Part 41 - Macedonian involvement in pre-World War II

Part 41 - Macedonian involvement in pre-World War II

Prior to the start of World War II the situation in occupied Macedonia was Grim. After taking control of the Greek government, the dictator Metaxas suppressing all political opposition, outlawed all political parties and imprisoned leaders who would not pledge their loyalty to him. The media was also heavily censored. He then declared war on the Macedonian people by attacking their labour unions, leaders and declaring strikes illegal. Being a military man himself, Metaxas dedicated much of the State's finances to modernizing the Greek army in both manpower and military hardware. In the sphere of education, he re-wrote the Greek history to support his own ideologies declaring that there were three great periods in history: classical, Byzantine and his own regime, which was then known as the "Regime of the Fourth of August". He created a National Youth Organization to bring children together from various social classes and provided military training for boys and domestic skills for girls. Even though the Metaxa regime was ideologically similar to that of Spain and Italy, the Greeks at the time were very loyal to Britain. To maintain control of his kingdom, King George II of Greece turned Greece into a dictatorship. In 1936 General Metaxas, minister of war, was appointed to take charge of Greek affairs. While there were some prospects for basic human rights for the Macedonian people in the Greek State in the early 1920's, those prospects died as Greece tightened its grip on the Macedonian population by implementing more oppressive and racist assimilation policies. On December 18, 1936 the Metaxa Government issued a legal act concerning, “Activities Against State Security” and by this act thousands of Macedonians were arrested, imprisoned and expelled from their homeland. Among other things, Metaxas on September 7, 1938, by legal act 2366, outlawed the Macedonian language and prohibited people from speaking it by imposing heavy fines and imprisonment. In 1938 Australian author Bert Birtles in his book “Exiles in the Aegean” wrote, “In the name of ‘Hellenism’ these people (Macedonians) are being persecuted continually and arrested for the most fantastic reasons. Metaxa's way of inculcating the proper nationalist spirit among them has been to change all the native place-names into Greek and to forbid use of the native language. For displaying the slightest resistance to the edict-for this too is a danger to the security of the State-peasants and villagers have been exiled without trial.” (Page 112, John Shea, Macedonia and Greece The Struggle to Define a New Balkan Nation) The situation was similar in Yugoslavia, especially after king Alexander declared himself dictator of Yugoslavia in 1929, suspended the constitution and subdivided his kingdom in such a way that the Serbs would be a majority in all districts. He also abolished trade unions and removed personal liberties. The Serbian occupied territory of Macedonia was referred to as "South Serbia" and the Macedonian language was forbidden from being spoken in public. Macedonia’s history was revised in favour of Serbia and people’s surnames were modified to sound Serbian. Place names too were changed and replaced with Serbian ones. Unlike the Metaxa regime however, in the late 1930’s, Yugoslav regimes began to relax their tight grip and allowed unofficial and limited use of the Macedonian dialects to be spoken in the streets of Macedonia and in plays and drama clubs. In Bulgaria events followed a similar course as in Yugoslavia and Greece. A military coup was imposed in May 1934, the 1879 constitution was abolished and political organizations and trade unions were suppressed. In 1935 King Boris III, in a bloodless coup, overthrew the old dictatorship and replaced it with his own Royal one. Bulgarian governments since Bulgaria's inception in 1878 have officially and adamantly denied the existence of Macedonians arguing that all Macedonians are Bulgarians. Thousands of Macedonians, who over the years tried to express different views, were jailed or exiled.

The claim that Macedonians are Bulgarians was used to justify violent assimilation acts and to deny Macedonians their basic human rights. Ever since its inception in 1878, Bulgaria has been obsessed with possessing Macedonia and has caused immense suffering for the Macedonian people. The downfall of the Tsarist Russian Imperial Empire, the break-up of the Habsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire and the demise of the Ottoman Empire removed three of the Great Powers from internal Balkan influence. While Britain played a less active role, France and Italy attempted to form competing alliances in the Balkans but did not have the military might to enforce them. The Balkan governments, on the other hand, for the first time had an opportunity to adjust their relations with each other and form alliances to protect their mutual interests. Unfortunately their hatred for one other and fear of losing Macedonia always broke up such alliances and again allowed outsiders to play a role in their internal affairs. Germany's humiliating defeat in the World War I, coupled with her economic plight in the 1930's, gave rise to a new kind of German radicalism. Hitler exploited the situation and turned it to his own advantage. Hitler, in the short term, also gave the German people what they desired most, work and hope for a better future. Unfortunately, in the long term, he delivered disaster not only to the German people but also to many other nations, including Macedonia. As a new-world order emerged from the World War I, new alliances began to form. On one side stood the Axis partners, initially consisting of Germany, Italy and Japan. As war broke out, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Finland and Thailand also joined. On the other side the Allied partners emerged consisting of Britain, the Soviet Union, the USA and China. As the war progressed more and more nations joined the allies, totaling about fifty before the war was over. In September 1940 Germany, Italy and Japan signed a cooperation agreement. This basically identified their intentions with respect to each others' spheres of influence, defining their political, economic and defense strategies as well as their obligations to each other. The agreement came to be known as the “tripartite pact”. After war broke out in the Balkans, the first to fall to the Axis powers was Albania. By an ultimatum delivered to Albanian king Zogu, on March 23, 1939, Italian troops landed in Albania and occupied its territory on April 7, encountering little resistance. Soon after consolidating control in Albania, on October 28th, 1940, Italy declared war on Greece. Greece, however, turned out to be tough to defeat and Metaxa's foresight in arming his state paid off. Official history praises Greece and Greek soldiers for their bravery and fighting spirit but neglects to mention the contributions and sacrifices Macedonians made to keep Greece safe. Macedonians were the first to be dispatched to the front lines in Albania, taking the full brunt of the offensive as well as the winter cold. More Macedonian men suffered from gangrene than from Italian bullets and bombs. Unprepared for the frigid temperatures, many men lost their fingers, toes, limbs and even their lives to frostbite. Food too was in short supply. The brave Macedonian soldiers had to fight off starvation as well as the Italians. They did this to protect a country that refused and still refuses to recognize them. All their sacrifices were in vain because six months later, on April 6th, 1941, the German army marched into Greece. Again the Macedonians fought bravely but they were no match for the well-trained, well-disciplined German army. When the Germans reached Athens, the Greek government capitulated and the soldiers on the Albanian front were left on their own. Some were told to go to Epirus and regroup, expected to make the long trek on foot. Others were told nothing and were left to roam the countryside. Eventually they were all picked up by German patrols, disarmed and sent home.

The returning soldiers were given a hero's welcome. Unfortunately for those who were wounded, lost fingers, toes and limbs to frostbite, there was no compensation or a thank you for their loss and pain. The German invasion was a welcome relief for the soldiers from the Italian front, but at the same time it posed an uneasy uncertainty as to what was going to happen next. No one was certain how the new invaders were going to react. The Macedonian people, having ample prior experience with being occupied, were expecting the worst. As history would show however the new invaders were a mixed blessing for the Macedonian people. After war broke out in Europe, Bulgaria allied itself with the axis powers and on March 1, 1941 joined the German led pact. The entry of German troops into Bulgaria put Yugoslavia in a difficult position. To avoid German wrath, on March 25, 1941, the Yugoslav Regent, Prince Paul, also joined the German led pact. This did not sit well with young King Peter who, with the help of the Yugoslav military, staged a coup and deposed the Regent. This meant that Hitler had to re-negotiate his relationship with Yugoslavia. Hitler was counting on Yugoslavia to allow him passage to attack Greece. The new situation angered Hitler and instead of negotiating he signed directive number 25 declaring Yugoslavia an enemy of Germany and ordered its destruction. Hitler wanted a swift strike so he withdrew troops from the Russian campaign to accomplish it. It took Hitler's army 12 days to demolish Yugoslavia, a small diversion in his destructive career, but there are those who believe that this little diversion changed the course of history. To begin with it gave Russia just enough time to adequately prepare for an offensive, which ultimately led to Germany's defeat. Secondly, the violent nature of the attack created the right conditions for a Partisan uprising, which ultimately helped to establish the Republic of Macedonia. The battle for Yugoslavia and Greece was swift and effective. When it was over the Germans, as an ally to the axis powers, allowed Bulgaria to occupy the Serbian occupied part of Macedonia and the eastern region of Greek occupied Macedonia. Later, after the Italians left, Germany allowed Bulgaria to occupy western Macedonia as well. Many Macedonians from the Serbian part of occupied Macedonia who had suffered under Serbian regimes welcomed the Bulgarian invaders as saviours and liberators. Their euphoria however was short-lived as the Bulgarians quickly began to oppress and forcibly “Bulgarize” the Macedonian population. If there had been any pro-Bulgarian sentiment before the invasion, it quickly evaporated after the occupation. Germany's violent entry into Yugoslavia, coupled with Bulgarian oppressive attitudes towards the Macedonian people, gave birth to an underground Macedonian resistance movement. In Greek occupied Macedonia, after the Germans settled in, life for the Macedonian people took on an uneasy normalcy. The Greek police, who had supported the Metaxa regime before the occupation, now cooperated with the German military and again became active in Macedonia. To counter the Greek police and its oppressive tactics the Italians rearmed the old insurgents from the 1903 Ilinden Uprising and sent them to active duty. Many of the “old timers” were angered by Greece's oppressive laws and were spurred back into action by Bulgarian propaganda condemning Greece’s oppressive tactics. The Bulgarians were well aware of the unfavourable conditions the Greek Government had created in Greek occupied Macedonia and used the opportunity to create problems for the Greeks. Insurgent actions were limited at best and were restricted to the Italian zones of occupation, because the Germans would not tolerate armed actions in their zones. The Partisan movement in Yugoslavia was more organized and more progressive than the one in Greece. Led by Tito, the Communist partisans in Yugoslavia organized a war of national liberation in which the Macedonians, led by General Tempo, fought on an equal footing.

Macedonians formed their own section of resistance even before they were recognized and accepted by Tito. The first anti-fascist war of national liberation began in the Republic of Macedonia on October 11, 1941. October 11th is the “Second Ilinden” for the Macedonian people. Since 1941 all Macedonians have celebrated October 11, 1941, “Macedonian Revolution Day”. The Macedonian people by their actions, loyalty and patriotism earned their place in the world. By hardship, determination and the spilling of blood the Macedonian people demonstrated their desire for freedom and the willingness to govern themselves. The Great Powers in 1829 (by the London Protocol) satisfied the Greeks by making Greece a country. Similarly in 1878 (by the congress of Berlin) Russia liberated the Bulgarians, making Bulgaria a country. Unlike the Greeks and Bulgarians, however, the brave people of Serbian occupied Macedonia had to fight by themselves, for themselves, to earn their place in the world among the free nations. For just over a year the Macedonians of Serbian occupied Macedonia endured enough Bulgarian treachery to last them a lifetime. Then in April 1942 they rose up and demonstrated their displeasure. Macedonian Partisans took up arms against the Bulgarian army but were massacred in a bloody battle. Unarmed Macedonians then took to the streets to protest the massacre and they too were cut to pieces. To escape persecution, many of the Macedonian Partisans in Yugoslavia fled into Greek occupied Macedonia. Some entered the Italian zones near the village Besfina and the rest penetrated the German zones in the region around the village Sveta Petka and quickly went underground. The Besfina force, before it had a chance to make contact with the local population, was spotted by the old insurgents who quickly sprang into action. Seeing uniformed men on the Besfina hillside startled the old timers and thinking that it was a Greek police invasion force, they appealed to the local Italian garrison and were given arms and permission to attack. When the insurgents began the offensive the Partisans backed off and sent representatives to negotiate. They went from village to village and spoke with the local chiefs. The strangers wore handsome uniforms and conducted themselves seriously, with charm and charisma. They spoke long and well about freedom, liberty and the treachery of the Bulgarian Fascists.

When the insurgents found out that the uniformed men were Macedonians just like themselves they accepted them with open arms, gave them (surrendered) their weapons and many voluntarily joined their forces. The Partisans who landed in Sveta Petka, because of a German presence, had to work under cover but they too succeeded in recruiting volunteers from the local population. After the Partisan penetration, the Macedonian people in Greek occupied Macedonia learned much about the real Bulgarian intent and ceased to believe the Bulgarian propaganda. The old Ilinden guard was demobilized and replaced by a Partisan movement. Partisan organizers took extraordinary measures to explain to the Macedonian people that they were fighting for the freedom and liberation of the Macedonian people from the tyranny of the oppressive states. The Macedonian involvement in this war, and later in the Greek Civil War, was not about "Communist ideologies" or about alliances or obligations to the Great Powers. It was simply the next stage in the long struggle for “liberation from oppression” and to fulfill a longing for freedom, re-unification and self-rule. Unfortunately the Macedonian contribution in fighting against Fascism is not only under emphasized but also misinterpreted by historians. I will once again say that the Macedonian people, during World War II, rose on the democratic side and fought against fascism for the liberation of the states in which they lived. The Macedonian people, like many other people in the Balkans, fought to liberate their homeland and thus earn their place in the world. This cannot be ignored and must be recognized and recorded as such in history. Word of a Macedonian Partisan movement in Greek occupied Macedonia spread like wildfire. People came out on the streets to freely speak their native Macedonian language, to sing songs and write Macedonian plays and poetry. The Partisans even set up Macedonian schools and taught children patriotic songs, poems and Macedonian history, using local Macedonian dialects. The younger generations, for the first time, saw written words in their beloved, sacred Macedonian language. The newfound freedom brought happiness to the lives of the oppressed Macedonian people who welcomed the Partisans into their villages as “our own children”. The newfound confidence and strength projected by the Macedonians terrified the Greeks, especially the ones collaborating with the enemy, so for a while they stayed away and were no longer a threat. The Germans and Italians did not care one way or another about Macedonian affairs as long as there was no trouble for them. Macedonian interest in Partisan activities continued to climb, bringing new recruits and volunteers to the cause. Youth organizations were created with young men and women recruited to be the eyes and ears of the community and to help defend the villages. Many young volunteers of military age were recruited and trained to perform policing and civic duties in the newly formed organizations. The organization “Macedonian People's Liberation Front” was formed and recruited fighters from the Kostur, Lerin and Voden regions. It even cooperated with Greek organizations with similar ideologies. Later there was talk about re-uniting Macedonia, possibly through a Balkan confederation. Britain unfortunately was against the idea and discouraged Greece from taking part in such matters. Bulgaria too could not agree and withdrew support. As usual the Bulgarians wanted to become rulers of Macedonia, which was unacceptable to the Macedonians. There is a story told that about five hundred young Macedonian civilian men gathered in the village D'mbeni, eager to join the Partisan movement. Word of this reached the Greek Partisan leadership which appeared to be terrified at the prospect of such an all Macedonian strong force. There was nothing that the Greeks feared more than losing Greek occupied Macedonia. The Greeks by this time had formed their own Partisan movements (outside of Greek occupied Macedonia) and began to negotiate with the Macedonians about combining forces.

For some time Greek Partisan representatives tempted the Macedonians to join them. When negotiations failed to achieve results, the Greeks tried ordering the Macedonians to surrender their arms. Macedonians were well aware of Greek treachery and refused. Instead they sealed the borders from Bigla to Korcha, rendering the region free and inaccessible to the Greeks. Initially the Macedonians acted alone but later they decided to join a wing of the Greek Popular Liberation Army. In Serbian occupied Macedonia the pre-Second World War situation was becoming extremely difficult. There was unbearable exploitation of the people and deprivation of their human and national right. The Macedonian people were under constant pressure under the Serbian chauvinists and Macedonia was being transformed into a colony with its natural resources being exploited ruthlessly. The Macedonians under Serbian control were undervalued and disparaged the most. But as the pressure to forcibly turn Macedonians into “Serbians” increased Macedonians were becoming more stubborn and began to pay more attention to their own national identity. They found themselves in a bad situation out of which they could see an escape through liberation. This is precisely why they greeted the April 18, 1941 Bulgarian invasion force with such enthusiasm. They also believed the Bulgarian propaganda which was telling them that the Bulgarians were there to liberate Macedonia from the 30 year long Serbian oppression. But very soon after the Bulgarians established military, police and administrative authority in Serbian occupied Macedonia, the people began to see for themselves the true face of Bulgaria. The Bulgarians were not there to liberate the Macedonians, they were there to enslave them and turn them into Bulgarians. The many police stations and numerous police officers they employed did their duty by carrying out all forms of repressive measures against the Macedonian population. The Bulgarians took inventory of all goods, including livestock and properties, owned by the villages and requisitioned most of them. Taxes were increased and imposed on livestock and prices were allowed to go up, introducing measures which pushed the Macedonian people into extreme poverty. Unable to cope economically, many people began to organize for an armed uprising. Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union and the August 14, 1941 Atlantic Treaty, which stipulated “all nations which would take part in the anti-fascist struggle will have their rights to self-determination recognized and they would be allowed to create their own independent states” further motivated the Macedonian people in all three parts of occupied Macedonia spurring them to join the anti-fascist movements. Being occupied by one occupier or another was no motivation for the Macedonian people to go out and fight. The Macedonian people saw this conflict as any other in a series of conflicts in which they would find opportunity to fulfill an age old dream, liberate themselves and unite their country. Unfortunately this time they were led by three different antagonistically opposing regimes thus robbing the Macedonian people of coming together under a single leadership and under a single Macedonian liberation front.