GIORGI (DZHODZHO) URDOV (1914-1947) - Part 03

3. Prohibits Macedonian fighters from greeting each other with a clenched fist.

4. Prohibits Macedonians from taking leadership positions in the Battalion.

5. Prohibits new fighters from joining the Battalion without CPG and ELAS leadership approval.

CPG officials often met with the most active Macedonian fighters and unit commanders and tried to “convince” them that they were on the wrong track. 102

The rapid increase in the number of Macedonians joining the Battalion seriously worried the CPG and ELAS Party and military leaderships. As a result, the CPG and ELAS leaders began to appoint people they trusted into the Battalion’s leadership positions. These people were Macedonians who came from the ranks of ELAS. Their job was to infiltrate the Macedonian Battalion and take it over. But the devoted Macedonian fighters expected that and refused to obey them, thus affirming their Macedonian patriotism. 103

In October 1944, the CPG and ELAS leaderships issued an order to merge the Macedonian Battalion with other ELAS units and transfer them to the Greek interior (outside of Greek occupied Macedonia) to supposedly strengthen the ELAS units on the ground there. But their

102 Ibid. 103 Ibid. goal was clear to many Macedonians… The Greeks wanted to disband and destroy the Battalion. As a result the Battalion fighters vigorously opposed the order calling it unjustified. As a sign of protest the Battalion, once again, fled Greek occupied Macedonia and crossed over into the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. 104 After the Battalion entered the Republic of Macedonia it landed in the village Dragosh, Bitola Region, where it was reorganized into a special battalion. Its orders were to illegally return to the field in Vicho and Kostur Region and participate in the liquidation of the German units which, at the time, were withdrawing to Albania. Then it was to visit the Macedonian villages in Kostur Region and make appearances to promote the Macedonian people’s rights within the Greek state. At the time Atanas Koroveshov was commander of the battalion. The battalion made several appearances and held rallies in the villages Koreshtata, Zhelevo (in Lerin Region), Breznitsa, Kosinets, Lobanitsa, Vmbel, Smrdesh and so on. 105

However, the moment the Macedonian Battalion entered the territory of Kostur and Lerin Region, the CPG and ELAS leaderships mobilized their units in an attempt to prevent it. The first time the ELAS units encountered the Battalion was on Bela Voda, above the village Zhelevo. The leaders of both armies met there and came to an agreement without incident. After their march ended and before the Battalion left Koreshtata, the fighters were given time to rest in the village Smrdesh. On their second day of rest, on November 29, 1944, a large ELAS unit suddenly attacked the Battalion by mortar and machine gun fire. 106 After the clash Atanas took his battalion and crossed over into Albanian territory and, while traveling through the villages Vrbnik, Bitinsko, Treni, Zvezda and Pustets, arrived in free Bitola where he joined the newly formed First Strike Brigade composed of Macedonian fighters from Greek

104 The Macedonians were well aware that the Greek government in exile didn’t want Macedonians as part on the Greek military. As far as the Greek government was concerned, Macedonians didn’t exist. And since the CPG and EAM were prepared to participate in the Lebanon Conference to form a Greek coalition government that was to include the CPG and EAM, as a prerequisite all Macedonian organizations including the Macedonian revolutionary press had to be banned. Hristo Andonovski, Macedonians under Greece in the fight against fascism (1940- 1944). INI, Skopje, 1968, Chapter Eight, pp. 190-197. 105 According to the recollections of Vasko Makrievski and Micho Kardzovski... 106 Ibid. occupied Macedonia. The newly formed Brigade was composed of the fighters from Lerin, Kostur, Voden, Kailari and other places who were led out of Greek occupied Macedonia by Commander Ilia Dimovski-Gotse and Political Commissar Mihailo Keramitchiev. 107 In his new role Atanas Koroveshov still remained commander of his former battalion. When the First Assault Brigade of the Macedonians from Greece left for Western Macedonia, Atanas successfully led his battalion against the remnant Balisti bands acting on this terrain.

After the First Aegean Strike Brigade was disbanded and NOF for Aegean Macedonia was created, Atanas Koroveshov emerged as one of NOF’s founders and immediately afterwards was appointed a member of its Main Board leadership. 108

At the end of July 1945, as a member of NOF’s Main Board leadership, Atanas Koroveshov, together with other NOF activists,

107 Program of the commemoration of events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past in Skopje. Skopje, 1973, part III / bisti /, p. 10. Manuscript, kept in INI. Also, according to the recollections of Mihailo Keramitchiev, from the village Gabresh, Kostur Region. After Greece capitulated to the occupiers Mihailo was appointed in charge of weapons in Korestata. He was appointed commander of the SNOV reserve unit in Korestata in 1943. In November 1944 he was appointed political commissar of the First Strike Brigade of the Macedonians from Greek occupied Macedonia. He was also a member of the Political Commission of the Macedonians under Greece. A member of the immediate NOF (Main Board) leadership and president of NOF. He served in DAG as lieutenant colonel. He died in Skopje in 1981. Also according to the recollections of Urania Yurukova-Pirovska... 108 Minutes of the NOF General Leadership Secretariat meeting dated July 19, 1945. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945”, Vol. II. Macedonian Archives, Skopje, 1973, doc. 90, pp. 167-172. Also see V. M., Atanas Koroveshov, Characters of our revolutionaries, Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1971, September 6. Also, according to the recollections of the late Paskal Mitrevski, from the village Chuka, Kostur Region. From December, the day Paskal was appointed, until May 1944 he was secretary of SNOF in Kostur Region, and from December 1944 Paskal Mitrevski was appointed Political Committee Secretary of the Macedonians under Greece. From April 1945 he was appointed secretary of NOF for the Macedonians from Aegean Macedonia. In 1946 he was appointed member of the CPG Macedonian bureau. In April 1949, at the first NOF congress he was appointed NOF secretary of the Macedonians from Aegean Macedonia. Later he was appointed Minister in the Provisional Democratic Government of Greece. went to Gumendzhe and Enidzhe-Vardar Districts to expand the NOF organization in this territory.

In the first half of August 1945, Atanas Koroveshov, escorted by his courier Traian Aitov, born in the village Barovitsa, Gumendzhe Region, arrived at Mount Paiak in the valley above the village Barovitsa and immediately began to work. 109 Later, Atanas together with Todor Anastasov, Risto Krlev and Bozhin Karanfilov, escorted by a group of about 10 fighters, left and went to the village Kornishor in Enidzhe-Vardar. The others, including Ivan Nichev, Ivan Kovachev-Orfas and Kocho Hadzhigeorgiev, all members the NOF regional composition for Gumendzhe Region, remained in Gumendzhe District. 110

Immediately after arriving at the village Kornishor, Atanas Koroveshov and the others came in contact with Dedo (grandpa) Ivan Bogdanov, an old Macedonian activist who found a safe place for them to stay and make contact with others. Two or three days later they went to the village Krushari, near Enidzhe Vardar where they were again met by Dedo Ivan Bogdanov who informed them the safe place near Kornishor was no longer safe and that they needed to move to another safer place as soon as possible. Unfortunately most villagers in both Kornishor and Krushari knew of their arrival and some were hostile towards the Macedonian liberation movement. That’s why Dedo Ivan Bogdanov correctly suggested that they leave these places as soon as possible so as not to fall into the hands of the Monarcho-Fascists. Unfortunately they didn’t heed his warning and remained in the village Krushari to do their organizational work. After they returned to their safe place near Kornishor, Risto Puchepov took some of them to nearby places to

109 According to a report Tanas Koroveshov wrote and addressed to the NOF general leadership regarding the NOF military and political situation and activities in Gumendzhe and Enidzhe Vardar Regions. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945”, Vol. II, doc. 116, pp. 222-224. 110 This was according to the recollection of Ivan Nichev, from the town Gumendzhe. Ivan was an active participant in the National Liberation War and from 1945 he actively participated in NOF for the Macedonians from Aegean Macedonia. acquire food.111 As they continued on their way they had no idea that the Monarcho-Fascists were looking for them.

Included among those who were present in the safe place near Kornishor at the time were Atanas Koroveshov, Kosta Dzhinov-Babiancheto, 112 Todor Anastasov, Risto Krlev, Bozhin Karanfilov and Atanas Liuvchev. 113

On the night of September 2, 1945, the Monarcho-Fascists arrived near the safe place and immediately surrounded it. Those hiding were unaware of the danger they were in. The first on guard was Atanas Koroveshov who for a long time saw nothing. Late at night he was replaced by Atanas Liuvchev who at dawn ran around yelling, “We are surrounded! ...” Those who were sleeping were surprised and immediately ran off towards the village Kornishor. Atanas Liuvchev, the guard, who was also the youngest in the group fled first and ran for the hills. But before he could escape the Monarcho-Fascists shot him dead. Bozhin Karanfilov, who was carrying a machine gun, opened fire on the enemy. During the unequal fire fights two other NOF leaders, besides Atanas Liuvchev, were killed. They were Atanas Koroveshov and Kosta Dzhinov-Babiancheto. Todor Anastasov managed to take shelter under a thick

111 According to the recollections of Risto Krlev, from the village Barovitsa, Gumendze Region. Risto Krlev was a participant in the National Liberation War and later was appointed NOF activist in Gumendze District. 112 Kosta Dzhinov-Babiancheto was born in 1916, in the village Babiani, Enidzhe Vardar Region. He joined EAM in July 1943. He joined the CPG the same year. In April 1944 he was appointed member of the CPG Regional Committee in Kalinitsa, Enidzhe Vardar Region, and served as party organizer in the villages Babiani, Mavreinovo, Mandalevo and Drenovo. He was later appointed a member of the NOF District Board for Enidzhe Vardar District. On September 2, 1945, he, along with some others, surrendered near the village Kornishor. September 1945, NOF organizational activities and the situation in Gumendze and Enidzhe Vardar Regions. “Aegean Macedonia in NOF, 1945 “, T. II. doc. 145, pp. 273-274. 113 Atanas Liuvchev was born in 1921, in the village Barovitsa, Gumendzhe Region. In October 1942 he was appointed CPG organizer. In 1943 he served as head of ETA in his native village. In April 1945 he joined the Macedonian National Liberation Movement. In May 1945, he joined the NOF military group on Mount Paiak. On September 2, 1945, he surrendered with some others. He died heroically near the village Kornishor. September 1945, NOF organizational activities and the situation in Gumendze and Enidzhe Vardar Regions. “Aegean Macedonia in NOF, 1945 “, T. II. doc. 145, pp. 273-274. blackberry bush. 114 Risto Krlev and Bozhin Karanfilov also managed to escape.

Shortly afterwards, Risto Krlev, having escaped, arrived at the NOF leadership’s main base at Gandach Heights. There he met with Lazo Poplazarov, a NOF official, and told him in detail what had happened to his comrades. 115

A while later Todor Anastasov and Bozhin Karanfilov also arrived at Gandach Height.

The same day (September 3, 1945), the Monarcho-Fascists loaded the dead bodies of the NOF leaders on horses and took them to Enidzhe Vardar to intimidate the people.

This was how Atanas Koroveshov, one of the most faithful sons of the Macedonian people, Kosta Dzhinov-Babiancheto and Atanas Liuvchev, former fighters of the Macedonian liberation movement, died at the time when they were most needed by their people.

114 T. Anastasov, First NOF Blood... Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1951, September 4, II, 14, p. 4. Also see Hristo Andonovski, Farewell Naso and Kosta. Emigrant Calendar, Skopje, 1969, p. 158-160. 115 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945”, Vol. II, doc. 145, pp. 272-272. VANGEL SHAMARDANOV - ILINDENSKI (1921-1948)

The Macedonian people continued their national liberation struggle in World War II in the spirit of Ilinden. By naming Macedonian military units after prominent Macedonian Ilinden activists, the Macedonian people symbolized the continuity of the Macedonian struggle. The revolutionary Vangel Shamardanov 116 had the rare honour of bearing the pseudonym “Ilindenski.”

Vangel Shamardanov was born in 1921 in the village Krontselovo, Voden Region, to a poor agricultural family but with a rich revolutionary tradition. He lost his father Vani when he was one year old. Vani was killed in 1922 by an unknown gang of robbers. 117 But thanks to his mother he was able to go to school. He finished primary school in his native village. According to his relatives and friends, as a child Vangel was very bright, smart and hardworking. After school he always helped his family by working around the farm to help them earn a living.

Vangel often went to the city Voden and visited with friends and more enlightened youth who helped him understand the difficult and bitter life the Macedonian people had to endure. He had a great desire to continue his education in the Voden high school but he couldn’t afford it. So his longing to further educate himself couldn’t be realized.

During the German occupation Vangel Shamardanov, like many other young Macedonian people from Voden Region, joined the CPG and EAM effort. However, seeing how the Greek authorities discriminated against the Macedonian people and due to the CPG and EAM leadership’s negative attitude towards the Macedonian national question, he showed no special interest in becoming actively involved. 118

116 This article, with some minor changes and additions by Tasko Mamurovski, was published in the INI Bulletin, Skopje, 1979, XXIII, No. 1, pp. 263-269. 117 Commemoration program of events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past in Skopje, Skopje, 1973, part III, (bisti), pp. 39-40. Manuscript kept at INI. 118 Ibid. The presence of Vangel’s Macedonian national consciousness and his love of his people came to full expression in the summer of 1944 when the Kaimakchalan Macedonian partisan battalion was created. Even though he wasn’t a direct participant in its ranks, Vangel Shamardanov showed great joy and admiration.

After its formation in the beginning of 1945, Vangel Shamardanov joined TOMO, the Macedonian liberation organization, and as a member of the TOMO District Board for Voden he became more active in the struggle against the Greek Monarcho-Fascists.

After TOMO took root on Mount Kaimakchalan it began to assemble its own partisan detachment from the ranks of Macedonian activists and fighters serving in EAM and ELAS, who were persecuted by the Greek police and gendarmerie after the Varkiza Agreement was signed. 119

In order to organize and synchronize the Macedonian national liberation movement in the Aegean part of Macedonia to fight against the Greek reactionary terror, on April 23, 1945 NOF, the national liberation organization for Aegean Macedonia, was created. On June 20, 1945, a TOMO Regional Conference was held a few kilometres outside of Voden, between the villages Krontselovo and Vlkoianevo, to analyze the work of the already established local and rural TOMO organizations. After conducting the analysis, a decision was made to rename the organization from TOMO to NOF for Voden District. Vangel Shamardanov was appointed a member of the newly created NOF District Board for Voden Region.

Vangel Shamardanov, already known by his pseudonym “Ilindenski”, accepted his new role with even greater love and sacrifice and began to work. From the end of October 1945 onwards he was given responsibility to look after NOF’s finances for the District Board for Voden Region. 120 From November, 1945, he was responsible for the press and, together with Mirka Ginova, was in charge of forming local NOF organizations in Meglen District. 121

119 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean Storms. INI, Skopje, 1975, p. 163. 120 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945”, Vol. II, doc. 179, p. 341. 121 Ibid: doc 197, p. 372. By a decision made by the NOF District Administration for Voden Region, in the second half of February 1946, he and Petre Popov from the village Dolno Rodivo were sent to Ostrovo District to organize NOF, NOMS and AFZH local organizations. 122 And from April 1946 onwards he was given the responsibility to carry out ideological work for the NOF District Board for Voden Region. 123

Paskal Mitrevski, until then NOF Main Board secretary, together with the other members of the NOF leadership 124 arrived at the NOF District Board for Voden Region at the end of 1946 125 Their goal was to implement the CPG-NOF Agreement in Voden Region as was previously done in Kostur and Lerin Regions. In addition to the NOF representatives, CPG representatives also attended the meeting. Paskal Mitrevski went over the agreement principles to convince the NOF leaders that such an agreement was necessary, that NOF would remain a separate organization but would be run by the CPG. 126

In addition to confirming the CPG-NOF Agreement during this meeting, changes were also made to NOF, especially to the NOF District Board for Voden Region. Foe one, Vangel Shamardanov-Ilindenski was appointed political secretary and remained in that position until May 1947. 127

After the CPG-NOF Agreement was signed some unresolved organizational and political issues between the CPG and NOF began to get in the way, and given how the Monarcho-Fascists were terrorizing the democratic movement, whose terror had intensified, it was necessary to clear them up and synchronize the struggle

122 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 44, p. 110. 123 Ibid. doc. 116, p. 268. 124 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean Storms ..., p. 232. 125 The exact date is unknown but according to Vangel Aianovski-Oche, they arrived in Voden Region in November 1946 (Vangel Aianovski-Oche, “Aegean storms ..., p. 232), and according to statements made by the late Mihailo Keramitchiev, who after NOF’s agreement with the CPG, was appointed NOF Main Board secretary for Aegean Macedonia, they arrived at the end of December 1946. 126 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean Storms ..., p. 232. 127 Ibid: p. 243. against their common enemy. For that purpose, on May 20, 1947, the NOF Main Board in the area “Mishovi Kolibi” in Kaimakchalan, convened the so-called NOF for Aegean Macedonia “Earth Conference” 128 during which Mihailo Keramitchiev, Secretary of the NOF Main Board for Aegean Macedonia, submitted a report explaining the internal and external situation in the country, the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and the remaining tasks NOF had to undertake. 129 The meeting also served to unite the NOF Gumendze and Enidzhe Vardar Region organizations with the NOF Voden Region organization. All these organizations were placed under the management of the NOF District Board for Voden Region. Also at this meeting Lazo Poplazarov from the village Dobrolishta, Voden Region, was elected political secretary in the new NOF District Board for Voden Region. Also, by decision of the NOF Main Board and in accordance with the CPG Provincial Committee, Vangel Shamardanov-Ilindenski, the current NOF secretary for Voden Region, was appointed political commissar of a larger DAG unit in Kaimakchalan (known as the 576th DAG Battalion.) composed of about 800 fighters, mostly Macedonians. 130

From the first days of the struggle, Vangel Shamardanov-Ilindenski had been harassed by the Greek chauvinistic CPG and DAG leaderships. He despised their discriminatory policies against the NOF political leaders and the Macedonian fighters in this field. He strongly opposed these wrongs and strongly defended the goals and principles of the Macedonian national liberation movement. And for that he was despised by the senior DAG leadership.

In one of his reports, dated July 30, 1947, sent to NOF’s General Staff, Vangel criticized the “dire situation” in DAG and recommended urgent action be taken to eliminate and suppress the “wrong” CPG and DAG leadership policies, noting that otherwise this harmful situation would lead to catastrophic consequences for

128 AM, Collection: Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945-1949, AE: 142. Also see Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean storms..., pp. 236-242. 129 Ibid: AM, Collection: Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945-1949, AE: 142. 130 Program for the commemoration of events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past..., p. 40. the movement. Among other things, this is what he wrote in the report:

“... Despite the massive Slavo-Macedonian participation in the struggle in which 70 to 75 percent are Macedonians, despite the military, material and economic assistance provided for DAG, despite DAG’s great development in our district, which is due to the effort of Slavo-Macedonians and their NOF organization, there is a serious disease in the Greek comrades. They have no trust and respect for the Slavo-Macedonians, even though the Macedonians are more combative, more sincere, more revolutionary, more politically and ideologically constructed and fight without any hesitation compared to the Greek element, which does the opposite. Greeks deserting in larger numbers can serve as an example of this, while there are no such occurrences on the part of the Macedonians, and if there are any they are insignificant and are probably due to the bad attitude of their Greek leaders, which you are all familiar with...”

“...During the two-year struggle against the Monarcho-Fascists, our people, led by NOF, ideologically and politically built and raised our national consciousness and see the situation through a different prism. Our biggest request today is to build the DAG leadership and see more Slavo-Macedonians leading DAG. This, however, isn’t done and hasn’t been done as it should have been done a long time ago. One can experience this if they serve in DAG’s ranks and if they listen to comments made by the Macedonian partisans. There is a lot of chauvinism in the Greek element and that is a result of the leadership not taking enough action to eradicate it. There is no chauvinism in the Macedonian element, it has disappeared and if it exists it is insignificant. Specifically, I want to talk about my situation. My fellow Greek officers and colleagues don’t know many of the things that I do. They are only interested in what our military commander Andrea (Andreas Andonakis-Orestis) wants. I have to do a lot of things secretly because most of the battalion’s correspondence often ends up in the Commander’s hands, without me getting acquainted with its contents.”

“...I am asking the leadership to pay special attention because the main burden and responsibility depends on it, because this kind of

relationship can cause great damage to the general struggle. Instead of taking steps forward in this critical situation, we are taking steps backwards. This selfish, unfriendly, unpopular behaviour and poor assessment of the situation is harming us and will break our peoples’ brotherhood and unity which today is a factor for our final victory and should be given priority. In any case, this kind of relationship cannot be justified...” 131

In the fall of 1947, Vangel Shamardanov received an order from DAG General Headquarters to leave Kaimakchalan and take his battalion south to Southwest Aegean Macedonia and Epirus. At the same time DAG was preparing to lead a frontal attack against the Monarcho-Fascists around Mount Gramos and was concentrating its units there.

On December 25, 1947, the DAG units belonging to the 670th Battalion were ordered to attack and capture the town Konitsa, in Epirus. 132 Konitsa’s capture was considered an act of great importance because Konitsa prevented DAG’s free movements and unification with the DAG forces located in the so-called Zagoria area with the DAG forces on Mounts Gramos and Vicho. 133

Vangel Shamardanov’s battalion took part in the bitter battles to capture Konitsa. 134 After the fighting was over it was reported that Vangel Shamardanov died in a mysterious manner. 135 But to date no document has been found claiming where and when Vangel had died and that indeed he wasn’t murdered. 136 Statements made by

131 See report by Vangel Shamardanov-Ilindenski, political commissar of the 576th DAG Paiak-Kaimakchalan Battalion Headquarters. AM, Collection: Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945-1949, AE: 170. Also see Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean storms..., pp. 245-249. 132 Ilo Dimovski-Gotse, Action taken to capture Konitsa. Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1950, December 1, I, No. 4. 133 Ibid. 134 Program to commemorate events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past..., p. 40; Also see Vangel Shamardanov-Ilindenski. Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1952, November 13, III, no. 28. 135 Ibid. 136 The battles in which DAG units participated to capture the city Konitsa lasted from December 25, 1947 to January 10, 1948. (See Ilo Dimovski-Gotse, Action taken to capture Konitsa...) The First NOF Congress for Aegean Macedonia, however, was held on January 13, 1948 during which Vangel Shamardanov was some people who knew him claimed that he died as a DAG officer in the battles for Gramos in 1948. 137 But even that isn’t certain. There is suspicion that Vangel Shamardanov Ilindenski was murdered viciously. This stems from a conversation he had with Pavle Rakovski a few months before he died. Pavle Rakovski at the time was a member of the top NOF leadership for Aegean Macedonia and was responsible for running the agitation and propaganda department for the NOF Main Board. This is what Rakovski wrote in his memoirs: “In a confidential conversation I had with Vangel Shamardanov, then Commissar of the DAG battalion and former president of the NOF regional board for Voden Region, he said to me that he was afraid of his Greek ‘comrades’ and was worried that one day they would make him ‘disappear!’ This took place under the following circumstances: I was passing through Kaimakchalan sometime in April-May 1947, 138 when I met a group of Macedonian fighters. They were reading a leaflet. It was a Greek leaflet written in Greek – it was Vangel Shamardanov’s leaflet. Written on it were the names of the DAG General Staff personnel who were there. The content of the leaflet was exclusively addressing the Greek people. Not a word about the Macedonian people, about the Macedonian fighters, or about those Macedonians who I found reading the leaflet. And even though the majority of the fighters in some DAG units were 80-85% Macedonians, they weren’t mentioned in the leaflet. And not only that! I learned from the fighters that they themselves were registered not as Macedonians but as Greeks in the Headquarters’ registry. In other words no one there was Macedonian. Namely, members of DAG General Staff didn’t recognize the existence of the Macedonian people. All Macedonians were represented as Greeks... I was so surprised that Vangel Shamardanov, Commissar of the battalion to which this group of fighters belonged, and former president of the NOF District

still alive. He was nominated and his name was placed on the candidate list for electing a new NOF central leadership. (See Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean Storms..., p. 256). Consequently Shamardanov could not have died in the battles fought to capture Konitsa. 137 Aianovski, Vangel-Oche, Memoirs and Critical Review of the Development of the Workers’, Communist and National Movement of the Macedonians in Voden and the Voden Region, Part II, p. 370. Manuscript kept in INI. 138 Shamardanov’s meeting with Pavle Rakovski, which we are talking about, could not have taken place before May 20, 1947, because until then Shamardanov was not a political commissar of the battalion. Board for Voden, would agree to this. The next time I met him I confronted him and asked him how he could allow all this? He was silent for a long time and wouldn’t answer. His face turned pale and had an expression of deep pain. In the end he answered, but briefly. He said: ‘I am afraid... They one day will make me disappear...’ Not long after that Vangel Shamardanov was shot in the back. In the meantime Macedonian fighters were sent to the slaughterhouse en masse in the Greek South...” 139

It is interesting, and certainly not accidental that Vangel Shamardanov’s name doesn’t appear in the Greek book “Iroes ke martires” (Heroes and Martyrs), published by the CPG leadership in exile in 1954, even though ordinary fighters are mentioned. His name isn’t even mentioned in the Macedonian book “For Holy National Freedom”. 140

In the end, let us conclude that Vangel Shamardanov-Ilindenski’s death, as well as the deaths of many other prominent fighters from the Aegean part of Macedonia, didn’t stop the Macedonian people’s revolutionary wave in the struggle for their freedom and national and social rights. On the contrary, these aspirations and tendencies helped the Macedonian people move upward to acquire a more massive character during the Greek Civil War. Ilindenski sacrificed his life for those rights and ideals.

139 Quote by Pavle Rakovski: “In the deep night dawn is born”. /Memories, thoughts, knowledge/, Skopje, 1973, pp. 140-141. Kept in INI. 140 Bright figures of the fallen folk fighters. Political and literary edition, published in 1968 in the Macedonian language, published by the same leadership. This book contains biographies of the Macedonian activists and fighters from Aegean Macedonia. LAZO ANGELOVSKI (1925-1948)

“…Dear uncle, when the time comes and Lerin is free, you come too, bring my mother and two sisters, look for my grave and shed bloody tears on it to soak my bones and wake me up...” Lazo Angelovski.

Revolutionaries like Lazo Angelovski were rare. 141 They laid down their young lives on the altar of Macedonian freedom for the sake of their people. Lazo Angelovski served in DAG’s free and semi-free territory as a teacher. As a teacher he could have left with his students during the child evacuation program and crossed the border into the socialist republics away from the conflict. But he refused. He said: “... I don’t want to leave my home and cross the border to live free. If I die, let me at least die in my own hometown..., together with my people.” 142

Lazo Angelovski was born on August 10, 1925 in the village Grazhdano in Prespa, Lerin Region, to a poor family with a rich revolutionary tradition. 143 144

Immediately after the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) Filip, Lazo’s father, left his home and went to America to seek migrant work. He returned to his native village in 1920 and became engaged in agricultural work. In 1927, Filip went to America again to seek migrant work and ten years later he again returned to his native village. After some time he again left for America, for the third time, but never returned. 145

141 For more information about Lazo Angelovski’s revolutionary and educational activities see Hristo Ristovski, “Lazo Angelovski’s new dreams - educational and revolutionary activities”. History, Skopje, 1983, XIX, no. 2, p. 2, p. 235. 142 From the private archives of Veza Angelovska, Lazo’s sister. 143 Angele, Lazo Angelovski’s grandfather, was a participant in the Ilinden Uprising. He was imprisoned in Solun by the Ottoman authorities. He died in the infamous Edi-Kule prison. 144 Petre Angelov, Lazo’s uncle, was a prominent revolutionary leader in the Prespa-Resen area, but because he opposed the Bulgarian court he was liquidated in 1933 by the mercenaries in the town Haskovo in Bulgaria. 145 From Veza Angelovska’s private archives... 63 In the years between 1931 and 1937, Lazo Angelovski attended Greek primary school in his native village. His teachers often praised him for his good learning abilities.

In the fall of 1937, after finishing his primary education, Lazo enrolled in the Lerin high school. Here, even during his first semester, the school authorities praised him for his exemplary learning abilities.

At the end of October 1940, during fascist Italy’s invasion of Greece, Lazo, like the other students in the high school, was forced to stop his education. But even though they didn’t finish the grade, the school authorities gave the final year students a graduation certificate.

During the first two years of the German-Italian occupation, Lazo assisted his uncle Atanas with his agricultural work.

In the second half of 1942, a group of resistance movement progressives began to move through the Prespa District villages to acquaint the people with the military and political situation in the country and to organize them to resist the occupier. When this group arrived in Grazhdano, it went directly to the village priest’s house where the first meeting took place with the more prominent villagers of Grazhdano. They discussed the political situation in the district and the tasks the villagers needed to do to aid the struggle against the fascist occupiers. Although still young, Lazo Angelovski was placed in charge of performing background tasks. Later he served as the main link between the villagers and the ELAS partisan units as well with the detachments belonging to the Republic of Macedonia which often stayed in the Prespa District. Lazo was engaged in this kind of work until the end of 1944 when the German-Italian and Bulgarian occupiers were driven out of Greece. 146

In November 1944, an announcement was made in the Prespa Region calling on young people who had graduated from high school and who wanted to serve as teachers, teaching in the Macedonian language, to immediately go to Kostur and apply to

146 Ibid. 64 take the course. Lazo was thrilled with the news. He, along with many young people from various Macedonian villages, immediately went to Kostur where the announced course was expected to open but, to their surprise, the next day they found out from the school principal that they wouldn’t be learning Macedonian. 147 After persistent questions directed at the principal, who was a known hardened anti-Macedonian, they got their answer. He literally said to them: “...Go home, we won’t be teaching Macedonian here… Unless of course you want to learn Greek and become a Greek teacher… those who want to do that may stay... We don’t need other schools... Those who are Bulgarophones and want to leave the school go to the office and take back your applications...” 148

With broken hearts, Lazo Angelovski and the others went back to the principal’s office to take back their documents but the principal insisted that they stay and take the course. He promised them that after completing the teaching course they would be able to work as Greek language teachers, not in the villages, but in the cities. Disappointed, Lazo, returned to his native village.

A few days later, Lazo received a letter from his uncle, Atanas, who at the time was in Bitola and had joined the First Assault Brigade of the Macedonians under Greece. In the letter, Atanas asked Lazo to come to Bitola as soon as possible and enroll in a seminar for Macedonian teachers. Pleasantly surprised, three days later Lazo arrived in Bitola and immediately applied to the Bitola High School where the course for Macedonian teachers was held. 149

After successfully passing the exams, on January 15, 1945, Lazo Angelovski was immediately appointed the first Macedonian teacher in the village Braichino, Resen Region, where he proved to be a great teacher. And thus Lazo’s greatest wish was fulfilled. He worked tirelessly and with great zeal to enlighten the Macedonian students in his mother tongue.

147 Risto Kiriazovski, The Life Path of Teacher Lazo Angelovski and His Tragic Death. Prosvetno delo, Skopje, 1972, No. 10, pp. 639-640. 148 Hristo Ristovski, New information about Lazo Angelovski’s educational and revolutionary activities..., p. 224. 149 Ibid: p. 225. 65 During the summer holidays in 1945, Lazo attended a second teacher’s course in Bitola, after which he was appointed principal of the primary school in the village Smilevo, Bitola Region. 150 Here he had the opportunity to meet prominent Macedonian revolutionaries from the Ilinden Uprising. In addition to his day to day duties, Lazo often participated in organizing attacks against the Ballisti gangs that operated in this region.

In 1946, during the summer holidays, Lazo Angelovski took an exam in Marxism-Leninism and the political economy in Skopje. Thanks to his educational and political know how, the People’s Republic of Macedonia’s Ministry of Education, by decree number 273/1946, appointed Lazo principal of the “Merdzan” children’s boarding school in Tetovo at the end of 1946. He was later appointed principal at a children’s boarding school in Skopje. 151 In addition to his daily work as a principal in the Skopje children’s boarding school, Lazo taught Marxism and political economy at weekly courses organized by the Party.

Lazo Angelovski was a tireless teacher and social worker. Thanks to his political know how, he was elected CPM secretary in the Second District in Skopje and then was appointed head of the pioneer detachment in Skopje. He performed all his tasks conscientiously and on time. And that’s why he was so loved and respected by everyone. It is worth mentioning here that, due to his educational and social qualities, Lazo was later appointed a member of the National Education board in the People’s Republic of Macedonia’s Ministry of Education. 152

At the end of 1946, the People’s Republic of Macedonia’s Ministry of Education made a decision to prepare and send teachers to all parts of Macedonia to open schools in Macedonian language instruction. Based on this decision, Lazo requested to be sent to the territory of Aegean Macedonia that had been freed by DAG. After being supplied with the necessary educational materials, Lazo, on March 8, 1947, loaded his supplies onto a truck and, traveling

150 Risto Kiriazovski, The Life Path of the Teacher Lazo Angelovski and His Tragic Death..., p. 641. 151 From Veza Angelovska’s private archives... 152 Ibid. 66 through Bitola and Liuboino, arrived in the village German in Prespa Region. As a member of the NOF Main Board Education Commission, he was later tasked with training Macedonian language teachers in the free territory. To fulfill this aim a school named “Gotse Delchev” was opened in German on November 1, 1947. Lazo taught courses in the Macedonian language. 153 Later in January 1948, similar courses were offered in the village Zhelevo, Lerin Region where Lazo was appointed principal. 154 In parallel with these tasks, Lazo also served as education inspector in the free territory of Aegean Macedonia. 155

Lazo Angelovski taught various courses in the Macedonian language in this part of Macedonia until the end of spring in 1948, that is until the Greek Monarcho-Fascists, aided by Anglo-American interventionists, organized daily military actions to completely exterminate the progressive Macedonian and Greek population. During these difficult times, the Provisional Democratic Government of Greece, in March 1948, decided that all children in the free and semi-free territory should be evacuated from the country to escape the horrors of war.

During this time Lazo Angelovski was tasked with preparing a list of all the children who had to be evacuated and sent in groups to the Greek-Yugoslav border. Then, as a guide for several days in a row, Lazo transferred children who arrived from the interior villages in the free and semi-free territory to the village Liuboino.

The last group of young children to leave came from the villages Grazhdano, Orovo, Trno, Drobitishta and Nivitsi, Prespa Region. Lazo’s young sister Veza left with this group. Lazo gave her a letter to take to his uncle, Atanas. In the letter he wrote: “Dear Uncle! This is the last group of children I’m sending, with whom I’m sending my young sister Veza. I’m sending them to you to welcome them. I

153 On December 20, 1947, a certificate was issued to Arhir Kostov Tsanzovski showing that he’d completed the course successfully. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1947”, T. IV. Macedonian archives, Skopje, 1980, doc. 109, p. 370. Also see doc. 110, p. 371. 154 Ibid: doc. 110, p. 371, footnote 3. 155 Ibid. 67 will stay here with our people to continue the struggle. Many here insisted that I leave with the children but I didn’t want to...” 156

From this moment on Lazo began to tour the various DAG combat positions. As a secretary of the District Board of the People’s Government in Lerin Region, he toured all the villages in the free and semi-free territory and called on the people to fight against the reactionaries.

In the first days of August 1948, while returning from the village Sveta Petka where he was doing organizational work, Lazo arrived in the village Buf in Lerin Region. Here he convened a meeting with some people and, after that, held an extensive conference with the Buf villagers and others from the neighbouring villages. Among other things, at the conference Lazo advised the people to continue to struggle for their freedom. At the same time people from the village noticed a Greek Monarcho-Fascist patrol moving into the mountain above the village. But even though Lazo knew he was in danger, he decided to spend the night with a friend in a village barn in Buf.

The next day Lazo waited for a long time for his contacts to arrive but they didn’t. One of the villagers told him that the road was clear and they could leave. Unaware of the danger, Lazo wanted to leave but his friend tried to persuade him not to. Lazo, however, adamantly insisted that they go and they left. Lazo walked ahead and was followed by his friend at a distance of about 50 metres. Unfortunately they were suddenly ambushed. A single burst from a machine gun was fired. The Monarcho-Fascists wounded Lazo in the right leg and he was unable to run. 157 His friend managed to run away and save himself. Lazo was captured and taken to Buf to be identified but the villagers didn’t betray him. He was then transferred to a prison in the city Lerin. He wasn’t so lucky there. Sotirakis, the Macedonian people’s traitor betrayed him. Lazo was brutally tortured but didn’t admit to anything regarding the revolutionary activities in which he was involved.