GIORGI (DZHODZHO) URDOV (1914-1947) - Part 06

Unfortunately the DAG 24th Brigade headquarters didn’t properly question Dino Binchev nor was he brought before a military court judge to prove his guilt to appropriately punish him. Headquarters didn’t do that nor did it officially sentence him. If headquarters was really convinced that Dino Binchev was a deserter, then why not officially try him? There was probably no evidence to prove that he had deserted so the decision to liquidate him was made secretly by a group of people who were anti-Macedonian. The fact that Dino Binchev didn’t stand trial before the military court, and that he was held for a long time in a camp for violators of military rules gave headquarters plenty of time to investigate his case. But none of that happened, which proves that he was intentionally killed because he was Macedonian.

On top of being punished by his physical exhaustion, Dino’s life was taken from him for something he didn’t do. Dino was a Macedonian fighter who had struggled for a long time against the foreign occupiers and against the Greek reactionaries and didn’t deserve to die this way. No matter how justified the DAG 24th Brigade headquarters was to liquidate Dino, the fact that no trial before a military court was held, qualifies as a conspiracy against Macedonian NOF activists.

267 Ibid. PANAIOT BOZHINOV-LEFTER (1918-1946)

Panaiot Bozhinov-Lefter was one of the first fighters from the village Mesimer, Voden Region, to join the resistance movement. He was born in 1918 to a poor farming family. After finishing primary school in his native village he continued his education at the Voden High School, but due to lack of money he was forced to leave school and go back to Mesimer to help his parents run the farm.

After fascist Italy attacked Greece, Panaiot Bozhinov, along with others from his village, was mobilized into the Greek army and sent to the Albanian front to fight the Italian invaders.

After Greece capitulated to Hitler’s Germany, Panaiot returned from the Albanian front back to his native village and continued to work on the farm.

In the first half of 1942, Panaiot Bozhinov began to associate with the more prominent Macedonian revolutionaries in his native village including Vangel Chobanov, under whose leadership Panaiot became actively involved in the struggle against the occupier and domestic traitors. 268

Later, in May 1943, with Vangel Chobanov’s help, the young people in Mesimer created a cell of EPON, the youth organization. EPON’s leadership consisted of Vangel Chobanov (secretary), Geli Gavranov, Sofia Alibakova-Lefka, Vani Indinakov and Panaiot Bozhinov. 269

From the first days of its creation EPON in Mesimer became involved in the struggle against the occupiers. Panaiot Bozhinov showed himself to be great at organizing the villagers to struggle against the foreign invaders.

268 According to the recollections of Risto Bukovalov-Zhukov from the village Teovo... 269 According to the recollections of Vangel Chobanov from the village Mesimer. Vangel was one of the first fighters to join the National Liberation War in Ostrovo District. During the first half of September 1944 units of the ELAS 30th Brigade, among which was the Macedonian Voden Battalion, attacked the city Voden. 270 In their capacity as couriers Panaiot Bozhinov and Geli Gavranov were among the first to join the battle. Mesimer being located close to Voden helped Panaiot and Geli in successfully executing their tasks. In retaliation for the successful partisan attack on Voden, the enemy burned the village Mesimer to the ground and moved its inhabitants to Voden and the surrounding villages. But despite the fact that Mesimer was completely destroyed, the young men from that village, led by Panaiot, didn’t stop struggling against the occupiers.

During the second half of October 1944, Macedonian partisans broke away from ELAS due to the problems they were having with the CPG and ELAS leadership regarding the Macedonian national question and crossed over the border into the Republic of Macedonia. There, the Macedonian activists and fighters from Voden Region reorganized and later returned to their homeland. During one of the meetings they had, Panaiot Bozhinov learned the details of the reasons why there was a split between the Macedonians and the CPG and ELAS leaderships 271

At the end of February 1945 with the formation of TOMO, the Macedonian liberation organization, Panaiot was among the first from his native village to join its ranks and threw himself into the struggle against the wrath of the Greek political right. Panaiot and his fellow villagers Kolio Giortashov and Vangel Chobanov created a TOMO village board in Mesimer. 272

In June 1945, after NOF was created in Voden Region, Panaiot, now known as Lefter, was appointed member of the NOF District Board for Voden Region. 273 A few days later he was appointed NOF secretary for the Mesimer area. 274

270 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean storms..., p. 120. Also see Hristo Andonovski, Macedonians under Greece in the struggle against fascism..., pp. 185-186. 271 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean storms..., pp. 159-160. 272 Ibid: p. 162. 273 Ibid: p. 169. 274 Ibid: p. 170. In the second half of 1945, under a NOF District Board directive, Panaiot was assigned to carry out confidential courier assignments and deliver messages between the city Voden and the villages of Krontselovo, Teovo, Ostrovo and Mesimer. He was very diligent in this capacity and performed his assignments conscientiously and on time.

Shortly afterwards, in early 1946, Panaiot was appointed NOF Ostrovo Regional Board secretary. 275

NOF was exposed to day-to-day hardships not only from the Greek reactionaries, but also from some people from the Greek CPG and AKE leaderships and members who slandered the NOF activists calling them “traitors”, “members of Ohrana”, “autonomists”, “separatists”, etc. 276 During these difficult times Panaiot Bozhinov convinced the Macedonian population from his region that the Macedonians must defend their honour and freedom only with their own strength. But as he was going from village to village in an attempt to convince people, on March 23, 1946 when he was in the village Iavoriani, the Greek gendarmes, led by the traitor Sterio Vlaot, surrounded the NOF District Board hideout. 277 Initially Panaiot was able to escape but to mislead the gendarmes he hid in the brush of a nearby river. Unfortunately he was spotted and surrounded on all sides. The gendarmes gave him the option to surrender but he yelled out “I will not surrender to you, you sold out dogs…” At that point the enemy fired in his direction and one Fascist bullet struck him fatally. He fell in the Podeska River and the

275 Ibid: p. 218. 276 From a report generated by Panaiot Bozhinov from the NOF District Board for Ostrovo, and sent to the NOF District leadership for Voden Region, regarding the organizational and political situation in the area. “Aegean Macedonia in the NOB, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 20, pp. 49-50. 277 From a report generated by the NOF District Management for Voden Region, dated March 24, 1946, sent to the NOF Main Management regarding the political situation and NOF’s activities in the district. “Aegean Macedonia in the NOB, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 86, p. 207. Also see NOF District Board for Voden Region Proclamation to the Macedonians, Greeks, Vlachs and Albanians, calling on them to unite and jointly oppose the Monarcho-Fascist terror against the Macedonian people. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946”, T. III, doc. 87, p. 208. water carried his dead body downstream. After making sure that Panaiot was dead, the gendarmes retrieved him 278 and took him to the city Voden to terrorize the people.

In early February 1947, the partisans caught up to Sterio Vlaot, the right-wing collaborator, and his 200 sheep. He had already been punished for an earlier betrayal but was left alive. This time he wasn’t so lucky and was liquidated for his betrayal of the Macedonian people. 279

278 According to the recollections of Risto Bukovalov-Zhukov... 279 Ibid. MATI (MATEIA) BULEV (1904-1949)

Mati Bulev was a pre-war activist and fighter in the Macedonian national liberation movement. 280 Mati was born in 1904 in the revolutionary Macedonian village Ekshi-Su, Lerin Region, to a poor farming family.

From a very young age Mati had the character of a fierce revolutionary. In 1926 he acquainted himself with proletarian ideas and during Greece’s parliamentary elections he defended the rights and interests of the candidates from the “United Front of Workers, Farmers and Emigrants”. 281 Since then he actively participated in all parliamentary elections in Greece until 1932 when he took up membership in the Communist Party of Greece and came in close contact with CPG instructors carrying out various Party tasks.

After VMRO (United) for Aegean Macedonia was created, Mati Bulev became a member and loyal supporter, diligently working to popularize and strengthen it. He often participated in clashes with Greek reactionaries and the Greek police for which he was imprisoned several times. Persecuted members of the CPG and VMRO (United) often found refuge in his house where they held meetings and counseled the village CPG and VMRO (United) organizers. 282

During the Greek parliamentary elections in January 1936, Mati Bulev, along with some 30 other fellow CPG members and sympathizers, accompanied by the Popular Front candidates, visited some villages in Sorovich Region and helped spread the Popular Front program. Thanks to the persistence and determination of the democratic people of Ekshi-Su, the Popular Front won a large number of votes during the village elections. 283

280 This article by Tashko Mamorovski was published in the magazine “Cultural Life”, Skopje, 1982, September-October, XXVII, No. 7-8, pp. 57-59. We are presenting it here with some small changes and additions. 281 Mateia Bulev (Mati). Those who gave their lives. Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1951, June 2, no. 10, p. 3. 282 Hrisafov, K., Bulev Mati, “For the holy national freedom”... p. 57. 283 Ibid. During the Metaxas dictatorship, Mati Bulev left Ekshi-Su and, for a while, moved to Nigrita District where he was arrested and interned on the island Chios. 284

After Germany, Italy and Bulgaria occupied Greece and Aegean Macedonia, Mati was released from prison and immediately joined the partisan units of ELAS.

He took part in many operations, especially in bombing roads, bridges, railways and blowing up dozens of German and Italian trucks, trains and other vehicles.

After the German, Italian and Bulgarian fascist occupiers were driven out of Greece and Aegean Macedonia, and after the Varkiza Agreement was signed, Mati Bulev was forced to go underground. Then, when the CPG leadership dropped the famous slogan start a “political unarmed struggle”, he not only didn’t lay down his arms but served as one of the most active “unarmed struggle” organizers against the new Greek right-wing authorities.

Mati Bulev was one of the first and consistent Macedonian revolutionaries who didn’t agree with the CPG and EAM leadership’s unprincipled position towards the Macedonian national question. And that is why from the first days NOF, the Macedonian liberation organization, was created he joined and served as an ardent member and activist.

In the fall of 1946, when the Greek Civil War flared up, Mati was one of the first to join the armed struggle on Mount Radush. There he met other persecuted Macedonians from the villages Aitos, Ekshi-Su, Srebreno, Banitsa, and Zelenich, and together they formed a group and operated as saboteurs. 285 This group didn’t hesitate to let the enemy in Sorovich Region know of its existence and that it could no longer easily persecute and terrorize the Macedonian people. With the first attacks Mati managed to arm his group with Brands, Thomsons, pistols, and hand grenades which they seized

284 Mateia Bulev (Mati). Voice of the Aegeans, 1951, June 2, No. 10. 285 According to the recollections of Mihali Iotev-Bitsan from the village Ekshi-Su, Lerin Region. Iote was a participant in the National Liberation War and DAG. This information is kept in INI. from the enemy. His courage and fearlessness made the Monarcho-Fascists tremble when they heard the name Mati. All traitors and enemies of the Macedonian people were afraid of him. In order to take revenge on him, the Monarcho-Fascists burned down his house. 286

Mati fought many battles and skirmishes and blew up dozens of trucks, tanks, bridges and locomotives, earning the respect of his comrades as a courageous fighter and leader. Many of his enemies paid with their lives for murdering children and old people and for burning Macedonian homes and villages. To better illustrate his actions, we will list a few of them. 287

In November 1948, the Monarcho-Fascists suffered great losses from the daily ambushes carried out by DAG partisan units which, among other things, cut telephone lines and poles, mined fields and attacked Monarcho-Fascist settlements and strongholds. These attacks were especially severe in the villages Banitsa, Ekshi-Su, Elevish, etc. So the Monarcho-Fascists decided to retaliate. They started sending troops from one of their brigades to attack and destroy the partisan positions in those areas. They started by dispatching troops from the village Banitsa in three different directions. One battalion went to the right of the village Negovan towards the villages Kuchkoveni and Kotori. The second battalion went to the left of Negovan. The third battalion went towards the old road leading to the village Neveska. This was a hostile challenge for DAG, especially for the saboteur detachment led by Mati Bulev and Kosta Hrisafov. 288 The saboteurs, escorted by a unit of the People’s Militia, set out to thwart the Monarcho-Fascist plans. Mati and his saboteurs carried out a surprise attack against government troops from their rear. They were so surprised that they began to retreat in panic, with heavy losses. 289

286 Mateia Bulev (Mati), Voice of the Aegeans, 1951, June 2, No. 10. 287 The actions listed here do not cover Mati’s entire activities and those of his saboteurs. Only the most important ones are listed and only from the last two years of the Greek Civil War, which inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. 288 Kosta Hrisafov was from the village Banitsa, Lerin Region and served as political commissar in the detachment. 289 From the memoirs of Stavre Popiliev from the village Aitos, Lerin Region, regarding activities and structures of the People’s Militia created in DAG’s free territory in the period from 1947 to 1949, p. 50. Memoirs kept in INI. In the first half of December 1948, a government battalion stationed in the village Neveska attacked the DAG partisan units stationed near the village Zelenich. At the time Mati Bulev’s sabotage group happened to be in Zelenich and immediately attacked the government battalion preventing it from occupying the village.

Around mid-December 1948, the Monarcho-Fascist battalion stationed in the village Neveska controlled all positions between the villages Neveska and Aitos allowing free movement. One day a column of Monarcho-Fascist soldiers escorting a number of trucks loaded with goods and ammunition were headed for Aitos. At the same time a Monarcho-Fascist battalion from Sorovich had just arrived in Aitos. Armed with a machine gun, a dozen or so DAG fighters from the People’s Militia, stationed in the Sorovich villages, suddenly attacked the column of government troops in the “Aitoshka Koria” area. Another dozen or so fighters from Mati’s group also attacked the same column near the locality “Lubotinski trap”. The two sudden attacks caused the Monarcho-Fascist column to panic so the soldiers quickly loaded their goods and ammunition on mules and withdrew from the village Aitos. 290 The fighters from the People’s Militia and Mati’s saboteur group then went in pursuit and started a firefight. Thinking this was a large partisan force the enemy battalion from Sorovich, which had just arrived in Aitos, in panic, also joined the battle which lasted all day. DAG captured 17 enemy soldiers including two non-commissioned officers, along with their weapons which also included two mortars and two machine guns. Frightened by the development in the field, the Monarcho-Fascist battalion in Neveska which controlled positions between the villages Aitos and Neveska, along with its informants from the villages Aitos and Zelenich, withdrew from its base in Neveska and fled. 291

Realizing that they were losing more and more positions every day and there was a need to raise the morale of their troops, the Monarcho-Fascist authorities, during the first half of January 1949, ordered their troops to evacuate all the villages from Sorovich

290 Ibid. 291 According to the recollections of Stavre Popiliev about events occurring in the village Aitos, Lerin Region. District, from the villages located in the so-called “Dead zone” and move them to the cities and larger villages where the Monarcho-Fascists had their own army and police, and thus completely isolate DAG from the population. This took place immediately after DAG’s successes and when Division 10 had captured the city Negush. But when DAG had to retreat its forces from Negush, the fighters from Division 10 suffered heavy losses from the reinforced Monarcho-Fascist units stationed near Sorovich, Ekshi-Su, Spantsi and from the field units where the enemy had set up ambushes with large military forces.

On January 10, 1949 a motorized government brigade was spotted in the Aitos vicinity, forcibly evacuating the population from the villages Spantsi, Guluntsi, Liubetina, Aitos, Nevoliani, Gorsko, Srebreno, Ileo, etc. These forced evictions from the above-mentioned villages lasted for about ten days.

The presence of government units in the area created big problems for DAG. As a result DAG headquarters issued an order to transfer part of Mati Bulev’s saboteurs and part of the People’s Militia to the village Setina, on Mount Kaimakchalan. The remaining partisans located in the Sorovich District, consisting of fighters from the People’s Militia and Mati Bulev’s group, were ordered to stay there and, on a daily basis, carry out various saboteur actions against the enemy. 292 They were ordered to cut the telephone lines and telephone poles from Neveska to Zelenich and mobilize news fighters for DAG directly from the village Ekshi-Su despite the presence of government troops in the area. Naturally this was unbearable for the Greek government authorities, so in the second half of January 1949 they attacked the partisan units again. A government battalion with several armored vehicles was spotted heading towards the village Zelenich and so were enemy units from the village Klisura. Their aim was to capture the hills between the villages Ileo and Rakita and invade Zelenich. But the partisans in the area fought them off and didn’t allow the government troops to enter Zelenich. The local DAG groups and Mati’s saboteurs used their heavy machine guns and not only repelled the government troops but also inflicted heavy losses on them.

292 According to the recollections of Stavre Popiliev regarding the activities and structure of the People’s Militia in the DAG free territory..., p. 25. After the government’s failure to take Zelenich, the Monarcho-Fascists ordered their battalion stationed in Neveska to try again but using a different method. This time the authorities mobilized the entire male population from the village Neveska and, one day in February 1949, used it to attack Zelenich. A government unit from the village Klisura was also dispatched to aid the attack. But thanks to the vigilance of the People’s Militia and Mati Bulev’s saboteurs, the enemy again failed to take Zelenich. One group of DAG fighters held the “Gradishte” heights above Zelenich and the other held positions outside the village. As the government troops came within a distance of about 250 metres, Mati’s brave fighters opened fire on the enemy with snipers and machine guns from all sides, forcing them to flee in panic. 293

Another incident Mati Bulev was involved in was the attack on the village Elevish in Sorovo Region. Elevish was a terrible village better known as the scarecrow to the inhabitants of the surrounding villages because this was the base of a number of armed traitors and terrorists who, on a daily basis, terrorized and robbed the people in the area. Mati Bulev decided it was time to teach them a lesson. Mati was well aware that the Elevish no-goods guarded the village well, especially overnight, and that no group could easily enter it undetected. So one day Mati loaded a mule with two “Telermine” mines, lit their fuses and chased the mule into their defensive trenches. But as the guards rushed to escape, the mines exploded killing six of them and wounding several more. 294 And this was how Mati Bulev ejected the no-goods from the village Elevish.

On April 19, 1949, a government battalion attacked the partisan positions located above the village Zelenich but again ran into Mati’s saboteur group of 16 fighters who heroically held their place and defended the partisan positions. The bloody battle lasted six hours during which heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy. After it was over, Mati Bulev ordered his saboteurs to withdraw but at that very moment an enemy bullet struck him fatally, ending his revolutionary career. 295

293 Ibid: p. 31. 294 Hrisafov, K., Bulev Mati. “For the Holy People’s Freedom”... p. 59. 295 Mateia Bulev (Mati). Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1951, June, no 2. TODOR DOICHINOV-MORAVA (1921-1947)

By decision of the Athens government’s Minister of Public Security under law no. 34/509/1, December 30, 1945, Todor Doichinov 296 and his brother Aleksandar were declared wanted bandits and for their heads, dead or alive, the Greek authorities were offering a reward of 200,000 drachmas each. 297 Because of this their families suffered immensely. Their mother was exposed to unwarranted harassment and humiliation, and their older brothers Giorgi (34 years old), Konstantin (31 years old) and sister Marika (22 years old) were sentenced to one year in prison each. 298

The Greek political right labeled all Macedonian fighters who fought for their freedom and their democratic rights, bandits and foreign agents. Todor Doichinov was one of the most prominent revolutionaries from Enidzhe-Vardar and a member of the NOF leadership. That is why he was at the top of the Greek list for liquidation. That is why the Greek authorities launched a hunt for him with a price on his head. Every adventurer went looking for him but this revolutionary wouldn’t surrender alive.

Todor Doichinov-Morava 299 was born in 1921 in the town Enidzhe-Vardar. He finished primary school in his hometown and from a

296 This article was written by Tashko Mamurovski and, with minor changes, was also published in the Bulletin of INI, Skopje, 1979, XXIII, no. 2-3, pp. 247-250. 297 See statement made on February 26, 1946, by Gendarmerie Lt. Col. I. H. Bafas, Commander of the Greek Gendarmerie in Voden, proclaiming that several Macedonian activists and fighters were bandits. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946”, Vol. III, doc. 59, p. 133. 298 See memorandum written by the Voden Region EAM District Committee and sent to the UN Inquiry Commission investigating the Terror perpetrated by the Monarcho-Fascist political right in Voden Region: Appendix No. 1. Directory of Deportees from Voden District. “Aegean Macedonia”, 1947, IV. , doc. 25, p. 101. 299 Todor Doichinov’s pseudonym; “Morava”, comes from the mountain by the same name in Albania. That mountain, during the Greco-Italian War in 1940, was in the hands of the Italian army and together with Ivan Planina was an important strategic point. After Mount Morava fell, Ivan Planina fell and with it the road to Korcha was opened to the Greek army. This important event resonated widely throughout Greece, and Todor Doichinov took the name of Mount Morava as his pseudonym. According to the recollections of Ivan Nichev-Mirche from the town Gumendzhe. Ivan was NOF secretary in the District Board for Gumendzhe and Enidzhe-Vardar Districts. young age worked as a hired hand for the rich, and as such had the opportunity to personally experience the exploitation of the working class and the poor. 300

During Ioannis Metaxas’s dictatorship in Greece, Todor witnessed the discriminatory and assimilationist policies of the Greek fascist authorities directed at the Macedonian people who were even prohibited from speaking Macedonian, their mother tongue. That’s why from a young age Todor began to associate with progressive people and spread their revolutionary ideas.

When the German Nazi occupiers invaded Greece and Aegean Macedonia, Todor Doichinov joined PKNE, the Greek youth organization, 301 and since 1942 302 served as a member of the CPG and EAM, organizing and managing urban and rural party organizations. Todor also worked in OPLA 303 with other activists from the district until the Varkiza Agreement was signed and ELAS capitulated.

As an exemplary member of the Party, Todor enjoyed his authority, especially among the Macedonian youth. Todor never forgot to emphasize to his compatriots the need for their active participation in the anti-fascist movement in Greece and Aegean Macedonia which, in his opinion, was the only guarantee for the Macedonian people’s national and social liberation.

Due to the terror inflicted on the Macedonian population after the Varkiza Agreement was signed, in March 1945, Todor went underground. He was forced to leave the country and went first to Tetovo and then to Bulkesh (Voivodina). 304 When he arrived in Bulkesh, he joined the refugees from Aegean Macedonia and

300 Program for commemorating events and characters from the Macedonian people’s revolutionary past in Skopje. Skopje, 1973, part III, (bisti), p. 197. Information kept in INI. 301 According to the recollections of Ivan Nichev-Mirche ... 302 See short biographies of NOF activists in Gumendzhe and Enidzhe-Vardar Districts, submitted by Ivan Nichev-Mirche to the NOF Main leadership, “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946”, T. III, doc. 134, p. 299 303 Ibid. 304 Ibid. became involved in their political life and worked tirelessly to spread his national ideas.

Drawn by the difficult situation of his Macedonian people back home, in November 1945, Todor returned to his homeland through Gevgelia and immediately joined NOF.

In early March 1946, Todor was appointed NOF Regional Board Secretary for Enidzhe-Vardar District, where he served as its leader until March 1947. 305 Despite some weaknesses he faced, Todor was able to create a number of basic NOF cells in Enidzhe-Vardar and the surrounding area and even during the most critical moments he didn’t abandon his post. 306 He was especially active in agitating the young people. Unfortunately his activities didn’t go unnoticed by the then Greek reactionary authorities in the district who were raining havoc on the Macedonians in Enidzhe-Vardar. The atrocities they were committing exceeded all limits. An example of this is highlighted in a report written by Todor Doichinov and sent to the NOF General leadership, dated March 7, 1946, in which, among other things Todor wrote: “...The terror against the Macedonians has reached its culmination point. Beatings, confiscations of livestock and property, and the dismissal of democratically-minded soldiers are on the rise, exhausting our element economically. Detainees are still in prisons, without any being released... On March 7, a small gendarmerie force arrived to maintain order. The police commander is Kontakos, a Monarcho-Fascist and terrorist. The following people often abuse our people: Zmirnios Theodoros, teacher; Adamakis Petros, Hadzhitimothiadis, Vuzrizdis Alekos...” 307

Todor Doichinov led NOF in the Enidzhe-Vardar District for an entire year and, with his collaborators, traveled around the entire area agitating and organizing the people to struggle against the

305 Hristo Andonovski, “The Death of Captain Morava”, Magazine “Idnina”, Skopje, 1950, March-April, II, No. 2, pp. 59-60. Also see Program for the memorial commemoration of events and characters..., p. 197. 306 As per a report written by Vangel Nichev-Orivatis from the town Gumendzhe, NOF District Board Secretary for Gumendzhe District, dated May 15, 1946, and sent to the NOF General Directorate, regarding the political situation in Gumendzhe and NOF’s activities. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1946 “, T. III, doc. 129, p. 287. 307 Ibid: doc. 76, pp. 174-175. Greek Monarcho-Fascist reactionaries and their agents. Also, there was no partisan action in which Todor didn’t participate.

In March 1947, under orders from the NOF Main Board for Aegean Macedonia, the NOF leadership of Enidzhe-Vardar District was tasked to organize a campaign to fundraise and collect money for NOF’s needs from the local Enidzhe-Vardar population. 308 For that purpose forms were printed bearing the Organization’s seal along with a list of people who could help. The forms were to be sent to Enidzhe-Vardar and the people appointed to carry out the task were District Secretary Todor Doichinov-Morava, Regional Secretary Krste Rabushev, Kosta Popov, Risto Vatsurov and some others.

Before going to Enidzhe-Vardar, the above-mentioned people first had to go to the village Radomir and from there to other villages to agitate the population. But, for some unknown reason, they went to the village Krushari first and from there were going to take the forms to Enidzhe-Vardar. 309

They arrived in Krushari on the evening of March 28, 1947 and went to Mayor Petar Kurtelev’s house to ask the mayor, the most responsible person in the village, to help them organize the fundraising campaign. They left the Mayor’s house just before midnight. Kosta Popov, along with two others, went to the upper part of the village. Todor Doichinov went with his courier Krste Rabushev and hid in the attic of his house. But as it turned out the mayor was a traitor and didn’t sleep a wink that night. Pretending to be very ill, he hurried to the city to inform the Monarcho-Fascists that Morava and his comrades were in the village. 310The Monarcho-Fascists, who were expecting the traitor Kurtelev to inform on the partisans, gave the signal to capture Morava.

308 According to the recollections of Vangel Nichev-Orivatis ... 309 According to the recollections of Atanas Meliov-Atso from the village of Kufalovo, Solun Region. Atanas served as NOF Secretary for Kufalovo Region. 310 Hristo Andonovski, “The Death of Captain Morava”. On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the death of Todor Doichinov-Morava. Voice of the Aegeans, Skopje, 1952, March 13, III, 20. Also see the recollections of Atanas Meliov-Atso… In the morning of March 29, 1947, 311 voices were heard out in the streets all over the village. They were the voices of the fascist gendarmes searching the village, house by house. They looked everywhere but found no one. The guests were well hidden. However, one of the gendarmes went to Krste Rabushev’s house and decided to look in the attic where Todor and Krste were hiding. But Morava, who was always prepared, even for the most dangerous of situations, shot the gendarme with his pistol. As soon as the shot was fired the gendarmes surrounded the house. The two then took the forms they had with them and, so as not to fall into the hands of the enemy, gave them to the women to hide and then burn. They then jumped out of a window. 312 As they broke through the encirclement they ran away but because Krste was wounded on the leg he couldn’t run fast and fell into the hands of the fascists, alive. They took him to Enidzhe-Vardar and beat him to death in Ivan Rabushev, his brother’s yard, who at the time had just returned from Athens where he served in the Greek army. 313

As for Todor Doichinov, after Krste was wounded, he grabbed Krste’s machine gun and began to fire at the enemy, managing to run away for about 500 metres. He unfortunately was also wounded from being fired at and was bleeding profusely. Feeling that he was gradually losing consciousness he knelt on the ground and, in order not to fall alive into the hands of the enemy, took out his last hand grenade, put it on the ground and lay on top of it killing himself.

The gendarmes took Morava’s body and placed it in the city square in Enidzhe-Vardar to terrorize the people. 314

After Todor Doichinov-Morava was killed, Enidzhe-Vardar District was turned upside down. All the villages were emptied of their

311 According to a report written by Vangel Nichev-Orivatis, dated May 1947, sent to the NOF Main Board, regarding the political and organizational situation in Enidzhe-Vardar District. “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1947”, Vol. IV, doc. 34, p. 192. 312 According to the recollections of Ivan Nichev-Mirche and Atanas Meliov-Atso... 313 According to the recollections of Vangel Nichev-Orivatis and Atanas Meliov-Atso... 314 “For the holy national freedom.” Characters of our fallen national fighters ... 1968, pp. 79-80. people. Many were executed, prisons were overcrowded, military courts operated every day issuing death sentences, and thus the terror reached its climax.

Terror groups roamed the countryside, looting, killing and raping girls and women. 315 But the Macedonian people didn’t succumb to those atrocities. On the contrary, they became even more determined and struggled harder for their freedom and national and social rights.

315 “Aegean Macedonia in the National Liberation War, 1947”, Vol. IV, doc. 34, p. 189. RISTO DONCHEV (1921-1948)

The CPG, ELAS and DAG top leaderships have always openly showed their dislike of Macedonians publicly manifesting their national consciousness, and because of that many Macedonians were labeled “dangerous elements”, “autonomists”, “separatists”, “deserters”, “traitors” and were viciously liquidated. This was the case with Risto Donchev. 316

Risto Donchev was born in 1921, in the beautiful village Iavoriani, Voden Region. He came from a poor agricultural family but with rich revolutionary traditions. His father Giorgi Donchev served as a Macedonian teacher in his native village Pozharsko in Meglen Region. However, with the annexation of Aegean Macedonia by Greece as a result of the Balkan Wars, in 1912, Giorgi Donchev, along with many other villagers, was forced to leave Pozharsko and move to the village Iavoriani where he earned his living as a farmer. 317

In 1924, Giorgi Donchev was forced to leave Iavoriani and move to the city Voden because his family was large and he didn’t have enough land to support it. As an agricultural worker, Giorgi immediately made connections with the city’s progressive workers such as Perikli Paskalov, Tashi Kordalov, Dini Papaiankov, Tushi Kolkotronov, Kolio Proev and other Macedonians who had already joined the CPG in Voden. Under their influence he also joined the Party. 318 Over time, Giorgi Donchev raised all his children with revolutionary ideas. His four sons and daughter would later become strong activists and, through the CPG in Voden, perform union work for which they would often be arrested and convicted by the Greek reactionary authorities.

316 This article, written by Tasko Mamurovski, was also published in the list of the House of Immigrants from Macedonia “Emigrant Calendar”, Skopje, 1983, p. 130. Here we provide the same article with minor changes and additions. 317 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Memoirs and Critical Review of the Development of the Workers’, Communist and National Liberation Movement of the Macedonians in Voden and the Voden Region, Part II, p. 374. Records kept in INI. 318 Ibid. In 1934, even though he was a minor, Giorgi’s youngest son Risto was employed as an ordinary worker in the “Tsitsova” rope factory. Here he immediately joined the textile workers’ union and struggled for the rights and interests of the workers. 319

When the Germans, Italians and Bulgarians occupied Greece and Aegean Macedonia, Risto was working in the “Estia” textile factory where he soon joined OKNE in Voden and was actively involved in carrying out actions against the occupiers. Risto Donchev actively participated in practically every organized political function such as demonstrations, strikes, rallies, etc. Because of his strong commitment, at the end of 1941 he was accepted as a member in the CPG, and in the following year he served as a member of MAO, the Macedonian liberation organization. There he worked tirelessly to recruit members to expand the MAO in the city Voden. 320

In 1943, Risto Donchev was appointed a member of the leadership of the Employment Centre in Voden. He showed solidarity with other Macedonian activists and anti-fascists in their demands to achieve national and social rights. He also participated in several unapproved meetings held in the city without the CPG District leadership’s knowledge. One overriding issue discussed during these meetings was how to approach the CPG city leadership in order to achieve positive results on the Macedonian National question.

During the summer of 1944, after the Voden Macedonian Battalion was created in Kaimakchalan, Risto Donchev vigourously agitated the Macedonian population, especially the Macedonian youth in Voden, to enlist in the Macedonian army. Thanks to his hard work, many Macedonians enthusiastically joined the Macedonian army in Meglen and Voden Regions. A short time later Risto was appointed platoon commander in the Battalion. 321

In October 1944, Macedonian partisans from the Voden Battalion broke away from ELAS due to the problems they were having with the CPG and ELAS leaderships regarding the Macedonian national question. At that time Risto Donchev and the Battalion crossed over

319 According to the recollections of Vangel Aianovski-Oche... 320 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Aegean Storms..., p. 100. 321 Ibid: p. 416. the border into the Republic of Macedonia where, as platoon commander, Risto continued to fight against the occupiers.

In November 1944, with the formation of the First Aegean Assault Brigade in the Republic of Macedonia with the Macedonian fighters from Greek occupied Macedonia, Risto, as an officer in the Third Battalion, participated in all actions carried out by the Brigade against Mefail and Dzhemo’s Balisti in the vicinities of Debar, Kichevo, Gostivar, Tetovo, etc.

In May 1945, after the First Aegean Assault Brigade was disbanded, as a JNA officer, Risto Donchev served in the border sectors and in early 1947, at his own request, he joined NOF for Aegean Macedonia. After he returned to his homeland, Risto was appointed NOF secretary in the NOF City Board for the city Voden. 322

When the Greek reactionaries escalated their terror tactics against the Macedonian population and committed daily crimes not only against NOF members but also against the entire Macedonian population in Voden and the surrounding villages, Risto Donchev, like all NOF activists, didn’t give up but continued to struggle even during the most difficult times. He continued to diligently carry out the duties assigned to him by NOF.

Around the middle of 1947, after the CPG-NOF Agreement was signed on May 20, 1947, at “Mishovi Kolibi” in Kaimakchalan, Risto Donchev was mobilized by DAG and was made available to DAG Headquarters in Kaimakchalan. He was appointed acting commander of a DAG partisan detachment in West Kaimakchalan, in the Banitsa-Setina sector. 323

On top of the military duties Risto carried out in that field, he never stopped widening the Macedonian national consciousness among the Macedonian partisans in DAG and the Macedonian population in this area in general. However, some DAG leaders didn’t like that and on March 26, 1948, Risto died mysteriously. He was shot by an

322 Vangel Aianovski-Oche, Memoirs and Critical Review of the Development of the Workers’ Movement and National Liberation Movement of the Macedonians in Voden and Voden Region..., p. 375. 323 Ibid. unknown shooter when his detachment was in the village square in Setina and Risto’s fighters were having a good time dancing to Macedonian music. 324

Since DAG’s leaders remained indifferent to Risto Donchev’s vile death, we can conclude that this crime was the work of the chauvinistic and nationalistic Greek element present inside DAG. These so-called Greek communists couldn’t tolerate ardent patriotic Macedonians in their ranks.

324 Ibid. VANE DOROV (MALKOV) (1913-1947)

The name Vane Dorov (Malkov) is connected with a heroic deed that took place during the difficult battles on Mount Gramos. Namely, on July 16, 1947, Vane and two of his comrades jumped from the rocks into an abyss to avoid capture. This was at a place called Kotelska Kula. 325 This incident became widely know everywhere and contributed to strengthening the DAG fighters’ desire to fight with even greater fanaticism for an imminent victory over the Monarcho-Fascists.

Vane Dorov (Malkov) was born in 1913 in the village Sheshtevo, Kostur Region, to a poor agricultural family. After graduating from primary school in his native village, Vane stayed home and helped his parents with their farm work.

In 1933 Vane was drafted into the Greek military and sent to the city Seres to serve in a cavalry unit. After finishing his military service, Vane found a job in a foreign company in Seres. 326

A few days before the outbreak of the Greek-Italian war, Vane was involved in an industrial accident at work and was seriously injured. But despite his injuries, after the war broke out he was mobilized into the Greek army and, like many other Macedonians, sent to the Albanian front to fight the Italians.

During the German-Italian and Bulgarian occupation, Vane Dorov and his fellow villagers assisted the anti-fascist movement in every way they could. Later, after the foreign occupiers were driven out and pro-British rule was introduced, as a result of signing the Varkiza Agreement, the Greek authorities began to persecute Vane and his villagers accusing them of being autonomists. For his involvement with the anti-Fascist movement Vane was arrested several times and imprisoned in the Kozheni prison 327 where he was

325 Dorov Vane (one of three), “For our Sacred National Freedom” p. 81. 326 According to the recollections of Metodi Malkov from the village Sheshtevo, Kostur Region, Metodi was an active participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. 327 Nikola Shalvarinov, Chronicles of the village Sheshtevo. Manuscript kept in INI. tortured and abused. In February 1945, Vane and his villagers managed to escape from prison and crossed the border into the Reoublic of Macedonia. There Vane immediately joined the ranks of the First Assault Brigade, made up of Macedonians from Greece, and fought against remnants of the Balisti gangs in Western Macedonia. 328 After the First Aegean Strike Brigade was disbanded Vane moved to Bitola where he worked loading and unloading train cars.

In September 1946, Vane Dorov and a group of Macedonians from Greek occupied Macedonia voluntarily left the Republic of Macedonia and, traveling through Albania, arrived at Mount Malimadi. They returned to Greece so they could fight against the Greek Monarcho-Fascists. 329