SOVIET UNION ORDERS THE CPG TO END THE WAR

SOVIET UNION ORDERS THE CPG TO END THE WAR

After NATO was created new arrangements emerged in the world which disturbed the Soviet Union, showing that dangerous things were developing that could harm the peace and disrupt the people’s liberation movements in the capitalist world. This was no less dangerous for the people’s democratic republics that were created in Europe after the end of World War II. The Soviet Union was particularly upset with the Balkan People’s Democratic Countries, especially Albania and Bulgaria, in front of which stood a distinct cancer – Yugoslavia’s exit from the socialist camp and the danger of a possible US military intervention… like it was happening with the Greek Civil War.

To that end, on April 11, 1949, CPG Secretary General Nikos Zahariadis was summoned to Moscow where the Soviet leadership ordered him to end the armed struggle in Greece and withdraw. Zahariadis was told that things as they were developing were dangerous for peace and for the democratic people and nations, and that the Soviet Union had information that the Americans, motivated by operations against DAG, would invade and occupy Albania. The Soviet Union would not be able to help Albania due to the severance of its relations with Yugoslavia. Zahariadis was strictly told that DAG would not be able to get help, as of May 1, 1949 and that Albania and Bulgaria would close their borders.

During a CPG Central Committee Politburo session the CPG decided to draw up a plan to withdraw DAG. 39 On Zahariadis’s recommendation, on April 20, 1949, the Provisional Democratic

39 Vasilis Bardziotas, i.e. second person in top DAG senior leadership. 169 Government held an extraordinary session during which it decided to appeal to the UN General Assembly, the World Congress of Peace and Supporters and Democrats worldwide, for help. In its appeal, the Provisional Democratic Government urged these international institutions to mediate an honest democratic reconciliation in the country and assured them that it was ready to end the war once peace was secured.

At the same session Zahariadis proposed that an audit be done to determine how much food and military supplies were in reserve and whether these supplies would last until May 1, 1949, when the Albanian and Bulgarian borders would be closed.

DAG’s withdrawal however was delayed because the appeal was rejected. At that time the Soviet Union, through the UN General Assembly and within the conference on the German question, submitted a proposal for a peaceful resolution to the Greek question. The Soviet Union proposal recommended:

- General amnesty, - Free parliamentary elections to be held with participation of representatives from the democratic circles leading the people’s liberation movements and under the control of major powers, - Establish a commission of major powers to control Greece’s borders on the northern side.

The attempt to end the Greek Civil War diplomatically collapsed because the US, UK and Greek governments rejected the Soviet proposal and demanded DAG’s unconditional surrender.

THIS IS HOW THE GUILTY WERE DETERMINED

(NOF WAS PROCLAIMED AN ORGANIZATION OF FOREIGN AGENTS)

On July 20, 1949, the leadership of the Aegean Macedonian Communist Organization (KOEM) was summoned at the initiative of CPG Central Committee Secretary Nikos Zahariadis. A meeting was held in the cave between the villages Vineni and Orovo in Prespa Region.

The KOEM meeting was attended by Nikos Zahariadis, Michos Partsalidis and other CPG officials as well as 45 members and candidate members of the NOF Main Board and DAG political and military personnel serving in the Vicho area.

Nikos Zahariadis made the following statement at that meeting: “NOF is an organization of foreign agents that have obstructed the CPG line and disrupted and harmed the democratic movement in this country. There are three agencies which are still active and have roots in Aegean Macedonia, OZNA, JA and Kolishevski who controls the first two agencies. All agents of the Yugoslav agencies committed themselves in writing that they would execute their obligations...” Addressing the Macedonians Zahariadis said: “The CPG wants to help and save you. End all relations with the CPY and cleanse yourselves from its ideology... There was a time when Macedonians acted as a faction in the CPG at a time when Tito wanted to rob Macedonia of Solun. Which of you were sent to Greece by the CPY to serve that interest, to clear the matter and pay the bills? If Tito joins Macedonia to Yugoslavia, it means incorporating it into imperialism. You need to be clear on that. Tito has been sending OZNA and JA agents organized in troika since 1945.

At the time when Yugoslavia was in the popular republic’s camp, the CPG tolerated Tito’s agents, in the prospect of regulating the issue differently. But the open betrayal has forced us to clear up that question...”

After Zahariadis, CPG Central Committee member Michos Partsalidis spoke in the same spirit. Among other things he said: “...I was struck by the unity between the Macedonian and Greek people of Vicho. Why? How did that work? With the struggle waged by the Party, the Greeks and the Macedonians were Communists. Exactly because the Party fought to help the Macedonian people in their struggle.

It does not take much trouble to thwart attempts from that reactionary gang. Tito’s betrayal is very advanced. Now that the betrayal is being cleansed in our country, chances were created to

speak again. No comrade will be found who will have a dilemma whether to speak out for the Soviet Union or for Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, NOF’s leadership has not made that clear. It has a low ideological level...”

Zahariadis then asked the audience to take a position for or against the revolution. That is, for Stalin or for Tito. Those who voted for the revolution (Stalin) were good communists, revolutionaries and internationalists, and those who did not were counter-revolutionaries!

This is how the Macedonian question was resolved during the Greek Civil War; by self-sacrifices for Stalin, Tito and Zahariadis and for the interests of foreigners.

* * *

Last catastrophic scenario: After the collapse of the front line in “Vicho”, the crippled fighters who entered Albania were sent to fight a last bloody and catastrophic battle in Gramos.

Fierce battles were fought on Mount Vicho from August 10 to 14, 1949, between DAG on one side and the Greek government army on the other. The Greek government army was led by General Van Fleet and consisted of 60,000 troops organized in 6 divisions, 200 tanks and armoured cars and about 100 aircraft of all types. DAG was led by Michos Vlandas and consisted of 9,863 fighters and 40 cannons. DAG was defeated during the night of August 13 and 14, 1949, with massive losses of 1,859 dead, wounded, missing and captured. The government army bore only 256 dead and 1,336 wounded. DAG units withdrew from the Vicho battlefield and during August 15 and 16, 1949, fled over the border into Albania. The DAG fighters regrouped there and in the following days 6,000 were sent to continue the fighting in Gramos. It was during this time that the CPG coined the slogan “Gramos will become the tomb for the Monarcho-Fascists - the Greek government army.” From August 24 to 29, 1949, fierce fighting ensued as the Government army launched a new offensive during the night of August 29 to 30, 1949, for the final conquest of Gramos and the final liquidation of DAG. Again led by General Van Fleet, this time

the Greek government army was three times larger than when it attacked Vicho. During the fighting in Gramos DAG was led by General Georgios Vontisios-Gousias with about 12,500 fighters (6,000 were transferred from Vicho). The last battles took place on August 29 and 30, 1949, after which all DAG units withdrew to Albania. DAG losses amounted to 922 dead, 944 captured and 650 wounded. About 400 to 450 DAG fighters surrendered voluntarily to the enemy. The Greek government army bore only 243 dead and 1,452 wounded.

During the fiercest fighting on Gramos on August 30, 1949, DAG Headquarters ordered all DAG units to withdraw because “they had completed their task”. So this opens the question: “What kind of task were they completing?” At this point the battle had ended with DAG losing the war and with all remaining DAG fighters fleeing to Albania.