ΤΑ ∆ΡΑΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΓΕΓΟΝΟΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΕΤΟΝ 1946-1949 ΣΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑ∆Α ΚΑΙ Η ΣΟΒΙΕΤΙΚΗ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗ - Part 01

ΤΑ ∆ΡΑΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΓΕΓΟΝΟΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΕΤΟΝ 1946-1949 ΣΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑ∆Α ΚΑΙ Η ΣΟΒΙΕΤΙΚΗ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗ

(Dramatic events in the years 1946-1949 in Greece and Soviet politics)

Απορρητα ντοκουµεντα του Υπουργειου Εξωτερικων τη ΕΣΣ∆

(Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Ministry of Foreign Affairs confidential documents)

Ο Νικος Ζαχαριαδη στα χερια των σοβιετικων οργανων ασφαλεια-Απορρητα εγγραφα τη Κα Γκε Μπε

(Nikos Zahariadis delivered CPG confidential documents in the hands of Soviet security organs)

Following is a translation of Ambassador Chernishov’s letter:

“7. USSR position in regards to the question of creating a Macedonian state in Greece, in March 1949, during the Greek Civil War.

On March 8, 1949, Chernishov, the Soviet accredited Ambassador to Greece, informed Moscow by wire that the Greek reactionaries use propaganda against the Communist Party of Greece and against the partisan movement with regards to the ‘Macedonian Question’ as outlined in the CPG Central Committee 5th Plenum resolution especially with the Macedonian National Liberation Front (NOF) 2nd Plenum taking place. Their basic claim used in the propaganda is that: “The Communist Party and the partisan units with their activities and movement are clearly and precisely turning against the territorial integrity of Greece...”

“The attitude regarding the question about the unification of Macedonia at this time”, continued Chernishov, “truly sets great propaganda challenges for the government of Athens which in turn is stirring its military forces to take armed action against the partisans. The Greek people are very sensitive about the territorial integrity of Greece and measures must be taken...

In connection to the Macedonian people’s NOF Congress, which is to convene on March 10, 1949, in the free areas in Greece, the Anglo-American bourgeois coalition press published an article with inflammatory remarks claiming that the Congress will continue with plans to unify Greek Macedonia with Bulgarian and Yugoslav Macedonia and that the Communist Party of Greece is ‘selling out Greek Macedonia’…”

According to information we have from the embassy in Moscow, the organizers of the Congress proved that this was a ploy to avoid discussions on the issue of the future of the Macedonian people and to keep this issue within the bounds of a Balkan Federation. The task of the Congress then was to focus on Greek Macedonia in a system of creating a free and democratic Greece.

1945 - LAW 697 enacted more regulations on renaming toponyms in Aegean Macedonia.

Establishment of Yugoslav socialist federation, comprising six republics, including Macedonia, with Tito as president.

1945 - Aegean brigade fights against the Balisti

On January 2, 1945 the brigade received orders from the General Headquarters of the Macedonian-Vardar National Liberation Front to go to Tetovo and eliminate the remnants of the Balisti bands that were active in the Gostivar and Tetovo Regions.

After about two months of campaigning in the Gostivar and Tetovo Regions (January-February 1945) the brigade completed its assigned task.

Then in the beginning of March 1945 the brigade was relocated to Skopje with orders from the General Headquarters to again relocate to Bitola and Gevgelija.

1945 - Varkiza agreement is signed on February 12, 1945 requiring all Partisan and other bands to demobilize and surrender their weapons. The British, once again, confirmed their allegiance to the Greek Government by giving Athens full political and military support, committing their willingness to fight to prevent a Partisan victory. The biggest losers of the Varkiza agreement were the Macedonians. As soon as the agreement was signed, all anti-Macedonian laws were back in force and the Macedonian people lost all that they had gained during the German occupation, including the right to form their own state as per the Atlantic Charter. The Greek Communist Party made absolutely no effort to safeguard Macedonian rights in the agreements with Britain. This was not only a betrayal to the Macedonian people but it also left them vulnerable to persecution from the Greek Fascists. The Varkiza Agreement was signed in a resort located near Athens. The Agreement was signed by the leadership of the resistance movement, i.e. the CPG and EAM on one side and the Plastiras government and British General Scobey on the other. With that Agreement EAM and ELAS practically handed power to the Right.

1945 - February 12, Macedonians jailed in Solun

On February 12th, 1945 18 citizens from the city Gumendzhe were jailed in Solun. Included among those jailed were Gjorgij Kostraki, Vangel Kostraki, Jovan Popnikov, Kostadin KorovError! Bookmark not defined., Trajko Kalinov, Hristo Michjorov, Hristo Hadzhigjoriov, Vangel Hr. Nichev, Dimitar Shaldev, Hristo Chjakov and others.

1945 - March 24, “Elinikos Voras” vilifies Macedonians

“Elinikos Voras” in fact was so obsessed with the so-called phantom “Macedonian autonomous movement” and the so-called “Slav threat” from the north that it made it its most endearing theme to vilify the Macedonians by continuously publishing adventure stories and hypothetical scenarios of a non-existent enemy attempting to

“grab” their Macedonia. In one of its columns on March 24th, 1945 “Elinikos Voras” wrote: “We have information from a reliable source that Captain Amintas Avgerinos (I. Papadopoulos from the village Pesoshintsa) of the 28th ELAS (National Liberation Army of Greece or NLAG) brigade, in larger part composed of Slavo-Macedonians, does not recognize the Varkiza agreement, and has formed an armed group which now roams around the villages Pesoshintsa, Leskoves, Popozhani, Vrbenik, Kamenik and Voshtareni, where he is terrorizing the residents and forcing them to cross over to Bitola and to join the ranks of the Bulgarian detachments commanded by Ilija Dimovski - Gotse, who is fighting for Macedonia’s autonomy…” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 169)

“Elinikos Voras” did not care to know or report the facts. All it cared about was to propagate hatred against the Macedonian people by continuously publishing fantasies.

Contrary to “Elinikos Voras’s” allegations, Amintas Avgerinos, did not send Macedonian fighters to join Ilija Dimovski – Gotse’s Macedonian brigade in the Republic of Macedonia. In fact Amintas Avgerinos was a disciplined ELAS officer and trusted member of the Communist Party of Greece (CPGError! Bookmark not defined.) who obediently followed the party line when the CPG itself was taking a stand against the Macedonian Liberation Movement Organization, the same organization that fought side by side with the Greeks to liberate Greece from the Germans and Bulgarians.

“Elinikos Voras” took it upon itself to label the Macedonian detachments as “having autonomous tendencies” knowing full well that the very same Macedonian detachments fought bloody battles against the autonomist counter-bands in Kostur and Lerin Regions and against the Bulgarian sponsored “Ohrana” in Voden Region.

1945 - April, first Macedonian government founded with Lazar Kolishevski as its first President.

1945 - April 23, NOF is formed along with the Women’s Anti-Fascist Front (AFZH) and the Youth organization (NOMS). The

ELAS fighters who earlier had left Greek occupied Macedonia and went to Yugoslavia came under the leadership of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and the Communist Party of Macedonia (CPY/CPM). It was from these fighters that, in Skopje on April 23, 1945, the organization NOF was formed under the initiative of the CPY/CPM and sent to organize the Macedonian people in Greek occupied Macedonia in preparation for a new conflict - the Greek Civil War. From the day it was formed to the day it was handed over to the CPG as part of the so-called “brotherhood and unity” formation, NOF acted under CPM/CPY directives. After that it was placed under CPG command until it was disbanded.

1945 - April 26, Tito hints to Macedonians uniting

This may have been as a result of Tito’s following statement made in Moscow on April 26, 1945, when he gave an interview for the “New York Times” during which he said: “If the Macedonians from the Greek regions of Macedonia express desire to unite with other Macedonians, Yugoslavia will respect their aspirations.” See: Yugoslav-Soviet treaty of friendship signed April 11, 1945 in Moscow, and FO 371/48388/7762.

1945 - May, Captain Pat Evans reports from Lerin on “a general lack of confidence... a number of people have been remarking in cafés and other public places: ‘There is no State’. ‘The Communists did at any rate make things run, whatever else they may have done.’ ‘The present Government is useless’!” (Mazower, Mark, “After the War was Over Reconstructing the Family, Nation, and State in Greece, 1943-1960”, 2000, Princeton University Press. Pages 11 and 12)

1945 - Terror committed in Greek occupied Macedonia

Between 1945 and early 1946 force was the rule of law in Greek occupied Macedonia where beatings and atrocities were committed daily against democratic citizens. Not only the jails but barns and stables everywhere were filled with people who supported the resistance movement. According to official statistics in 1945 there were 17,985 people jailed of whom 15,596 were jailed without a trial. Another 18,401 were accused of various crimes and 48,936

were accused of being members of EAM and ELAS. About 80,000 people in total were pursued by the Greek government in 1945.

The terror, as a means to break the movement, took frightening measures with each passing day. This is how the situation was described on July 5th, 1945: “After the December incident terror became the rule of law with the arming and unprecedented growth of the extreme Right. Every day life for the non-royal citizens became unbearable. This is a sad affair and the state cannot be without responsibility. The terrorist organizations of the far right most of which were armed by the Germans and cooperated with them, now cooperate with the government to extinguish the democratic spirit. It was the government that enlisted the skills and services of these terrorists and is allowing the atrocities to multiply daily. Therefore the government is responsible for the lockups, imprisonments, the raping of women, the hangings, the beatings and humiliations carried out against the free citizens. This represents a black spot on our civilization.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 155)

Here is how the Regional Governor of Kozheni Region described the situation in a letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs: “From a standpoint of public order the district is finding itself in a savage situation. Disgusting things are happening; multiple hangings, known criminals are being freed from jails, etc. These acts are carried out by known collaborators of the Germans, under whose leadership they developed these blood thirsty skills.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 155)

1945 - June, British soldiers kill Macedonian

After receiving information from informant Hristo Petsi, British soldiers, in June 1945 went in pursuit of Petar Stamenitov from the village Pendalofos and had him killed in the chestnut grove above the village Kriva.

1945 - June 20, Voden NOF holds regional conference at a place near the city Voden. The conference was attended by 125 city and countryside delegates. Pavle Rakovski, member of the top NOF

leadership, presented a report outlining the ideological content and form of the struggle. Vangel Ainovski – Oche, NOF Trustee and District Secretary reported on the organization’s financial status. The delegates, among other things, called for the liquidation of the rural guards causing terror in the countryside. (Nova Makedonija, /94.)

1945 - June 25, Aris Veluhiotis found dead

Aris Veluhiotis, commissar of the main headquarters of ELAS, along with about one hundred Partisans who had no faith in the Varzika agreement, detached themselves from the battalion and took to the mountains. The central committee of CPG naturally responded by calling Veluhiotis a “deserter” who on June 25th, 1945 was found dead on Mount Pind. Circumstances surrounding his death to this day have not been explained.

Historians that support the Right, leave it to be understood that Veluhiotis was killed by people from the CPG, claiming that only they know his whereabouts and movements.

In view of the disagreements between the various resistance leaders, the CPG purged Petsopulos, Orestis and Zaharias from the ranks of the party and took measures against the leadership of the Macedonian battalion by initiating a campaign of slanderous propaganda rivaling that of Gables. Macedonian leaders opposing the Varkiza agreement were automatically labeled “autonomists” and “sell outs to the Intelligence Service”.

A flyer released in Voden on October 10th, 1944 referring to Veluhiotis’s splinter group puts it this way: “Those are autonomists and anarchists and with their own brand of adventurism are solely responsible for bringing hardship to the Slavo-Macedonians. They claim to be your protectors but far from it, they are provocateurs who by their actions have provoked the fascist elements to new and more brutal acts against you Slavo-Macedonians.”

Anyone from the CPG or from the GNLF who spoke up in the defense of the splinter group was labeled a traitor. The CPG high

leadership openly suggested to people who harboured such thoughts that they were better off going to jail then going to the mountains.

In reference to Veluhiotis fleeing to the mountains, Zahariadis said “it was an attempt to pass with yesterday’s expired ticket”. Attempting to explain what happened, Zahariadis blamed it on a misunderstanding by putting it this way: “A large number of our membership had difficulty comprehending what it is that we are trying to do and where we want to go with the Varkiza Agreement. The confusion comes from a number of members who have a small difference of opinion. Some, like Veluhiotis for example could be dangerous that is why the party had to take decisive action. Party members like him wanted to hold on to their guns and to continue the guerilla war.” (Quotes from Zahariadis’s speech from the CPG plenum of the central committee, July 1, 1945).

1945 - June 28, CPG sees NOF as threat

The CPG Central Committee, during its 10th Plenum, made the following decision: “NOF with its rapid promotion of its military formations is dangerously threatening the Greek character of Macedonia. It is threatening Greek interests and the territorial integrity of the Greek state.”

1945 - June 29, Decree denouncing NOF is issued by members of the CPG District Committee for Voden Region and by the people of Voden Region.

1945 - Law 543/45 is passed by Greek legislature against the organization NOF, AFZH and NOMS. I.e. “Against NOF and all persons working for the secession of Greek territories.”

1945 - Macedonian homes looted, people abused, women raped by Greek murderous bands and by the Greek National Guard

In the summer of 1945 a band of well known occupier collaborators from Drama Region appeared in Lerin Region. Lead by the murderous Andon Chaush the band of nationalists took control of entire villages and sealed the doors of the Macedonian homes with wax so no one could get in or out. Macedonians were placed under

house arrest overnight for at least 12 hours without an explanation. No one dared break the seal for fear of what might happen to them.

Members of the National Guard roamed the streets during the nights and broke into the houses of those jailed and abused and raped their wives and daughters. In the village Setina, National Guardsmen raped the young wives of two brothers. Another young woman was then taken to the barracks and repeatedly raped overnight. The next morning she was taken and surrendered to her relatives, half dead. One particular woman from the village of Petoratsi was targeted, because of her activities in the United Panhellenic Organization of Youth, and raped.

1945 - May 17, Greeks beat Macedonian villagers to near death

On May 17th, 1945 a National Guard band from the village Inon (Tsakoni) attacked the village Polipotamos and severely beat most of the villagers. After beating him to near death, Zhivko Poptrajanov was taken to Kostur for interrogation.

1945 - May 19, Macedonians fight back against armed Greeks

On May 19th, 1945 a band of around 200 armed nationalist bandits from the villages Shijaki, Chetirok and Gorno Paprechko attempted to enter the village Polipotamos in order to plunder it. The villagers however did not succumb to fear and fought back with sticks and stones as they met the gangsters before reaching their village. The village came out victorious with only a single casualty. Lazo Antonopoulos was wounded.

1945 - May 23, Guard detains and beats villagers

On May 23rd, 1945 the villages Shijaki, Chetirok and Gorno Paprechko were blockaded by the National Guard. The guardsmen detained and beat many residents accusing them of being communists. Fifteen people were beaten to near death and the entire village was plundered and three flocks of sheep were stolen.

1945 - May 31, Macedonians severely beaten by Greeks

On May 31st, 1945 Andreas Papadopoulos with a group of 15 residents from the village Zagorichani, armed with rifles and wearing military uniforms blockaded the Macedonian part of the village and summoned all the Macedonians. Some were tied to a post and severely beaten with whips as they were forced to run like horses around the post and humiliated. Mitse Popjovanov, the village mailman, was beaten so badly that his life hung by a thread.

1945 - May, colonists attack Macedonians

Christian Turkish colonists from Asia Minor settled in Greek occupied Macedonia attack Macedonians

In May 1945 armed bands of nationalistic elements of Asia Minor settlers, who were settled in Macedonia by the Greek state in the 1920’s, attacked the village Brest and stole a flock of 1,200 sheep. They stole all the flocks of sheep from the village Dolno Papretsko and about 300 sheep from the village Setoma. When the people from the robbed villages went to the Regional Governor in Kostur to complain, he kicked them out of his office and told them “to go to hell”.

In spite of EAM numerous attempts to publicize the terror in an attempt to curb it, the ultra-nationalists continued to commit crimes unabated.

1945 - July 1, Greeks beat Macedonian villagers

On July 1st, 1945 Andreas Papadopoulos’s band of nationalists attacked the village Breshtani, summoned all residents and began to indiscriminately beat them. Many, including three women, fell unconscious from the beatings. Lazar Panduli’s wife was purposely undressed in public and while bare naked was raped by 4 of the bandits. Afterwards they carried her off and locked her in a room until they found a donkey and then as she rode the donkey she was paraded through the village and further humiliated. When she was returned to lockup, the man responsible for guarding her felt sorry for her and let her escape.

1945 - July 2, Greeks attempt to turn Macedonian into spy

On July 2nd, 1945 Andrea Papadopoulo’s nationalist band entered the village Tsakoni and committed all kinds of atrocities. Andon Sjula was badly beaten in an attempt to convert him to a turncoat so he could spy for them but they were unable to break him. He later died from the ordeal. Also badly beaten were Vasilis Suklidis, Naum Nartea, Andreas Stavridis and Petar Chocho.

Other thefts reported at the time included 5 heads of large livestock stolen from the village Tikveni by the nationalist Pavle Sjagari.

Other atrocities committed by the nationalists and the National Guard included the rape and execution of Dafina Valtova from the village Izglebi and the rape of 20 women from the village Gratsi.

1945 - July 6, Macedonian women raped by Greeks

On July 6th, 1945 members of National Guard from the 165 battalion raped 4 women in the village Gornichovo because their husbands were serving in the Yugoslav army. Rapes and robberies were also committed in the villages Gorno Kleshtina, Elovo, Sorovich and Rudnik.

1945 - July 7, Law 453 enacted in Greece 1945 - July 7, Law TOD:/45 enacted in Greece

“For order, peace and justice” to ensure public safety and to stop “autonomist activities” of which the Macedonian political organizations NOF, AFZH and NOMS were accused. NOF, AFZH and NOMS were found to be autonomist, separatist and anti-Greek and were placed outside of the law and their members were to be judged for possessing and using weapons.

1945 - CPG admits Macedonian nation exists

An article entitled “The truth about the Slavo-Macedonians” was published on July 8, 1945, in the newspaper “Rizospastis”, the CPG Central Committee’s organ, in which, among other things, it was said that the Macedonian nation has its own customs, personality and history and its national awareness is quite developed.”

This is further evidence that the CPG not only has admitted that Macedonians exist but gave the world proof of their existence inside Greece as a unique nation. What is peculiar about all this is that today the CPG says Macedonians do not exist and has taken either the amnesia route about its past or it claims that “it is not the same CPG”.

1945 - Greek gendarmes murder Macedonian children

On July 10th, 1945 the Greek Gendarme located in the village Lukovtsi detained 4 girls from the same village. No reason was given. The girls were taken away to jail and placed under guard in the city Sobotsko where they were subjected to torture. A few days later, 14 boys all under the age of fifteen were also detained in Lukovtsi and beaten to death. This was a tragedy not just for their parents but for the entire community.

1945 - Greek National Guard expropriates livestock

On July 10th, 1945 Balkanski, in a report to the leadership of the PLF, stated that the National Guard had stolen 250 sheep from the village Eksisu, 2 herds of sheep, 6 oxen and 6 pigs from the village Zelenich and one herd of sheep from the village Mokreni.

1945 - July 18, Law CC 43 passed

Law “against autonomist activities” was passed in Greece with which the organizations NOF, AFZH and NOMS were declared autonomist, placed outside of the law and their members were declared criminals to be caught and tried for high treason.

Forced Law (CC) 4124/1945; “Prosecution of suspected persons.”

1945 - July 20, Law (CC) 4124 passed Law against “Prosecution of suspected persons” was passed. Law (CC) 4124/45 was enacted to be applied only against the Macedonians.

1945 - July 20, Decree “G” passed

1945 - July 20, Laws PZ 433/45 and PZ 753/45 passed

Decree “G” and other laws: PZ 433/45 “For illegal possession of weapons”, PZ 753/45 “For illegal possession and use of arms”, “For extraordinary measures for public safety” were passed.

1945 - Greek National Guard fires at Macedonian children

On July 25, 1945 the National Guard flag bearer pulled out his pistol and fired at children he heard praying out loud in the Macedonian language at the Kjuprija neighbourhood in Voden.

Ianis Perchemlis, Gerimdzhes and Fotiadis, well known collaborators and Fascists who spied for the Germans during the occupation, were seen pacing up and down the streets calling out loud “lists of those going to jail are already made”. In other words they were openly threatening the population with harm without naming names, clearly a terror tactic to frighten everyone.

1945 - The “Nea Alithia” newspaper fans flames of hatred

Another Greek nationalist newspaper that also fed the flames of hatred against this phantom “Slav threat” from the north was “Nea Alithia” which on August 8th, 1945 wrote: “Greece fought, suffered, sacrificed and today is victorious but it cannot ignore threats from the north…” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 170)

1945 - Macedonian people beaten badly by Greeks

On August 15th, 1945 the Fascist Socrates Tumanidis and his band of cut throats invaded the village Lukovtsi, detained 10 people and took them to the village Dragomentsi where they subjected them to beastly torture. Tortured the worst was Nikola Markov who in addition to being badly beaten had to endure hot eggs placed under his armpits and salt poured on his wounds.

1945 - Greek officer rapes Macedonian woman in front of her father

On August 19th, 1945 the Greek Gendarme detained and jailed 25 people from the village Sarakinovo. A Greek Captain from the nearby army base, together with several soldiers, raped a young Macedonian woman in the village Tresino in front of her father-in-law. In a beastly manner, Jovan Dokov from the village Pozhartsko was ferociously beaten and while still conscious was buried alive. In the village Strupino 13 houses were burned down. One of those houses belonged to Tasho Bojchev, a Macedonian resistance fighter. Bojchev’s wife was killed and her body was thrown in the fire to burn. The same day Germanos Papadopoulos and his band of nationalists detained and killed 2 Macedonian boys.

1945 - Greek army and gendarme kill Macedonians

On August 25th, 1945 army and Gendarme Greek nationalists killed Kosta Dzhina from the village Laka, Atanas Koroveshov from the village Smrdesh and Atanas Lubchev from the village Kastaneri. These individuals were executed in Krombi, Edindzhe-Vardar Region.

1945 - Greek guardsmen beat and imprison Macedonians

On October 5th, 1945 a group of National Guardsmen blockaded the village Shtrkovo and imprisoned 7 Macedonians, who after been beaten were sent to Lerin. Among the 7 beaten included were Joshe Grozdanov, Bozhin Kostov, Pando Kostov and Stavre Katielov.

1945 - October 10, Greeks blockade Rudari 15 people sent to prison

On October 10th, 1945 the village Rudari was blockaded and 15 people were taken and sent to the Lerin jail. Joshe Tsaklarovski and Mihail Mihailovski were beaten to a state of unconsciousness.

1945 - November 17, Greek Guard executes Macedonians

On November 17th, 1945, upon their surrender by the collaborator Dimitar Dojara from the village Kastaneri, the National Guard executed Gjorgij Shashev from Kastaneri, Hristo G. Tartev, Trifun Ajta, Dimitar Parlapanov, Hristo Gatsov, Gjorgij Gulev, Petar

Karamutev and Aleksandar Vasilev from Kriva, Gumendzhisko Region. The executions took place in the Sehovo area near the village Barovitsa.

On August 14th, 1946 in the village Izvor executed were Hristo Sima and Vasilios Kustalidis.

1945 - December 16, 106 Macedonians prosecuted, accused of collaborating with the occupiers from the town Rupishcha in Kostur Region, began in Kostur. This was done in spite of the fact that these people were ELAS fighters and fought against the occupiers. Many were sentenced to life in prison the rest were given shorter sentences.

1945 - December 28, Zahariadis speaks positive of NOF

In a hypocritical sense, even Nikos Zahariadis, the CPG General Secretary spoke positively about NOF. During the December 28th, 1945 General Assembly of the Provincial Committee for Macedonia and ThraceError! Bookmark not defined., speaking about a flyer published by the Voden branch of NOF, Zahariadis, among other things said: “Every Greek democratic citizen, I am sure, will agree with the call of NOF from Voden Region, to fight together for our freedom, for political rights and social equality and for a general amnesty. We will struggle together for our bread, our freedom and for a new Greek democracy.” (Quote taken from the Newspaper “Laiki Foni”, organ of the CPG for Macedonia and Thrace, Solun, December 29th, 1945.)

It seems that the change in attitude on the part of the CPG towards NOF is owed mainly to the CPG’s need to reorganize for a new armed struggle against the Greek right. A new armed struggle at this point was not possible without involving the Macedonians. The call for a new struggle was made during the December 28th, 1945 CPG General Assembly when the slogan “We call on the people wherever they are, in the cities and in the villages, to carry out an armed struggle against the reactionaries” was first introduced. (“Laiki Foni”, December 29th, 1945)

Too many mistakes had been made by the left in allowing the right, more commonly known as the Republicans and RoyalistsError! Bookmark not defined., in Greece to highjack power and abuse the innocent to no end. For the leftists more commonly known as the democrats, there was little choice left but to fight back; this time for their own survival.

-- 1946 --

1946 - January 13, Rizospastis defends Macedonians

The newspaper “Rizospastis”, in defense of the Macedonians who were terribly persecuted, harassed and mistreated, said: “…this is the greatest and most dreadful persecution ever heard of in modern Greek history...”

1946 - January 28, Greek newspapers attack

Attacks against the Macedonian people living in Greece from Athenian newspapers were just as vicious engaging in brutal anti-Macedonian campaigns through the newspapers “Elefteria” and “Elenikos Kirix”. On January 28th, 1946 “Elefteria” published an open letter demanding the expulsion of all Macedonians from their native homeland. “The Slavo-Macedonians can leave our Macedonia. They can go wherever they want. They need to disappear from here; they need to emigrate immediately and compulsorily. There is no place for them here.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, pages 171, 172)

In a similar tone the nationalist paper “Ethnikos Kirix” paved the way for conflict and for persecuting the Macedonians when it proposed, “that there is a need to get rid of 180,000 Slavo-Macedonians as soon as possible”.

Even stronger criticism against the Macedonians came from the newspapers “Foni tis Kastorias” and “Ethnos” when they published quotes from Periklis Ilijadis, a former Nazi collaborator, insisting that, “there is no place for Greeks and Macedonians in Greek-

Macedonia”. (AndonovskiError! Bookmark not defined., Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 172)

In spite of the sacrifices the Macedonian people made to safeguard the security and integrity of Greece, the rightist elements of Greece were bent on destroying them. When they thought their situation could not get any worse, it did. If terrorizing and threatening them with death was not enough, the Greeks were now bent on exterminating the Macedonian people to the last one. The Macedonian people were now faced with a dilemma: remain at home and accept fate in the hands of the blood thirsty Nazi collaborators or forever leave their homes and ancestral lands and cross over the border? Out of the two evils, the Macedonians chose to remain at home and together with the democratic people of Greece, resumed their struggle for their freedom, equality and human rights for all (in theory).

The people had had enough of the lawlessness and brutality committed by the Greek nationalists and their armed wings the National Guard, armed bands and police. The very same sentiment was echoed by the world public which vehemently disapproved of how the Greek government and the British handled the situation.

1946 - February 12, CPG CC holds Plenum in Athens during which a decision was made not to take part in the parliamentary elections and to start the uprising (which later became known as the Greek Civil War).

1946 - Greek Guard jails innocent Macedonians

On March 5th, 1946 members of the National Guard jailed 10 people from the village Nered. They were all taken to court and without a shred of evidence, presented as members of the Greek National Liberation Front and of the National Liberation Army of Greece. Similar events took place in the villages Neokazi, Popozhani, Boreshnitsa, and Sekulevo.

1946 - March 6, Gendarme jails Macedonians

Betrayed by Irini Mechkari a number of people were picked up by the Ofchareni Gendarmes at 9 pm on March 6th, 1946 and sent to jail. Among those jailed included were Dimo Kratev and Vane Alamchev from Krushoradi.

1946 - March 8, Many Macedonians imprisoned

On March 8th, 1946 imprisoned were Petros Hadzhikarmenis, Janis Hadzhikarmenis, Kostas Hadzhikarmenis, Janakis Kostas, Dimitar Uzunov, Hristo Uzunov, Stamat Stamenov, Todor Vaskov and Gligor Tumbov from the village Petgas. Among the 35 men and women interned from the village Kriva included were Vangel Janakev, Atanas Jankov, Jovan Ropkov, Tano Janakev, Jovan Mladev, Petar Hadzhikarmenis, Tano Tsegli, Hristo Sjagli, Gjorgij Janakov, Paskalina Mitrova, Anastas Karadzha, Elisabeta Gatsi, Katerina Stoju, Marika Pulka and others.

1946 - March 13, 10 people from Petoratsi sued in the Lerin court and were given 10 to 15 year prison sentences. They were accused of belonging to illegal socialist organizations. Among those sued were Bitko Mijalev, Lazo Damianov, Naso Zhinzov and Vasil Popov. Another 18 people from the village Setina were also sued by the same court and handed 8 to 10 year prison sentences. These people were accused of various crimes. Their accuser was the teacher Miltiadis Dulukas who was a witness at their trials.

1946 - March 15, Gendarme abducts Macedonians

On March 15th, 1946, the Gendarme from Ofchareni, lead by collaborator and spy Janis Apostolidis, stormed into the village Krushoradi and abducted resistance fighters Petar Donevski, Pando Vesev, Spase Dzhodzhov and Gjorgij Majnov. The next day they were taken to Lerin and put in prison.

More Macedonians were rounded up and taken before the courts in Lerin, even decent resistance fighters like Iordan Vitkov who was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour, Katerina Ts. Shabalova sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and Alekso Gashtarov, Sveto Charkev and Gjorgij Chakalov from the village Setina sentenced from 8 to 12 years imprisonment which prompted

one to speak up and say “We are Macedonians and that is why it is not difficult that we must lie in prison. This is our tax for our freedom. The Macedonians are used to spending time in prison, but for us one day the sun will shine”.

1946 - March 18, Macedonians accused of working for “Ohrana” sent to jail in Solun

On March 18th, 1946 citizens Risto Kostarski, and Stamat Ljapa were sent to jail in Solun because they were accused of being under the influence of “Ohrana”, a Bulgarian sponsored organization that operated in Kostur Region.

1946 - March 1, Elections take place in Greece 1946 - March 1, Greek Civil War officially begins

March 31, 1946 – Elections take place in Greece, Greek Civil War officially begins. While the British and the Greek press continued to speak of free elections in Greece, the nationalist and chauvinistic elements continued to rain terror on the civilian population arresting and imprisoning people uncontrollably. By the time the elections took place on March 31st, 1946, almost all of the former resistance fighters were either missing or serving jail sentences under trumped up charges.

Interestingly some of these election irregularities were confirmed by British, Colonel Shepard who was quoted by the newspaper “New Democracy” on December 8th, 1947 as saying: “During the election a Greek officer was watching a British officer and finally got enough nerve to speak to him. The Greek officer boasted to the British officer about how his regime was capable of creating conditions where 100% of the people would vote for the royalists. ‘Even if not 100% then at least 95% and for those 5% who vote differently we will call them the enemies of the regime and invent reasons as needed to bring them in’ explained the Greek officer.”

1946 - March 31 Greek elections a total farce, not only because of the coercion by the rightist regime forcing voters to vote for them but also because of the perpetrated election fraud. In most European countries like France, Italy and others the population had naturally

shrunk because of the war but not in Greece. In spite of the half million deaths due to starvation and war, Greece, according to the number of people who voted in 1946, showed a massive population increase, much greater than those voting in 1936. For example, 1,753,000 voters participated in the 1936 elections and 2,200,000 voters participated in the 1946 elections (voting in Greece was mandatory). Above that another 250,000 voters, known democrats were intentionally left off the lists so that they could not vote.

1946 - March 31, Uprising starts by one of the most characteristic acts performed by the partisans, which was to attack the village Litohoro, in which 23 government soldiers were killed. This, as one of the first major acts performed in the Greek history of DAG, was accepted as the beginning of the Greek Civil War. The Greek Civil War officially began on March 31, 1946 by decision of the CPG Second Plenum held on February 12, 1946. It did not happen by accident, it was planned.

1946 - March 31, Zahariadis arrives in Belgrade and met with Tito. Among other things, they discussed the “strategy of the armed struggle” (the Yugoslav model) for which Tito promised Zahariadis material and moral assistance. See: “Danas” published on 6.03.1990, pages 418, 419 and 420. Among other things on page 64 the article said: “…the network was organized under the leadership of Alexander Rankovich (third man from the top in CPY politics) who, up until 1948, supplied the Greek partisans with 35,000 rifles 2,000 mortars (German), 7,000 anti-tank guns, 10,000 landmines, 12,000 complete army uniforms and 30 wagons of food.” The article then went on to say that: “… 8,000 people had fled Greece (and lived miserable lives in the Skopje streets) and how important it was for the first man, General Markos, to confirm the newly established General Headquarters created on October 28, 1946.”

But we must never forget that more than 50% of the participants in DAG were Macedonians. A very large proportion considering that the Macedonian population was much, much smaller than the Greek. We must also never forget that the Greek Civil War, with all its Party and military functions, was led and commanded almost exclusively by Greeks. So, the question that comes to mind is: “if the Greek Civil War was a revolution for socialism, does that mean

that we Macedonians had to resolve this problem, i.e. turn Greece into a socialist state before we could obtain our national rights?”

1946 - April 2, Zahariadis initiates armed struggle in Greece and Tito supports him.

CPG General Secretary Zahariadis, after returning from Moscow, went to Belgrade where he met with Marshal Tito and discussed his decision to initiate an armed struggle against the Right in Greece. Tito gave Zahariadis his full support and promised to supply him with moral and material aid. This meeting was arranged to also accomplish the following:

1. Place the Macedonian national liberation movement in Greek occupied Macedonia led by NOF, which as of April 1945 was under the leadership of the CPY-CPM, under the CPG.

2. Transfer part of the CPG Central Committee Politburo composition, headed by Ianis Ioanidis, to Belgrade with the task of managing supplies for the armed struggle and representing the CPG abroad. I.e. to take care of supplying the partisans with weapons, clothing, food and other materials.

3. To organize recruitment of fighters from the Republic of Macedonia, more specifically from the so-called Greek political emigrants who fled Yugoslavia. To organize hospitals for the wounded and sick DAG fighters and for Yugoslavia to take on the role of organizer and coordinator of assistance for DAG from other countries.

1946 - April 4, Greeks call for Macedonians to be killed

The Solun right wing newspaper “Nea Alithia” (New Truth) published an article entitled “Our Sudetenland, speaking about the Macedonians who qualify as Sudetenland-ers and as such” writes the newspaper “in the interest of peace and security in Greece, they should be liquidated…”

1946 - May 4, First Macedonian Detachment formed at the “Trsie-Turie” mountains in Lerin Region. The detachment was led by Petre Markov from the village Neret, Lerin Region.

1946 - May 21, Greeks call for expulsion of Macedonians

The newspaper “Ethnikos Kirikas” wrote: “Greece should soon expel 80,000 Slavo-Macedonians.” The same was said in the weekly Republican newspaper “Eleftheros Typos” on January 28, 1946 in an article entitled: “Let the Slavo-Macedonians leave our Macedonia - let them go wherever they want to go.”

1946 - Terrorist activities against the Macedonian peak

Terrorist activities against the Macedonian population peaked on July 7th, 1946 when the Greek government voted to take “extraordinary measures” to further deprive the people of their rights by prohibiting political and professional organizational activities and by openly moving towards reinstating a military dictatorship.

In view of the MNLF and its activities, these “extraordinary measures” were particularly brutal against the Macedonians who were now being treated more harshly than the citizens of southern Greece. By treating the Macedonians differently and by accusing them of having “separatist tendencies” the regime was promoting division between the democratic people. Here is a quote of “article one” from the “extraordinary measures” adopted on July 7th, 1946: “Those who aim to partition a section of the national territory or create opportunities to conspire inside this country or take part in them will be sentenced to death…” (Quote taken from the newspaper “Makedhonia”, July 7th, 1946)

Ironically these measures were only a pretext to attack the innocent Macedonians and not the real conspirators; the British consulate in Lerin, Vice-Consul Hill, Captain Evans and the Greek Colonel Bafas who started this conspiracy in the first place.

The “extraordinary measures” were immediately put into effect and the courts were transformed into death factories in which tens of real patriots, the ones who spilled blood and freed Greece from the

occupiers, were sentenced to death on a daily basis. All one had to do was accuse someone of “committing subversive activities against the state” and the military did the rest.

“Article ten” of the “extraordinary measures” allowed for the searching of premises at all times. This part of the law was utilized to justify the brutal measures taken against innocent people in response to press allegations of conspiracies. Names of so-called “autonomists” were printed and people were pursued by state organs without the slightest proof of wrong doing.

While the Greek parliament was voting to pass the “extraordinary measures” the newspaper “Makedhonia”, published the following: