GIORGI (DZHODZHO) URDOV (1914-1947) - Part 05

Immediately after fascist Germany, Italy and Bulgaria occupied Greece, including Aegean Macedonia, there was no government in Kostur Region, the Communist Party of Greece had long since been disbanded and many of the communists had been imprisoned. In was under these chaotic conditions that those who returned from the Albanian front and those who somehow managed to avoid arrest decided on their own initiative to organize the people to struggle against the occupiers.

One of the most important tasks these activists undertook was to collect and hide the weapons and ammunition the Greek army abandoned after it withdrew from the Albanian front. In March 1943, Pando Trpovski personally collected the abandoned weapons in the village Chuka and handed them over to the First Kostur Partisan Detachment in the village Nestram. 216

Immediately after fascist Germany, Italy and Bulgaria occupied Greece, Bulgarian agents from Sofia began to arrive in Kostur Region to organize a pro-Bulgarian counter-revolutionary movement to help destroy the progressive national liberation movement put in place by the Greek and Macedonian people. In their propaganda the Bulgarian agents capitalized on the Macedonian hatred for the Greek reactionaries who exploited and nationally oppressed Macedonians. In doing so, the Bulgarian agents managed to convince some Macedonians to join their armed detachments in Kostur Region.

Pando Trpovski resolutely opposed Bulgarian aspirations to gain control of Macedonian territory anywhere, and fought against them in Chetir and Nestram Regions. He, together with his comrades, managed to sabotage measures put together by the Bulgarian

216 According to the recollections of Mincho Fotev... 92 emissaries in the villages Galishta, Grache, Dranichevo, Chuka, Paracko, etc. 217

In May 1943, the CPG District Committee for Kostur Region created a special partisan group composed mainly of Macedonian fighters to disarm the Macedonian villages armed by the occupiers. The group used various methods to accomplish its objectives including distributing leaflets that called on all Macedonians who were involved with the Bulgarian sponsored counter bands to abandon them. The group was also involved in disarming counter bandits. In the end the group was involved in carrying out armed actions against the occupiers and their domestic servants.

The group in which Pando Trpovski operated managed to disarm about 30 villagers who served in the counter bands in the villages Chetirok, Dobrolishta and the town Rupishta. By persuasion almost all other villagers left the counter bands and returned to their homes. 218

In August 1943, the German army and its local servants attacked the village Chuka and severely damaged the historically significant St. Archangel monastery. The group fighting in this battle was unable to withstand the enemy’s pressure and after two hours of bloody fighting it retreated. The German soldiers then burned the monastery to the ground. 219

In October 1943, the Macedonian anti-fascist organization SNOF (Slavo-Macedonian National Liberation Front) was created in the village D’mbeni, Kostur Region. Pando, now known by his pseudonym “Buntovski”, was appointed leader of SNOF for Nestram Region. As a leader his responsibility was to create SNOF cells in the surrounding villages and agitate the Macedonian people to join the struggle to expel the occupiers. 220

217 According to Mincho Fotev’s manuscript entitled “Counter band policies in Kostur Region during the National Liberation War” The manuscript is kept in Mincho Fotev’s private archives. 218 Ibid. 219 Ibid. 220 According to the recollections of Lazo Poplazarov and Mincho Fotev... 93 In May 1944, the CPG and ELAS leaderships disbanded SNOF in Kostur Region in a most brutal way. An ELAS partisan unit arrived at SNOF district headquarters, located in the village Krchishta, and immediately arrested the district leadership that consisted of Paskal Mitrevski, Lazo Poplazarov, Lazo Damovski-Oshenski and others. Later Naum Peiov was also arrested.

Thanks to the protests of the Macedonian population in Kostur Region, the SNOF leaders were released in mid-August 1944. After they returned to Kostur Region they immediately joined the ranks of the newly formed Macedonian battalion stationed on Mount Vicho. This battalion was part of the 28th ELAS Regiment. 221

In early October 1944, the CPG and ELAS leaderships demanded that the Macedonian Kostur-Lerin Battalion be disbanded and that the Macedonian fighters be forced to join ELAS. But none of the Macedonian battalion fighters wanted to do that. So in order to avoid a clash between the Greek ELAS units and the Macedonian fighters, the Macedonian battalion, including Pando Trpovski, in the middle of October 1944 left Greek occupied Macedonia and crossed over into the Republic of Macedonia.

After the First Strike Brigade was created from the Macedonian fighters from Greek occupied Macedonia, Pando Trpovski was appointed political commissar of the IV Battalion (heavy weapons). He remained in that position until May 1945, when the Brigade was reorganized. 222

Immediately after the First Strike Brigade was disbanded, Pando Trpovski-Buntovski together with a group of Macedonians from the military and political staff of the same brigade, including Evdokia Baleva-Vera, Lazo Poplazarov, Argir Kuzovski, Mihali Apostolovski-Graniti, Urania Iurukova, Tane Naumov and Giorgi

221 According to Mincho Fotev’s manuscript entitled “Counter band policies in Kostur Region during the National Liberation War” The manuscript is kept in Mincho Fotev’s private archives. 222 According to the recollections of Miltiadi Popnikolovski-Tsvetko from the city Lerin. Miltiadi was one of the first people to join the National Liberation War effort and DAG. Miltiadi was commander of the IV Battalion (heavy weapons) in the First Strike Brigade... Iakata, were sent by the NOF top leadership to attend a political training course that lasted from May to the end of July 1945. After they completed the course Pando Trpovski and the others were sent to Greek occupied Macedonia to do field work. Pando was appointed NOF secretary in the Poleto area in Kostur Region. 223

In September 1945, a meeting took place in the village Zhupanishta between Sotir Timiovski, NOMS secretary for Poleto from the village Dobrolishta, and Pando Trpovski, NOF Secretary for Poleto. At the meeting Pando was brought up to speed on the overall NOMS organizational structure and with the newly formed organizational cells, as well as with the political situation in the villages Chetirok, Nestram, Dobrolishta, Tikveni, Izglibe, etc. After the meeting both Sotir and Lazo made their rounds around Poleto villages to get acquainted with the NOF, NOMS and AFZH organizational structures. 224

In the course of 1945, the Greek government forcibly mobilized young conscripts to serve in the Greek military. The CPG and EAM leaderships took the position that all recruits should join the Greek Monarcho-Fascist army. The NOF leadership took the opposite position and appealed especially to the Macedonian youth not to join the Greek army. NOF did this because the Greek Monarcho-Fascist government began to organize a genocidal mass terror campaign against the Macedonian population. After the old bourgeois regime was reestablished in the country, as a result of the treacherous Varkiza Agreement being signed, the Greek military began to take part in carrying out the terror. Under these circumstances NOF couldn’t allow Macedonians to be part of the Greek Monarcho-Fascist army and fight against their own people. Pando Trpovski consistently and with great success did his best not only to perform his existing duties but to also carry out NOF’s directive to prevent Macedonians from joining the Greek Monarcho-Fascist army.

223 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 9, p. 23. 224 According to the recollections of Sotir Timiovski from the village Dobrolishta. Sotir Timiovski served as NOMS secretary in Poleto, Kostur Region from 1945 to 1947. He joined DAG in May 1947, and in January 1948 he was appointed member of the People’s Board in Kostur Region. On March 31, 1946, the first post-war parliamentary elections were held in Greece. The CPG and EAM didn’t take part. NOF being in solidarity with the CPG also abstained from taking part in the elections. Pando Trpovski’s role in this was to visit the villages in Poleto and agitate the people not to vote. Thanks to his tireless effort the majority of the Macedonian people in his district didn’t vote.

In early June 1946, Pando Trpovski and Sotir Timiovski were asked to prepare the groundwork for establishing a wider network of NOF partisan groups. They were aided by the main NOF leadership stationed at the edge of Mount Malimadi. Included among the main NOF leaders were Vasil Hristovski from the village of Dobrolishta and Sotir Kostovski-Direkot from the village Stensko. During a joint meeting held in the “Slabishta” locality, near the village Chuka, they appointed Vasil Hristovski commander of the NOF partisan detachment and Sotir Kostovski-Direkot political commissar.

After informing them of the difficult situation the people in the district were facing, Pando Trpovski and Sotir Timiovski then introduced Vasil Hristovski and Sotir Kostovski-Direkot to the village leaders in the Poleto area, who then took responsibility for helping the detachment with its food supplies. Pando Trpovski wrote a report describing what it was like at the time and sent it to the NOF Main Board. Among other things, this is what the report said:

“...Our people, with the exception of the spies, are completely on our side. They trust NOF which allowed us to form organizations in most villages including Zhupanishta, Tikveni, Maniak, Izglibe, Rupishta, Zhelegozhe, Zhelin, Bresteni, Galishta, Chetirok, Nestram, Stensko, Radigozhe, Chuka, Grache, Drenoveni, Doborlishta, Sveta Nedela, Ludovo, Ezerets, Olovradi, Marchishta, Mangila, Doleni, Buhin, Nestim, Zhuzheltsi, Libishevo, Shkrapari, Semasi, Bela Tsrkva, Markoveni and Pesiak...”

“...There are armed Greek reactionaries in the area as follows: Chetirok 35 rifles, Dobrolishta 24 rifles, Drenichevo 7 rifles, Zhelegozhe 25 rifles, Zhelin 10 rifles, Tsakoni 12 rifles, Zabrdeni 40 rifles and one machine gun, Vichishta 25 rifles, Lianga 30 rifles, Shkrapari 3 rifles, Rupishta 12 rifles, Thomsons and 6 machine guns, Sveta Nedela 12 rifles, Gorno Papratsko 25 rifles, Trstka 7

rifles, Shak 25 rifles, Revani all (are armed), Grleni 35 rifles, Kalevishta 15 rifles, Charchishta 7 rifles...”

“...The persecution of the democratic people by these reactionaries has reached its peak, especially against the Macedonian element. In the village Grache for example, three people were abducted on June 4 and 5 and are being held in the Kostur prisons. Nine more are being prosecuted and are hiding in the mountains. Two women in the village Shkrapari have been imprisoned. Evgenia’s hair was cut down to its roots in the village Tikveni. Evergenia is a member of NOMS. Four people in the village Drenichevo were beaten because they didn’t vote. Twelve people from the village Dobrolishta are on a wanted list. It is believed that they may have escaped to the mountains. People who belonged to ELAS or were revolutionaries are being persecuted. Hristo, his brother Tome and their sister, as well as four others from the village Zhelin, were beaten. Everyone between the ages 14 and 90 in the village Breshteni were deported to Kostur where they are being interrogated about their alleged cooperation with NOF.” 225

A plebiscite was held in Greece on September 1, 1946, in which people were asked if they wanted to restore the monarchy in Greece. The Athenian government, which was in favour of the monarchy’s restoration, used its gendarmerie and Anglo-American help to pressure the Macedonian people to vote for the restoration. But thanks to NOF’s intervention led by Pando Trpovski, the majority of the people in the district opted for democracy.

Up until October 5, 1946, Pando Trpovski-Buntovski worked tirelessly, enduring the cruel terror perpetrated by the Greek regime, organizing the population in NOF, mobilizing armed fighters in NOF, encouraging people to participate and showing them that the way to freedom was by participating in the struggle and winning. On October 5, 1946, Pando Trpovski together with Tashko Ivanovski, from the village Rupishta, and Vangel Delevski, from the village Chuka, were sent on a mission near the village Revan at the

225 Report written by Pando Trpovski and sent to the NOF Main leadership. This report presents the political situation on the ground and NOF’s activities in Kostur Region. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 143, pp. 324-326. Albanian border. Unfortunately they were spotted by a village herdsman who informed on them. After a short skirmish the group was surrounded and captured by Greek border guards. They were then taken to the border watchtower where Pando was brutally tortured. His torturers beat him with a rifle butt and kicked him in the head with military boots, in an attempt to get him to betray NOF. But despite the severe torture, the Monarcho-Fascists failed to extract a single word from him. 226

In the afternoon of the same day the captives were brought to Monarcho-Fascist headquarters in the village Nestram. The next day they were transferred to Kostur where Pando Trpovski-Buntovski and his comrades were sentenced to death. Tashko Ivanovski was probably killed in Kostur. About a month and a half later Pando and the others were taken to Kozheni. A few days later they were sent to Solun and jailed in the Edi Kule prison. After spending almost a month in Edi Kule, Pando was then sent to a prison camp on the island Giura where he was brutally tortured.

Before he was executed Pando kept encouraging the other prisoners not to be afraid... Here is what one eyewitness wrote: “...A younger man from Pando’s group came over to see me. He said: ‘Kiro, we are leaving tomorrow... They are taking us to Athens to execute us...’ I immediately went to Pando’s tent and there I found his group talking about their departure... Pando came over to me and said: ‘Come and join us Kiro. This is our last day here...’ At that moment, my body began to shake and my eyes pooled with tears... Pando then said: ‘Kiro, we have become very close here in the prison, but I’m afraid we will now be separated and it will be forever... Please, if any of you survive take care of my fatherless children. Tell them that their father was executed because he believed in the ideals of the revolution... I want them to be proud of me and not feel sorry for me...’ After I heard him say those touching words I couldn’t remain indifferent... A stream of tears began to flow down my cheeks...”

“...Early the next morning I went to see Pando again. He and his group gave me their possessions and the extra clothes they had to share with the other prisoners. At the same time we said goodbye to

226 According to the recollections of Agnula Foteva-Atanasopoulou, who, along with Pando Trpovski, was also captured by the Greek border guards. each other for the last time... Then as they were about to leave Pando raised his fist up and yelled ‘Death to the fascists and long live the people’s democracy…” Moments later the police arrived and immediately put them in shackles. This was the last time I saw Lazo...” 227

It is unknown to this day when Pando Trpovski was executed. From what we know, mostly from his comrades, he was executed at the Averof Prison in Athens in late 1947. 228

Pando Trpovski’s was a great revolutionary not only because he served as a great organizer and bearer of the Macedonian anti-fascist and democratic movement, but also for his courage and heroic conduct during his trial in Kostur. Namely, he demonstrated courage and heroism in prison and during his execution when he refused to wear a blindfold.

Pando Trpovski-Buntovski proved to be a great patriot and, as a Macedonian NOF activist, belongs to the constellation of most prominent Macedonian revolutionaries who gave their lives for freedom and the national and social liberation of the Macedonian people.

227 According to the recollections of Kiro Talev from the village Konomladi, Kostur Region. Kiro Talev was a participant in the National Liberation War and served 12 years in Greek prisons. 228 According to the recollections of Malio Lambi, from Rupishta. Malio belonged to a group of prisoners who were sentenced to death at the island Giura. According to Malio Pando was executed on February 19, 1948. TODORA ANASTASOVA-SKORNA (1922-1948)

Todora Anastasova Paskalova-Skorna was one of the prominent Macedonian women from the Aegean part of Macedonia who laid down her life in the struggle for the Macedonian people’s freedom. Todora was born in 1922 in the village Nestram, Kostur Region, to a poor working class family.

In 1938, Todora together with her fellow villagers Evgenia Kiriakova, Tinka Filovska (Kaloianova), Mahi Filovska (Papaterpova) and Aleksandra Kirovska (Papaterpova) were admitted to OKNE, the organization for the communist youth in Greece. 229

Under the leadership of OKNE, Todora, along with the other progressive young women from their native village Nestram, was given the responsibility to assemble material aid for the needs of political prisoners. Todora was one of the most active participants in carrying out this task.

Following the German and Italian fascist occupation, the local CPG organization in Nestram tasked its youth with collecting and storing weapons abandoned by the Greek army following its withdrawal from the Albanian front. Led by Mahi Filovska (Papaterpova) Todora Anastasova-Skorna, Evgenia Kiriakova and Aleksandra Kirovska (Papaterpova) collected 11 rifles, several hand grenades and some ammunition and handed in the find to the local Party organization in Nestram. Todora kept one rifle for herself. 230

As an organized OKNE youth group, the above-mentioned young women often held meetings to become acquainted with the military and political situation in the country and to assign various tasks that they needed to perform for the movement, such as recruitment drives to draw new members to OKNE, disseminate propaganda through leaflets, personal visits, etc.

229 According to the recollections of Aleksandra Kirovska (Papaterpova), from the village Nestram, who was an active participant in the National Liberation War and a member of the CPG village party organization in Nestram. 230 Ibid. On March 22, 1942, with help from domestic traitors Stavro Giurgushev, Kuze Kiriazovski, Tasho Kalaputov and some others, an Italian expeditionary battalion looking for communists surrounded the village Nestram. The soldiers gathered all the adults in the village square and, while aiming their machine guns and rifles at them, demanded that they hand over their cache of weapons. The villagers refused and wouldn’t hand over anything at any cost. Then the above-mentioned traitors pointed out to the Italians who to arrest. As a result, the Italian soldiers arrested about 100 people, men and women, including Hrisostomo Papaterkov, Vasil Madzharov, Harito Galov, Leonid Duvalevski, Pando Duvalevski, Mahi Papaterpova, Atina Kaloianova, Aleksandra Kirovska (Papaterpova), Todoragona Anosta, Evgenia Kiriakova and Poliksena Kaloianova. 231 The arrested were terribly abused and brutally beaten, especially Todora Anastasova-Skorna, Evgenia Kiriakova and Poliksena Kaloianova. But they heroically endured the torture and gave them nothing. The same day, 12 people (women and girls) from Nestram were taken to the Averof prison in Athens. But because there was no specific information about their involvement in anti-fascist activities, the occupying authorities released Todora Anastasova-Skorna and Evgenia Kiriakova. The other villagers were released later. After they returned to Nestram, they immediately joined the anti-fascist movement and continued the struggle against the occupier. 232

In January 1943, a group of ELAS partisans from the First Kostur Detachment was stationed near the village Nestram, in the “Kopanche” locality. At the same time an Italian company escorted by the Greek quisling gendarmerie was stationed inside the village. After contacting the Party organization in Nestram, the partisans asked the villagers to provide them with accurate information about the size and movement of the enemy company and supply them with food and warm clothes. On the morning of a pre-agreed date Todora Anastasova-Skorna and Evgenia Kiriakova were dispatched to the “Kopanche” locality to meet with the partisans. Apparently the women had never seen an armed partisan unit and were delighted to meet them. The group of fighters was led by Giorgi Rizopoulos from the village Langa, Gramos locality. After asking the women

231 According to the recollections of Mincho Fotev and Aleksandra Kirovska... 232 According to the recollections of Aleksandra Kirovska... about life in the village and the terror and plunder the people had to endure under the Italian occupier, etc., the partisans discovered that the women had long been organized in the Party and that the youth in Nestram had joined OKNE en masse and were now struggling against the occupier and domestic traitors. 233

On March 4, 1943, the partisans from Kostur Region serving in the First Partisan Detachment fought a fierce battle against the occupier and managed to liberate the village Nestram. After their victory, the village youth, as well as the entire village population, happily welcomed the partisans with tears of joy, songs and dances. Of course, also among them was Todora who was fully engaged in finding a place for the fighters to rest and lodge. A few days later the partisans left Nestram and went on another mission to pursue the enemy. Todora used this opportunity and, together with Evgenia Kiriakova, Poliksena Kaloianova and Mahi Papaterpova, voluntarily joined the ranks of the First Partisan Detachment. 234

By the end of March 1943, ELAS fighters had liberated almost all the villages around Nestram. The youth organizations in the region were also reorganized during the same period. Todora was appointed as member of the EPON Nestram Regional Committee. During her service as an active member of EPON, Todora distinguished herself as a tireless agitator and organizer of the youth in the struggle against the occupier. 235

In late April 1943, two Italian battalions, aided by about 300 counter bandits and other enemy military units, attacked the ELAS positions in the villages Nestram, Stensko, Chuka, Chivlik and others. Todora was among the first in the ranks of ELAS to take an active role in the defense of those villages. After four days of heavy fighting and strong pressure from the enemy, the partisans were forced to retreat in the Kostenaria direction in the vicinity of Langa.

During the summer of 1943, Todora Anastasova-Skorna served in the ranks of the youth partisan platoon at the headquarters of the ELAS 28th Brigade. In the fall of 1943, as requested by Hristina

233 According to the recollections of Mincho Fotev... 234 Ibid. 235 According to the recollections of Evdokia Baliova-Vera and Mincho Fotev... 102 Pupti, CPG District Committee secretary for Kostur District and CPG Women’s Party Organization secretary for Kostur District, Todora was transferred to the CPG District Committee and tasked with working on Party propaganda to recruit more women into the women’s Party organizations in Kostur District. Todora also temporarily served as CPG Party secretary for women’s issues in the D’mbeni, Nestram and Bresteni Districts. 236

Todora gladly accepted and successfully performed all tasks assigned to her by the CPG Regional Committee. Her very appearance at meetings instilled confidence and enthusiasm in the other women and, for the first time, women began to feel equal to men in their contribution to the common struggle.

In November 1943, Todora, who at the time was serving as acting secretary of the CPG’s Nestram Regional Committee on Women’s Affairs, was elected as delegate to the CPG’s Kostur Region First Party Conference, held at the village school in Snicheni. 237

During 1944, until the fascist occupiers were driven out of the country, Todora actively and selflessly fought for the freedom of her people. As a political organizer and leader of the movement, she gave her all for the struggle: her property, her house, her loved ones. But she didn’t lose hope. In the second phase of the Revolution she continued her patriotic struggle.

In January 1945, as a delegate of the Kostur youth, Todora participated in the EPON Greek Conference in Solun. 238

Immediately after the Varkiza Agreement was signed, as a youth organizer Todora Anastasova took part in all the protests organized by the CPG and EAM against the terror imposed by the Greek right. She led the women from Nestram to Kostur to protest against the Greek bands that were committing terror in Kostur Region. Because

236 Ibid. 237 According to the recollections of Evdokia Baliova-Vera and Mincho Fotev… 238 Todora Anastasova Paskalova-Skorna. Our fallen fighters. Voice of the Aegeans, 1951, October 6, II, 15. 103 of that she was repeatedly detained and harassed by the Nestram gendarmerie and those in Kostur and Kozheni. 239

In March 1946, Kuzma Kaloianev, the first most prominent fighter from the village Nestram, was appointed NOF Nestram Regional Board secretary. Thanks to his help and with help from Todora Anastasova, after she was released from prison, the Nestram AFZH organization for women was formed in Nestram.

In September 1946, Todora was among the first women in Kostur Region to voluntarily join the partisans. One day Todora, Afrodita Duvalevska, Evgenia Kiriakova, Mahi Pekarova, Vasilka Petliganova and some other women appeared on Mount Gramos, in the “Kotelski livadi” locality where they were immediately, all but one, deployed in the partisan detachments. Todora Anastasova-Skorna and Afrodita Duvalevska were deployed in the detachment led by Ahilei Papaioanu, from the village Kalevishta, Kostur Region. 240 Giorgi Ianoulis from the village Borbotsko, Kostur Region was in command of all the joint detachments on Mount Gramos.

In the period from the second half of 1946 until the beginning of 1947, the partisan detachments stationed on Mount Gramos attacked a number of villages where Greek gendarmeries were stationed. The purpose of these attacks was to expand the partisan’s free territory in that area. Among the most important battles fought were those for the liberation of the villages Shak, Revani and Omotsko. Another battle fought included the one against the Greek border guards at the Albanian border near the village of Kalevishta. The partisans also attacked several villages in other Kostur Region districts, including Chetirok, Dobrolishta and Krchishta.

In all of the above-mentioned battles Todora Anastasova showed great courage and heroism. At this point, it is worth mentioning that during a battle that took place between the villages Shak and

239 H. Skornu, Skornu Teodora. In the book “For the holy national freedom”. Characters of fallen national fighters ..., p. 243. 240 According to the recollections of Ana Mangova from the village Zhupanishta, Kostur Region... 104 Revani, Mahi, a woman partisan from Kostur, was captured by Greek government forces for the first time in DAG’s history.

In January 1947, Todora Anastasova-Skorna, along with other DAG fighters, including Ana Mangova from the village Zhupanishta, Kostur Region, was sent to the partisan school where corporals were trained, in the village Snicheni. 241

In March 1947, a UN commission arrived on Mount Gramos to investigate the terror situation perpetrated in the Macedonian villages by the Greek political right. Members of the Commission also visited the school for training corporals and got to interview Todora Anastasova and Ana Mangova, who acquainted them with their reasons for joining the partisans. The students from the school for corporals then escorted members of the United Nations Inquiry Commission to the Kipurie locality in Grevena Region to meet with Markos Vafiadis. Vafiadis at the time was Commander of the DAG General Staff. After finishing their studies in Snicheni, Todora Anastasova, Ana Mangova and the other students from the school for corporals were sent to the villages Kaloni and Dasilio, in Grevena Region 242 to complete their training. After that Todora and Ana were assigned to units of the 588th DAG Battalion led by Ahileia Papaioannou. 243 Todora served as a corporal in Vasil Hristovski’s unit. Vasil was from the village Dobrolishta, Kostur Region. Ana Mangova served as a corporal in Sotir Ago’s artillery unit. Sotir Ago was from the village Ianoveni, Kostur Region.

As a corporal in Vasil Hristovski’s unit, Todora Anastasova fought against the government army during its first enemy offensive on Mount Gramos organized in May-June 1947. The operations on Gramos against the Greek government forces were led by Georgi Gianoulis, DAG commander of Gramos Headquarters.

During the first enemy offensive the government army suffered many defeats and DAG achieved significant success. DAG’s free territory was expanded and the morale of the fighters was raised even more. Many more volunteers began to join DAG.

241 Ibid. 242 According to the recollections of Ahileia Papaioannou and Ana Mangova... 243 Ibid. 105 Immediately after the unsuccessful government offensive ended, Todora Anastasova’s unit, which operated in an area called “Prasa”, at Kotelska visochina, was transferred to Mount Vicho. On July 14, 1947, Todora’s unit, along with other DAG units, attacked the town Sorovich but failed to capture it. After that the partisans were sent back to Mount Gramos. 244

At the suggestion of Gramos DAG Headquarters, in August 1947, Todora Anastasova and Ana Mangova were sent to the village Densko in Central Gramos to attend an Officers’ course. The course lasted 6 months but, in addition being trained on a daily basis, the students also took part in a number of battles fought by DAG in that area. 245

In December 1947, the students at the Officers’ school received an order from DAG General Staff to transfer the entire DAG printing equipment from the village Densko to the village Orovo in Prespa. This was also where they wrote their final exams and then, after taking the oath, they were immediately transferred to the village Kidonies, Grevena Region, at DAG Headquarters for Western Macedonia. Todora was deployed as a platoon commander in one of DAG’s units that operated in the area. After that Todora continued to fight for DAG in the battles fought in Epirus, Gramos, Vicho, etc. Todora continued to fight bravely and courageously until the middle of July 1948 when she stepped on a mine near Kopanche (Gorusha) locality on Mount Gramos. 246

This is how Todora Anastasova-Skorna’s life ended. She was a brave Macedonian and will be remembered.

244 Ibid. 245 Ibid. 246 Todora Anastasova Paskalova-Skorna. Our fallen fighters... 106 TINA ANDREEVA-TSVETA (1928-1949)

Among the most prominent Macedonian women fighters in DAG who heroically fought and sacrificed their lives for the Macedonian people’s freedom was Tina Andreeva-Tsveta, the heroine of Gramos and Vicho. 247 She was born in the beautiful village Mokreni in Kostur Region, in 1928 to a family known for its revolutionary tradition. 248 From a very young age Tina 249 was filled with Macedonian revolutionary ideas. During Metaxas’s dictatorship in Greece, her father Kuzman Andreev was jailed by the Greek authorities on charges of allegedly spreading pro-Bulgarian propaganda in his native village. But even though she was a little girl, Tina found the strength and courage to prove to the Greek gendarmes that their accusations were false and that it was a fabricated provocation to justify Kuzman’s trial. 250

During the fascist occupation, because she was a young girl, Tina wasn’t involved in the anti-Fascist struggle.

Tina’s love for liberating the Macedonian people came to full expression in the summer of 1945 when NOF, the Macedonian liberation organization, was created in her village Mokreni, which included an AFZH and a NOMS cell. Tina was one of the first women in the village to join the ranks of NOMS and together with her fellow villagers Lenka, Dota, Aneta and others became engaged in collecting food and clothes for the needs of prisoners and the persecuted. 251 Tina was arrested by the Greek police for doing that but, despite being brutally tortured, she didn’t admit to anything. 252

247 For Tina Andreeva-Tsveta’s involvement in the ranks of DAG see Fani Butskova, “The Heroines of Vicho and Gramos Tina Andreeva-Tsveta”. History, Skopje, 1975, IX, No. 2. pp. 34-42. 248 Tina Andreeva’s uncle, Nikola Andreev, was known as a prominent revolutionary and revolutionary leader during Ottoman times when Macedonians were treated like slaves. 249 The “Macedonian Bloody Wedding” starring Tsveta Voidan Chernodrinski, was first performed in 1944 in the village Embore, Kailari Region. This was when Tina took the nickname “Tsveta”. 250 Andreeva Tina (Tsveta). In the book “For the Holy People’s Freedom” ..., pp. 31-32. Also see Iroida tu Slavomakedonikou lau. Tsveta, 1949, p. 3. 251 Fani Butskova, “The Heroes of Vicho and Gramos Tina Andreeva-Tsveta”... p. 38. 252 Ibid. 107 After her release from prison, Tina was forced to go underground. She later voluntarily joined the partisans and continued to struggle against the Greek terror bands with a rifle in hand. 253 In a very short time she stood out as a heroic fighter.

After witnessing her military capability and her determination to struggle against the unpopular Greek regime, in early 1947 the CPG leadership sent her to attend a non-commissioned officer’s course held in the village Koteltsi, on Mount Gramos. 254

After completing the course and graduating as platoon commander, she fought bravely in the mountains Vicho and Gramos and in Siniachko, Konitsa and other places. She was often praised and decorated for her courage, bravery, determination and sacrifice. But Tina wasn’t just a brave woman she was also very cheerful and had a good singing voice. She often sang for the partisan. Thanks to her talents she very quickly became famous and a favorite of the DAG fighters everywhere.

Here is an example of how Tina demonstrated heroism. During the enemy offensive on Mount Gramos in the summer in 1948, DAG units were holding positions near the mill above the village Omotsko. Tina with her platoon was holding a position on the side of the road where an ambush had taken place. In the morning, at dawn, a government unit surrounded Tina’s platoon and the moment she stood up to investigate an enemy soldier rushed after her to capture her. He managed to grab her by her overcoat but thanks to her resourcefulness and dexterity she managed to get out of the overcoat and, after turning around, cut the soldier down with a burst from her machine gun, leaving him dead on the spot with her overcoat in his hands. Immediately after Tina shot the soldier a fire

253 Its unknown exactly when Tina joined the partisans. According to some she joined the partisans on September 6, 1946. See “Iroes ke martires” (Heroes and Martyrs). “New Greece” Edition, 1954. According to others, Tina joined DAG in the beginning of 1947. See “Nova Makedonka”, organ of the AFZH Main Board for Aegean Macedonia, 1949, No. 2. 254 Tina Andreeva-Tsveta, magazine “Nova Makedonka”, February, 1949, p. 11. 108 fight broke out and a fierce battle ensued, during which the government army suffered a major defeat and fled in panic. 255

Because of her exemplary struggle and sacrifice, in 1949 Tina was sent as a delegate to the First Conference of the Greek Union of Democratic Women of Greece. Here Tina represented the women fighters from the DAG 18th Brigade and was appointed a member of its working presidency. 256 Tina also represented the partisans at the Second NOF Congress in Vicho. 257

Tina’s heroism was well-known by many DAG fighters and elders, including the writer A. Pindu who spoke well of her. Among other things, this is what he wrote:

“One clear afternoon with her rifle on her right shoulder she appeared in wild Vicho and said ‘I have come to fight in your brigade, comrades.’ And since then she remained with the brigade. Wherever Tina was there was song and joy. In a short time she learned everything about the brigade, where it was, how it fought, its heroism and sacrifice – its entire history and the history of our people. When she became engaged in battle, fire and lightning rose, blazing and scorching. She rushed forward bravely shouting loudly ‘attack, attack, comrades. Ura!’...” 258

Tina Andreeva-Tsveta, the brave darling of the DAG 18th Brigade, died heroically on May 13, 1949 in a bloody battle to take the peak of Mount Kulkuturie, over the Tsrnoglava Slope between the villages Neret and Trsie on the Neret Mountain chain. 259

In connection with Tina’s heroic death A. Pindu wrote:

255 According to the recollections of Ana Mangova, from the village Zhupanishta, Kostur Region. Ana was an active participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. 256 “Mahitria”, DAG newspaper from March 15, 1949. Also see Fani Butskova, The Heroine of Vicho and Gramos - Tina Andreeva-Tsveta..., p. 41. 257 “Mahitria”, from April 5, 1949. 258 According to Fani Butskova, The Heroine of Vicho and Gramos - Tina Andreeva-Tsveta..., p. 41. 259 Ibid. “...And there at the peak suddenly there was a roar, smoke and then silence. Her voice could no longer be heard. Her friends picked her up. Only her eyes seemed to speak, whispering ‘They may have taken me away from my friends but they haven’t torn the hatred of them from my heart. Take my hatred and place it in your weapons so that I can continue to be with you and loudly shout attack, attack, comrades’...” 260

This was Tina’s 90th battle. She fought to her last breath. For her heroism in this, as well as in every bloody battle she fought, she was posthumously awarded the Second Order of Courage. As a sign of recognition of her bravery, the partisans of the 18th DAG Brigade published a newspaper called “TSVETA”. 261

260 Ibid. According to Fani Butskova..., pp. 41-42. 261 Ibid: p. 42. DINO BINCHEV (1916-1948)

The revolutionary Macedonian village Kriva, Gumendzhe Region, has made many sacrifices for the Macedonian people’s freedom. 262 Among the most prominent people in Kriva to sacrifice himself for the Macedonian cause was Dino Binchev. He was born in 1916 to a poor farming family but with a rich revolutionary tradition. After finishing primary school in his native village, Dino went to work on his parents’ farm.

After fascist Italy attacked Greece, Dino Binchev and a number of fellow villagers were mobilized into the Greek army and immediately sent to the Albanian front to fight against the Italian aggressor.

From the first days of the German-Italian and Bulgarian occupation, Dino was among the first in his village Kriva to become involved in the struggle against the fascist invaders.

In 1942 Dino Binchev, together with his fellow villagers Atanas Ianakov, Dimitar Lititarov, Peno Karamutkin, Pano Mitkov and Dimitrak Zlatkin, created a basic CPG organization in Kriva 263 in which Dino was put in charge of financial matters, a task on which he worked until the end of 1944 when the fascist occupiers were driven out.

With the introduction of pro-British rule in Greece, as a result of the Varkiza Agreement being signed, Dino, along with other progressive Macedonians from his native village, was persecuted by the Greek police and gendarmerie. He had no choice but to go underground. He then crossed the border into the Republic of Macedonia and stayed there for a short period of time.

After consulting with the NOF leadership for Aegean Macedonia in the spring of 1945, Dino, along with other Macedonian patriots, returned to his homeland and immediately joined the struggle

262 According to the memoirs of Dimitar Lititarov from the village Kriva, regarding his revolutionary activities, kept at INI. 263 Ibid. against the new reactionary authorities in Greece. 264 Dino served as a courier in NOF’s ranks in Gumendzhe Region and traveled to almost all the Macedonian villages agitating the people to fight against the enraged Greek gangs which fanatically terrorized the Macedonian people. Being successful at his job, Dino was later appointed member of the NOF District Board for Gumendzhe Region, responsible for its financial affairs, and secretary of the NOF Regional Board for the villages Kriva, Barovitsa, Petgas and others. Dino served in this capacity until the end of May 1947 when, with a rifle in hand, he joined the ranks of the DAG 24th Brigade of the 519th Battalion. 265

Due to his physical exhaustion in the summer of 1948, from daily battles and marches, Dino Binchev abstained from fighting for some time. He felt severe pain in his legs and didn’t have the strength to take part in distant actions. But despite that he didn’t give up fighting.

In early October of 1948, the 519th Battalion, which was part of DAG 24th Brigade, was ordered to carry out a very important combat mission. Naturally Dino Binchev should have participated, but being exhausted he didn’t have the strength to continue on the journey and was forced to stay at a border watchtower near the village Zhumnitsa in Gumendzhe Region. He was detained there by the border guards and two days later was handed over to the DAG 24th Brigade headquarters. Without inquiring, brigade command naturally assumed that he had deserted and immediately accused him. Dino was then detained and immediately taken to the village Notia, Meglen Region, and was handed over to fighter Aleko Pulkov to guard him. 266 But Aleko Pulkov, who had previously learned that the 24th Brigade wanted him liquidated, informed him to take appropriate measures to save himself. Dino unfortunately didn’t believe him. Dino was an honest revolutionary and had done nothing wrong and there was no need for him to flee. His situation unfortunately became worse on the evening of October 13, 1948 when he learned that his brother Risto Binchev had died in the battle

264 According to the recollections of Ivan Nichev from the town Gumendzhe... 265 According to the recollections of Aleko Pulkov from the town Gumendzhe. Aleko was an active participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. 266 Ibid. to capture the village Straishta in Meglen Region. Risto had long been a prominent fighter who fought against the foreign occupiers and during the Greek Civil War when he served in the DAG 24th Brigade as a saboteur in Gumendzhe Region. 267

As expected, in late October 1948, Dino Binchev was executed by order of the DAG 24th Brigade.