GIORGI (DZHODZHO) URDOV (1914-1947) - Part 04

156 Hristo Ristovski, New information about Lazo Angelovski’s educational and revolutionary activities..., p. 230. 157 From Veza Angelovska’s private archives... 68 After five long days of being tortured Lazo, half dead, was thrown into a cell. Presumed dead, three prisoners were sent to pick him up and bury him. But to the surprise of the prison warden he was still alive. The warden asked him if he wanted to be spared. But in order to be spared he would have to condemn the struggle by preparing a speech for the prisoners. In his speech, Lazo would have to condemn the People’s Liberation Movement. Instead of giving such a speech, Lazo secretly wrote a letter, his last one, to his beloved uncle, Atanas. In it he said:

“Dear Uncle Atanas,

I have shared both good and bad times with you. I don’t know if you know what happened to me recently. I was captured by the Greek Monarcho-Fascists. Now I am in prison in the dark jail in Lerin. I have been in isolation with no contact except for the tyrannical guard who stands at my cell door and watches over me. He doesn’t talk to me. I have been shot in the mouth and I am wounded. My left arm hurts. I was beaten with the butt of a rifle.

Uncle, I know that this will make you angry and that you will worry about me... I know you will be most angry with me for not listening to you but it’s too late now. This is my fate. Please know that your guidance matters a lot to me. There is no one closer to me than you. I remember when we lived together, sometimes we would sit and talk all night. Please don’t worry about me.

I know I’m placing a big burden on your shoulders to ask you this... I’m unloading everything on you. But please… If you receive this letter let my relatives, my father, mother and the others know about me. I have written to you about things before and I trust you will speak for me. Please give my warm greetings to all my friends, especially to my mother and sisters. This is my last chance to say goodbye. Tell everyone not to worry about me...

Uncle, if you get this letter, know that it will be my last. I will leave my mother, father and two sisters in your care. Please watch over them like you always have. I will miss you and the long talks we had for which I am grateful, especially for the advice you gave me over the years.

I am a soldier and I always expected I would die... I didn’t expect to be tormented, to be severely punished, beaten half to death and forbidden to write to you. Some tell me they will give me a choice: die a miserable death or live by betraying the movement, by giving a negative speech against DAG. I will choose death, and no I will not speak ill of the movement at any cost.

A lot of our (Macedonian) comrades are paraded in front of my cell on their way to be killed. They all say goodbye as they walk away. Some are hung and others are shot... I often hear cell doors open and screams and screams and screams… I am waiting for my turn.

The prisoners shout and cry yelling goodbye to their dear mother Macedonia.

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...

I have been writing this letter day and night. The tyrannical Greek guards and the wretched Greek policemen are always inside here doing constant inspections, so I don’t have much time to write. This is how my life is inside here... But this was what I chose...

Today I was chosen to speak. I am expected to criticize Marcos’s organization and the partisans. 158 Yes, death awaits me. Everyone who comes here dies one way or another. That is why I will not speak.

I was asked to give a speech to the prisoners tomorrow and as I said my choices were speech or death. Some encouraged me to be brave. Others encouraged me to speak. But against whom am I going to speak?

I have no one closer than you, who actually knew me for a long time. That’s why I am writing this letter to you before I meet my

158 During the Greek Civil War, Markos Vafiadis for some time was DAG’s military commander and President of the Provisional Democratic Government of Greece. end. As I mentioned, I will choose death over betrayal. So know that death awaits me soon.

No! Death does not scare me.

This is all I am going to write. Let the whole world know what happened to me! Let my mother, father and my two sisters also know...

Let me say good bye to you and to my loved ones for the last time.

Greetings to everyone.

Your nephew Lazo.

Death to the f...

Lerin, August 18, 1948.” 159

The next day Lazo was tied to a military jeep and dragged through the streets of Lerin until he died.160

And this is how Lazo Angelovski, a noble and prominent Macedonian educator, fighter and revolutionary whose merits will serve as an example for future Macedonian generations, died.

159 Quote by Hristo Ristovski, New information about Lazo Angelovski’s educational and revolutionary activiti..., pp. 232-233. 160 Iordan Konev, Message before Death. Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1981, January 10, p. 4. KRSTO MANGOV (1912-1949)

A huge number of fighters in the Macedonian national liberation struggle came from the revolutionary village D’mbeni, Kostur Region. Included among them were Nolio Brichenko, Lazo Poptraikov, Lazo Moskov and Lazo Trpovski. Due to the mass participation of the people from D’mbeni in the resistance movement during the Greek Civil War, the Greek Monarcho-Fascists completely destroyed the village in 1948. 161 In the period between 1945 and 1949, the village D’mbeni lost many of its faithful sons and daughters. One of the most prominent of them was Krsto Mangov. Krsto was born in 1912 to a poor farming family. He followed the revolutionary traditions of his ancestors with great love since he was a youngster, and at the first chance he became involved in the Macedonian people’s struggle for freedom and national and social liberation.

After Greece was occupied by the German and Italian fascist aggressors, Krsto Mangov was among the first in the village to join the struggle against them. He joined the CPG District Committee for Kostur District in 1943, in hopes of liberating the Macedonian people. At the same time he joined SNOF and tirelessly agitated the Macedonian people to struggle against the foreign aggressors and domestic traitors. 162

Krsto Mangov’s revolutionary involvement was particularly noticeable in the struggle against the Bulgarian fascist propaganda which, in close cooperation with the German and Italian occupiers and the Greek quisling government, armed the Bulgarian propaganda elements in Kostur Region to fight against the Macedonian People’s Liberation Movement. 163

When the First Strike Brigade, consisting of Macedonians from Greek occupied Macedonia, was created in November 1944, Krsto

161 Atanas Bliznakov, D’mbeni and the Revolutionary Past of Kostur Region. Misla, Skopje, 1982, pp. 196-198. 162 Evdokia Foteva-Vera, Krsto Mangov. Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1971, August, XXVII, 8819, p. 5. 163 Ibid. Mangov was appointed political commissar of a battalion in the Brigade 164in which he served until the Second World War ended.

After the Varkiza Agreement was signed, Krsto Mangov voluntarily returned to his home and, as an experienced leader, later joined NOF. He was one of the first leaders to persuade the Macedonian people to join the ranks of NOF en masse in Kostur Region. 165 After implementing NOF’s General Leadership program and directives, he worked tirelessly to strengthen and expand the Macedonian national liberation movement in the area under his control. He often organized protests against the horrific terror the Greek armed gangs unleashed against the Macedonian population and, together with the progressive Greeks, fought against the bloody terror carried out by the Greek reactionary government.

On May 20, 1947, Krsto Mangov was appointed First Secretary in the Kostur Region NOF District Board. He was appointed during the NOF Earth Conference, held in the locality “Mishovi Kolibi” in Kaimakchalan. 166 From the first days of his appointment he bravely fought against the Greek Monarcho-Fascist government army and was twice wounded.

Krsto Mangov made the following statement regarding the military and political situation in Kostur District in a report dated November 1947, which he then submitted to the NOF Main Board:

“...The Monarcho-Fascists have resumed their old tactics and again began to use barbaric means to control people, thinking that in this way they could achieve their goals. They are using blockades to stop people from taking things out of the city...” 167

The following was reported at the last District Board meeting:

164 According to Vasko Makrievski, from the village Smrdesh, Kostur Region, and according to Mincho Fotev from the town Rupishta. 165 Atanas Bliznakov, D’mbeni and the Revolutionary Past in Kostur Region ..., p. 182. 166 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean Storms..., p. 242. 167 In other words, people were stopped from supplying the partisans with food and other necessities. 1 / killed 5; 2 / beaten 6; 3 / disgraced women 7; 4 / arrested 37; 5 / robbed sheep 1,450; 6 / looted houses 47; 7 / burned houses 5; 8 / burned barns 50 as well as many other crimes for which we have no data...

The Monarcho-Fascists used various means, including propaganda, to infiltrate and break up the ranks of our democratic movement. They spread lies through various slogans claiming that they had broken up the partisans, that the partisans had no one to rely on, that they were fighting for foreign interests, for Tito and Dimitrov’s interests, that they were taking girls by force to pass their time, that NOF was a counter-revolutionary organization and that its leaders were VMRO people and that whoever was caught organizing in NOF would be tried and sentenced to death. All of the above were directed against the Macedonian people because they saw them as a danger for Greece, especially since most of the active element in both the armed and unarmed struggle came from our Macedonians, so the enemy harnessed all its forces to destroy them.

But despite all the terrible and dishonest means they used, the Monarcho-Fascists still failed to sway the Macedonian people to go their way. Quite the opposite, they managed to push more Macedonian people to join the democratic movement and give their all to the struggle.

The Macedonian people’s trust in the movement has been derived from the following:

1 / the Macedonian people have become emotionally connected to the struggle; 2 / they have become more involved in the political and ideological sector and are able to understand the policies of the democratic movement and those of the imperialists; 3 / they see DAG’s tactics succeeding and those of the Monarcho-Fascists’ failing…

Krsto Mangov believed that the Macedonian people who were organized in NOF felt confident and trusted NOF. They believed that the NOF-led forces would be able to intensify their struggle and destroy the enemy...

He wrote: “...The Slavo-Macedonians organized in NOF and led by NOF are beginning to feel like Macedonians. Their national consciousness is at a very high level, so that if someone says something to the contrary, these Macedonians will take his eyes out. These Macedonians are proud to be Macedonian and to fight for their national rights...” 168

At the First NOF Congress, held on January 13, 1948, in the village Vmbel, Kostur Region, Krsto Mangov was appointed member of the NOF Main Board, 169 At the Second NOF Congress, held on March 25-26, 1949, in the village Nivitsi, also known as the “Africa” locality in Prespa Region, Krsto Mangov was appointed member of the NOF Main Board Executive Committee. 170 Before that Krsto Mangov was appointed President of the Kostur District Regional Board of the People’s Government. 171

Krsto Mangov dedicated himself to the struggle and worked hard to bolster NOF, the people’s government at the regional and local people’s governments and was an advocate for opening Macedonian schools, etc. But all this ended on August 11, 1949, a few days before the Greek Civil War ended, when an enemy artillery shell exploded and ended his life. This took place in the immediate vicinity of the village Breznitsa, Kostur Region. He was hit by shrapnel while fighting at the front line during a fierce battle

168 According to a report written by Krsto Mangov, Secretary of the NOF District Board for Kostur Region, sent to the NOF General Directorate for NOF Activities in October 1947. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1947”, Vol. IV, doc. 117, pp. 379-383. 169 For a list of NOF Main Board members appointed at the First NOF Congress see “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1948”, T. V, doc. 16, p. 45. 170 Ibid: doc. 185, p. 347. 171 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1949”, Vol. VI, doc. 129, p. 265. Also see “For the holy national freedom”. Characters of fallen national fighters. Political and literary publications, 1962, p. 153. between DAG and units of the Greek Royal Army. The same shell also killed General Nikos Theoharopoulos-Skotidas, commander of DAG’s Division X. 172

Like many Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia, Krsto Mangov dedicated his entire life to the struggle during which he fought for freedom and for the national and social liberation of the Macedonian people, and as such he will forever be remembered by his people.

172 Evdokia Foteva-Vera, Krsto Mangov. Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1971, August 11, XXVII, 8819, p. 5. PANDO SHIPERKOV (1921-1948)

“...If I had five sons like him I wouldn’t be sorry to see them committed to the struggle for the Macedonian people’s freedom...” 173 said Nikola Shiperkov at the funeral of his son Pando. 174

Pando Shiperkov was born to a poor family on January 10th, 1921 in the village Smrdesh, Kostur Region. After finishing primary school he went to work as a tailor’s apprentice in Hristo Kalea’s tailor shop in Smrdesh. 175 Here Shiperkov was given an opportunity to meet with people from all walks of life and learn more about progressive ideas which were popular in those days.

Pando was working in Hristo Kalea’s tailor shop in Smrdesh when Greece was invaded and occupied by the German, Italian and Bulgarian fascist armies, but since he was familiar with prevailing progressive ideas he immediately decided to join the resistance.

In June 1941, Pando took part in a rally organized to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the glorious 1903 Lokvata and Viniari battle. This battle took place during the Ilinden Uprising in 1903 where an unequal fight between the Macedonian insurgents and Ottoman army took place, during which 13 fighters from the village detachments died in battle. Some of these fighters were from the village Smrdesh. 176

On July 1st during the annual traditional gathering in the local Smrdesh Church, Sveti Vrach, Shiperkov and a group of antifascists openly challenged the Bulgarian lies and propaganda that were being spread in Kostur Region. The religious gathering turned into a brawl when the Bulgarian emissaries ordered their Italian carabineros to open fire on the protesters. Shiperkov and his

173 Program for memorial commemoration of events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past in Skopje. Skopje, 1973, part III /bisti/, p. 165. Manuscript, kept at INI. 174 This article by the same author (slightly modified) was published in the INI Gazette, Skopje, 1982, XXVI, no. 2-3, pp. 279-284. 175 According to the memoirs of Kosta Shiperkov, from the village Smrdesh; a fighter in the National Liberation War. 176 According to the recollections of Vasko Makrievski from the village Smrdesh. 77 antifascists, however, bravely stood their ground and refused to be intimidated.177

In the fall of 1941, the first CPG cell was opened in Smrdesh, in Pando Shiperkov’s native village. As a member of that organization Pando became actively involved in the resistance against the occupiers, which lasted uninterrupted until his death.

In early 1943 a number of Partisans from Smrdesh initiated the formation of a Partisan organization inside Smrdesh and by mid-1943 they began to recruit fighters in what came to be known as the “Lazo Trpovski” Detachment.

In late summer 1943, Pando Shiperkov, with a group of prominent like-minded people from Smrdesh and surrounding villages, joined the 178 “Lazo Trpovski” detachment. 179 Its first commander was Naum Peiov and its first political commissar was Dimitar Shiskovski. Later, in the spring of 1944, the “Lazo Trpovski” detachment joined the second company, in the second battalion of the 28th ELAS Regiment.

Shiperkov fought in every battle in which the 28th regiment was engaged in Vicho, 180 under the command of Aristotelis Huturas-Arianos. Some of the most important battles Shiperkov took part in included disarming the armed brigadiers, breaking the German positions at Bigla and Vicho and capturing and disarming Armenian agents who had been armed by the Germans and spread throughout the Lerin, Kostur and Korcha Regions. 181

Even though Macedonian fighters voluntarily contributed immensely to drive out the occupiers from Greece and put down the domestic traitors, the Greek Communist and ELAS leaderships in Kostur Region still treated the Macedonians as subordinates and

177 According to the recollections of Micho Karandzhovski from the village Smrdesh. 178 According to the recollections of Vasko Makrievski and Micho Karandzhovski… 179 According to the recollections of Mincho Fotev from the town of Rupishta. 180 Ibid. 181 Ibid. with suspicion. As a sign of protest, a group of thirty Macedonian fighters, including Pando Shiperkov, from the second battalion of the 28th regiment broke off from ELAS and in May 1944 crossed over the border and joined the Macedonian Partisans in the Republic of Macedonia where they were reorganized into the First Macedonian-Kosovo Strike Brigade and continued to fight against the occupiers at Mount Karaorman. 182

Later, a special company of about 30 fighters was formed from the same group of Macedonian partisans from Kostur Region, who were earlier deployed in the first battalion of the Macedonian-Kosovo brigade.

On May 20th, 1944 in the village Seltse, just below Karaorman, Macedonians from Kostur region formed the first all-Macedonian political party. Pando Shiperkov was one of the first to join. 183

On June 8th, 1944, the first Macedonian assault brigade was formed in the village Lokovo and placed under the command of Vangel Shukalovski and Nikola Todorovski-Kaninski (political commissar) and was joined by fighters from Lerin and Kostur Regions.

During the second half of June 1944, another group of forty-five Macedonians and SNOF activists from Kostur Region abandoned ELAS and joined the first Macedonian assault brigade.

Towards the end of June the fighters from Kostur Region formed a separate all-Macedonian battalion. This was the first and largest Macedonian Partisan unit consisting solely of fighters from Greek occupied Macedonia. Atanas Koroveshov led the unit with Pando Shiperkov as the political commissar of the Second Company within the battalion. 184

182 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1944-1945”, T. I, Macedonian archives, Skopje, 1971, doc. 105, pp. 118-119, doc. 106, pp. 119-121, doc. 107, pp. 121-122, doc. 112, pp. 126-128 and doc. 116, pp. 130-133. 183 According to the recollections of Vasko Makrievski and Micho Karandzhovski... 184 According to the recollection of Evdokia Baliova-Nikolova (Vera) from the village D’mbeni... During the first half of July 1944, under agreement between the Macedonian and Greek Communist Party leaderships, the well-armed Kostur battalion returned to Kostur Region to drive out the occupiers. 185 Shiperkov and his associates demonstrated a willingness and determination in the struggle to liberate their homeland and fight for freedom, democracy and equal rights.

On August 2nd, 1944 in the liberated village Pozdivishcha, Kostur Region, a separate Macedonian battalion was formed and named “Gotse” in honour of Gotse Delchev. The founding nucleus of this fighting force came from the battle-hardened fighters from Karaorman. 186 The Gotse battalion became part of the 18th regiment in the 9th division of ELAS. Shiperkov retained his position as political commissar of Gotse and fought in every battle in which the battalion was engaged. During one battle, in the village Zelenich, he received a wound to his leg.

Towards the end of September 1944 new misunderstandings began to develop between the Macedonian Partisans and the Greek leadership (Greek Communist Party and ELAS). In early October, ELAS ordered the Gotse battalion to disband but found stiff opposition from the Macedonian fighters who again chose to cross over into the Republic of Macedonia instead of surrendering to the Greeks. 187 There the battalion fighters joined the Macedonian forces as part of the 49th division of the Peoples’ Liberation Army.

With the arrival of the newly acquired fighters from Kostur and Lerin Regions in Graezhnitsa, Bitola Region, a separate battalion was formed under the command of Atanas Koroveshov and political

185 This was according to a letter, dated July 30, 1944, from Blagoia Taleski, Secretary of the CPM Second Regional Committee, sent to the CPM Central Committee’s power of attorney in Skopje. Sources for the liberation war and the revolution in Macedonia 1941-1944. T. I, book 5. INI, Skopje, 1975, doc. 26, p. 102. 186 This comes from an August 3, 1944, report written by Traiche Gruiovski, member of the Second CPM Regional Committee, to Blagoia Taleski Secretary of the Second Regional Committee and Lazo Hadzi Popovski member of the Second Regional Committee. Sources for the Liberation War and Revolution in Macedonia 1941-1945 T. I., book 5. INI, Skopje, 1975, doc. 36, p. 138. 187 According to the recollections of Vasko Makrievski and Micho Karandzhovski... commissar Pando Shiperkov. After regrouping the battalion they again returned to Kostur Region and continued the fight against the occupier and the ELAS leadership. Unfortunately the Macedonian battalion’s presence in Greek occupied Macedonia was unwelcome and short-lived. After finding itself at odds with the Greek ELAS leadership, in order to avoid bloodshed, it again left Greek occupied Macedonia and crossed over into the Republic of Macedonia.

By now the Bitola Region had been freed of the occupiers and Macedonians from Greek occupied Macedonia were regrouping under a new brigade. The First Peoples’ Liberation Shock Brigade was exclusively formed with fighters from the Lerin, Kostur, Voden, Kailari and other Regions in Greek occupied Macedonia. Shiperkov, in the role of political commissar, was dispatched to put down remnants of the occupier’s allies, the Balisti bands, which at the time were roaming Gostivar, Tetovo and Kichevo Regions.

In his role as political commissar of a battalion in the First National Liberation Strike Brigade, Pando participated in liquidating the Balisti bands in Gostivar, Tetovo, Kichevo, etc.

In May 1945 after the First Brigade was disbanded, Shiperkov was given a job in the Yugoslav army in Gevgelia, as Captain first class.

In the spring of 1946 Shiperkov, at his own request, was discharged from the Yugoslav army and in July he joined the People’s Liberation Front in Greek occupied Macedonia, at Mount Vicho. This time he was fighting a new enemy, the Greek rightist Monarchists and their British interventionists.

In November 1946 after the re-unification of Macedonian and Greek Partisan forces, Shiperkov was appointed commander of the joint Democratic Army of Greece (DAG) headquarters in Vicho. 188

188 Based on the agreement reached on November 21, 1946, between NOF and CPG representatives, the DAG Headquarters for “Vicho” was established. Pando Shiperkov was appointed Commander; Kozmas Spanos-Amindas was appointed Commissar and Mihali Apostolovski-Graniti was appointed quartermaster. Program for commemoration of events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past..., p. 165. Towards the end of 1947 when DAG headquarters was reorganized, Shiperkov was given command of a battalion 189 which subsequently experienced much action around Vicho and Gramos and fought in the battles of Neveska, Lerin, Lundzer, Preseka, Sorovich, Embore and other places.

It is worth mentioning that Pando also distinguished himself as a loyal activist of NOF. During the first Peoples’ Liberation Front Congress, Shiperkov walked in as a delegate but left as an elected member of the NOF Main Board. 190

Unfortunately, while leading his battalion into battle near the Church Sveti Ilia, between the villages Grashe and Papratsko in Kostur Region, a piece of artillery fired by an enemy cannon exploded near him and ended his life. 191

Pando Shiperkov died on March 8th, 1948.

Many people from the DAG leadership, including Georgi Kikidas, Deputy Commander of DAG General Staff, spoke highly of Pando Shiperkov’s personality and contributions. He said: “Pando Shiperkov was one of the most capable, best and bravest DAG commanders. Appreciating Pando’s qualities, DAG General Staff had decided to appoint him Commander of a Brigade and later Commander of a Division. Unfortunately his untimely death prevented all that...” 192

М. Tsaras, a DAG captain who served in Pando Shiperkov’s battalion, said this about him: “...That simple Macedonian from Smrdesh had a secret that captured the hearts of fighters... His word was law for us fighters... He was stern like Vasil Chakalarov, modest like Pando Kliashev and you would think he was gifted by nature with the gift of the two legendary Ilinden revolutionaries

189 Ibid: p. 165. 190 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1948”, T. V. Macedonian archives, Skopje, 1981, doc. 16 p. 45. 191 Pando Shiperkov. Honour and glory of the fallen fighters. Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1953, June, IV, no. 35, p. 3. 192 Program for memorial commemoration of events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past..., p. 165. from his native village... He was swarthy and strong and had wide shoulders. When he walked and jumped he reminded you of the eagles with wide wings on the mountains of his homeland... Anyone who joined his battalion didn’t want to leave...” 193

When he was captain - first class in the JNA (Yugoslav National Army) Pando Shiperkov was awarded the People’s Order of Merit. He was also praised and decorated while he served as a Commander in DAG.

Pando Shiperkov’s life path, although very short, will serve as an example for the young Macedonian generations because he had set himself a goal to fight against the occupier and domestic traitors, to fight for the Macedonian people’s freedom and national and social liberation and to struggle for the Macedonian people’s right to have their own Macedonian identity and uniqueness.

193 N. Kitopoulos, Pando Shiperkov. In kn. “For the Holy People’s Freedom.” Characters of Fallen National Fighters, 1962. Political and Literary Editions, p. 306. MIHALI APOSTOLOV-GRANITI (1923-1948)

During a critical moment when his unit was involved in a heated battle, Mihali Apostolov showed courage, fearlessness and determination and was prepared to give his life to save his comrades. He attacked the enemy fearlessly with his machine gun and cut them to pieces. That’s why his comrades called him Graniti (granite). And rightly so, they had a reason to compare him to a solid impenetrable granite rock.

Mihali Apostolov-Graniti was born on November 25, 1923 in the village Krchishta, Kostur Region. He came from a working family. After he finished primary school in Krchishta his father Ilia died and he had to help his mother run the farm. Some time later he moved to the city Larisa, for a while, where he worked as a tailor’s apprentice. 194

After the Greek-Italian war broke out, even though he was still young, Mihali was among the first in his village to join the anti-fascist resistance. Joined by his fellow villagers Lazo Poriazovski, Naum Poriazovski, Dafina Panovska, Donka Purdovska and Kole Andonovski, Mihali collected and stored weapons that had been abandoned by the Greek army after it was forced by German troops to withdraw from the Albanian front. 195

After Greece and Greek occupied Macedonia were overrun by the invading German-Italian and Bulgarian fascist armies, Mihali continued his patriotic work and anti-fascist activities. As a member of OKNE, the communist organization for youth, he actively participated in various meetings to discuss the forms and methods by which the armed struggle against the occupiers and domestic traitors would take place. Mihali’s activities lasted until the beginning of 1943 when he and fellow villager Trpe Mihailov joined ELAS’s partisan units.

In August 1943, with prior approval from the local CPG Party organizations Mihali, together with a group of partisans led by

194 According to the recollections of Lefka Apostolova, Mihali Apostolov’s sister, who was also an active participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. 195 Ibid. Paskal Mitrevski, actively participated in disarming the counter bands in Kosinets and Labanitsa. 196

In the fall of 1943, Mihali Apostolov and a number of Macedonian fighters joined the Macedonian partisan detachment “Lazo Trpovski”. 197 The same year while fighting a German detachment on Mount Bigla, even though he was wounded, Mihali leaned against a rock and kept the enemy back while his comrades withdrew. Because of that he gained fame among his fellow fighters who gave him the nickname “Graniti”.

At the end of November 1943, Mihali took part in disarming the counter bands in the villages Drenoveni, Chernovishta, Gabresh, Pozdivishta, Konomlati (Kolomnati), Prekopana, etc. As a fighter of the “Lazo Trpovski” detachment Mihali made good use of his machine gun. In every battle he fought in Vicho and Bigla he always attacked the enemy fearlessly.

In the spring of 1944, Mihali took part in disarming the German garrisons operating in the villages Psoderi, Rula and Smrdesh. He participated in the attacks against the bridge at the crossroads between the villages Gabresh and Breznitsa. He also participated in the disarmament of a German armed Armenian unit operating in the villages Breznitsa and Rula. 198

At the end of the first half of May 1944, Macedonian and Greek partisans serving in ELAS split over the negative attitude of the CPG and ELAS leaderships towards the Macedonian National Question. As a sign of protest a group of Macedonian fighters, including Mihali Apostolov, broke away from ELAS and crossed over into the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. Later, as part of the Yugoslav partisan units on Mount Karaorman, Mihali continued the struggle against the occupiers and domestic traitors. 199

196 According to the recollections of Donka Filipova from the village Krchishta. 197 According to the recollections of Vasko Makrievski, from the village Smrdesh... 198 Ibid. 199 On May 18, 1944, ELAS detachment - “Vicho” sent a letter to the Macedonian National Liberation Army units in Prespa requesting the return of the 30 fighters In June 1944, a group of Macedonian partisans from this group joined the First Macedonian Strike Brigade. At the end of June 1944, a special battalion was created from the fighters of Kostur Region who were part of the First Macedonian Strike Brigade. Atanas Koroveshov was appointed commander of this battalion and Mihali Apostolov-Graniti was appointed deputy political commissar of the First Company in the battalion whose commander was Vasko Makrievski. This was the first large Macedonian partisan battalion exclusively composed of Macedonian fighters from Greek occupied Macedonia. 200 This battalion operated as part of the First Macedonian Assault Brigade until mid July 1944.

In the first half of July 1944, after a CPM-CPG Agreement was made, Mihali, together with the battalion fighters, returned to the field in Greek occupied Macedonia and continued the struggle to expel the occupiers.

At the beginning of August 1944, the Kostur-Lerin Battalion “Gotse” was created in which Mihali Apostolov was appointed platoon commander in the Third Company whose political commissar was Mincho Fotev. Mihali was among the first to join the ranks of the “Gotse” Battalion and fought with even greater determination against the foreign occupiers and domestic traitors. 201

During August and September 1944, Mihali Apostolov took part in disarming the counter bands in the Kostur District villages. At about the same time the “Gotse” battalion acted along the Korcha-Lerin line where Mihali and his comrades set up ambushes to attack retreating German units, leaving Korcha and heading for Lerin. Mihali distinguished himself as a good fighter during a battle with an enemy unit that had set up an ambush to destroy “Gotse”. In the

who broke away from ELAS and joined the ranks of the National Liberation Army of Macedonia. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1944-1945 “, T. I, doc. 108, p. 123. 200 According to Vasko Makrievski and Evdokia Baliova-Vera’s recollections. 201 According to the recollections of Mincho Fotev, from Rupishta and Vasko Makrievski. fierce battle Mihali, who was in front of the battle line, fiercely attacked the enemy soldiers sending them fleeing in panic. 202

It is important at this point to mention that the Kostur-Lerin Battalion “Gotse” (which was part of the ELAS 28th Regiment and the ELAS IX Division) grew into a brigade, and there was an opportunity to create more and larger Macedonian units. But the CPG and ELAS leaderships, being very upset with the battalion’s growth and success, wouldn’t allow it to grow any further. But that wasn’t all. A little later, in October 1944, a strange order from the CPG and ELAS top leadership arrived ordering the “Gotse” battalion to transfer to the interior of Greece (south outside of Greek occupied Macedonia), allegedly to strengthen the ELAS units there. But as was later found out, the real Greek intention was to disband the battalion by force if necessary. Naturally the Macedonian fighters didn’t agree with the order. After all they were fighting for the Macedonian cause and to protect the Macedonian people. So, in protest, they again crossed into the territory of the Republic of Macedonia where they continued the struggle against the German units withdrawing from the territory of Greece to Bitola. 203

It is also worth mentioning at this point that ELAS units attacked the “Gotse” Battalion during the time when the Macedonian fighters had taken combat positions on Mount Vrba against German and quisling units withdrawing from Solun and Korcha.

So, as a separate Macedonian unit, the “Gotse” battalion continued the struggle against the Balisti and counter bands on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia where, together with the Germans, they were withdrawing to Bitola to save themselves.

In November 1944, with the formation of the First Aegean Strike Brigade in free Bitola, Mihali Apostolov-Graniti was appointed Deputy Political Commissar of the First Battalion, commanded by

202 According to the recollections of Urania Iurukova from the village Izglibe, Kostur Region. Urania was commander of an independent platoon in the “Gotse” Battalion composed exclusively of women. 203 Hristo Andonovski, Macedonians under Greece in the Fight against Fascism (1940-1944). INI, Skopje, 1968, Chapter Eight, pp. 190-197. Atanas Koroveshov. 204 As part of the First Strike Brigade, Mihali participated in all the battles that were fought against the Balisti remnant bands operating in Tetovo, Kichevo, Gostivar and Sharplanina. 205

After the First Strike Brigade was disbanded its fighters and part of the command staff were deployed in the KNOJ Yugoslav units.

In the second half of May 1945, at the suggestion of NOF General Command for Aegean Macedonia, several command personnel, including Mihali Apostolov, belonging to the former First Strike Brigade, were sent on a political training course. 206

After completing the course, the top NOF leadership dispatched Mihali and his comrades to Greek occupied Macedonia to organize NOF cells in the various districts. Mihali, Mihailo Keramitchiev and Boris Musmanov were dispatched to Seres District to establish basic NOF cells in Seres and the surrounding area. 207 Despite the great terror the Greek reactionaries had unleashed against the people there, Mihali and his comrades managed to establish ties with them and opened NOF cells in several villages. It is worthwhile mentioning that, in doing so, Mihali and his comrades exposed themselves to great danger and difficulties, but thanks to Mihali’s resourcefulness and soberness they managed to avoid being caught.

Towards the end of March 1946, the top NOF leadership ordered Mihali Apostolov to go to Kostur Region and serve as a member of the NOF District Board for Kostur Region, responsible for NOMS. 208

204 According to the recollections of Urania Iurukova... 205 According to the recollections of Urania Iurukova and Vasko Makrievski... 206 Ibid. 207 As per a report written by Mihailo Keramitchiev dated August 11, 1945, sent to the top NOF leadership, regarding the military and political situation in Seres District. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1945”, Vol. II, doc. 120, p. 229. 208 As per a report dated May 28, 1946, written by Girogi Iakovski, NOF Main Board instructor, to the top NOF leadership, regarding the NOF organizational structure and its activities in Kostur Region. “Aegean Macedonia in NOB, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 132, p. 294. In November 1946, as part of the CPG and NOF partisan unit unification on Mount Vicho, Mihali Apostolov-Graniti was appointed third member of Headquarters responsible for quartermaster services for the “Vicho” operational zone. 209 Later he was appointed battalion commander in the DAG 14th brigade.

From the end of 1946 until March 1948, Mihali Apostolov actively participated in DAG and fought against the Greek government army in all the battles in the sectors of mountains Vicho and Gramos, Malimadi and Faltsata, Nestram, etc. He was well-known for his fearlessness and courage. One time Mihali, with a single machine gun, fought against a low flying aircraft that was attacking his position. Despite the great danger he faced he refused to leave his position. 210

In addition to his military merits, Mihali Apostolov-Graniti also distinguished himself as a faithful NOF activist and organizer, and because of that he was appointed a candidate member of the NOF Main Board at the First NOF Congress. 211 Mihali was characterized as a modest person with a sense of responsibility who worked well with others. He was a great revolutionary and fighter for the Macedonian people’s freedom.

Mihali Apostolov died on March 31, 1948, in Klepchevo locality on Mount Gramos. At the time he was political commissar of a DAG battalion which was severely attacked by the Greek government army. He and his comrades fought heroically in a very difficult battle from which he didn’t survive. 212 He was buried with military honours in front of many of his comrades-in-arms and DAG military officers. Senior CPG and DAG military and political figures gave farewell speeches at his funeral.

209 Chronology of the People’s Liberation Struggle in the Aegean part of Macedonia (1945-1949). Skopje, 1973, p. 130. 210 According to the recollections of Sotir Liamov from the village Pozdivishta, Kostur Region. Sotir was an active participant in DAG and was Mihali Apostolov’s personal courier. Also according to the recollections of Evdokia Baliova-Vera... 211 List of NOF Main Board elected members at the First NOF Congress. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1948”, T. V, doc. 16, p. 45. 212 According to the recollections of Sotir Liamov... 89 Shortly afterwards DAG General Staff declared Mihali a national hero.

It is worth mentioning at this point that Mihali’s sister Lefka (severely wounded on June 27, 1948) and his younger brother Apostol, who died heroically on June 21, 1948 as a prominent DAG fighter, also fought actively and selflessly in DAG’s ranks. 213 Also we mustn’t forget Iordana, Mihali’s mother and her virtues, who together with her children sacrificed her life for the Macedonian people’s freedom.

213 According to the recollections of Lefka Apostolova... 90 PANDO TRPOVSKI-BUNTOVSKI (1907-1947)

Pando Trpovski-Buntovski was active in politics before the Second World War started and fought for the Macedonian people’s freedom, national, social and democratic rights. Because he was an adamant fighter he later earned the pseudonym Buntovski (bunt=rebellion). Pando actively participated in the national liberation movement in the Aegean part of Macedonia from 1941 until the end of his life. He was one of the first NOF organizers in Kostur Region. 214 Pando was born in the village Galishta, Kostur Region, in 1907 to a family that subsisted on migrant work. In order to provide for his family, Lazo’s father Todor was forced to go America and seek work as a migrant worker. Pando was left with his mother at age eleven, and since then had to move with his uncle Ziso Trpovski. After graduating from primary school, Lazo helped his uncle on the farm.

In 1922, Pando, together with several villagers, left his village Galishta and went to work and learned a trade in the city Larisa.

In the beginning of 1934, Pando returned to Galishta and from there, together with his wife and child, moved to the village Chuka, Kostur Region, to live with his wife’s father Vasil Mitrovski.

In January 1936, Pando left Chuka and went to Kostur where he rented a pastry shop in the western part of the city. There he immediately joined the progressive movement and worked with Lazo Trpovski preparing the masses for a struggle against the Greek bourgeoisie. 215

During the Metaxas dictatorship (1936-1940), terror reigned throughout the country. The Macedonian people were forbidden to speak Macedonian, their mother tongue, even in private. It was

214 For Pando Trpovski-Buntovski’s revolutionary activities see Tashko Mamurovski, “Pando Trpovski-Buntovski - NOF revolutionary and activist”. INI Gazette, Skopje, 1981, XXV, No. 1, pp. 293-310. 215 According to the recollections of Lazo Poplazarov from the village Dobrolishta, Kostur Region. Lazo Poplazarov was a member of the SNOF leadership in Kostur Region. In 1945 Lazo Poplazarov served as NOF instructor for Kostur, Gumendzhe and other regions, then he served as NOF District Board secretary for Lerin and Voden Regions and as a member of the NOF Main leadership for Aegean Macedonia. 91 under these difficult conditions that Pando Trpovski-Buntovski, along with other CPG members and sympathizers, agitated the people to fight against Metaxas’s fascist regime.

After fascist Italy attacked Greece Pando was mobilized into the Greek army and sent to fight at the Albanian front.