GIORGI (DZHODZHO) URDOV (1914-1947) - Part 07

At that time, Risto Iabona from the village Breznitsa, Kostur Region, was leading a partisan detachment which operated on Mounts Malimadi, Vicho and Lisets (Koreshtata). Vane immediately joined Risto’s detachment and, from the first days, began to stand out with his courage. After a short time he transferred to Giorgi Kalkov’s detachment where he was promoted to corporal. Giorgi was from the village Visheni, Kostur Region. As a corporal Vane fought in every battle on the field until May 1947. 330

At about the same time DAG carried out the so-called first mobilization of fighters from all free villages in the Vicho and Prespa area. Based on that mobilization, new DAG detachments and battalions were created. The small detachment of a dozen, in which Vane Dorov served, suddenly grew into a company. It was led by Micho Valiakov from the village Visheni, Kostur Region. Vane’s dozen grew into a platoon. After the reorganization Vane’s fighters were dispatched to Mount Gramos. Vane continued to fight on Mount Gramos as platoon commander until his tragic death.

328 According to the recollections of Nikola Srbinovski from the village Seshtevo. Nikola Srbinovski was an active participant in the National Liberation War and in DAG. Also according to the recollections of Hristo Malkov from the village Seshtevo who fought in the ranks of the First Assault Brigade. Hristo also fought in DAG in the company of Giorgi Kalkov, Micho Valiakov and Atanas Karavidas, and from 1948 on he served in the People’s Militia. 329 Ibid. 330 Ibid. During the summer of 1947, heavy fighting broke out on Mount Gramos between DAG units and Greek government troops. Company Commander Micho Veliakov and eleven DAG fighters were killed in the first battle. As battles mounted the company in which Vane’s platoon was serving was reduced from 138 to 63 fighters. To raise the fighting morale it was necessary to bring new fighters into the company. But until that was done the company continued to fight from a distance in the localities “Portite”, “Gurusha” and even as far as “Kotelska Kula” and the village Mirovliti on Gramos.

One day Vane Dorov received orders to defend “Kotelskata Visochina” but after a heavy battle his platoon was reduced to ten fighters. During these critical moments, Company Commander Tanasis Karavidas asked for volunteers from Vane’s platoon to help the DAG fighters in “Kotelska Kula” 331 locality escape before the enemy trapped them by cutting off their escape path past the church St. Ilia to “Kotelskite Livage”. Vane and two others volunteered to go. Unfortunately the enemy attacked “Kotelska Kula” with all available forces, trying at all costs to cut the partisans off from retreating to “Kotelskite Livage”. The brave DAG fighters in “Kotelska Kula”, being bombed by enemy planes from above and by artillery and mortars from the sides, held their positions as the government forces gradually approached. They were pursued by a large enemy force from the front and behind them lay the inaccessible abyss called Haro, 120 metres high. The partisans fought heroically until their last bullet and after that they threw all their weapons, including their heavy machine gun, into the abyss. Then, not to fall into the hands of the enemy alive, they formed a circle, grabbed each other tight and began to sing before jumping into the abyss. 332

In appreciation and to honour our heroes for their deeds our people built a monument for them and wrote the following song:

331 Dorov Vane (one of three). “People’s Freedom” pp. 81-82. Also see Nikola Shalvarinov, Chronicle of the village Seshtevo ... 332 Ibid, What flies, what falls, what casts off from high cliffs in the deep valleys of Mount Gramos? It is an eagle with broken wings or is it a disenchanted person? It’s not an eagle with broken wings nor is it a disenchanted person, He is a fighter from the people’s army He is our hero Vane Dorov from Shestevo.

Told by mother, father, and old grandmothers he listened to stories until midnight about celebrated Ilinden, about the heroes of Ilinden in spring mornings, in summer dawns, in the wide fields, in the broken mountains, he collected flowers reddish and white, he arranged bouquets, wreaths, he decorated old graves with wreaths, for Gotse Delchev’s brave fighters.

From early childhood, from years young, screams he heard, gallows he saw, it was his desire, it was his love slavery to break, wretched tyranny, for the freedom of the people, and when a disgusting horde of fascists in the Aegean in Greece flew and landed, a young company he took with him, bloody battles he fought everywhere.

The day had not yet dawned, the sun had not yet risen, in the locality of Vrahos on Mount Gramos machine guns roared, grenades exploded, fighters brave, the entire company

in the last fight, in the last battle, before sunset heroically jumped. Vane invited to surrender; he threw himself into the abyss, he did not surrender alive.

Mihailo Keramitchiev