn’t give up an inch. In one of those fierce battles, Petso was wounded in the left leg and was immediately sent to the DAG main hospital for treatment. 555

After Petso recovered from his injuries he and several other fighters were transferred to Vicho. This coincided with DAG’s forced withdrawal from Mount Gramos. Here Petso was immediately deployed as a unit commander in the DAG 18th Brigade, in the 425th Battalion, whose commander was Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela.

Petso Romev demonstrated extraordinary courage and special organizational skills during the battles fought by the 18th Brigade on the Siniak field.

554 According to the recollections of Vasil Batakoia-Karafotias who was a participant in the National Liberation War from 1941, and a commissar at Vicho headquarters. While serving in DAG he was appointed battalion commander and commissar of a group of artillery units. By rank he was a lieutenant colonel of the artillery. 555 According to the recollections of Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela... 223 On November 1, 1948, as part of the DAG 18th Brigade, Petso took part in the battles to capture the town Eratira located on the road leading from Kozheni to Kostur. Eratira was an enemy stronghold.

On the 10th and 11th of November, 1948, the DAG 18th Brigade started out in the village Vlashka Blatsa and carried out a successful attack on the town Siatista, near the city Kozheni. Here too Petso Romev demonstrated extraordinary abilities.

On November 20, fighters from DAG 18th Brigade successfully attacked the town Kailari for the second time.

During the Brigade’s withdrawal from Siniak to Antihasia, Ianis Kevrekidis-Fokas, commander of the 426th Battalion, was wounded. Command of his battalion was immediately passed to Petso Romev who until then was one of the most capable and brave commanders of a unit.

On December 19, 1948, the DAG 18th Brigade led by Pando Vaina with its two battalions led by Petso Romev and Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela, as well as a company of saboteurs, arrived on Mount Karakamen with aims at imminently attacking the city Negush. These forces were joined at Karakamen by the two unit battalion led by Captain Tolis.

The goal of these DAG forces was to destroy the suburban strongholds in Negush, meaning they had to penetrate the city, locate enemy nests and destroy them. By taking control of Negush, the partisans were hoping to cut off enemy forces from sending help from Solun to Voden, which was simultaneously being attacked by other DAG forces. 556

Petso Romev’s battalion was ordered to destroy the bunkers on the access road leading into Negush and then to proceed to the city centre and cut off the gendarmerie. 557

556 Major Petso Romev - A brave DAG fighter. Spis. “Ilinden”. Political body of the Central Committee of the organization “Ilinden”, 1954, July-August, III, no. 4, pp. 25-26. 557 Ibid. 224 The DAG units successfully completed their mission and kept Negush under control all day and all night. In the morning of December 23, 1948, they retreated to Mount Karakamen and then moved to Mount Kaimakchalan.

A little later, during a second DAG attack on Negush, Petso Romev did the same thing again but this time destroyed the gendarmerie and captured a large number of police officers, including the police chief.

In the period from February 12, 1949 to August 10, 1949, Petso Romev’s battalion acted in the same locations bolstering its defenses according to the slogan, “The enemy will not pass Vicho”.

On August 10, 1949, at around 4.30 am, the Greek Monarcho-Fascists launched a general offensive against the DAG units on Mount Vicho. A large group of government infantry troops reinforced with artillery and aircraft began to move in the direction of Lerin, through the villages Neret and Lageni. Petso Romev’s battalion met the enemy head on and not only inflicted heavy damage on them, but didn’t allow them to cross the partisan defensive line.

On the nights of August 10th and 11th, 1949, the enemy managed to break DAG’s defensive line in several places and surrounded Petso’s battalion. But Petso didn’t lose control of his fighters. Together with his company commanders, Petso coordinated his fighters to create a complex situation.

Then, on August 11 and 12, 1949, Petso himself led a number of fierce and bloody battles and managed to pull his battalion out of the enemy ring. 558 During the night his fighters left the battleground and went in the direction of Mount Vrba. During the next two days Petso’s battalion strongly resisted the enemy while making its way into Albanian territory as ordered. In fact all DAG units at the time were ordered to head for Albania.

558 Recollections of Lambro Gakidov-Dzhavela for the period 1945-1949... 225 A few days later, as ordered by DAG General Headquarters, Petso and the DAG 18th Brigade were dispatched to Mount Gramos. The enemy didn’t waste much time and it too immediately transferred its own units to Mount Gramos.

On August 28, 1949, the enemy began a general offensive on Mount Gramos from all sides using all available forces and military equipment. DAG units were forced to abandon their positions and tactically retreat towards the highlands of Gramos peak (elevation 2,322). Petso and his battalion retreated to Kiafa locality.

In the morning of August 30, 1949, 559 due to heavy enemy bombardments, Petso’s bunker where the entire battalion headquarters was located was hit. Petso and nine of his comrades were killed, including Battalion commissar Mihalakis Roidis, company commissar Dorche Gluvchev from the village Papazhani, Lerin Region and company political commissar Ianis from the village Rudnik, Kailari Region.

This is how Petso Romev’s life ended. Besides being an exemplary DAG fighter and commander, Petso was also an active participant in the Macedonian liberation movement during the National Liberation War. Petso distinguished himself with outstanding military merits. He died just ten hours before DAG General Headquarters issued the order for all DAG units to withdraw from the territory of Greece.

559 According to the recollections of Naum Dimovski-Chakalo... 226 IANKO RUSEVSKI (1925-1949)

Ianko Rusevski was born in 1925, in the village Popadia, Lerin Region, to a poor farming family with a rich revolutionary tradition. 560 Even though he lived under very poor conditions in a family that was constantly under the control of the Greek reactionary authorities, young Ianko, carried away by the idea of a free Macedonia, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Giorgi who died in the turbulent days of the Ilinden Uprising, remained faithful to his people until the end of his life. 561

In 1942, Ianko voluntarily joined OKNE, the youth organization, and actively fought against the occupiers. Because of his dedication to the struggle for the liberation of his country, Ianko was later accepted as a member of the CPG. Ianko consistently and with confidence performed all tasks assigned to him by the resistance leadership. During the anti-fascist struggle his house served as a shelter for ELAS fighters and for the fighters from the Bitola partisan detachment who often sang a beautiful song about Ianko’s mother Lenka when they visited her home:

“Our Baba Lenka, our second dear mother, feeds us when we rest, and when we are sent away, the empty flask she fills with honey…” 562

Petre Novachevski and Giorgi Drzovski’s fighters from the Bitola Detachment remembered this song for a long time.

On January 18, 1944, Ianko and his father Todor were arrested by the German-Bulgarian fascist army for their involvement in the liberation of the Macedonian people and were taken to the infamous Pavlos Melas concentration camp in Solun. They burned down their house and looted all their property. 563 After they were released from prison, Ianko resumed his anti-Fascist activities in the ranks of the

560 According to the recollections of Atanas Rusevski-Natse from the village Setina, Lerin Region. Atanas was an active participant in the National Liberation War. 561 Chronicles of the villages Setina and Popadia, Lerin Region. Kept in INI. 562 Monograph of the villages Setina and Popadia. Skopje, 1978, p. 35. 563 Ibid. 227 village Party organization and continued his struggle against the occupiers.

After the occupiers were driven out and ELAS was forced to capitulate as a result of the Varkiza Agreement, the Greek reactionaries took power in Greece and became the new masters attacking the democratic movement with all their might and, above all, attacking the Macedonian people with the intent to physically exterminate them. It was under these difficult conditions when, in March 1945, Ianko’s family was driven out of its home by Greek fascist gangs and found refuge in Voivodina, Yugoslavia. 564

During 1946, Ianko actively participated in Yugoslavia’s reconstruction as a member of the youth group “Brchko Banovich”.

In August 1948, he returned to his homeland and voluntarily joined DAG. He fought heroically and selflessly as part of the DAG 108th Brigade in the battles at Gramos and other places in his homeland. 565

In September 1948, Ianko was wounded and captured by the enemy in a battle that took place on Mount Malimadi. He and his comrade-in-arms and fellow villager Pandil Muchov were taken to an enemy hospital in the city Kozheni for treatment.

In February 1949, after his wounds had healed, Ianko was forced to dig his own grave, and was then brutally murdered by his Monarcho-Fascist executioners. 566

564 According to the recollections of Vane Aitov from the village Setina, Lerin Region. Vane was a participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. 565 Monograph on the villages Setina and Popadia..., p. 35. 566 Atanas Rusevski, Recollections from the Period 1941-1945. Kept in INI. 228 APOSTOL SIMOVSKI (1922-1947)

Apostol Simovski belongs to the constellation of Macedonian fighters who laid down their lives at a young age for the Macedonian people’s freedom. Apostol was born in 1922, in the village Izvor, Gumendze Region, to an enlightened farming family. 567 After finishing his primary education Apostol helped his parents at the farm and grew up under very difficult economic conditions. He was a well-built, handsome, hardworking, honest, sociable and very cheerful young man, which is why he was loved by his peers.

During the Greek Italian war, Apostol was only 18 years old which is why he wasn’t mobilized into the Greek army.

Apostol tended to dabble in progressive ideas and was an OKNE sympathizer since before the war. But immediately after the German, Italian and Bulgarian occupation took place he became active in the struggle against the foreign occupiers. His initial contribution to the cause was to gather weapons and other military equipment which, on April 9, 1941, was left behind by the Greek soldiers during the arrival of a German vanguard on the night of April 8 to 9 near the town Boimitsa. At the same time, as a member of OKNE, Apostol actively participated in sabotaging the breeding of silkworms in his native village, so they couldn’t produce raw materials for German parachutes.

In August 1941, Apostol voluntarily participated in partisan actions organized by the resistance leadership. At the beginning of September, 1941, the first partisan group, consisting of seven members, was formed in the village of Izvor, in which Apostol also participated. The partisan group was armed with the Greek weapons left behind which included two machine guns. The group was to serve as a sprout for a larger unit that would include other fighters

567 Most of Apostol Simovski’s revolutionary work is based on the memoirs of his brother Todor Simovski, an expert adviser at the Institute of National History in Skopje. Apostol was secretary of OKNE for Gumendzhe District, and from May 1943 to the end of January 1946 he worked as an EPON activist in several regions of Aegean Macedonia. He also joined NOF. See brief biographical characteristics of NOF activists in Gumendzhe and Enidze-Vardar Regions submitted by Ivan Nichev to the NOF General leadership. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 134, footnote 6, 7, 8, p. 299. from the surrounding villages. However, due to the events in eastern Aegean Macedonia where the uprising was drowned in blood, and the German reprisals in Kukush and Kailari region where the enemy burned several villages and killed hundreds of innocent people, the group was disbanded by the Party (all partisan groups in Greece at that time were disbanded by the same directive). Apostol returned to his home and so did the other partisans in his group.

In 1942, for most of the year, Apostol stayed home working on the farm but always kept in touch with the local youth attending meetings, conferences, building contacts with like-minded individuals, delivering material aid to the only partisan group in the area composed of the dispersed partisan groups from Kukush and Drama Regions led by Captain Christos Moschos-Petros. This particular partisan group was camping on Mount Kozhuv, above the village Noti, since the summer of 1942. Apostol Simovski also participated in the transfer of weapons and ammunition from Kukush Region to Mount Kozhuv. He was one of the few people who knew about the existence of the partisan group and supplied it with information, food and clothes.

The first action this partisan group saw was in December 1942, when it attempted to blow up the railway bridge near the Boimitsa railway station. This in fact was the first action of its kind in Aegean (Greek occupied) Macedonia. A few days later the same group sabotaged the lead mine in the Izvor-Maidag area. Apostol Simovski assisted in performing these actions.

In the first half of 1943, because of his dedication to the struggle against the occupiers, Apostol was appointed a member of the OKNE-EPON District Committee for Gumendzhe District. In mid-July 1943, he was one of the first organizers tasked with planning a demonstration in Boimitsa against the extended Bulgarian occupation of other parts of Aegean Macedonia. A few days later, summoned by a Party group of young people from his native village, Apostol left and joined a partisan group on Mount Paiak where the XXX ELAS Regiment was being created. As a partisan, Apostol participated in all the actions in which this regiment was involved. On January 12, 1944, Apostol also took an active part in the joint actions between the Macedonian units from the Republic of

Macedonia and those of the XXX ELAS Regiment. A battle broke out near the village Leskovo during which entire enemy units were literally decimated. Apostol often proved himself as a courageous fighter and capable of carrying out bold actions, especially during sabotage missions carried out by the XXX ELAS Regiment. For that Apostol was highly respected and appreciated by regiment command.

In the summer of 1944, Apostol was appointed leader of a unit consisting of about a dozen Macedonian fighters, which was to serve as a sprout to attract more Macedonians to the regiment, similar to the one that was formed in the Voden Macedonian Battalion.

Unfortunately, as a consequence of the Voden Macedonian Battalion breaking away from ELAS and crossing over into the Republic of Macedonia on October 12, 1944, this group was disbanded and Apostol Simovski fell under suspicion that he too might have maintained ties with the “Serbs”, as the Greeks called the Macedonian partisans from the Republic of Macedonia. But, all in all, the Greeks didn’t take action against Apostol and he remained an ordinary fighter in the unit.

After the riots broke out in Athens in December 1944, Apostol Simovski and the ELAS XXX Regiment left for Athens to help the DAG fighters in the city who were facing aggression from the British and their domestic servants. When they arrived they clashed with English forces outside Atalanda. However, a truce followed and the regiment had to return on foot from distant Attica to its base in Enidzhe-Vardar. The fighters traveled for a long time under adverse weather conditions and as they arrived in Enidzhe-Vardar, the Varkiza Agreement had already been signed. As a result ELAS was obliged to surrender its weapons and its fighters were dismissed and sent home. In other words the ELAS fighters were robbed of their victory in Athens due to no fault of their own. A short time later, those who took power in Athens unleashed a never before seen wave of terror against the very people who fought and forced out the Fascists. The terror waged was even worse for the Macedonians, especially against those who fought in the anti-Fascist war. Both as an anti-Fascist fighter and as a Macedonian, Apostol Simovski was hit hardest and to escape being arrested and persecuted, he was

forced to immediately and illegally flee the country. In September 1945, he crossed the Greek-Yugoslav border and landed in the Republic of Macedonia where, along with some other Macedonians, he left for Bulkesh in Voivodina. 568 Invited to return home by his brother Todor Simovski, in March 1946, Apostol left Bulkesh. He returned to his homeland with a group of Macedonians from Gumendzhe Region and immediately joined NOF after which he was sent to Mount Paiak. Because he was an experienced ELAS fighter, the NOF leadership entrusted him to lead a NOF partisan unit. There Apostol was joined by his faithful friend but inexperienced fighter, Aleko Pishutev from Gumendzhe. 569 Apostol’s unit quickly proved itself and stood above the others in carrying out its bold duties, especially in the city Gumendze. But it seems being good at his job wasn’t what the Greeks wanted from Apostol and he found himself in a difficult position, constantly being harassed by the Greek leadership. It would appear the Greeks didn’t want an independent Macedonian armed unit to exist and this was the primary reason why the Greeks wanted to amalgamate the Macedonian units into the Greek ones. Apostol wasn’t happy about that and informed his brother Todor about it. But then he decided to express his dissatisfaction publicly during a meeting which didn’t go unnoticed by the Greek leadership.

Apostol Simovski had a hard time accepting his father’s death. In September 1946, his father Risto was literally slaughtered by the Greek Monarcho-Fascists. After his father was killed Apostol’s wish was to see his mother one more time. In December 1946, he wrote to his brother and said: “Dear brother, do whatever you can from your side to help me come and see our mother one more time before I die...”

In the winter of 1947, Apostol’s friend Aleko Pishutov was killed by a machine gun burst. 570 Shortly afterwards in early spring 1947, a large unit of hardened fighters from Mount Paiak, by order of DAG General Headcounters, was dispatched to go to southern Greece to strengthen the DAG armed presence there and to provide assistance to the local units. On the way there, the DAG unit clashed several

568 According to the recollections of Ivan Nichev from the town Gumendzhe... 569 According to the recollections of Vangel Nichev from the town Gumendzhe... 570 According to the recollections Aleko Pulkov from Gumendzhe... times with enemy forces but not for a moment did the hardened fighters lose their courage or their fighting morale.

Apostol remained unit commander and wasn’t promoted despite his courage and excellent abilities as a fighter and leader. The Greek CPG and DAG leaders never lost sight of the fact that Apostol faithfully served the Macedonian national cause and that his participation in the common Greek-Macedonian struggle was a debt to the national liberation of his Macedonian people.

On June 21, 1947, Apostol fought a fierce battle in Greece, in an area called Evritania near the village Kastanula. There Apostol Simovski laid down his life for the freedom of his people.

Two years later, when the Greeks needed more Macedonians for necessary raw material for DAG, DAG General Headquarters, on May 7, 1949, ordered the DAG Second Division to promote Apostol Simovski to the rank of lieutenant.