BANITSA IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE POPULAR REVOLUTION 1941–1944 - Part 02

Pavle Pavlev and Todor Kochev went underground and were appointed regional instructors for EPON (United Pan-Hellenic Organization of Youth) in Lerin District. Pavlev, under the pseudonym “Dimko,” covered the region of Sevorik and Kajlari, while Kochev, under the pseudonym “Victor,” covered the Prespa region. Atanas Katinovski returned to Bitola where he was appointed as an instructor for EPON in the Lerin district and operated under the pseudonym “Goche.” The latter two survived the war but Dimko was lost in the summer of 1944. Hewas returningfromaconferenceof SNOF (thenew Slavo-Macedonian National Liberation Front) of Lerin District held at Bel Kamen in April 1944, when he fell into an ambush by the Germans and collaborators from the village of Prokopana. After a two-hour unequal fight, he killed himself with his last hand grenade so that he would not fall into the hands of the enemy.

New Leadership of the Youth Organization EPON

Because Pavlev had gone underground, there was an election held on 30 June 1943 in the Macedonian Communist Party. Ruse Dzugomanov was chosen secretary of OKNE, now called EPON, with Kiro Dzugomanov as deputy.

New members selected included Gjorgi Dajkov, Stavre Pavlev, Nitse Dzugomanov, Pavle Dimitrov, Mihail Harishi, Gele Kochev and Blazhe Katronov.

This structure stayed in place with minimal changes up to the end of 1944 until some members joined ELAS.

A Large Demonstration in Lerin

In August 1943, a massive protest was held in Lerin with over 15,000 demonstrators from in and around Lerin. About 80 of them came from Banitsa by bus and in trucks. Carrying black banners with slogans written on them, they demonstrated in the streets of Lerin against the seizure of crops and produce, against inflation and oppression, and asking for a minimum produce level to be reserved for the survival of the population. At the end, a petition seeking the release of political prisoners was presented to the mayor of the quisling Greek government. These demonstrations quickly spread to other towns in Aegean Macedonia.

Formation of SNOF

AfterpressurefromMacedoniansfromthenorthernpartofGreece, the raising of the Macedonian Question at the circuit meeting of the CPG in June 1941, at the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPG in July 1941, and in talks between Svetozar Vukmanovic-Tempo and Cvetko Uzunov, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Macedonia (CPM), the CPG allowed the formation of a Slavo-Macedonian National Liberation Front, SNOF, in Aegean Macedonia. At the initiative of Comrade Tanos, political secretary of the committee of the CPG, Lerin District, certain Macedonian leaders gathered in early September 1943 at Bozdovets near Banitsa. An election of the leadership of SNOF-Lerin District took place.

Attendees included Kiro Pilaev, Gjorgi Turundjev and Trifko Popovski from Ekshiso; Kitse Kochev, Vangel Kujchev and Vangel Zabrtski of Banitsa; Todor and Tane of Kotori; Pande of Nevolani and others. These people were at the core of the resistance movement of Lerin District. The following were elected to the first leadership committee ofSNOF: KiroPilaev, political secretary, Gjorgi Turundjev, organizational secretary and Kitse Kochev, in charge of agitation and propaganda. A motion was carried to hold local elections of SNOF in all Macedonian villages.

By the end of September 1943, the first local committee of SNOF was elected in Banitsa with Mitse Laev as president and members Metodi Apchev, Lazo Kochev, Kole Olev, Kitse Kochev, Nune Vasev and Ilo Abov. At the meeting, Vangel Kujchev, district instructor of the Communist Party of Banitsa region (with over 600 members), gave an introductory speech outlining the goals and tasks of SNOF.

Banitsa’s Partisan Unit

In October 1943, the first special Banitsa partisan detachment was formed with Lefter Olevski as leader. The detachment included Gjorgi Ilo Dajkov, Kocho Ralov, Metodi Vasev, Ilo Vasev, Ilo Mangov, Gjorgi Abov, Lazo Gjergev, Petse Alushev, Dine Dimanin, Dzole Lakov, Dzole Kalpakov, Gonche Delev, Mihail Harishi, Andon Harishi, Natse RistoMalinov, TaneJovchev, Dimitar Kochevski, BlazheDajkov, Lazo Veljanov, Leko Nichov, Vancho Katin and Lazo Popdimitrov.

In addition to these people from Banitsa, one man from Gornichevo, five from the village of Tserevo, four from Ekshiso and six from Voshtarani joined. The detachment had a total of 41 combatants in theorganized resistance against the occupying forces and their domestic collaborators. The squad was well armed.

The Status of the National Liberation Struggle in the Aegean Part of Macedonia

In 1943, the resistance movement was organized to a high degree of preparedness. The partisans were able to shelter and literally hide a whole brigade in any village, and that same brigade would be safe from the enemy’s searches. No one would betray us. However, none of us wanted to leave the enemy in peace, no matter what the cost.

It was then that the first misunderstandings and disagreements started with the Greek partisans. After an incident, we called a meeting with some leaders of the Communist Party and CPG for Macedonia, with our General Staff and some members of Central Committee of CPM (Communist Party of Macedonia). Political and military leaders of the units of the territory were also present. With four years of war, the Macedonian people deserved the right to their own independent life, paying for it with tremendous sacrifices. Due to the inconsistency of the CPG and the prevailing reactionary forces of Greece, the Macedonian people did not receive their deserved freedom.

At all times during the liberation struggle, the goals, interests and work of the Macedonian people were united with those of the Greek people. The liberation fight in Greece had the characteristics of a socialist revolution for the social and national liberation of all people who lived in Greece. The Macedonian and Greek masses united on a class basis. That only lasted as long as the CPG took into account the nature of the war, its social, class and national character, then the war was in its ascendancy. It hadn’t come to any sort of clash between the Macedonian and Greek populations, who hoped to live together in equality and freedom.

Unfortunately, the liberation movement of Greece lost the class-based character it had at the beginning which was the key to its success. This was due in part to the indecisiveness and inconsistency of the leadership, especially of some leaders of the CPG who abandoned their early stand regarding the direction and conduct of the war. It turned out that theCentral Committeeof theCPGhadanirregular andanti-Marxist

attitude toward the nationhood question, which directly affected the Macedonian population and which they viewed as unacceptable. That disagreement hindered the liberation struggle, and relations between the Greek and Macedonian populations in Aegean Macedonia deteriorated, especially towards the end of the war. Great numbers of Macedonians, military and political leaders of NOV, openly condemned the nationalistic and defeatist politics of the CC of the CPG. The Greek population was negatively affected as well. Despite the great sacrifices made to overcome the capitalist regime in the country, after the expulsion of the fascists the democratic movement suffered defeat. The reactionary forces came into power once again. After the Treaty of Varkiza, instead of progressive forces coming to power in the nation, the CPG allowed power to be taken by reactionary groups that had made almost no contribution to the war effort. They took power with help from the Anglo-American reactionary forces, which saw a capitalist Greece as the more desirable outcome. Instead of peace and harmony, people were thrown into a fratricidal war which again brought them many casualties and much destruction. The democratic forces once again made vast sacrifices, although in vain. The reactionaries won and seized complete power. The progressive Greeks and Macedonians were forced to emigrate due to persecution. In fact, they were exiled from Greece to various European countries, especially the socialist countries of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and the USSR.42

An Attack by the Germans

The enemy, well informed of the activities of certain comrades of Banitsa, sent an SS unit to blockade the village in December 1943. This action surprised the partisans who were at home. Dine Robev and Lazo Kochev were arrested. The two were taken to Lerin prison and later to the “Pavlo Melas” concentration camp in Solun. The CPG in Solun helpedintheir liberation, and, after returninghome, theycontinuedtheir resistance activities in the field. On 10 January 1944, Mitse Velikin,

42The Treaty of Varkiza was signed in February 1945 in Varkiza, near Athens, by the Greek government and the CPG for ELAM-ELAS in return for free elections. Among other things, it called for the disarmament of the partisans before free elections.

originally from Banitsa, was arrested in Lerin, where he was an underground political instructor of EAM for the regional committee of Lerin District. After his arrest he was immediately taken to “Pavlo Melas” where he stayed until the retreat of the Germans. In the enemy attack,which started in January 1944,Banitsawas thefirst villageunder attack. During the night between 30 and 31 January 1944, the village was blockaded by German and Bulgarian units. The population was gathered in the centre of the village while houses were searched and looted. Men and women, adults and children, were brutally beaten if they objected. On leaving the village, the authorities took nine people with them: Stojche, Dine, Lambe, Dimche and Krishe Kochev, Tone Lulov, Micho Mihaili, Mitse Katin and Mitse Robev. They were taken to Lerin prison but released after few days due to lack of evidence and lobbying by influential people.

On 1 February 1944, the partisan messengers Mihail and Andon Harishi were captured coming back from Vicho by the Bulgarian occupying forces at a snow-covered place called Sinjak in the vicinity of Banitsa. The shepherds Gone Dafov and Kitse Klechkov helped the Bulgarians, alleging that the Harishis were partisans. These shepherds were later sentenced to death and shot by the liberators.

In Lerin prison, the partisan messengers were beaten and tortured; nevertheless, they stoically endured the barbaric abuse and did not utter a word about the partisan units. The next day, the Bulgarians took them to the village of Bureshnitsa to shoot them in public in order to frighten the population. These brave fighters refused to be blindfolded and insisted on facing their executioners. They stayed calm at the command for readiness of the firing squad, and with tight fists cried out: “Death to Fascism! Freedom for the people! Long live the Communist Party and the Soviet Union led by Comrade Stalin! Death to the traitors of the Macedonian people!”

The District Conference of SNOF

The SNOF district conference took place at the beginning of April 1944, on the mountainous site of Bel Kamen on the slopes of Vicho. In addition to the leaders of the district committees of the CPG, EPON, EAM, and ELAS, delegates from all of the Lerin district villages were there. Of 126towns andvillages, 124wererepresentedat theconference by 150 SNOF delegates. Representing Banitsa were Mitse Laev, president of NOO for the town; Vangel Kujchev, instructor for the CPG district committee, Banitsa region; Kitse Kochev, member, district committee, CPG; Lefter Olevski, commander of the Banitsa ELAS detachment; Atanas Katinovski-Goche, instructor for the EPON district committee; Todor Kochevski-Viktor, member and instructor, EPON; and Pavle Pavlev-Dimko, instructor for EPON. The Germans learned of the conference and attacked Bel Kamen on the second day. At a sufficient distance from the conference, the conference’s security units, led by Ilija Dimovski-Goche, met and ambushed them, causing them to retreat. SevenGermans werecaptured; after abrief trial bythepartisans, they were shot. The conference delegates withdrew to the village of Bapchor on Vicho mountain, where an election of the district leadership of SNOF was held and Petre Pavlev was elected president.

In the evening hours the village of Bel Kamen was shelled by artillery but there were no casualties, as the village had been evacuated. At the conference, a review was given of activities to date and decisions were made on future activities.

On4April1944,whilereturningfromtheSNOFconference,Pavle Leko Pavlev-Dimko, instructor and member, Lerin District committee of EPON and SNOF, was killed. He was ambushed by the German occupying forces and traitors from the village of Prekopana in the immediate vicinity of his own village. It was impossible to confirm his identity from his dismembered body since he did not carry identification. He was essentially a victim of the Bulgarian agents Kalchev and Mladenov, who had armed the villagers of Prekopana for the Bulgarian side. The population later realized this and handed the arms over to the partisans. I was the last to see Dimko. He left in the

direction of Sorovich and Kajlarsko, while I headed towards Banitsa to meet my immediate family whom I had not seen since the autumn of 1942 when I’d left for Bitola. After a day in Banitsa I returned to Vicho. While in the village of Lagen I was informed of Dimko’s death. This news affected me deeply as we had been not only comrades but also childhood friends.

Pavlev-Dimko had been a loyal member of the Party, a skilled organizer and revolutionary, and a brave and fearless fighter who carried out his tasks with great enthusiasm. He had four sub-regional instructors under him. He took part in the fights to disarm the traitorous komitadzii and paudji (komitadzii were traitors who collaborated with the Greek quislings, while paudzii were local Greeks originally from Turkey who supported the Germans). He knew what he wanted, he was precise and clear, and it was easy to collaborate with him. The enemy had set traps several times before, but he had always managed to evade themby changing direction atthe lastminute.We losta first-ratefighter, a young revolutionary who gave his life for the freedom of his people, for Macedonia. After his death, I was deployed and continued the struggle for freedom.

He will forever remain a shining example to the younger generations of how they must fight and how they must defend the freedom of their people.

His name was put forward as a national hero in the NOV by the Lerin District committees of CPG, EPON and EAM, but because of the split between the CPG and SNOF over the Macedonian Question, he was not officially declared a hero. For the Macedonian people of the Aegean, he is a national hero, and will remain in the memories of all fellow fighters and future generations.43

At the district conference, a goal was set to elect national MPs during March-April 1944 to constitute the National Assembly of

43He was the childhood best friend of Evan Mallin and was romantically linked to a sister of Evan Mallin.

Greece. To that end, on 10 March 1944 in the liberated territory a temporary governing body was formed, the National Liberation Political Committee (PEEA) for all of Greece. Banitsa’s elections took place in in the second half of April 1944. Kiro Pilaev was unanimously elected as the representative for Lerin District. The first assembly was convened on 27 May 1944 in liberated territory in the village of Korishades.44

Formation of the Macedonian Partisan Units

The second important decision of the district conference was to finalize the preparations for organizing Macedonian SNOV partisan units which would be encompassed within the framework of ELAS.

In this way, in May 1944 the Banitsa unit was formed, with Lefter Olevski of Banitsa as commander and Gjorgi Kalajdjiev of Voshtarani as political commissar, within the framework of the 28th Brigade of the Macedonian division. There were 30 villagers from Banitsa in this unit formed in the fall of 1943, along with new recruits including Ilo Mangov, Kocho Hrisafov, Pando Dajkov and Nancho Dzogov. Also joining this unit were fighters from the villages of Gornichevo, Voshtarani, Tserovo, Zabrdeni and Ekshiso. This was the first regular unit of the Macedonian National Liberation Army composed exclusively of ethnic Macedonians.

The Banitsa unit inspired fear and trepidation in the enemy, and everywhere where they took action, they destabilized the enemy, especially the units of the quisling Greek government. Here is an example of the Banitsa unit’s activities: in the beginning of July 1944 there was a raid on the radio surveillance station in the Tserovo monastery at the summit of Piperka, where there were 30 Germans. The radio centre was destroyed, the Germans withdrew, and large quantities of food, supplies, and ammunition were seized, as well as the radio

44Apart from a very few people, most of the Macedonians were not communists but rather nationalists. The western powers’ aims were to secure Greece and the Mediterranean. Nationalist Greeks wished to rid their new territory of the Macedonian minority.

equipment and two mules which were transported to the brigade headquarters and company base in Negovan, Lerin District.

In the Sorovich-area villages of Ajtos, Ekshiso, Srebreno, Prekopana and others, Bulgarian agents under the leadership of Kalchev succeeded in corralling certain villagers into the fight against the national liberation movement. They even tried to influence Banitsa but did not succeed because of its freedom-loving, fighting spirit. In an attempt to ambush the Bulgarian spy Kalchev, the Banitsa fighters planted mines in the area of the Banitsa–Tserovo valley road. A convoy of German military vehicles drove into the trap. The first truck drove over a mine and flew into the air; the other two then withdrew. In total, 14 Germans were killed but the partisans suffered no injuries. However, Kalchev, the Bulgarian agent, did not appear as he was forewarned of the plan.

The Germans sought revenge for this action, and captured and hanged 22 patriots. The following day they bombarded the entire area to from the ambush site with artillery shells. About ten shells landed in Banitsa, killing Menka Ziskova, the wife of Mitse Ziskov, and Tsile-Vasil Gligor Kalpakov, who was carrying out guard duties for the village and had not abandoned his post.

Menka Ziskova was born in 1908 in Banitsa. She was a housewife, a member of AFZ and an activist with NOF, trained in handling firearms. Shewas killedat theageof 36,defending freedom.Tsile-Vasil Kalpakov was born in 1908 in Banitsa. He was a miner and a member of the pre-war trade union. He participated in many work actions and strikes in the mine in the struggle for social and economic rights. He was a member of the CPG from 1941 and an active member of the National Liberation Army. On that critical day, he was scheduled to be on duty in the village, a job assigned by the reserve units of ELAS. He gave his life at the age of 36.

The Imprisonment and Murder of the Partisan Lazo Kochev

During the spring offensive conducted by the Bulgarian and German units, an operations unit passed through Banitsa, captured Lazo Kole Kochev, and took him to the prison in Bitola. The intent was to get him to admit that he was a member of the CPG, a member of the People’s Committee of the CPG and an organizer for SNOV in Lerin District. He was beaten and tortured for three months using every barbaric method to get him to talk, but his captors were not successful. They tried to force him to sign a statement about the interrogation but he refused with the excuse that he couldn’t read Bulgarian and didn’t know what was written in the statement. Taken to court, he didn’t utter a word except to say that he was innocent.

For lack of evidence, the court brought in a verdict of “not guilty” and dismissed the case of the public prosecutor. Kochev was released but deported to Greece. He was free, but because of the beatings he was quite weakened and was unable to walk unsupported. He was put on a wagon by Dore Malinov, who took him to his house for several days’ rest and recuperation.

The Bulgarian authorities dispatched a police car the very next day to Dore Malinov’s house to take Kochev back across the border. The Bulgarian troops murdered him some 200 metres north of the border by shooting him in the back. The “not guilty” verdict counted for nothing with the Bulgarian occupying forces, or else this final outcome may have been planned from the beginning.

Lazo Kochev was born in 1910 in Banitsa. As a youth he experienced the suffering of his people, and as a young man got a job in theligniteminewherehestruggledinmiseryandpoverty earning barely to survive. He had a wife and children, and was a member of the revolutionary trade union at the mine and of the CPG from 1934. He was an organizer for the strikes of 1934 and 1939, when management conceded to the workers’ demands in full.

Until his arrest in May 1944, Lazo was in the first ranks of the struggle against the occupation and against domestic collaborators. He wasoneoftheorganizersoftheliberationmovement not onlyinBanitsa but also in the entire Lerin region.

Mobilization of ELAS and the Formation of a National Militia

Inthebeginningof August 1944, a mobilization ofmilitary recruits from18 to 55 years of age was carried out by the Military Staff of ELAS Reserve in order to form a national militia. Registration was conducted before a commission in the village of Voshtarani, about five kilometres from Banitsa. The commission included Boris Malinov from Banitsa and Vasil Emshiridis from the Banitsa Station settlement. About sixty people answered the call, armed and ready to fight.

ByorderofELASGeneralStaff,thesepeopleformedthefirstunits of the national militia of Lerin District and were under the command of Vangel Kujchev of Banitsa. Regional stations were also formed, with a set number of militias that cared for the order and security of the local inhabitants and were involved with the discovery and capture of all enemies hindering the developments of NLF and anyone preventing the National Liberation Movement from fulfilling its function in the liberated territories.

These sixty people from Banitsa who entered the national militia were assigned to six regional stations. The Zhelino station was commanded by Kiro Dzugomanov, the German (Gehr-man) station in Prespa by Dore Janin, the Negovan station by Stojan Katronov, the Setina station by Stavro Pavlev, the Banitsa station by the Banitsa municipal commander Vancho Katin, and the Neveska station by Tane Pavlev.

The Banitsa combatants enjoyed a special level of trust and were tasked with the security of Lerin District. This was the first military formation of the national militia not just in Lerin District but even more

broadly. In addition, the commander of the Lerin region became a member of ELAS General Staff of Greece, which was also an honour for Banitsa.

Combat Actions and Diversions by the Banitsa Unit

Information was received from authorities in the village of Voshtarani about Sotir Gaskov, a Bulgarian spy. He had been born in Banitsa, but he lived in village of Zhivojno in Bulgarian-held territory, and had been making inquiriesaboutthe partisans’ movements. He was also suspected of taking part in Lazo Kochev’s murder. Lefter Olevski’s troops, after several unsuccessful ambush attempts, finally caught hold of him near the fountain in Bogdanets, on the Banitsa– Zabrdeni road and took him to Bel Kamen. After a hearing about his espionage activities at the brigade’s military court, he was sentenced to death and shot as a traitor.

The German authorities sent Gjorgev, a Greek, as a scribe for the Local Government Council. He had a dual role. He acted as a spy and didn’t record the true facts in council meeting minutes, and he kept certain secret lists under lock and key.

In an ambush at the Lerin–Kozhani/Lerin–Solun crossroads, the troops of Lefter Olevski captured this traitor and found with him a list of the activities of certain people from Banitsa, intended to be given to the Germans. After a hearing, he was sentenced to death and shot for collaboration with the enemy.

Lefter Olevski and his unit received an order to attack the village of Ajtos in August 1944, and to disarm the village’s komitadzii (traitors who collaborated with the Greek quislings). The mission was successful, but Leko Natse Olev was killed in the fight. He was born in Banitsa in 1922, and was a mine worker and trade unionist for many years. He was member of OKNE, and from May 1941was a member of the National Liberation Movement and the CPG from 1942. He was

killed by a German unit which had come to Sorovich to help the komitadzii.

After the disarmament of these traitors in Ajtos, the group was given anothermission,to attack the Germanradiocommunicationcentre situated at Visino on Kajmakchalan mountain. In the second half of August, after extensive preparation, the mission was carried out. Ten Germans were killed and fourteen captured, along with the commander of the centre, a major. Military equipment, weapons, and the radio centre equipment were seized. The prisoners were taken to brigade headquarters, located in the village of Negovan.

In September 1944, the enemy was heading in the direction of Solun from Lerin. The Banitsa detachment organized an ambush at a place called Rikni Kamila (Braying Camel), on the road between GornichevoandOstrovo.TentrucksweredestroyedandmanyGermans were killed or wounded without any partisan casualties.

In the same month, the mine-laying squad led by Dimitar Kochevski successfully carried out the task of laying mines on the Lerin–Kozhani road and the Lerin–Solun rail-line along the Banitsa– Tserovo valley, near the Babulov Bridge close to Banitsa.

InOctober1944,the Banitsadetachmentattacked the police station in the village P’tale and continued towards the town of Sorovich, where, along with other units, they took part in its liberation and seized a large quantity of weapons and military equipment. In the vicinity of Armenoro village (near Lerin), they planted explosives on the rail line and blew up a German train. They captured 2,000 Bulgarian soldiers and seized three cannons, ammunition, and four trucks loaded with food at the railway station. (The truckloads of food, under the control of the National Liberation Board, were sent to Banitsa and distributed to the population).

The Liberation of Lerin

On 19 October 1944, the Banitsa detachment, together with the other units of the 28th Brigade, took part in the liberation of Lerin.

On 20 October, there was a grand parade in Lerin, in which all the liberation units took part and a great gathering in which Lerin District’s Party Secretary,Comrade Tanas,and the Presidentofthe regionalNOO, Nikjo Velikin, both gave a speech. Over 200 people from Banitsa were there to celebrate the victory over fascism. Surviving veterans of the Ilinden Uprising marched at the front of the parade, carrying banners proclaiming the freedom of the Macedonian people.

ELAS’s Command to Dissolve the Macedonian Units of SNOF

In these critical autumn days, some disagreements surfaced between Macedonian partisan units and the staff of ELAS of the 28th Infantry Brigade.The massive gravitation ofyoung Macedoniansto join the Macedonian units did not impress the leadership of ELAS but instead upset them, and they started to react to it. A policy came into force whereby EAM and other organizations started deterring Macedonian youth from joining Macedonian battalions and instead directed them to ELAS units far from home. Redeployment of Macedonian units and their transfer to other brigades and units outside Lerin District began. The same thing occurred in Voden and Kostur District. In addition, with the excuse that an exchange of weapons was being done; pistols and hand grenades were taken from the Macedonians but they were not given replacements.

By command of the division, a request was made to move the Lerin-Kostur battalion to the town of Siatista, Kozhani region. One could sense the wish of ELAS to dissolve the Macedonian units, with the agreement of the CPG. In a few days the Government of National Unity of Greece was to come back, led by Georgios Papandreou whose

position was well known. He had announced on the radio: “For Greece, the Macedonian question doesn’t exist”. The CPG agreed with this position and took responsibility for dissolving the Macedonian SNOV units.

The Lerin–Kostur Macedonian Battalion, after realizing they would be dissolved, retreated to the slopes of Bigla Mountain (west of Lerin) and continued the battles against the Germans while at the same time expecting an attack from the units of ELAS, which indeed took place. The 28th Infantry Brigade of ELAS, under the command of Janulis, attacked our battalion but found resistance. Former comrades-in-arms fought against one another and in the end, with great losses, the 28th Greek Brigade’s attack was broken up and they retreated. In order to avoid an even greater battle with ELAS and further bloodshed, which they expected, the Macedonian units decided to retreat to Vardar (Yugoslav) Macedonian territory on 13 October 1944, where they continued the fight against the Germans.

Retreat to Yugoslavia

The Macedonian Voden Battalion of ELAS also retreated before the danger over the Kozhuf Mountain to Kavadartsi. The next day, on 18 November 1944, from the remnants of the Lerin-Kostur-Voden battalions and from new groups of fighters, the First Macedonian Assault Brigade was formed.

The mistaken position of the CPG continued. It then declared the soldiers of Macedonian units of Aegean Macedonia to be traitors and counter-revolutionaries. At the same time, the national militia and ELAS units started persecuting the parents, families and relatives of the soldiers, sending family members into internment camps and declaring them to be collaborators with the enemy, shamefully calling them, paleovulgari (the lowest form of creature according to some Greeks).

Even the commander of the Banitsa detachment that was part of the 28th Brigade, Lefter Olevski, was ordered to attack the Lerin-Kostur

battalion and bring back its leaders to Lerin, dead or alive. Instead, his unit, knowing what was going to happen to the Macedonian units and people, joined the Lerin-Kostur detachment along with all its armed soldiers. As they arrived at St. Petka, they were joined by Macedonian partisans: 39 from Banitsa, four each from Tserovo and Krushoradi, eight from Ekshiso, six from P’tale, seven from Gornichevo, four from Zabrdeni,fivefromVoshtarani, four fromSetina, twofromBoreshnitsa, and four partisans from Peshosnitsa.

The following men from Banitsa were in Banitsa’s unit: Lefter Olevski (commander), Ruse Dzugomanov, Petse Alushev, Natse Rapov, Lazo Veljanov, Lazo Gjergev, Ilo Natse Mangov, Gjorgi Abov, Gjorgi Dajkov (platoon leader), Blazhe Dajkov, Gjorgi Alushev (platoon leader), Kirche Malinov, Gjorgi Iliev, Nanche Dzogov, Kalo Dzogov, Trifo Malinov (political commissar), Blazhe Malinov, Tane Jovchev, Lazo Lakov, Vancho Katin, Blazhe Toshev, Micho Toshev, Lazo Rapov, Kocho Hrisafov (political commissar), Leko Hrisafov (commissar), Pando Dajkov, Petse Mangov, Ilo Mangov, Natse Risto Malinov, Dine Nedin (platoon leader), Lazo Kalpakov, Dore Janin, Krishe Katin, Kocho Rapov, Kitse Vasev and Lazo Kirev.

At St. Petka, I, Atanas Katinovski-Goche, also joined the Macedonianunits, andat that timeI was aregional instructor for EPON, Lerin District, and a member of the organizing committee for EPON and SOF. I ordered all the supplies of foodstuff stocked in Buf and Kavkaz for the needs of ELAS to be transferred to St. Petka to be used for the needs of Macedonian units. At that time, as an ELAS member, I was forbidden to give anything to Macedonian units and I was ordered to propagate the story that they were traitors. I joined the Macedonian units and also informed Comrade Tanas, secretary of the CPG, by sending him a letter containing the following:

Comrade Tanas!

I inform you that as of today I joined the Lerin Macedonian Battalion led by Gotse, which has withdrawn from the ranks of ELAS and is stationed

at St. Petka because of ELAS’ intention to disband and disarm it. My place is in the ranks and on the side of the Macedonian leadership of SOF and SNOF, and I, as a righteous Macedonian, have dedicated the whole of my young life to the struggle for liberation of the occupied Macedonian people ever since the first days of the Revolution in 1941. It seems that my struggle was in vain, as was the struggle of the entire Macedonian people who took part en masse in the National Liberation Army, in the ranks of ELAS, actually SNOV, and who gave tens of thousands of sacrifices in the struggle for liberation of the country from the foreign invaders and domestic traitors. In doing so, we expected that we too would win a victory for our people, national independence and the right to self-determination. Unfortunately, the CPG and its leadership are following a misguided policy in the Macedonian Question and against participants in NOV and SOF, which is detrimental to the overall liberation movement in Greece. In this way, badly managed politics have led to a discord between the leadership of SOF and SNOV and the leadership of the CPG, EAMand ELAS.Asforthe CPG,itwillhave to bear historical responsibility before the Greek population and the Macedonian people. The political responsibility will be even greater if the CPG is unable to win freedom and bring the people and the working class to power. You also personally espoused these positions and policies when at a public consultation with instructors of the CPG, EAMandEPONa fewdaysago,where you publicly slandered and blamed the leadership of SOF and SNOV for the separation of the Macedonian units from ELAS, calling them traitors, counter-

revolutionaries and ohranovtsi-komitadzii.45 You also asked us to represent that policy to the people of Lerin District, which is unacceptable and is offensive to us Macedonians. Accept this as my resignation from the position of instructor for the Regional Committee of EPON. In the ranks of the Macedonian units, I will continue the fight until the final liberation of my subjugated Macedonian people. Regards, Goche

Declaration, 13 October 1944.

Todor Kochevski-Viktor of Banitsa, regional instructor for EPON and member of the Regional Committee of EPON and SOF, joined the Macedonian units in Bitola.

Gjorgi Turundjev, together with his partisan group which had retreated to Zhivojno, Bitola District, also joined the Banitsa unit due to the disagreements with ELAS and EAM.

In the case of Gjorgi Turundjev, veteran revolutionary and SOF leader in Aegean Macedonia, ELAS issued an order to apprehend him, dead or alive.

45Collaborators of the Bulgarian fascists.

Here is a list of other members of the Macedonian units:

Village of Gornichevo Petse Romev – commissar of a troop

Trajche Boglev Blazhe Totsev

Dine Korov Petse Gjegov

Kole Totsev Leonida Gruev

Village of Tserovo Ilo Cheganliev Stefo Adziev Trifko Adziev Ilo Kindev Village of Krushoradi Kosta Dzingov Alekso Dzingov Jane Donev Tole Petiev

Village of Ekshiso Trifko Popov – lieutenant Ilo Turundjev Maihail Kirkov Trajko Adziev Blazhe Adziev Kitse Adziev Stefo Robev

Village of P’tale Sotir Porpulov Blazhe Alilemov Stojan Gjatov Vasil Tsipov Kosta Vragoterov Ilo Chornjakov

Village of Zabrdeni Niche Kirkov Jordan Tashominov Gjorgi Tashominov Risto Filin Village of Voshtareni Pande Chokov Tane Ashlakov Tane Karkachev Tane Pashkov Pande Purchev Village of Peshoshnitsa Kosta Papajopulo – Avgerinos Kiro Kolevski Vasil Kostov Gjorgi Kostov

Village of Setina Alekso Mundurov Vane Ajtov Jordan Vasov

The Voden Battalion also crossed over onto Yugoslav soil before being de-activated, and arrived at Bitola. The Lerin-Kostur and Voden Battalions and the Banitsa unit continued the fight against the occupation, taking part in the liberation of Bitola, Resen, Ohrid and Struga. After the completion of operations, they returned to Bitola.

Formation of the First Aegean Macedonian National Liberation Assault Brigade

The first Aegean Macedonian Brigade with the commander Ilija Dimovski-Gotse and the commissar Mihail Keramitchiev was formed on 17 November 1944, from the Lerin-Kostur and Voden battalions.

The Banitsa unit became part of the Second Battalion, and Lefter Olevski was appointed Commander, Boshko as commissar and I, Atanas Katinovski-Goche, as a political instructor. Later, I was also an officer of the Battalion OZNA (Department for People’s Protection in Yugoslavia).

In order to reject the slanders of ELAS uttered on 10 October 1944 against the troops and leaders of the Macedonian Gotse Battalion, the leaders of the Macedonian units decided to send a detachment led by Atanas Koraveshi to return to Lerin and Kostur to tell the people the truth about the separation of the Macedonian units from ELAS, as well as to raise the morale of the people. I was in the leadership of the detachment, along with Koraveshi and the political commissar Pero.

The detachment set off from the village Dragosh over the Pelister mountain, between the villages Buf and German, towards the village of Zhelevo (west of Lerin), where it arrived around noon with a Macedonian flag waving. The members of the Greek National Militia who were in the village left it as soon as they found out that Macedonian units were coming. All of the villagers gathered in the centre of the village and Atanas Koraveshi addressed the population, while I spoke to them as a youth. We told the truth, urging that they not fall under any other influences and not heed any slanders. In the evening, the

detachment continued towards the villages of Rula and V’mbel, and it became even larger with new fighters who joined from Zhelevo. Another speech was given in village of Rula and in V’mbel the population welcomed us solemnly. We learned that units of ELAS were preparing action against our detachment. The staff held a meeting and sent a messenger to the “Gotse” Battalion to inform them of the new situation. The detachment remained stationed three days in the village of V’mbel waiting in vain for an answer and on the fourth day, in the morning, set off towards the village Smrdesh. After some speeches, we set off for village Gabresh, but at about one to two kilometres from the village on the slopes of Malimadi, we were fired on with all kind of weapons, so that the detachment commander instantly gave an order to the fighters to prepare but not to return fire yet. While we were talking, a bullet hit the political instructor Pero who fell dead right before the members of the squad’s staff. Koraveshi ordered a response to ELAS’s fire, and the battle lasted for more than two hours. We were fewer in number and poorly armed. However, after some time the artillery and mortars started to hit their own ranks and positions. Then we could hear voices from the Greek partisans that the people on the cannons and mortars were komitadzii and were helping their own people. We took advantage of the panic among the ELAS troops and on Koraveshi’s command, we attacked them and they started running, leaving many injured and wounded behind. After the advance, the detachment retreated to its primary positions and the leadership of SNOF in the village of Smrdesh was informed of the death of Political Instructor Pero.

People came to take the body and at the funeral everyone paid their respects. The detachment continued its way towards D’mbeni, the birthplace of Lazar Trpovski, and in the evening hours we were solemnly welcomed by the people.

The next day, after a rest and clean up, and speeches, we went towards the village of Labanitsa, then crossed into Albanian territory and through Pogradec we returned to Bitola.

After the Aegean Assault Brigade was formed, it was sent towards Kichevo and was stationed near Gostivar. The second battalion, which included people from Banitsa, was stationed in village Vrapchishte, Gostivar District, where several actions took place to rid the area of Balists.46 In an action of this kind near the villages of Lomnitsa, Gjurgevishta and Kalishta, two people were killed from the first detachment of the second battalion in the fight with the Balists. The brigade stayed on this territory more than three months and in April 1945, went to Bitola, through Skopje, where it was discharged. All the men of the brigade entered KNOJ (People’s Defence Corps of Yugoslavia), in the first, second or third brigades of the 8th Division.

People from Banitsa from the Second Battalion of the First Assault Brigade joined the border units of the First Brigade of the Eighth Division of KNOY in YNA (Yugoslav People’s Army). The political commission for Aegean Macedonia, headquartered in Bitola, formed the first military unit and sent it to Lerin District to protect the population from the terror of the monarcho-fascists. The leaders of the unit were Lefter Olevski and Risto Kolentsev. The other fighters stayed in YNA until the call from the CPG and NOF in the autumn of 1946 and the beginning of 1947 when the fighting began against the (Greek) government.47 The other fighters stayed in the YNA until the summons from the CPG and NOF in the fall of 1946 and the beginning of 1947. The battle started against the government forces and the deceitful agreement that had been reached between the CPG and the government in exile. There had been notable treason by individual cadres of the central committee of the CPG in concessions made to the government in the Caserta Agreement and the Lebanon Agreement. People from Banitsa were among the first to enter DAG.

After Banitsa’s troops went over into Macedonia, another unit of about seventy men was formed in Banitsa under the leadership of the commander Dimitar (Mitse) Kochevski, who, not knowing the

46Albanian Fascists 47The start of the Greek Civil War

treachery of ELAS, had taken part in ELAS against Macedonian units, especially in Sorovich and Kajlari.

Activities of SOF in Banitsa after Liberation from the Germans

It is recognized that the SOF movement led to the re-opening of Macedonian schools. There was training for new teachers and there was provision of primers and textbooks. In the fall of 1944, preparations were being made for the school year. There was a school opened in both the villages of German and Bouf. Atanas Babulovski, a former teacher in Banitsa, worked on preparations for the school opening in the village.

The splintering between EAM and SOF, the denial of the victories by the Macedonians and the formation of the Slavo-Macedonian National Liberation Army (SNOV) in Aegean Macedonia interfered with the school openings. Besides forbidding the mother tongue, the new Greek authorities also banished the families of all partisans who had joined theFirstAegean AssaultBrigade. In1945theGrkomanitook control of the Banitsa town council. As in a number of other villages they treated the families of partisans cruelly, not even allotting them their share of aid from the UNRA (United Nations Relief Agency) and other sources.