Part 27 - The Solun Uprising

Part 27 - The Solun Uprising

Prior to the preparations for the National Uprising, the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District (now occupied by Greece) consisted of two districts: the second or eastern district known as “Belasitsa” and the third or western district known as “Kozhuf”. These were later consolidated to form the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District. At the start of the 20th century, the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District supported a population of 418,270 people of whom 195,637 were Macedonians, 103,957 were Ottomans, 30,786 were Jews and the remaining were Vlachs and others. (Vanche Stojchev. “Military History of Macedonia”. Military academy. Skopje, 2004. Page 359) Solun, the capital of Solun Vilayet, was not only a cultural, administrative and military center; it was also a cosmopolitan city with enormous economic power. Much of the high ranking Ottoman authorities were located and lived there. The staff of the 3rd Army Corps, the 17th Infantry Division, the 3rd Cavalry Division and the 3rd artillery Division as well as the staff from several regiments, for example, were all located in Solun. In addition to supporting high ranking officials, Solun Region also supported a number of regular Ottoman army divisions. As one of the most important cities in the Ottoman Empire, Solun, at the time, was literally the transportation junction between the Balkans and the outside world. It was the crossroad between Europe and Asia, capable of supporting not only a huge civilian population but also large armies on the move to and from Asia Minor and the Balkans. Being a cosmopolitan city and supporting many foreigners on political, religious and business missions, Solun was a calm and relatively peaceful city. But that was not the case after the Solun assassinations in April 1903. To restore order and regain the confidence of these foreign investors and businessmen, Ottoman authorities had to crack down on the troublemakers with massive arrests. These actions unfortunately not only robbed the Uprising of its leadership but also created conditions of fear which significantly decreased the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization’s ability to function in this District. Without grass roots participation, all the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District could muster was the formation of small bands. Understanding that very little could be done with small bands, the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District leadership decided to organize its activities around partisan style hit and run activities. Plans were then put in place to conduct combat missions in and around Mount Kozhuf. Appointed to lead the Kozhuf branch of the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District Headquarters were vojvodas Sava Mihajlov, Argir Manasiev and Apostol Petkov. Considering the lack of leaders available to

lead the insurgency in other branches of the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District, it was decided to combine some of the Chetas. In Belitsa, the Eastern part of the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District, the most prepared region to do combat during the National Uprising was Kukush. Here it was decided to allow the larger Cheta, lead by Krsto Asenov, formed before the Solun assassinations to function as a whole. Preparations for the National Uprising continued to be made even after the Solun assassinations regardless of the strict measures imposed by the Ottomans. While secrecy and vigilance restricted their movements, organizers did manage to build a large base of operations in the seclusion of the reeds near Lake Ahmatovo. Among other things they built a warehouse for storing food, weapons and ammunition, barracks for the insurgents, and other buildings to be used for cooking food and nursing the wounded. The insurgents from Kukush also owned a red flag made of silk which they carried during their missions. Around mid-May 1903, for its own safety, the Kukus Cheta retreated into Krusha Mountain to wait until the National Uprising date was announced. Unfortunately no sooner had the Cheta arrived and settled than it was discovered and placed under siege by a column of Ottoman soldiers. While patrolling an area near the village Megurek, south-west of Lake Butkovo, the Cheta was attacked and a battle broke out. Throughout that day the battle spread outside the villages Gorni and Dolni Todorak, lasting the entire day. The insurgents fought gallantly but were unable to break the siege as the Ottomans continued to pursue them through the night. As the insurgents pushed the battle into the woodlands of the village Nemantsi, Kukus Region, they finally broke free and fled leaving behind many dead including Milan Delchev, Gotse Delchev’s brother. It took a while for the insurgents to regroup but by the start of June 1903 they all arrived in the secluded region of Lake Ahmatovo where they met up with Trajko Jotov and Gotse Nistorov’s Chetas. Combined, the three Chetas numbered over 200 insurgents. Even in the seclusion of the reeds the insurgents were not safe as the Ottomans continued to look for them and kept the lake surrounded with artillery fire. For almost a month the Ottomans pounded the area with artillery and when they couldn’t uproot the insurgents they tried to burn the reeds but without success. While the Ottomans were pounding the insurgents, the local Kukush Uprising leadership was making plans of its own to attack and gain control of the city of Kukush. The plan was to combine the three Chetas and assign Krsto Asenov as the top leader while separately each Cheta would have its own vojvoda, Trajko Jotov, Gotse Nistorov, or Gone Beginin. Before the attack on Kukush, scheduled for July 28, 1903, the Chetas met at the village Postolar to discuss strategies. The attack commenced on schedule and, surprised by the sudden assault, the Ottomans were easily defeated giving the insurgents a decisive victory. Unfortunately before he could be stopped, the Kukush Kaimakam requested support from the Ottoman garrisons stationed in Kukush, Gevgelija and Dojran. Running out of time the Macedonians strengthened their defenses as much as time would permit but not soon enough to be able to hold onto the city. By morning the Ottomans had surrounded the city and at dawn began their attack. A vicious battle ensued and lasted until late night when the insurgents, in small groups, broke through the siege and escaped to Ardzansko Blato. Given the circumstances, the insurgents managed to inflict great casualties on the enemy while themselves suffering minimal losses. When the National Uprising began in the Bitola Uprising Revolutionary District on August 2nd, 1903 the Kukush Cheta lead by Krsto Asenov, the Enidzhe Vardar Cheta lead by Apostol Petkov and the Gevgelija Cheta lead by Ivan Karasulijata attacked and liberated the village Komisor. With the Kukush Cheta’s flag flying high, vojvoda Krsto Asenov celebrated the liberation by marrying Ana Malesevska, a teacher and daughter of the famous revolutionary Nikola Malesevski.

Unfortunately Krsto Asenov’s happiness was cut short as he was killed in action soon after his marriage. After his death the Kukush Cheta remained intact and, together with the Gevgelija and Enidzhe Vardar Chetas, continued to contribute to the National Uprising and to the liberation of Macedonia. Soon after preparations began for the National Uprising in the western half, or Kozhuf part of the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District, the District leadership, lead by Apostol Petkov, subdivided the District into four regions; Grubevtsi, Kriva, Tumba and the City of Gumendzhe. A base of operations, with a number of warehouses, was established on Mount Pajak near Lake Enidzhe Vardar for carrying out Uprising preparations and revolutionary activities. Unfortunately, even though Vojvoda Apostol Petkov was able to recruit a large number of insurgents he was unable to arm them because of lack of weapons and ammunition. With the exception of delivering 10 rifles of 'Gra-Gra' type and several revolvers even the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization’s Central Committee could not help. To make things worse the Bulgarian sponsored Supremacists became involved in the region and began to agitate the population in the villages around the Pajak and Kozhuf mountains to rise en masse during the Uprising. Vojvoda Apostol Petkov, however, opposed their plan arguing that under the circumstances it would be best not to involve the general population and instead allow the village and local Chetas to carry out partisan style combat activities. Accordingly, Apostol Petkov issued specific orders to the Tumba and neighbouring villages to coordinate their activities with those of the Gevgelija Cheta lead by Sava Mihajlov and Argir Manasiev. Some of those activities included the demolition of the Vardar Bridge and the destruction of the railway north of Gumendzhe. The village Cheta from Grubevtsi meanwhile was ordered to cut the telegraph lines between Enidzevardarsko and the village Kufalovo. At the same time the Gumendzhe leadership was instructed to make preparations for an attack on the installation in Gumendzhe. Because of a large Ottoman army presence in the area the Uprising in the Enidzhe Vardar Region did not begin until August 6th, 1903. The Uprising began with a planned attack on the village Kriva where Apostol Petkov was hoping to destroy the garrison of 30 Ottoman soldiers and liberate the village. Unfortunately his plan was discovered and instead of the insurgents attacking the Ottomans, the Ottomans attacked the insurgents and drove them back. While this was going on Sava Mihajlov, with assistance from the Bojmitsa villagers, dynamited and destroyed the railway. A few days later Petkov’s Cheta attacked and besieged the Gumendze garrison. Although the insurgents did not capture the city they did manage to block the Ottoman army and hold it besieged in its installation for some time. When Ottoman reinforcements arrived Petkov’s Cheta, along with the other Chetas, retreated to Mount Pajak and by mid October 1903 fought several independent battles in various parts of this region. One of the most severe battles fought in this part of the district was in Gandats, one of the highest peaks of Mount Pajak. There Apostol Petkov and Ivan Karasulija’s insurgents took their frustration and anger out on the Ottoman army and Bashi-Bazouks for the crimes they had committed against the innocent and unarmed Macedonian civilian population. On September 12th, 1903 via a letter to the Ottoman garrisons in Gevgelija and Gumendzhe, the insurgents challenged the Ottoman army to “Come up to Gandats and fight the insurgents instead of attacking the unprotected population in the villages...” Frustrated by their peoples’ plight, vojvodas Apostol Petkov and Ivan Karasulija looked for a way to teach the Ottomans a lesson for taking revenge on the innocent Macedonian population. They strongly believed that if they could draw the Ottomans into the mountains, away from the civilian population, they could strike a blow that the Ottomans would never forget.

The challenge was accepted and on September 14th, 1903 the Ottoman army climbed Mount Pajak from two sides and took position around Gandats peak. The Ottoman plan was to surround the Chetas and deliver a devastating blow. Petkov and Karasulija however were well aware of Ottoman army tactics and the Macedonians with great skill out-maneuvered the Ottomans and forced them into an ambush. The insurgents fought until they ran out of ammunition killing 183 Ottomans. Taking advantage of the dark of night the insurgents then slipped away leaving the Ottomans in peace to bury their dead. In Gevgelija Region in the meantime, Vojvodas Sava Mihajlov and Argir Manasiev were busy recruiting insurgents for their own Chetas and making preparations for the National Uprising. Just before the Uprising began they had managed to recruit about 50 insurgents. They chose the village Konsko as their base of operations and as their Uprising center for this region. When the time came the Gevgelija Region leadership decided to split up its Cheta into smaller groups and initiated the Uprising by taking diversionary actions against the railway north and south of Gevgelija. On August 15th, 1903 Sava Mihajlov’s Cheta, assisted by the villagers from Bojmitsa, attacked and destroyed the local railway and a local bridge. While explosives were placed on the railway by small groups, the larger Chetas secured their positions. In the meantime, Argir Manasiev’s Cheta carried out a couple of diversionary actions, one near the village Balintsi and the second near the village Smokvitsa where a vicious battle broke out and the insurgents fought against an Ottoman army unit. In Tikvesh Region meanwhile, vojvoda Petar Jurukov took charge of the Uprising preparations which began early in February 1903 immediately after the Solun Congress. Unfortunately due to the close proximity of Tikvesh Region to Solun and the strict measures imposed after the assassinations, acquiring weapons became very difficult. Even under these circumstances Petar Jurukov still managed to acquire about 300 rifles of the ‘Gra-Gra’ type and some Martini rifles. By end of July, 1903 Jurukov’s Cheta had grown to 80 insurgents, which was then subdivided into three groups each capable of carrying out individual diversionary actions. Jurukov’s presence in the region unfortunately attracted the attention of Ottoman authorities who retaliated by imposing further repression on the Macedonian population. These strict measures forced Jurukov to re-think his strategy and as a result he demobilized the groups of insurgents, dismissing half of them. With the other half he formed two Chetas, one lead by himself and the other by vojvoda Lazar Misev. As Ottoman weapon search activities increased in Tikvesh Region, to avoid conflict and further endangering the civilian population, the two Chetas left Tikvesh Region and transferred to Prilep Region, but only for a short time before returning to Tikvesh. While patrolling the vicinity near the village Sheshkevo, on August 16, the Tikvesh insurgents came under Ottoman fire and a vicious battle broke out. When it was over 15 insurgents and 17 Ottoman soldiers lay dead. A few days later another battle broke out, this one near the village Kopristits, leaving 2 insurgents and 7 Ottoman soldiers dead.

Even though the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District had been restricted by the Ottomans in so many ways, its leadership still managed to accomplish a great deal. For starters it mobilized its forces and kept them active. It got the attention of the Ottomans by forcing Suleyman Pasha to send his powerful army after them and to commit large forces to guard the railways. By doing this the Solun Uprising Revolutionary District leadership proved that even a small number of insurgents involved in partisan style activities could literally pin down a large army, as Gotse Delchev had earlier predicted.