THERE IS ONE DESTINY - Part 03

elections, in the absence of EAM, a government was formed and all those who did not vote for it became “dangerous” for the new government. The newly formed government then conducted a mobilization but mobilized only those it trusted. All those whom it did not trust were found either “incompetent” or “sick” to serve and were sent home.

The armed struggle began on March 31, 1946, in a village called Lithohori located on Mount Olympus, and lasted until 1949. In the summer of 1946, Greek and Macedonian representatives gathered together at the village Bapchor and agreed to place their forces under a joint command, and thus DAG (Democratic Army of Greece) was formed. From that point on command was unified under the leadership of Markos Vafiadis, or the legendary General Markos as he was known at that time.

A special voluntary Monarcho-Fascist unit consisting of peasants from Zhelevo and from the surrounding villages was formed in the village Zhelevo. The unit called “pospazma” consisted of police officers whose duty was to go from village to village and cause mischief. Members of this unit raped, murdered and implemented curfews. The unit commander was a man named Tsironi from the village Psoderi. Included among the members from Zhelevo belonging to this unit were Petre Landzhako, Nikola Stergiou, Lasko and Stavro Trkala (Sterio’s son). There was a lot of violence and criminal activities taking place in Prespa and the wider Region at the time, particularly in the villages Papli and German. Many people were arrested and taken to prison to the Lerin jails and to other internment camps. Many residents from Zhelevo were also arrested and sent to jail. Many of those who were left behind were mobilized by the Greek army, especially those who were helping the local population. Included among those who were mobilized were Risto Trkala (Mihail’s son) and Risto Puchunga. Both served in the village Vatohori, Kostur Region.

Many of the Macedonian veterans who fought on Yugoslav territory during World War II, during the summer and autumn of 1946, were returning home to Greek occupied Macedonia but, because of the situation they found themselves in, they went straight to Mount Vicho and joined those who had fled there to avoid being

persecuted. As a result the units in Vicho were swelling up with volunteers but under very difficult conditions, because the Greek army had a battalion stationed in Prespa. The battalion was headed by Commander Chami from the village Psoderi, a former ELAS fighter now turned Monarcho-Fascist. Because of the “pospazma” that was located inside Zhelevo, it was difficult to leave the village and go to the mountains without raising suspicion and as such it was difficult to prepare and send new groups to the mountains. At about the same time DAG had adopted a bad policy of disarming and sending people home, especially those who had fled their village to avoid being persecuted. This was a mistake which DAG realized but by then it was too late. Many of these people sent home were either captured by the enemy, killed, sent to prison, or went into hiding. As a result many of the villages were emptied of their people.

In the summer of 1946 after Spiro Mavrovski, Risto’s older brother, got married, Risto, Spiro and their father Mihail went to work in the villages Kleshtina and Kladorabi.

In the spring of 1948 the partisans went from village to village and collected all the young children, ages 2 to 14, and sent them to the various people’s Republics including Yugoslavia, Romania, Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. It was one of the largest evictions in the history of the villages. After that all able-bodied men and women were sent to the front. The greatest battles in Gramos and Vicho were led during the summer of 1948. At the same time, a large part of the Zhelevo population fled to the Republic of Macedonia. Some fled to Lerin and Kostur to avoid being dragged into the conflict. This period was very difficult for the people of Zhelevo. Many people were killed as the Greeks bombed the village several times. The people, however, struggled to survive in these difficult times.

In 1949, during the winter, the partisans attacked the city Lerin but without success. DAG suffered many casualties and now again Zhelevo and every other village became targets for the Greek air force. As a result many people became victims of these bombings. Once again another wave of people from Zhelevo fled for the Republic of Macedonia. Those who fell into the hands of DAG patrols were executed, intimidating the population not to flee. On

August 10, 1949 the Greek government launched its great military offensive against the partisans in Vicho. After a great struggle Vicho, on August 14, 1949, fell into government hands. Zhelevo also fell into government hands. By now the village was totally abandoned with the old, sick and frail remaining. All those capable of mobility were collected by the partisans and led to Albania. Then a great battle took place in Gramos which ended on August 28, 1949. After that all surviving fighters gathered in Albania, marking the end of the Greek Civil War.

The people of Zhelevo who at the time were serving in the ranks of DAG and who were healthy were gathered in one place in Camp Bureli in Albania. The others, the elderly, the children and the wounded soldiers were sent to Poland by ship. The DAG veterans were sent to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and the USSR where Foto Ianovski from Zhelevo decided to remain for good. Done Markov’s grandfather made Moscow his permanent home.

Consequences of the Wars for the people of Zhelevo

Following is a list of people from Zhelevo who died during World War II and during the Greek Civil War

Kala Sider died in Negosh (Naoussa) Mito Ianovski died in Statitsa Sofia Ianovska died in Zhelevo bombed by aircraft * Sofia Ianovska died in Zhelevo killed by the Greek “burandari” (Monarcho-Fascists) * Stavre Ianovski died in Berik, Kostur Region * Ioshe Kirovski (Lenka’s son) died in Gramos Stefana Gaduchi died in Zhelevo bombed by aircraft * Traiko Pirpiko died in Gramos, Nestimo Risto Lulov died in Rupishta Pando Lulov died in Gramos, Grevena Vasil Mitan died in Besvina village Breznitsa Angelina Packova died in Faltsta Paul Kirovski (Spiro’s son) died in Lerin, Kopanche Nestram Mara Kirova (Vasil’s daughter) died in Gramos in Densko Arhonda Markovska died in Lerin Kamenik Anastas Iankulovski died in Siniachko

Konda Dimova died in Vicho, Sveta Nedela Lazo Stepanov died in Gramos, Mladentsa Foto Stepanov died in Faltsta Sotir Ianovski died in Gramos Ilio Lanzako died in Siniachko Fani Lanzako died in Gramos Naso Lanzako died in Zhelevo * Vangel N. Nikolovski died in Grevena Stavro Nikolovski died in Onaria over Langa Tanas Trkalovski died in Malimadi Risto Putsunga died in Grevena Vangel Brbalov died in Vicho, in Bukata over Kostur Nasie Nikolovski died in Gramos Pando Perelov died in Gramos in Alevitsa Iordan Markovski died in Gramos Done Chachanov died in Prespa (killed by the partisans) * Spiro Manev died in Lerin Done Nikolovski died in Grevena Trena Andonchina died in Lerin Naum Perelov died in Gramos Lazo Lazarov died in Sorovich Spiro Kirov Donevski died in Vicho Tanas Nolevski died in Gramos Lazo Papazov died in Gramos Spiro Miloshev died in Smrdesh Iana Milosheva died in Zhelevo bombed by aircraft * Stoian Temovski died in Kolomnati Sofia Temovska died in Vicho in Lagen Spiro Mavrvski (Shkavrev) wounded in Bukata, Kostur Region, died in Trnaa Nikola Markovski died in Grevena Anastasia Simoska died in Grevena Stavre Puchunga died in Grevena Risto Stanishev died in Grevena Done Luchkov died in Albania at the front * Risto Giamovski was killed by the Germans * Foto Kirovsk killed was by the Germans at the Bulgarian front * Neda Mavrovska died in Zhelevo as a result of being tormented by the Germans * Ilio Iandrevski killed by the Italians in Kostur *

Pando Laskov killed by the Italians in Kostur * Pando Papailia killed by the Italians in Kostur * Pavle Papailia killed by the Italians in Kostur * Vasil Giamovski killed by the Italians in Kostur * Ilio Sandrin killed by the Italians in Kostur *

(*) – People of Zhelevo who were NOT killed during the Greek Civil War

People of Zhelevo displaced after the Greek Civil War

Poland

During the fall of 1949 many of the Zhelevo refugees, along with old men, women, children and wounded soldiers, were transferred by a Romanian ship from Albania to the city Gdinia on the Baltic Sea. There the wounded fighters, about 250 of them, were separated, placed in train cars and transported to a hospital. The rest were taken to the city Mendzhe Guzhe. In the spring of 1950 the Poles gathered them all at Zgorzelec. The 250 fighters, who were wounded, once they healed, were also sent to Zgorzelec. Eventually all the refugees and political immigrants who had entered Poland were gathered in this city. Some, like the refugee children, even arrived from other socialist countries. Two orphanages were set up to house the children; one was called Lazo Trpovski and the other Nikos Zahariadis. In the summer of 1950 most of the refugees from Zhelevo were sent to a town called Bogatinia, located on the triangle between Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland. They were sent there to work at the “Sofhoz” farms. Some worked in factories. And as such the people of Zhelevo who were sent to Poland were split in two cities, Bogatinia and Zgorzelec.

Albania

All the refugees who left Zhelevo in 1949 passed through Albania. In fact almost the entire village was emptied during this mass exodus with very few, mostly the old, remaining behind. From there they were transferred to other people’s republics. Only one woman remained in Albania. She was prosecuted for crimes committed by her husband.

Yugoslavia

Most of the refugees from Zhelevo fleeing the Monarcho-Fascists ended up in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Among these people were fighters, political refugees and refugee children who were taken out of Greek occupied Macedonia in the spring of 1949. The refugees from Zhelevo were separated and placed in various locations and cities. Some were sent to Voivodina to the villages Giakova and Krushlevo. The wounded fighters were sent to Bulkesh. There were children sent to dorms in Bela Tsrkva and Tsrvenitsa. In the Republic of Macedonia they were sent to Skopje, Tetovo, Bitola, Prilep and Struga.

Skopje

Skopje had the largest group of people from Zhelevo and later those returning from the other Socialist Republics and from the USSR were added. Later many left Skopje for Toronto, Canada. It should be noted that in the period from 1950 to 1954 many children returned to their homes in Greek occupied Macedonia and from there went to Canada. There were still many Zhelevo families that remained in Skopje. Here is a list of families compiled by Risto Mavrovski, from what he remembers:

1. Stamovtsi 2. Balkovtsi. 3. Simovtsi 4. Dibranovtsi 5. Florovtsi 6. Bundovtsi 7. Stanishevtsi 8. Temovtsi 9. Ianovtsi 10. Nikolovtsi 11. Popspirovtsi 12. Markovtsi 13. Bekiarovtsi 14. Temelkovtsi 15. Stepanovtsi

16. Rumiakovtsi 17. Iankulovtsi 18. Damovts 19. Dodevtsi 20. Dogramovtsi (Ianovtsi) 21. Mitanovtsi (Chonevtsi) 22. Lumburovtsi 23. Markovtsi (Koleichini) 24.Gaduchevtsi 25. Gligorovtsi 26. Lulevtsi 27. Kirovtsi 28. Bodanovtsi 29. Gulini 30 Pachovtsi

There were a number of families with the same last names so the actual number is much higher. Included in the list of families with same last names are the Ianovtsi, the Bekiarovtsi, the Markovtsi, the Stanishevtsi and the Florovtsi.

Many of the people from Zhelevo left their lives in this city. Risto has provided a list of those who he remembered were buried at the cemetery in Butel.

1. Ioan, File, Traiko and Kole Bekiarov 2. Lambro Florov and his wife 3. Traiko Dodevski 4. Foti Temov Sotirov and his wife) 5. Bozhin Ianov Mandzhukov 6. Sofia Popspirova Balkova 7. Micho and Sofia Gaduchi 8. Pop Simovski and his son Tomislav 9. Malina Markova 10. Ristoitsa, Stefo and their son Tode Bodanovtski 11. Tase Mitanov and his wife 12. Kole Gligorov 13. Kole Pachov 14. Ristoitsa Lumburova 15. Giurgtsa Gligurova

16. Krste Stepanov 17. Tanas Iane Voinovski 18. Petre and Elena Pirpikov 19. Ilio Markovski and his wife 20. Leko Markovski and his son Spiro 21. Done Iankulovski and many others who Risto does not know or remember.

Tetovo

There were several families in Tetovo including:

1. Lambro Mitanov 2. Leko Gligorov 3. Dafina Petkova Trendova and her children 4. Arhonda Gakeia with her daughter Vasilka and her children 5. Sevda Stanisheva with her children 6 Fana Kurchova

Included among the people who died in Tetovo were Lambro Mitanov, Arhonda Popova Gakeia and Leko Gligorov Popioanov.

Struga

The only family from Zhelevo living in Struga is Lambro Trkalov’s family. Lambro and his family came to Struga from Tashkent.

Prilep

Only Konda Mazenko from Zhelevo lives in Prilep.

Bitola

People from Zhelevo have been coming to Bitola since 1924. A large number of them arrived during the period from 1944 to 45, in 1948 and during and after the Greek Civil War.

Included among the families who came to Bitola, in the period from 1924 to 1928, were the Simovtsi brothers, the Petrevtsi (Stoian) and Markovtsi families and Pando Lumburov of Porodin.

Arriving in Bitola in 1944 and 1945 were the Nikola Nikolovski (Shofero) and the Kosta Stanishov families.

The Vasil Luchkov family arrived in 1950. Before that the family was separated, some members lived in Tashkent and others in Poland.

Arriving in 1957 were Micho Florov, the brothers Risto and Kole Mavrovski Shkavrevtsi with their families coming from Poland, Tanas Markovski and his daughter Ristana, and later his son Vasil and his family who came from Tashkent, Petre Brbalov from Canada and his wife from Zhelevo, Ianetsa Miovska and Ianaki Luchkov. And thus, after Skopje, Bitola has the second largest concentration of people from Zhelevo in all of Macedonia.

The following families were located in Porodin during the period from 1924 to 1928:

Lumburotsi, Bundovtsi, Temovtsi and Kurzovtsi. Now they are no longer in Porodin. They have been displaced. The only one remaining in Porodin is Vasil Temo Sotirov. Sotir Rumbakov was in Ergi where he died.

People from Zhelevo who died in Bitola:

Kosta Stanushev and his wife, Kole (Shoferot) Nikolovtski and his wife, Petre Brbalov and his wife, Tase Simovski and his wife, Nate pop Simovski, Ianaki and Vasil Luchkovski and their nephew, Janeitsa Miovska, Pando Lumburovski and his wife, Tanas and Ristana Markovski, Risto and Kole Mavrovski Shkavrevi and many others.

Bulgaria

The following families/people from Zhelevo lived in Sofia:

1. Stavro and Todor Markov 2. Hari Simovski 3. Giorgi Brbalov

4. Ianovtsi 5. Vasil Bogdanov (who died here).

The following families/people lived in Gara Elin Pelin:

1. Traiko Kirov, 2. Spiro Kirov (who died there) 3. Lambro Rumbiakov

Lena Bogdanova lived in the town Stara Zagora.

Leko Mitanov and Lena Bundova lived in the town Tolbuhin.

The following families/people lived in Sandanski:

1. The Dine Chakov family 2. George Chakov and wife Sofia Florovska with her children. 3. Tena Ianevska Florovska with his son Pavle 4. Giorgi and Nasa Markovski and family 5. Pavle Florov and Dane Chakov where they both died. Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia

Many of the children evacuated from Greek occupied Macedonia in 1948 were taken to Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Some ended up in Tulgesh, Kalimaneshti in homes in Hungary but most moved and went to the Republic of Macedonia, with few returning to Greece. Many of the wounded fighters ended up in Hungary where they received treatment in Budapest. Later many left. Lena Stepanova died in Hungary. She was a mother and a teacher who looked after the children from Zhelevo.

The following families/people remained in Hungary:

1. Anastasia Kotsu, chemical engineer 2. Vasili Simu, Professor of Philology 3. Giorgi Bakiarov, electrical engineer 4. Sevda Iankula, professor 5. Fani Kurdzhu, architect 6. Spiro Floru (Gliptis), artist painter 7. Iani Paskov mechanical engineer

8. Mihali Paskov, veterinarian 9. Dola Liulu pensioner

All those who decided to remain in Hungary are now retired except for Mihali Paskov who still works as a veterinarian.

The following people from Zhelevo have remained in Budapest, Hungary permanently:

Antigoni Lasko, Agliki Marku, Deodota Ioannou, Pando Pasko and Malakamba.

Poland

As I said earlier, all the healthy people from Zhelevo were placed in the city Bogatinia to work at the “Sofhoz” farms. The 250 wounded fighters, the very old and very young were placed in the town Zgorzelets. From 1950 to 1953 many of the people from Zhelevo were moved to work for “Sofhoz” farms in other cities such as Vaubzhih, Nemcha, Shvidnitsa Vrotslav, Politse and others. Later they began to leave Poland and went to Canada, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria. Some returned to Greece. Tanas Pachov decided to remain there because he had married a Polish woman.

Included among the other families/people from Zhelevo who decided to remain in Poland were Pop Spiro Balko (Mendzheguze), Tanas’s Maria, Marko Petrov (Zgorzelets), Ilio’s Micho Puchungov.

USSR – Tashkent

The healthy and experienced fighters who fought in DAG were sent, after DAG’s defeat, through Albania to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. When the people were allowed to bring their families together, many wives, husbands and children moved to Tashkent, while some fighters left the USSR and went to other countries such as Canada, the Republic of Macedonia and some made an effort to return to Greece. Very few of the people from Zhelevo remain in the USSR. Included among those who remained were Stoian Guzhov and Stoian Trpchelov, both of whom had taken Russian wives. Ilia Ianu had also married a Russian woman and remained in Voronezh. She

was a Doctor of Historical Sciences at the University of Voronezh. Included among the rest of the people of Zhelevo who remained in the USSR were Foto Ianovski who remained in Moscow and Done Markovski’s son.

All those who died were buried in the various republics, something never heard of before. May they rest in peace away from their place of birth!

Risto Mavrovski’s participation in the partisan movement in 1947

By joining the ranks of DAG in the spring of 1947, Risto Mavrovski began a new and dangerous page in his life. His responsibilities as a DAG fighter included attacking military posts and police stations. During his missions he participated in attacks on the villages Lak and Papli and on outposts on Bigla Mountain. While this was going on there was a mass movement developing in Kostur Region, which rose against the Monarcho-Fascists forcing them to leave Prespa and other rural areas and concentrate in the city Lerin. This allowed DAG to expand its influence and have a larger free territory in which to operate and recruit new fighters. During the spring of 1947, many people from the villages came out and joined DAG. Included among them was Spiro, Risto’s brother, who left Zhelevo to join DAG while the Monarcho-Fascist army was still in control of the area. A couple of months later Risto also left Zhelevo and joined DAG as a regular fighter. Mihail, Risto’s father, stayed home with Neda (Risto’s mother) who at the time was bedridden and had been that way since 1944. Other family members who remained at home were Spiro’s wife, Risto’s sister Sofia and brother Nikola.

After Risto took to the mountains with a group of others, he arrived at the village Kolomnati. A couple of days later the entire group was sent to Mount Kajmakchalan, to a village called Papadia located at the Yugoslav border. A few days later Risto, along with Kole Koacho (File’s son), Micho Chachanov (Lekoitsa’s son), Traiko Pirpiko (Loni’s son) and Stavro Nikolov (Giorgi’s son), all from Zhelevo, was sent to Mount Vicho where they all joined a partisan unit headed by Iani Akrita from the village Ofchareni, Lerin Region. There they took position on top of the village Armensko in the Trsie

barns overlooking the city Lerin. Risto at the time was led by Apostoli Dimakopoulos from the village Neohoraki, Lerin Region. He was a Prosfiga (Asia Minor Turkish Christian colonist) but a good man. Risto’s corporal was Kole Kiru from Zhelevo. Because members of the unit had little experience with the use of weapons, they trained and practiced every day with different guns and ammunition. After they completed their training at the village Turie, they were sent on their first mission to the village Nevolieni, which was very close to Lerin. Here, for the first time, they shot at the opponent and the opponent shot back at them. A short battle took place after which the partisans retreated to the village Nered where they had lunch and supper and returned to their original position during the dark of night. After this battle the unit was sent to do battle in the village Armensko, on top of the Trsie barns, in the Lerin valley and at Bigla. During the month of July many fighters were gathered together in the village Prekopana, on the slopes of Mount Vicho, where units were combined to create several battalions.

The following people were appointed battalion commanders: Pando Shiperkov from the village Smrdesh, Mihali Graniti from the village Krchishta and Pando Vainata from the village Srebreno. Two other units were formed called “Dilohia”, which were led by Garefi from the village Kosinets. All the commanders were Macedonians.

At the same time several headquarters were created to manage the units and Aminda, an Albanian from the village Lehovo, was put in charge to oversee them. After the new formations were completed, Risto Mavrovski ended up in Mihali Graniti’s battalion number 588. His unit commander was Lefter from the village Banitsa and Risto was led by platoon leader Apostoli from Neohori. There were other Macedonians in Risto’s unit, some from the Lerin Field, from Prespa and from Kostur Region. Accompanying Risto from Zlelevo were Kole Kiru, Micho Chachani, Traiko Pirpiko, and Stavro Nikolov (Girorgi’s son). Other co-fighters whom Risto remembered included Aleksandro Chaldari, Toli, Gramo Spase from the village Ofchareni, Micho from the village Setina, Aleko, Nase, Chane and Tanas from the village Kolomnati. There was also the cook Alekso from the village Lak and German from the village German who was slightly deaf. Included among the women, who were partisans in the unit with Risto, were Vasilka Rusi from the village German, Tomaia

Michopoulo from the village Papli, Tsveta from the village Mokreni, Polikseni from the village Nestram and Andromahi Kochopoulo from the village Paprechko, Kostur Region.

In the beginning Risto was just an ordinary soldier. Later, after he came under Apostoli’s platoon, he was appointed platoon courier. This lasted only a short time before Risto was appointed courier for the platoon, unit and command headquarters. Each unit was made up of four platoons, each platoon was made up of four tenths, and each tenth was made up of ten fighters, meaning the units were quite large.

After these large units were created there was need for a larger front, so the unit in which Risto was serving was sent over Bigla to the Lerin Field towards Bouf. When the unit arrived in Mala Bigla, over the village Armensko, it experienced its first desertion from the entire ranks of DAG. Two individuals from Zhelevo, Kole Kiru and Micho Chachani, were seen slipping away and heading down to Lerin where they surrendered to the Greeks. The entire unit found out about this betrayal even before it had reached Bouf. The unit remained in Bouf until the evening and then attacked the villages Dolna and Gorna Keshchina during the night. Spiro, Risto’s older brother, also took part in this battle. He was a member of the special unit called the “saboteus” responsible for destroying bunkers and other objects by use of mines, bazookas and other explosives.

After these battles, and others which took place in the higher villages and in the village Sveta Petka, the unit went to the village Rakovo where it remained for a little while before heading for Zlelevo over Bigla. After a brief rest in Zhelevo the unit set out for Kostur Region where it fought battles in the villages Dmbeni and Chetirok. These battles took place during the months of July and August 1947.

During that period of time the Greek Monarcho-Fascist army began its offensive in Gramos. At that time the partisan units were led by the Gramos Headquarters (Arhigio Voiu Gramu), headed by commander Gianoulis. A request for assistance was sent to Vicho from where two battalions departed. Pando Shiperkov’s battalion reached Gramos by traveling along the Albanian border. The

battalion headed by Graniti, in which Risto served, reached the village Labanitsa at which point it was ordered to turn and take a different route. On its way the battalion spent the night in the village Blatse and the next day marched over the village Zagoricheni and arrived in Siniachko near the village Germia where it spent the day. The march resumed in the evening over a trail through the village Bogachiko near the River Bistritsa, located near the city Rupishta (Argos).

After crossing the river, the unit headed in the direction of the villages Nestimo, Kalohori, Lokamata, Damashkinia, Dafin, Polikastano and over the mountains Orle and Ondria over the Macedonian villages Ezerets and Petro (Pulaki). All these villages belonged to Grevena and Kozheni Regions except for Ezerets which belonged to Kostur Region. This was the route taken before the battalion reached Gramos.

After a few days of rest a new battalion commander was appointed. His name was Ahileas Papaioanou from the village Kalivrisi. He was a Macedonian but only spoke Greek. A new way of life and struggle was created for the Macedonian fighters here because a large number of the villagers in this region considered themselves to be of pure Greek ethnic composition who despised the Macedonians. But there was still the need to mobilize fighters and obtain food and other provisions for the units in the mountains where there were no villages. Most of the mobilization was done in the villages Nestimo, Kastanofito, Avgerino, Damashkinia and Dafni. The biggest obstacle facing the mobilization came from the residents who served the Monarcho-Fascists. The Greeks in this region had gathered together in the larger villages in safe centres such as Rupishta, Nestram, Chotili (Pedalofo) and other towns around the cities Kostur, Grevena, Kailari, Kozheni and others. The Battalion commanded by Ahileas and Graniti had to defend a very large territory with a small number of soldiers.

The unit in which Risto served with Lefter, from Banitsa, as its commander was responsible for defending the space close to Rupishta up to Chotili where the road to Grevena and Kozheni passed. During the day the unit was accompanied by various people

who spied for the Monarcho-Fascists, giving them positions and exposing the partisans to bombardment by aircraft and artillery.

The fall of 1947 was a very difficult time for Risto and the unit he served in because of the constant non-stop fighting on all sides. One morning the entire unit was attacked and one of its platoons was captured and taken to a nearby village where all the fighters were executed. Killed among them was Traiko Pirpiko from Zhelevo. The other platoons fought bravely and escaped the ambush but paid a heavy price with many wounded. It was an unequal struggle and because of the heavy losses on the partisan side, including the death of Bukovala, the Gramos Headquarters commander who was killed at Mount Orle in the fall of 1947, unit commander Lefter was sacked and replaced by Spiro, a Greek by nationality, who was then replaced by Vangel Chapas, a Macedonian from the village Maniak. Apostoli, Risto’s platoon commander, was sent to the School for translators at DAG General Headquarters. Risto was sent to the village Langa on a three week course for non-commissioned officers. When Risto came back he was promoted to corporal, a commander of ten. This was Risto’s first command where he was responsible for older men and for people of other nationalities.

At this point Risto was placed in Kosta Kizaki’s platoon. This platoon was well-equipped with good fighters who belonged to Vangel Chapala’s unit and who were assigned to protect the unit headquarters. The platoon went on various sabotage missions in the villages Zelim, Melanthi, etc., up to the town Rupishsta. It conducted its strikes during the night and returned before daybreak. It was a difficult time for the battalions, especially for Pando Shiperkov’s battalion which operated in the Kopanche, Portite, Paliokremi up to the Gorusha locality where all the strategic locations were held by the enemy and which needed to be attacked and taken before the winter. The two battalions also participated in joint missions at Kopanche, Portite and Gorusha, which were quite successful, and at Poliokremidi with a lot of dead and wounded. Included among the wounded was Vangel Bogdanov who was taken to Albania where his legs were cutoff.

To avoid being completely destroyed, Shiperkov gave the order to retreat. At that time Pando Markov (Malina’s son) was with him.

Pando was in command of the heavy weapons detachment. Risto was there too and accompanied by the old fighters Borche, Giorgi, and Beiko from Bapchor, now commander of one of Shiperko’s units, Giorgi Lavdako from the village Besfina, commander of a platoon, Lagoto from the village Statitsa, also a platoon commander, Vane Zhalev from the village Chereshnitsa, Ilia Sklifov from the village Zagorichani and many others. At that time many of these fighters found themselves in close proximity and during their leisure time sang songs and, when there was no fighting, participated in sports games battalion against battalion. The fighting was very difficult for all the battalions but they had some successes especially during the struggle for Poliokremini, which was won by the partisans giving them a better strategic position against the enemy in further struggles.

During the fall of 1949 Naum Pachko, from the village D’mbeni, Kostur Region, was appointed political commissar of the unit in which Spiro, Risto’s older brother, was serving. Naum was a good person, a communist, a fighter and a teacher who was well respected by the men in his unit. Because of his influence, Risto decided to join the CPG. Up until then Risto had only been a trainee. The partisans had much success in the struggle at that time but not without many casualties. A new mobilization had taken place for new fighters caught, among whom were also many traitors of whom one was a priest. All of them were taken to a place called Voio in Gramos.

At that time the 14th Brigade (taksimarhia) was created which consisted of the battalions commanded by Pando Shiperko, Ahileas and Graniti and other units that were in that territory. Giorgiadis was appointed commander of the brigade.

From what he remembers, Risto made a list of the people in command of the battalion he served in:

1. Commander of the battalion – Ahilea Papaioanou 2. Political commissar - Mihali Apostolski Graniti 3. Resposible for the military – Spartako from the village Kleshtina 4. Stratologos - Micho Shkandzho from the village Pozdivishta 5. Food proprietor, epimelitis and couriers.

Unit commanders:

1. Lefter Olef from the village Banitsa, Lerin Region 2. Iani Akreta from the village Ofchareni, Lerin Region 3. Petrombei from the village Maala, Lerin Region

These were the commanders from the beginning until the fall of 1947 when the battalion arrived in Gramos.

Platoon commanders:

1. Rusko from the village Kleshtina 2. Kosta from the village Kleshtina 3. Toli Chakrev from the village Krushoradi 4. Apostoli Dimakopoulos from the village Neohoraki 5. Kosta Kizaki from the village Kolomnati and others whose names Risto does not remember.

In Voio Gramos, Risto’s unit experienced many changes in personnel. After Lefter was ousted he was replaced with a man named Spiro and later Spiro was replaced with another man named Vangel Chapala, from the village Maniak. Vangel was then replaced by Naum Pachkov from D’mbeni as a political commissar of the unit.

The following is a list of names that Risto has compiled from memory of some of the fighters who fought in his unit:

- Corporal Vasili Papanestoras from the village Krchishta, Kostur Region - Corporal Aleksandar Lule from the village Kolomnati, Kostur Region - Machine gunner Spase Kachora, from the village Ofchareni, Lerin Region - Aleksandar Chaldari from the village Sredno Selo, Lerin Region - Unit Chief from the village Lak, Prespa Region - Cook German from the village German - Old Partisan Vasiliki Ruseva from the village German - Old Partisan Andromahi Michopoulo from the village Papresko

- Tomaia Kochopoulo from the village Papli, Prespa Region - Polikseni (Tsena) from the village Nestram - DAG officer and national hero Katina Kuzmanova (Tsveta) from the village Mokreni killed in 1949 - Pavle Shapkov from the village German died on Mount Orle - Stavro Nikolov from the village Zhelevo killed on Mount Ondre - Traiko Pirpiko from the village Zhelevo killed in the village Nestimo, Grevena Region - Pero from the village Zagorichani killed in the village Damaskinia - Giorgi Rapcho from the village Kosinets killed in Gramos - Micho from the village Setina perished in the village Nestimo - Tanasi Kalogiani from the village Nestram perished in Kopanche - Naso Loro from the village Konomlati died in Kichevo - Leftera Apostolska, Graniti’s sister - Iani Misev from the village Kotori - Iani Lago from the village Statitsa - Tanas from the village Kolomnati, he was a tailor

After the formation of the large DAG units, a new interim democratic government was established. Appointed as the President of the new government and as Supreme Commander of the military was General Markos Vafiadis. Nikos Zahariadis was General Secretary. At the same time a radio station called the “Voice of free Greece” was established. With all that was going on, many people were under the impression that soon Greece would be freed and would become a fully democratic state. But unfortunately that did not happen. Why things did not go according to plan are still not fully understood. Even then things started to go wrong but there is not enough information to find out why. But one thing was certain; no partisans were coming out of the cities. The Monarcho-Fascists tortured everyone they caught assisting the partisans and charged them under Article 509 of the criminal act. Anyone suspected of or caught assisting the partisans was imprisoned or speedily killed.

There was heavy fighting on the partisan side which caused big human and material losses, particularly in the battles for Grevena, Konitsa and Mechovo. After these lost battles, the situation on the ground changed for the worst for the partisans. After the fall of 1947 and during the winter of 1947 and 1948, morale was very low. New

problems began to appear in the ranks of DAG, including lice, hunger, lack of warm clothing, etc.

But, in spite of all that, the partisans were led to believe they had to be patient and that things would turn around for them. Risto spent a year in this hell, which may seem like a short time to most, but a year in hell was an eternity for Risto who had not seen or made contact with his family. There was no mail service or any other means available to him to make contact while he was in the front line to communicate with his family, so he had no idea if everyone was well or not. This lasted until the spring of 1948 when Risto was wounded by an exploding grenade. While being on a mission near the area Klepso, in the hill above the villages Polikastano and Dafni, a grenade exploded and wounded Risto’s feet. This was the first time he was wounded. After he was wounded Risto was transferred to the village Kotili and after that to the village Monopilo, where he got an attack of appendicitis. But after a day or so of traveling Risto was taken to the village Nivitsi, Prespa Region. The next destination was the village V’mbel and from there to Tirana, Albania. And thus ended Risto’s participation in the 14th Brigade, and in his unit in battalion 588.

Spiro Mavrovski’s (Risto’s son) impression of his father’s involvement with the partisan movement

Risto, over the years, told his son Spiro many stories of his experience as a partisan. Many of these stories, unfortunately, Risto did not write down. So Spiro feels the need and would like to take the opportunity to write some of them down as he remembered them.

During the time the greatest battles were taking place in Chotili, in the villages Dafni and Damashkinia, the entire time partisan positions were being bombed by the Greek aviation with good precision. This seemed very odd and raised suspicion among the partisans who wanted to know how that was possible. They concluded that someone was spying for the Monarcho-Fascists and they were determined to find out who it was. So the partisans set up night patrols which secretly watched the villages in the dead of night to see what was happening. The second night the patrols were out,

one of them heard strange noises coming out from inside one of the barns. As the patrol got closer, the partisans could hear someone typing on a typewriter. Upon entering the barn they discovered a person standing over a machine and sending radio signals. To their great surprise the man who was doing that was the local priest, who regularly reported partisan activities to the Monarchico-Fascists. The priest was taken back to unit headquarters where he confessed that he was indeed spying and revealed all the others who were involved in the conspiracy. From there the priest was taken to DAG General Headquarters and beyond that Risto did not know what happened to him. One can only assume the worst because the partisans acquired a great number of casualties as a result of his spying.

Another story that Risto had told Spiro was about the time the partisans tried to capture a person from the ranks in the enemy camp, in order to obtain strategic information about the enemy. After managing to do that there was a surprise for the person they captured. He was surprised that the partisans spoke Greek. Once the partisans began to question him he told them that, according to the information he was given during his training, he would be fighting a foreign enemy, a dirty and filthy unshaven enemy with long hair and with a single eye like a Cyclops. He was told that this enemy was cruel and the only quality it had for its survival was to kill. After questioning him they found the young soldier was only 19 years old and he himself had realized that those who recruited him had lied to him about who the enemy was. After that the young man wanted to join the Democratic Army of Greece (DAG) and fight for better and greater rights for his family. He was accepted to serve in Risto’s platoon where he demonstrated great stamina, resilience and heroism. He was wounded while fighting in one of the major battles in Gramos and was taken to Albania. Times and events were changing quickly then, so Risto lost sight of the young man even though they fought many battles together. Some things however that happen in life are remembered like a story being viewed in a film. One day while Risto was attending some Party activities in Bogatinia, he saw a young man on crutches without a foot. Before the meeting started the young man approached Risto, embraced him and cried because he could not stand up and salute. Risto did not remember who this handsome young man was until he spoke to him.

There in front of Risto stood a man who Risto had forgotten, a man who voluntarily joined DAG and was prepared to sacrifice his life. This is another true story of good versus evil, where good wins but unfortunately with lasting consequences for this young man.

The hospital in Tirana – Risto’s first wounding

After he was wounded Risto was taken to Tirana, Albania and admitted to a civilian hospital, where wounded fighters like Risto were told to say that they were Albanian Greeks and not partisans from Greece. The ruse unfortunately lasted only a few days until one of the partisans accidentally slipped up and revealed that they were DAG fighters. In addition to having Risto’s wounds looked after, Risto, at the same time, was also operated on for appendicitis. After that the wounded partisans were transferred to a camp in Sukt and placed in barracks. This was yet another new page in Risto’s life. The person responsible for the camp was a one-legged disabled man called Voio. Life in the camp was miserable and full of cruelty, especially dished out by the administration. No interaction between patients was allowed, not even visits with friends. Everyone able to move was sent to work in the fields. Everyone was told to remain anonymous and was given a pseudonym. Risto’s pseudonym was Commander Giorgiadis. The camp administration offered courses in Marxism and Political Science. Risto was responsible for teaching the patients in Cabin 3, who were mostly young. Risto did not remain in the camp for long, his health had deteriorated and he was transferred back to Tirana, this time to a military hospital, to be treated for abdominal problems. Risto was treated by an Italian doctor, a specialist, who was able to cure him. Risto was again sent to Sukt and settled near Lake Skadar where he remained for a short time. All this took place from May to July 1948. While Risto was away in Albania, the first Informburo letter of condemnation against Yugoslavia was made public which, from what Risto saw in Albania, called for removing Tito’s picture from public places and the withdrawal of Yugoslav brigades from the Dures –Tirana rail line.

Risto’s return to the fighting in Gramos in 1948

The problems between the Informburo and Yugoslavia created an opportunity for the Monarcho-Fascists in Greece to raise a major offensive in Gramos. As a result, all able bodies on the partisan side, including Risto, were trucked in and sent directly to the Gramos front. Risto was assigned to the 107th Brigade, to Malechko’s battalion, 3rd Unit commanded by Giorgo, 1st Platoon. And as such, Risto and his co-fighters fought at the first lines in the Gramos front. Almost all the fighters in Risto’s unit were Greeks from Piraeus but that did not bother Risto. He fought many battles with them. After Gramos they returned to Vicho and had great successes in the fighting in Malimadi where they destroyed a large Monarcho-Fascist unit and liberated a very important place for the partisans, as well as captured a lot of military equipment. After these successful struggles in Vicho the unit was allowed to rest for a while, but not for long. It was early October 1948 when the unit was ordered to descend through Bouf to the Lerin Field. But after exiting Bouf and heading for Kleshtina, the unit collided with a larger enemy unit. The battle, which escalated towards Mount Mechka, lasted almost the entire day. There were heavy casualties on both sides. Risto was again wounded, this time on his head from an exploding shell. His companions took him to the Zhelevo Sveta Troitsa Monastery near the village Psoderi. This was the second time that Risto was separated from his DAG unit. At this time Risto was honoured with the Order of Gramos and Vicho and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.