ΤΑ ∆ΡΑΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΓΕΓΟΝΟΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΕΤΟΝ 1946-1949 ΣΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑ∆Α ΚΑΙ Η ΣΟΒΙΕΤΙΚΗ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗ - Part 02

“Our competent government officials have uncovered concrete information that proves that in the first 15 days of June disorder of a revolutionary character was taking place, which spread throughout the entire region of Macedonia, both inside and outside of cities. According to government sources, bandits who entered the villages and are concentrating their forces have been advised to act on a moment’s notice. We have information that these orders came directly from the NOF whose long term objectives are to free Macedonia from the Greek yoke and proclaim it a “Peoples’ Republic” and then join it with Tito’s federation of Peoples’ Republics.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, pages 190 and 191). This well planted Greek propaganda, by the way, today serves as the “Greek side” of the story.

With this well fabricated, well planned and well executed program along with the use of well paid “professional witnesses” the Greek government managed to send thousands of Macedonians, sometimes entire families, to the Greek concentration prison camps in the waterless and parched Greek islands not to mention the many that Greece senselessly sentenced to death and executed. Among the many executed were six high ranking Macedonian NOF cadres one of them Mirka Ginova sentenced to death by the military court in Enidzhe-Vardar.

The campaign against NOF was becoming fiercer by the day especially in the spring of 1946 after the appearance of the Macedonian detachment in Kajmakchalan. The detachment’s rapid growth was seen as a threat to the Republican and Royalist control of Greek occupied Macedonia and they took immediate action to liquidate it. Gendarmes from Western Meglen were dispatched in pursuit and one day in the middle of July 1946, when the detachment was taking a rest near the village Pochep, it unexpectedly came under attack from three sides. Over 500 gendarmes were involved and in view of such an overwhelming force the Macedonians decided it was wise to retreat. Unfortunately during the withdrawal a group of seven people, leaders of t NOF, who that day were having a conference, were left behind and mistakenly took the wrong route to escape. During their retreat they ran into the enemy and were captured alive. Of the seven only Mirka Ginova was armed with a pistol. As the seven were rushed by enemy soldiers, Mirka fired all her rounds and in frustration threw the pistol at the soldiers. Among the seven was also a Greek. All seven were taken to the city of Voden.

Mirka Ginova’s capture was touted as a big success for the Republicans and Royalists. To demoralize her and the Macedonian people, the gendarmes had her dressed in rags and paraded through the streets as a scarecrow. But this fiery revolutionary walked with her head up and saluted onlookers calling on them not to cry for her. “Mothers don’t cry the revolution will be victorious!”

A local woman, wife of Andon Shulov, who lived near the gendarme station in Voden, afterwards reported that for three nights in a row a motorcycle was left running just outside the station under Mirka’s cell to mask Mirka’s screaming. Mirka had been severely tortured by the gendarmes using middle age inquisition methods. Several times she was lead to the city cemetery and buried in an open grave up to her neck. She was then fired at with blank shells to frighten her to disclose information on activities and on people in her organization’s network. Even after all that torture Mirka told them nothing.

1946 - July 12, Chereshnitsa attacked by Greeks

At six o’clock in the morning on July 12th, 1946 the army and police from the villages Dmbeni and Gabresh attacked the village Chereshnitsa, using grenade launchers and machineguns. After burning several barns they gathered the entire population in the village square and began to beat people with sticks and metal rods. Thirteen people were beaten unconscious. Among them were Hristo Markov, Vasil Palev, Hristo Andreev, Vasil Skivinov, Poptrajanov and Andon Terziev. Dimitar Anastasov was captured while working and taken to the village Gabresh where he endured prolonged beatings until he was dead. Afterwards his body was taken out of the village, doused with gasoline and burned. This was the second attack against the village Chereshnitsa. The village was also attacked three days earlier on July 9th, 1946 and the following people were abducted and sent to the island of Corfu concentration prison camps: Lambrovitsa Popfilipova, Marko Vivkov and Filip Palev. They were punished because they were relatives of people who illegally fled the country.

Others who were jailed and tortured included Ivan Kizov from the village Gabresh. Unfortunately Ivan Kizov could not withstand the torture he received and died in prison the same night he was jailed. His body was taken and tossed in front of the door of his house and left there. The next day the police jailed Lena Makrieva, Nikola Rompov and Hristo Robov, no reasons were given. Seventy people, fifty women and twenty men, from the village Biraltsi were turned in by the village informer Minche Shpirov. They were detained, locked up and severely beaten by the army and gendarme.

1946 - July 17, British Commission says Greece 90% fascist

During 1946 a Commission made up of British Labour Representatives (Solej, Tifanis and Dode (sp?)), visited Greece and examined the political situation in some detail. Upon their return to their own country, on July 17th, 1946 they announced that Greece is 90% Fascist, after which Laski, the former British President of the Labour party of Great Britain prophetically said: “The return of King George to Greece will convert this state into a second Spain…” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 168).

1946 - July 23, Mirka Ginova captured and tortured

On July 23rd, 1946 Mirka and the other six (Gjorgij Projev, Petre Popdimitrov, Risto Stojanov – all from Voden, the Greek Alekos Mutsakis from the village N’te, Mitse Ljumbata from Vlahovo and Tomo Mihailov from Teovo), were taken to a military court in Enidzhe-Vardar where they were sentenced to death. Mirka’s words in her defense will remain a testament for the Macedonian people from Greek occupied Macedonia. To her last breath Mirka defended NOF and all Macedonians from the slanders of her captors. “I am a leader of NOF” said Mirka before the court” and during the occupation I fought against the Germans and the executioners Kalchev and Dimchev, who jumped upon us like beasts, especially against us Macedonians so that they could mislead us into the claws of ‘Ohrana’. We fought the Ohrana with fanaticism, just as we fought against the German occupier. NOF is not a military organization; it is a political Democratic Macedonian organization, which is struggling for equal rights for our people within the framework of the Greek State. We are fighting for freedom and democracy!”

1946 - Mirka Ginova is executed

July 27, 1946 – Greek military court sentenced to death and executed Mirka (Irina) Ginova, a school teacher from the village Rosilovo, Voden Region. She was secretary of AFZH for Voden District.

From Varkiza (February 12, 1945) until July 1946, 20,000 Macedonians were forced to seek shelter across the border, 22,458 were jailed, 21,202 were convicted, 225 were killed, 1,309 found refuge in the mountains…

1946 - July 28, Greek army attacks Macedonian villages

On July 28th, 1946 the army, stationed in the village Breznitsa attacked the village Besfina and jailed the following people: Dimitar Skenderov, Ristana Skenderov, Gjorgij and Yane Skenderov. The next day the army captured and violently tortured Donka Dukova, after which she was taken to Lerin and jailed.

The following women from the village Rabi, Prespa Region, were tortured and also taken to the Lerin jail: Sevasti Dimitrova, Barbara Kalkova, Metoditsa JakrevaError! Bookmark not defined., Mitrovitsa Dimitrova, Stojantsa Dimitrova, Joshevitsa Nikolova and Sofija Bajlova. The following people were also jailed in the same prison on August 1, 1946: Vezo Karavanov, Ilija Nichov, Done Lazarov, Mitre Gogov and Ilija Srbinov. Also locked up were many residents from the villages Bukovik, Oshchima, German, Orovnik and Orovo.

According to press reports, during the months of May, June, July and August 1946, 5,246 people were killed, 415 heavily wounded, 1,446 tortured, 1,246 interned and 3,290 imprisoned. During the same period over 20,000 Macedonians fled Greece.

1946 - Bulgarians interfere in Macedonian affairs

August 9, 1946 - In regards to Macedonians in Bulgaria, political changes after the capitulation of fascist Bulgaria and the September 9th, 1944 coup d’etat positively influenced the Macedonians in Pirin. On August 9, 1946 the Communist Party of Bulgaria, under the leadership of Georgi Dimitrov, officially recognized the Macedonian nation and the right of the Bulgarian controlled part of Macedonia to attach itself to the People’s Republic of Macedonia. After World War II the Macedonians in Bulgaria were recognized as a separate and distinct ethnicity. Demographic data from a free census in 1946 revealed that the majority of the population in Pirin Macedonia declared itself to be ethnic Macedonian. There was a period of cultural autonomy and affirmation of Macedonian national and cultural values. The Macedonian literary language and national history were introduced into the educational system and almost 32,000 students were taught Macedonian. In 1947 in Gorna Djumaja (Blagoevgrad) the first Macedonian bookstore, reading room and Regional Macedonian National Theater were opened. Macedonian newspapers such as “Pirinsko delo”, “Nova Makedonija”, “Mlad borec” etc. were also published. Literary, cultural and artistic associations were founded contributing to the spread of Macedonian culture.

In the 1956 census conducted by the Bulgarian government, 63.7% of the population living in Pirin Macedonia declared itself Macedonian. Since that census, and after Tito broke relations with Russia and Bulgaria, Bulgaria changed its attitude and negated the existence of Macedonians thus forbidding the expression of the Macedonian ethnicity and language. Another census conducted in 1965 shows only 8,750 or less than 1% of the total population living in the district of Blagoevgrad to be Macedonians. This was a region with the highest percentage of Macedonians shown to live there by a previous census.

1946 - August 15, Greeks kill Macedonians

On August 15th, 1946 in Gumendzhe the nationalists and gendarmes killed Gjorgij Hadzhipopov, Dimitar Karadzha from Gumendzhe, Kosta Popjanov from Karpi, Lazo Projchev from Gomendzhe, Gjorgij Tampov from Kastaneri, Petad Dautis, Jovan Shahsov, Trifun Minov, and Tano Mitachov from Karpi.

1946 - August 24, CPG moves part of HQ to Belgrade

Based on prior agreements between Tito and Zahariadis, one part of the CPG Central Committee Politburo composition, headed by Ioannidis, was moved from Athens to Belgrade. General Markos Vafiadis, who was appointed organizer and leader of the partisan groups, in June 1946 by Zahariadis, left Greece and moved to Belgrade. Here he received specific directives and promises of support from the CPG Politburo.

1946 - August, 100 Macedonians imprisoned

From January to August 1946 more than 100 citizens from Gumendzhe alone were imprisoned including members of the Menchev family. From the village Barovitsa imprisoned were Jovan Chutra, Hristo Sjuli, Hristo Ajta, Gjorgij Kjosev, Jovan Gata, Katina Kuta, the entire Vangel Shoshov family, Paskalina Garti and Gjorgij Todorov Shoshov. From the village Karpi imprisoned were Gjorgij Tekni, Hristo Pejkov, Hristo Kirkov, Hristo Kjoska, Gjorgij Kjoska, Gjorgij Dzharov, Gjorgij Popnikolov, Atanas Betov, Maria Beta, Aneta Benova, Gjorgij Erov, Aneta Tumba, Dimitar Popjanov and

Jovan Popjanov. From the village Mandelevo 16 people were imprisoned, from Isiklar 50, from Boemitsa 15 and from Gorgopik 50.

1946 - September 16, Greeks beat Macedonians to death

On September 16th, 1946 civilian nationalists aided by the Gendarme beat to death with sticks Janis Asaridis from Gerakona, Nikos Karamanlis and Janis Sideris from Aksiupolis.

1946 - September 20, Greeks loot and burn

On September 20th, 1946 a detachment of gendarmes and bandits entered the village Barovitsa and burned the houses of brothers Trifun and Gjorgij Kuplev and took 2 mules, 300 goats, cheese, butter and everything of value they could find. They did the same to Hristo P. Kurlev’s house and to the houses and properties of Petar Ajta, Kosta Projchev, Tano Gatsev, Kosta Gatsev, Gjorgij Taratev, Jovan Kovachev, Hristo Cholakov and Gjorgij Poppetrov.

1946 - Greece enacts law to punish army deserter families

September 1946 - Greek government enacts a law designed to punish the families of army deserters. Imprisonment for political crimes was on the increase and as regular prisons became dangerously overcrowded, new systems of detention were being invented including detention centers, islands of deportation, concentration camps, etc.

Incarcerating large number of democrats, male and female of all ages, dated back to before the Metaxas dictatorship, which involved the punishment of people not for their deeds but for their ideas, but the sheer number of those incarcerated during this period was far larger than at any time in the past, and easily dwarfed even the thousands jailed or detained under Metaxas. There was a far greater number of women and even children detained during this period than ever before, necessitating the need for special women’s camps. In 1934, for example, there were approximately 130 women jailed in the Averoff Women’s Prison in Athens. By 1945 the number of prisoners had grown tenfold. “The strains upon the primitive

infrastructure required to support such an expansion of the system of incarceration can be judged in the remarkable collection of photos taken by women inmates and recently published under the heading Gynaikes exoristes sta stratopeda tou emfyliou.” (Mazower, Mark, “After the War was Over Reconstructing the Family, Nation, and State in Greece, 1943-1960”, 2000, Princeton University Press. Page 14)

1946 - October 28, DAG Headquarters is established

In September 1946 Vafiadis returned to Greek occupied Macedonia from Belgrade where, on October 28, 1946, he established DAG Partisan Headquarters.

1946 - Stalin directs Zahariadis to slow down movement

November 10, 1946 - Zahariadis receives directive from Stalin to NOT expand the armed movement during the winter of 1946-1947 because it was allegedly causing an international situation and that the CPG should focus more or less on its political struggle.

1946 - November 21, NOF falls under CPG

Based on decisions made by Tito and Zahariadis on October 14, 1946, the CPY, represented by Karaivanov, and the CPG, represented by Ioannidis, soon after announced the following joint agreement: “The Macedonian organizations NOF, AFZH and NOMS and their leaderships will now fall under CPG leadership and the Macedonian armed units will join DAG and fall under the leadership of General Markos.”

NOF’s new program goals were to instruct the Macedonian people to fight together with the Greek people in an alliance. The Macedonian people were told that they now had to fight for their survival in order to “save themselves”.

A short time after this CPY and CPG agreement, members of the NOF Board, headed by Paskal Mitrevski, were received by Lazar Kolishevski, CPM Central Committee Secretary, who told them: “You now go down (to Aegean Macedonia) there. Your leader of

the struggle will be the CPG. The CPG Line is clear. Have confidence in the CPG. Struggle with all your might against chauvinism, separatism and local tendencies…”

1946 - Greek newspaper waves flag of Slav threat

Yet another rightist Greek newspaper the “Ethniki Floga”, an organ of Napoleon Zervas, a former occupier collaborator now under British influence, on December 23rd, 1946 waved another “Slav threat” flag giving Greek nationalists the signal to start terrorizing the anti-Fascist democratic citizens of Greece by printing the following: “The danger is patient and is always there. As long as Soviet Russia is not contained within its own borders the danger will lurk and make us uneasy threatening our lives and our country. As long as Russian watchtowers are closer than 30 km from the Aegean Sea they will continue to attack. With burning heat provided by their branches Serbia, Bulgaria and Albania the communists will burn our state because it is in their nature. There is only one way to escape this –full destruction of this banditry which breaks the law of justice and makes this treachery possible. The lozenge is war without hesitation or mercy. War until the enemy is transformed into food for vultures and wild beasts or it is in chains in the prisons from which there is no escape.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, pages 169, 170)

1946 - NOF unit ordered to join DAG

On December 27, 1946, NOF partisan units ordered to join DAG

An order, order number EP 13, from General Markos read: “As of today, all NOF Partisan Units are to be placed in the composition of DAG.”

-- 1947 --

1947 - Legal Act L-2 is issued during the Greek Civil War, on the strength of which all who left Greece without the consent of the Greek government were stripped of their Greek citizenship and banned from returning to Greece. This included Greeks and

Macedonians. In its modernized version the Act is still binding for Macedonians.

1947 - February 12, UK informs US to take over in Greece

The UK government informed the U.S. government that, for economic reasons, as of March 31, 1947 it would stop helping Greece. The U.S. government agreed that it must inherit Great Britain’s role in Greece because otherwise Greece would inevitably fall under Russian influence.

1947 - February 24, King tells partisans to surrender

The Greek King and Greek government publicly called on DAG fighters to surrender. They were given a deadline up to March 15, 1947. If they were to surrender before the March 15th deadline their offenses committed against the State and against the people would be absolved and they could return to their homes.

1947 - February 25, Greeks loot Macedonian villages

On February 25, 1947 armed Greek civilians and soldiers attacked and looted the village Lagen, Lerin Region, burned 16 barns, raped a girl and set fire to Evdokija Ivanova’s house. The armed band of the notorious Skordas lead by the villains Garapis from Kalinitsa and Argir the Vlach from Plasnichevo was responsible for terrorizing the Macedonia population in Enidzhe-Vardar and Gumendzhisko Regions. Armed civilians and gendarmes with whips in their hands roamed the streets calling the Macedonians “Bulgars” and threatening to kill them. These where acts of torment and humiliation never before experienced by the Macedonian population. And if that was not enough the rampant unemployment and economic crisis created by the evacuation of the villages added another dimension of hardship to the people, a burden which forced them to look to NOF for relief.

Since the spring of 1947 hundreds of villages were emptied of their residents by force. In Negush Region alone 17 villages were evacuated among them were Gorno Seli, Dolno Seli, Kutsu Fljani,

Trasilovo, Golema Reka, Janakovo, Nea Strandzha, Ropan, Arkudohor, Chernevo, Javornitsa, and Tursko Selo.

1947 - March British Vice-Consul Hill weaves conspiracies

I also want to mention here that if anyone should be accused of having “autonomist ideas” it should be the British. It was no secret, at least not to the Macedonians, that during 1945-1946 the British government and Greek security forces, through the political officer Bafas and through various collaborators of the occupiers, were interested in creating an autonomous movement in Lerin Region. If anyone should be accused of irregularities it should be the British Vice-Consul Hill who was the one weaving conspiracies. This information was made available to the UN Inquiry Commission by Dr. Janidis, a Lerin Region doctor, in March 1947. It took a lot of courage on the part of Dr. Janidis to divulge this information and as a result of this he lost his life.

1947 - “Truman Doctrine” proclaimed

March 1, 1947 - U.S. President Harry Truman announced the decision to proclaim the “Truman Doctrine” for engaging the U.S. in Greece. Greece was granted credit and advanced military equipment to equip its government army. At the same time Van Fleet, an American General anti-guerrilla specialist, was made available to the Greek government.

1947 - March 31, US replace UK in Greece

The UK government informed the U.S. government that, for economic reasons, as of March 31, 1947 it would stop helping Greece. The U.S. government agreed that it must inherit Great Britain’s role in Greece because otherwise Greece would inevitably fall under Russian influence.

1947 - February 20, US and Greece sign Agreement

The U.S. and Greek governments signed agreement in Athens. The U.S. government pledged to help Greece and as a result began to

exercise American dominance over Greece, pushing the UK to the side.

1947 - April 17, men forcibly taken to prison camps

Military age men are forcibly taken from the Lerin Region villages and sent to the Greek island prison camps. They were victims of American policies in Greece. They were victims of Lieutenant General James A. Van Fleet’s military tactics. Van Fleet was familiar with the concept of how to starve a guerrilla army. In order to do that he had to rob it of the ability to feed itself and of the ability to recruit new fighters. To stop the partisans from recruiting new fighters, the Greek government arrested basically every man, capable of carrying a gun, who was not loyal to the government or was affiliated with the partisan movement. All these people were sent to the Greek island prison camps.

1947 - May 23, NOF issued fist edition of newspaper

The newspaper “Nepokoren”, organ of NOF, edited by Pavle Rakovski, published its first issue with about 500 copies.

1947 - September 15, CPG’s III Plenum held from September 15 to 17 during which time military matters were discussed. The following slogan was coined: “All to arms, everything for victory!” It was also decided that a free territory be created at the Kozheni Plateau surrounded by the mountains Pind, Pieria, Karakamen, Kaimakchalan and Vicho.

1947 - September 27, DAG GHQ issues mobilization order to mobilize all men ages 17 to 35. A mobilization which took from 4 to 9 months was conducted, which included mobilizing people from the Macedonian refugees who had fled Greece and had gone to Yugoslavia. Places of mobilization outside of the Greek borders included Skopje, Veles, Shtip, Bitola and various other places in the Republic of Macedonia. All these people were shipped out of Yugoslavia and sent to join DAG. (See: F.M in INI, SK. 4-271/60, p. 73-76.)

1947 - November 22, British officer describes situation

A British officer, who at the time was stationed in Greece, on November 22nd, 1947, made the following remarks for the newspaper “New Statesmen and Nation”. In short he described the situation in Greece like this: “One week after the signing of the Varkiza agreement I witnessed the most horrific and antisocial behaviour committed by the newly formed National Guard made up from personnel from the former collaborators of the occupiers. Everyone who placed their faith in the word of the agreement (which the English had guaranteed) and did not leave in good time, were put in prison and mistreated. In an underground enclosure in the larger part of a kitchen in a small flat I saw 16 men, women and children. Two of the men were lying on the floor unconscious swimming in a pool of their own blood. Every prisoner had the right to go to the toilet only once in three hours and only for three minutes. An old man, because he was selling EAM newspapers, was tied and beaten for an entire hour. None of the prisoners were informed as to why they were imprisoned. None of the prisoners were taken to court, sued and found guilty but were kept in prison for nine months. This was not an isolated situation during the time when not a single group of communists existed and not even a single leftist activity was taking place.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, pages 166 - 167)

The newspaper “Daily Mirror” published an article written by a British soldier who personally had witnessed atrocities committed by the Greek Rightist forces. The article was illustrated with photographs showing people being tortured and beaten. There were photographs of mass slaughters and decapitations. There was even a photograph of a 16 year old decapitated girl. People’s decapitated heads were shown to be carried as trophies hung on the saddles of horses or propped up on spikes.

The people who had suffered and died at the hands of these blood thirsty Greeks were Macedonians who had done nothing wrong except to have being born Macedonian.

Connie (Koni Ziljakus (sp?)) wrote that the official Greek government and the military which was organized by General Charles Ujakam, (sp?) a well known enemy of the communist

ideology, well known from the time he was chief of the British military interventionist forces in the Soviet Union, were no better than the police and the gendarmes. “Four fifths of the forces in the official administration, in the courts and in the police are in the hands of these extremists. Surlas’s bands ruled the province and had established their own administration. They are well armed and do what they feel like.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 167)

1947 - December 7, Greece enacts decree “Z”

Greece enacted Decree “Z” on December 7, 1947, which stated that: “All persons abroad who express anti-national sentiments are to be stripped of their Greek citizenship.”

1947 - Royal Gendarme consists of collaborators

On December 12th, 1947, quoting British Colonel Shepard, the newspaper “New Democracy” wrote: “The backbone of the Royal Gendarme, making up Greece’s Security battalions today, consists mainly of German collaborators”.

Richard Mayer from the American Overseas Information Agency reported from Athens that “a large part of the former gendarme which a while ago served the Germans is now using the lists left by the Germans to oppress doubtful personalities…” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 167)

1947 - December 23, Provisional Government established

The Provisional Government of Greece was created on December 23, 1947 in accordance with the decisions made by the CPG’s Central Committee Political Bureau. The seat of the provisional government was established in Prespa, in Asamati, located in the Peoples’ Republic of Macedonia. The seat of the government was supposed to be established in Konitsa (as claimed by Secretary-General Zahariadis when he said “… If we take Konitsa our government will probably be recognized…”). But unfortunately, it did not happen! DAG units fought tough battles and sustained heavy

losses in their attempt to take Konitsa, but to no avail. The arrival of members of the Provisional Greek Government in Prespa was accommodated by UDBA’s Lieutenant Colonel Slobodan Krstich, a Yugoslav National Army officer. Originally the provisional Greek government consisted of eight members: President Markos Vafiadis, Yannis Ioannidis, Petros Rousos, Miltiadis Porfirogenis, Petros Kokalis, Vassilis Bardzhiotas, Dimitrios Leonidas and Vlandas Stringos. Then, by decree, 25 people were promoted to the rank of DAG colonels. But neither in the government nor among these officers, who represented the military and political factor of DAG, was there a single Macedonian!

The Provisional Democratic Government of Greece was a one-party government exclusively composed of Greek communists. Despite the fact that 50% to 60%, or more, of the DAG fighters were Macedonians, not a single Macedonian was in charge! But according to the “false” history of the Macedonians from Greek occupied Macedonia, NOF was a military and political factor. How was that even possible?

Note: The Provisional Democratic Government of Greece led by Markos was not recognized by any country, which means it was conducting illegal mobilizations, especially in the Republic of Macedonia.

NOF and AFZH remained silent on this “illegal” act.

There was also a “third period” for NOF which lasted from the time it was disbanded on December 23, 1947 until DAG was liquidated on August 30, 1949. This was the time when NOF accepted the program of the Interim Democratic Government of Greece, a government that was not recognized anywhere in the world. A self-recognized government desperate to continue the struggle by further committing the Macedonian people to war and by offering them: “Equal rights as national minorities and freedom to carry out national activities!” if they won the war. (See: AE: 179/47.)

-- 1948 --

1948 - January 1, Yugoslavia stops supplying DAG with military aid

DAG was receiving military equipment and assistance from Yugoslavia up until January 1, 1948. For the list of equipment provided see Risto Kiriazovski’s book entitled “The Macedonians and relations between the CPY and the CPG, 1945-1949” page 263. See “Review of military equipment other assistance received by DAG”.

1948 - January 13, James A. Van Fleet arrives in Greece in early 1948 and assumes command of IUSMARG. Van Fleet and his group began to work on a plan to liquidate DAG by a) Continuing with the population displacement from the villages close to the mountains which support DAG, b) Raising terror in the population by conducting military operations and other military actions.

1948 - January 13, NOF’s 1st Congress is held in the V’mbel village church in Kostur Region during which it was concluded that more then 20,000 of the 25-28,000 DAG fighters in the entire country were Macedonians. This means that by 1948 8,000 fighters, at most, were Greeks i.e. of non-Macedonian origin.

1948 - January 20, legal Act M is issued, on the strength of which the property of those who were stripped of their citizenship was confiscated. The law was updated in 1985, but it is still binding on Macedonians.

1948 - February 10, Stalin said no to Greek Civil War

One of Greece’s most prominent historiographers - Tassos Vournas, in his book “History of modern Greece – the Civil War”, on page 176 wrote that Stalin, on February 10, 1948, literally told the Yugoslav delegation in Moscow that: “I do not agree with you, my Yugoslav comrades that the revolution in Greece should continue. That struggle has no hope of success. What do you think the UK and the USA, the strongest countries in the world, will allow it to bring down a line of communication with the Mediterranean Sea? Nonsense! And there’s almost nothing of naval forces! No! The revolution in Greece should stop, as quickly as possible.”

1948 - February 24, American military arrives in Greece

The American Military Advisory and Programming Group led by General Van Fleet arrived in Greece. It was announced as the “high visit” to Athens.

1948 - March 15, Call for evacuating children

The newspaper “Eksormisi”, issued by DAG in Gramos Region, carried an announcement from the Provisional Greek Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated March 7, 1948 entitled “Parents and children appeal to the government”. Further down the article it said: “From mid-February to March 5, 1948 parents from 59 villages from the free territory gave 4,784 children.” The same newspaper carried an article on March 20, 1948 saying that the Interim Government decided to evacuate all the children up to age 14.

1948 - March, 28,000 child refugees leave home, mostly Macedonians from areas of heavy fighting evacuated to Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. Greece denies their right of return to this day.

RESOLUTION 193C (III) United Nations Resolution calls for repatriation to Greece of child refugees.

U.N. UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ARTICLE 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive an impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

DECREE 504 continues property confiscations of exiles and colonization of Aegean Macedonia with people from Turkey, Egypt and other parts of Greece. Parcels of land given to the colonists along with financial incentives.

1948 - March 25, Mass evacuation of children

The evacuation program began to gain momentum in early March of 1948 starting with the recruitment and training of the special teachers. The actual evacuations were carried out on mass starting on March 25th through to March 30th, 1948 until all the designated villages were evacuated. Most children were transported through Yugoslavia and were sent to Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Some were evacuated through Albania and Bulgaria. As the numbers of the evacuated rose, children were also sent to East Germany and the USSR. It is estimated that about 28,000 children in all were evacuated, most of them from North-Western Greek occupied Macedonia. Although smaller in number some orphans, children of Partisans and children of families who were in trouble with the Greek Government authorities were also evacuated.

1948 - April 28, AFZH Congress held in Vicho

An AFZH Congress, led by Evdokia Foteva – Vera, was held in the free territory of Vicho.

1948 - June 1, Mitrevski and Keramitchiev suspended

The CPG Central Committee Political Bureau made a decision to suspend Mihailo Keramitchiev, President of NOF, and Paskal Mitrevski, NOF Board Secretary, because they were alleged to have conducted an “unprincipled factionist struggle”.

1948 - August 27, DAG reorganized

Sitting of the CPG Central Committee Politburo with an agenda:

a/ The struggle in Gramos called: “Epic of the Northern Pindus, political and military questions and decrees.”

b/ Removal of Markos Vafiadis as General and Leader of DAG due to illness and his departure for Moscow. (Note: Then, the system produced the term “ideologically crazy”, which grouped very smart and healthy people with the lunatics.)

c/ The New Military Council was to consist of:

1. Nikos Zahariadis - President and Supreme Commander of DAG. 2. Georgios Vonditsios - Head of military battles. 3. Vasilis Bardzhiotas - Political Commissar of General Headquarters. 4. Michos Vlandas - Responsible for military resources. 5. Leonidas Stringos - State Administration.

d/ Reorganization of General Headquarters by region and creating military divisions. Promotion of officers into DAG high military ranks.

1948 - November 15, Markos Vafiadis suspended

The CPG Central Committee Political Bureau decided to suspend General Markos as Chief of DAG and member of the CPG Central Committee. By a special flight from Tirana, Markos was transferred to Moscow in March 1949.

1948 - November 23, DAG HQ to mobilize Macedonians

DAG headquarters ordered the mobilization of Macedonian men and women ages 17 to 35 only in the Vicho area. Practically all Macedonians in Kostur and Lerin Regions were mobilized.

-- 1949 --

1949 - January 9, Zahariadis refuses to see reality of war wants more sacrifices from the Macedonians

During the CPG Central Committee’s 5th Plenum, held on January 9th, 1949, Zahariadis, refusing to face reality and continued to speak of DAG as an invincible force that would defeat the Greek government’s regular army, destroy the Republicans and Royalist, take over the government and bring victory to the Democratic people. He threw around slogans like “1949 will be the year of victory” and “Death to Monarcho-Fascism and American-Imperialism”. He then called on the Macedonian people from the “free territories” to continue their struggle and sacrifice and in place of promising them “equal rights with the Greeks as a minority” as has been done before, he now promised them “National self-division as Macedonians” but only when the CPG came to power. He said all this when even the most lay of people knew that DAG was facing an unavoidable defeat. Was this an act of an incompetent commander or an act of a treacherous and deceitful traitor? Let the historians of the future decide.

As was done during the 4th Plenum, the Macedonian contribution to the struggle was again complimented at the 5th CPG Central Committee Plenum. Among other things it was stressed that the Macedonians in Northern Greece have given their all in the struggle with outstanding heroism and self sacrifice which calls much admiration. There should be absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that as a result of their effort and spilling of blood the Macedonian people have earned their full national restitution in the way they themselves would want it.

1949 - CPG Central Committee holds 5th Plenum on January 30-31, during which it coined the slogan “United and Independent Macedonia within a Balkan Federation.” And because of this the Central Committee of NOF convened its 2nd Plenum on February 3rd, 1949 and proclaimed its new principles for the future of the Macedonians in Greece.

This was an unpardonable cruel manipulation: Just a few months before DAG’s liquidation, during the CPG Central Committee 5th Plenum, held on January 30th and 31st, the CPG decided to: “Recognize the Macedonian people’s right to self-determination”. Why? And why at a time when the war was full blown and intense? Was it because the CPG “cared” for the Macedonian people or because it wanted them to become even more engaged until a critical situation was reached? And how do you suppose the “other side”, the Greek government side, felt about that when it found out that the Macedonians were now fighting for “self-determination”? As you can see, this was only a ploy to “intensify” the war on both sides! And as it turned out, this “offer” lasted only until DAG was liquidated! After that it was business as usual…

1949 - 2nd NOF Congress held on February 3, program principled introduced

The Second NOF Congress was held on February 3, 1949, during which the new NOF program principles were introduced in which it was proclaimed: “That Macedonia will be unified and the Macedonian people will live in a single independent Macedonian state.” This, as it turned out, was a drastic attempt, a last political maneuver on the part of the CPG to keep the Macedonians in the war. We already know how the Greek government and the West, Britain and the Unites States in particular, felt about splitting Greek occupied Macedonia from Greece.

1949 - CPG delegation goes to Skopje on February 9, to recruit Macedonians

As requested by Porfirogenis, member of the CPG Politburo, a CPG delegation was sent to Skopje to meet with NOF representatives who had deserted DAG and demanded that they recruit at least 300 new fighters from the refugees who had fled to Yugoslavia to save themselves. Those demands were not met.

1949 - Partisans fight battle for Lerin on February 12. This was one of the bloodiest battles in the so-called Greek Civil War, which was unnecessary because the partisans were already losing the war. But Zahariadis insisted on capturing Lerin because, as he said, if the Partisans won this battle and captured a city then they would be taken seriously by the outside world. DAG units attack in an attempt to enter the city Lerin. Their actions failed because of the poor coordination and strategy, DAG endured a catastrophic defeat. Around one thousand DAG soldiers died and were wounded.

1949 - March 7, CPG backtracks on promises

The CPG Central Committee denied coining the slogan “United and Independent Macedonia within a Balkan Federation.” The CPG also denied accepting NOF’s new program principles drafted during NOF’s 2nd Congress on February 3, 1949. In March 1949 the Interim Government in Greece was overhauled. More specifically the CPG Central Committee issued a statement denying any decisions being made during the 5th CPG Plenum regarding the Macedonian Question and regarding NOF’s programming principles outlined at the 2nd NOF Congress on February 3, 1949.

1949 - Second NOF Congress is held on March 25 in the village Nivitsi. It was here that resolutions were adopted to invite the Macedonian people to join the struggle (Greek Civil War) en masse. It was here that the Macedonian people were told and retold by the Greek Communists that they would allow them to create their own Macedonian state. But there was a condition, a catch. For that to happen, every able bodied Macedonian man and woman had to join the struggle. “All to arms – everything for victory,” read one slogan. Zahariadis also said: “You Macedonians have a right to secession, within a Balkan federation…”

There were many slogans written especially in honour of Zahariadis, the so-called “greatest”, wisest and most respected son of Macedonia and then, a little later, no one wanted to believe that he was the “greatest” liar and cheat! But the leaders of NOF (National Liberation Front) and all those serving under him, believed and trusted him and that is why they all suffered and many died; because of those beliefs!

1949 - KOEM created by Zahariadis

March 27, 1949 - Communist Organization of Aegean Macedonia (KOEM) created by Zahariadis

After his failure to win over NOF and turn it into an anti-Yugoslav weapon to satisfy his own purposes, Zahariadis invented another so-called Macedonian organization and imposed it on the Macedonian people. This time the CPG General Secretary created the organization KOEM (Communist Organization of Aegean Macedonia). At its founding meeting, on March 27, 1949, Zahariadis appointed the Organization’s Committee comprised of Mihali Maliov, Vangel Koichev, Paskal Mitrevski, Stavro Kochev, Evdokia Baliova Vera, Vangel Nichev, Urania Pirovska, Hristo Kolentsev and Tashko Hadzhiianev. This Committee was tasked with leading KOEM until a Party leadership was elected at an all-Macedonian KOEM Conference. The First KOEM Conference was held on August 2nd, 1949. At Zahariadis’s request, 17 regular and 14 deputy KOEM members were selected. Included among the regular members chosen were Mihali Maliov, Vangel Koichev, Stavro

Kochev, Hristo Kolentsev, Andon Sikavitsa, Paskal Mitrevski, Tashos Gushopoulos, Pando Vaina, Sterio Dachov, Evdokia Baliova Vera, Ziso Deliovski, Lazo Poplazarov, Vangel Nichev, Urania Iurukova, Traiko Popsermedzhiev, Giorgi Nedelkov and Foti Urumov. Included among the deputy members chosen for the KOEM leadership were Krsto Mangov, Ahileas Papaioanou, Lambro Gakidov Dzhavela, Dimitar Prikov, Argir Kuzevski, Paskal Paskalevski, Atanas Angelovski, Mincho Fotev, Lambro Moshov, Micho Velaki, Mahi Pilaeva, Hrisanthi Tsanzovska, and Andonia Filipova.

(KOEM (Communist Organization of Aegean Macedonia). NOF agitation and propaganda edition, May 1949, stored in the Macedonian archives in Skopje. For more of the same see “Aegean Macedonia in NOB 1949”, T.VI..., doc. 80, p. 172, doc. 81, pp. 172-176 and doc. 82, pp. 177-178.)

1949 - AFZH passes resolution June 16 to induct Macedonian women