Part 34 - Macedonians in the Greek, Serbian and Bulgarian Armies

Part 34 - Macedonians in the Greek, Serbian and Bulgarian Armies

When the Allies Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria, under the guise of “liberation”, began to penetrate Macedonian territories at the beginning of the First Balkan War, many Macedonians became involved. Some were mobilized by the Allies through recruitment yet others volunteered to fight the Ottomans and free their country. There was much hatred and distaste for Ottoman rule, especially after the failed Ilinden Macedonian National Uprising, so Macedonians were literally flocking to the allied camps to enlist with high hopes that their turn to be liberated had finally come. As the first Balkan War progressed, Macedonians created their own Chetas and fought the Ottomans in independent battles. But many fought as participants in the Greek, Serbian and Bulgarian armies. The precise number of Macedonians that fought against the Ottomans is not known but is estimated to be around 75,000. (Vanche Stojchev. “Military History of Macedonia”. Military academy. Skopje, 2004. Page 441) As part of their plan to expand Greece, by annexing Macedonian territories (Megali Idea), pre-First Balkan War Greek governments were busy organizing propaganda campaigns and recruiting and arming illegal bands in Macedonia. Greek organizations involved in Macedonian affairs included 'Makedhonikos silogos', 'Elinizmos', 'Ethniki Eteria' and 'Skopeftiki Eteria' as well as the Greek Patriarchic Church which legally operated inside Macedonia. Outside of the Greek organizations and the Patriarchic Church there were also Patriarchic Macedonians who supported the Greek expansion into Macedonia and who donated funds and recruited insurgents to fuel the illegal Greek armed bands. As the armed propaganda campaigns escalated in Macedonia, particularly after the Ilinden Uprising, the Greeks accelerated their recruitment by hiring Macedonians and Vlachs. New illegal Greek sponsored bands were created in Konsko, Tsarushino and other villages in Voden, Kostur and Lerin Regions. Even though these illegal bands were enemies of the Macedonian Chetas and often fought against the Macedonians, the Macedonian and other Christian Chetas did cooperate with them in their efforts to evict the Ottomans out of Macedonia. In fact many Macedonians fought under Greek command to liberate Lerin, Kostur, Voden and Solun. But as soon as the Ottomans were evicted the Greek army established Greek authority in Macedonia, disbanded the Macedonian and other Christian Chetas and allowed the Greek sponsored illegal bands to freely operate. During the drive for Solun the Macedonians, fighting independently as well as part of the Allied armies, were instrumental in assisting the allies in achieving their objectives. In addition to fighting at the front and rear of the enemy, Macedonian Chetas also acted as guides, provided reconnaissance information and cleared up paths for the allied armies to follow, by liberating villages and towns. One such Cheta was that of Todor Aleksandrov which, on October 23rd, 1912, liberated Kukush, established local authority and appointed Gotse Mezhdurechki’s Cheta as its protector. Macedonian Chetas also liberated the village Ajatovo, near Solun, making it possible for the allies to pass uninterrupted. Among the Macedonian Cheta leaders who assisted the Allies in the drive for Solun were Yane Sandanski, Todor Aleksandrov, Dumbalakov, Andrej Ljapchev and Simeon Radev from Resen and Nikola Naumov from Shtip. Prior to Solun falling to Allied hands, the Ottomans, influenced by the Great Power foreign consuls in Solun, were ordered to surrender the city to the Greek army, which had arrived there about 24 hours prior to the arrival of the Bulgarian army. But after the Bulgarians arrived they too began to establish Bulgarian authority. To avoid conflict, on November 5th, 1912, the Greek Government reaffirmed its good relations with the foreign consuls, including the Russian consul who paid a visit to the Greek King, leaving a subtle but distinct impression that Solun now belonged to Greece.

By the start of November, 1912 Greece had amassed a large armed force in Solun, which was used to enforce Greek administrative authority in the city. Among its armed supporters were Macedonians and Vlachs, one of whom was Tego Sapundzhiev, a well known Ottoman spy who was appointed as district chief. But as soon as Greece brought its own people from the south, even their most loyal Macedonian supporters were removed from their positions. As part of its century old craving to expand its territory, Serbia too was looking to annex part of Macedonia and followed in the Greek and Bulgarian footsteps in organizing propaganda campaigns and recruiting and arming illegal bands in Macedonia. Among the members of the illegal Serbian bands were also Macedonians who at the time were living in Serbia. By the end of July 1912, more than 30 illegal Serbian sponsored armed bands were operating in Macedonia, with more than 400 men from whom about 300 were immigrants; Macedonians looking for work in Serbia. These bands were led by the Board of the People’s Defense which operated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and through the Serbian consuls in the Ottoman Empire stationed in Macedonia. Operation of the bands was coordinated by a Serbian Executive Board located in Vranje, Serbia near the Serbian Ottoman border.

Led by the Serbian Vojin Popovich-Vuk, one Serbian sponsored detachment composed of several Chetas was tasked with mobilizing and recruiting Macedonians from inside Macedonia to act as an advance guard for the Serbian army. Its Detachment Headquarters was manned by Serbian officers, while its fighters and Vojvodas were mostly local Macedonians. In the spring of 1913 the Serbian Army Supreme Command created an all Macedonian Volunteer Regiment composed of local Macedonians. Being unable to reach the Adriatic Sea, due to the creation of the Albanian state by the Great Powers, Serbia was now looking to gain access to a port in the Aegean Sea. And to fight its way there, Serbia needed help from the Macedonians. The massive mobilization of Macedonians in the Bulgarian army was also an incentive for Serbia to get into the act. Serbia began a massive mobilization program in Macedonia by first recruiting the 4 Chetas patrolling the banks of the Vardar River between Kavadartsi and Gevgelija and with them creating the Vardar Detachment led by Serbian Vasilije Trbich. Later Jovan Babunoski’s Patrolling Detachment was also created and dispatched in the Kratovo -Ovche Pole – Kochani Regions to fight in the front lines. Considering that both the Bulgarian and Serbian armies mobilized Macedonians and concentrated them on the front lines, unbeknownst to them, Macedonians actually fought for the occupation and division of Macedonia. Keeping in mind, however, that according to the Hague rules of war it was not allowed to mobilize forces from the occupied population. That is precisely why the Serbians called the Macedonian “Volunteer Regiments”, and the Bulgarians called them “Opolchenie Companies”. These forced mobilizations were conducted on the pretext that these men were volunteers. The creation of the so-called Macedonian “Volunteer Regiment” was initiated by Chief of Staff of the Supreme Serbian Command, Vojvoda Radomir Putnik, and approved by the Serbian government. On May 16th, 1913 Putnik issued the following order: Four battalions were to be created in Sveti Nikole, Prishtina, Gevgelija and Negotino Regions. They were to be manned from the local population and their cadres were to be provided by the border unit command. The mobilization was to include Christians, Ottomans and Arnauts (Albanians) as well as those who had served in the Ottoman army who would be allowed to retain their ranks. The volunteers were required to take an oath of loyalty to the Supreme Commander of the Serbian army and to His Majesty King Petar I. All mobilized soldiers were to be given uniforms, weapons, food and horses. Macedonians in both the Bulgarian and Serbian created Chetas were assigned to fight in the Ottoman rear or as advance guards, which meant that they would always be the ones to engage the enemy first. In this way Macedonians were responsible for the liberation of most villages and cities in Macedonia. Operating within the 1st Serbian army as reconnaissance and advance guards, Macedonian volunteers, on October 20th, 1912, attacked the Ottoman camp in Starets near Kumanovo capturing a great number of weapons. Macedonians were also responsible for organizing and arming the population in Kumanovo Region. In Stratsin alone they recruited and armed 700 people. The Macedonians fought heavy battles against the Ottomans prompting Ottoman Marshal Chakmak, Commander of the Ottoman 16th Division, on October 21st, 1912, to write a telegram to his superiors demanding more troops. On October 23rd, 1912 more than 2,000 Macedonian volunteers fought all day unassisted against the Ottoman army in Strevitse near Kumanovo and in Mlado Nagorichane until reinforcements arrived; thus preventing the Ottomans from encircling the Serbian army. More than 200 Macedonians were killed and six Vojvodas wounded during that battle but the Macedonians fought gallantly without abandoning their posts. After the battle for Kumanovo was won the Macedonian volunteer Chetas, village Chetas and other Macedonian armed bands marched in front of the 1st Serbian Army, liberating villages and cities including Veles, Sveti Nikole, Shtip, Kochani and its surrounding villages.

Being defeated at Kalimantsi and Kochani, several thousand Ottoman soldiers regrouped and blocked the Macedonian volunteers from entering Krivolak and taking over the Skopje -Veles –Solun transportation corridor. Led by Vojin Popovich- Vuk, Vasilije Trbich and Jovan Babunski, the Macedonian volunteer Chetas along with village Chetas and numerous other volunteers who wanted to join the fight, were directed to go to Mukos on Babuna Mountain where a new detachment was created. There this detachment fought an Ottoman cavalry brigade and a gendarmerie battalion; a battle which lasted four days. Macedonians were also the eyes and ears of the Serbians, informing their armies of dispositions and movements of Ottoman forces which, in one case, greatly contributed to the eviction of the Ottomans from Bitola. Thirty Macedonians were killed and many wounded in the four day battle at Mukos and Prisad. The Macedonians were proving themselves to be formidable fighters which, on November 5th, 1912, prompted the Ottoman Western Army Commander to send a telegram to the Commander of the Vardar Army saying that “the morale of the Ottoman soldiers seen here (in Bitola) was very high during the last few days but you ruined it by retreating when attacked by the Macedonian volunteer Chetas”. Many local Macedonian Chetas joined the Serbian Morava Division as it was advancing from Skopje towards Tetovo and provided reconnaissance and acted as an advanced guard for the Serbian army. Tsene Markovich’s Cheta was especially successful and greatly contributed to the success of the Tetovo, Gostivar and Kichevo battles. Here 30 Macedonians were killed and 11 wounded compared to the large Serbian army from which only 28 Serbians were killed and 41 wounded. While the Serbian army was busy establishing authority in the region, after the battle for Kichevo, the Macedonian Chetas continued to fight and liberated Debar. On November 29th, 1912 the Macedonians ambushed an Ottoman division at Slivovo and Turje Saddle and captured 550 Ottoman soldiers. A single Macedonian Cheta consisting of 150 fighters threw out the entire Ottoman garrison from the village Lomani, crossed the Tsrna River, occupied the village Mogila and acted as a reconnaissance unit, providing the Serbian Army information on the disposition of a 40,000 strong Ottoman force advancing towards Bitola. Local Macedonian Chetas also dislodged the Ottoman gendarmeries out of the villages Gopesh, Logovardi and Novatsi. During the battle for Bitola, Macedonian Chetas, subordinate to Serbian command, operated as independent strike units and on November 17th, 1912 fought against two Ottoman battalions of the 62nd Regiment in the village Kozjak near Resen. The Plake village Cheta prevented an entire Ottoman battalion from joining its Regiment at Krusji Anovi. Then on November 19th and 20th, 1912, Macedonian Chetas intercepted Ottoman forces retreating from Bitola at the Bukovo, Svinjishte and Kuratitsa crossing and captured 280 Ottoman soldiers. Even the Serbians were impressed with the Macedonian contribution, enough to prompt them to make the following statements: "The enslaved nations in the Balkans carried out military actions during the war against Ottoman Turkey, and contributed to the victory of the allies. A large number of Macedonians participated in the war on the side of the allies, deeply convinced that they were fighting not for the interest of the Balkan monarchies, but for their own national liberation. Serbian, Bulgarian and Greek historians had always intentionally hidden the fact that the Macedonian people participated in the Balkan Wars. The Macedonian Chetas were called Serbian, Bulgarian or Greek in order to negate the existence of the Macedonian people and rob them of their contribution so that Balkan monarchies alone can be credited as the sole liberators of Macedonia, and to justify Macedonia’s division, which was finally completed after the Second Balkan War. That is why there is insufficient data on the Macedonian losses suffered in the Balkans Wars" (Vanche Stojchev.

“Military History of Macedonia”. Military academy. Skopje, 2004. Pages 428 and 429)

After the Bulgarian government announced a general mobilization on September 17th, 1912, many Macedonians answered the call and came to join the fight. In fact there were so many that the Bulgarian army began to form volunteer Partisan detachments to be dispatched at the enemy’s rear. But this kind of turnout should not have been a surprise because according to issue 3 of the February 10th, 1911 weekly bulletin, “Study of Ottoman Turkey and its Army”, “Macedonian immigrants now more than ever were obsessed with the idea that Macedonia can only be liberated by Bulgaria”. The article went further on to say that “Macedonian involvement cannot be underestimated because in a war Macedonians can play a decisive role. One thing is certain, no Macedonian, young or old, can resist becoming a volunteer and joining a Macedonian unit if such a thing was to be created.” The Bulgarian government created volunteer units and used Macedonian immigrants to fight the rear of the Ottoman army inside and outside of Macedonia. Units were expected to provide their own weapons and supplies because the Bulgarian government refused to take responsibility for their actions if for any reason their actions were to become known to the Ottomans or to the Great Powers who would have condemned them, particularly since the allies were planning to partition Macedonia and annex it for themselves. To add insult to injury, the Bulgarians asked the Macedonians to take an oath of loyalty to the Bulgarian Tsar and to Bulgaria. The purpose of the oath, besides demanding loyalty to the Tsar and to Bulgaria, obliged them as it did the rest of the regular army, even though they were not regulars, to be prosecuted by Bulgarian legal authorities. The role of these units was to destroy bridges, railroads, telephone and telegraph lines and other vital facilities at the rear of the Ottoman army. The plan was to create 52 Chetas consisting of 20 to 30 Partisans each. Their leaders were tasked with gathering provisions from the local population and recruiting local Chetas. The idea was to create local nets similar to the ones operating during the 1903 Ilinden Uprising. During a nine day mobilization 59 partisan Chetas, one partisan battalion and four special partisan detachments, all consisting of Macedonians, were created in Bulgaria alone. On September 12th, 1912 they were sent to Macedonia to fight. Mobilization of Macedonians in Bulgaria continued and by the end of September 1912 five battalions were created and another five were created in October. At the beginning of November three brigades were created, consisting of four battalions. After these units were armed by the Bulgarian army, the Macedonians were sent to the front in Thrace where they were disbanded and subordinated to other commands. Regardless of the fact that these Macedonians were sent to fight far away from their homeland, they proved to be excellent fighters. Bulgaria continued to recruit Macedonians and by the spring of 1913 had recruited more than 12,000 fighters. But in spite of the loyalty oath to the Tsar and Bulgaria and the fact that Macedonians agreed to fight the Ottomans outside of Macedonia, the Bulgarians were still afraid that the Macedonians might create their own army and initiate a war of independence and the formation of a Macedonian state.