Macedonians in Greece - Part 12 – Terror in Greek occupied Macedonia

Macedonians in Greece

1939 – 1949



Part 12 – Terror in Greek occupied Macedonia



By Risto Stefov

rstefov@hotmail.com

January 2009



During the German and Italian occupation the Macedonian people in Greek occupied Macedonia, in spite of being occupied, enjoyed some freedoms including the ability to speak Macedonian, their mother tongue, which had been denied to them by the Greeks since Greece occupied Macedonia in 1912. By their participation and sacrifices in the resistance movement resulting in the eviction of the occupiers the Macedonian people felt they had earned their freedom and place in Greek society and were entitled to equal rights. Unfortunately as events unfolded Macedonians not only lost everything they had gained but now were about to lose even more. From the first day the Greek National Guard arrived in Macedonia it began an unprecedented terror campaign.

The moment the National Guard entered the city of Voden it began firing live rounds at civilians killing 4 people. Just hearing the Macedonian language being spoken on the streets set the National Guard off on a shooting spree towards unarmed civilians. Such actions were unprecedented and more extreme than those of the Metaxas regime.

Here is what Petsi, the secretary of the Voden Region Peoples’ Liberation Front (PLF), had to say;

“People from the Security Services detained Kosta Chorlinov and jailed him for speaking Macedonian. Petar Sarakinliev was also detained the same day and accused of openly speaking Macedonian in public. Sarakinliev was held in jail for 24 hours and released. He was beaten close to death. The millers Trajo Sapundzhiev and Tanas Akrepov were detained in their gardens at L’got by the National Guard and accused of speaking Macedonian. In a rain of bullets, Atanas Akrepov managed to escape while Trajo Sapundzhiev was taken away and put in jail where he was subjected to brutal torture. He was released six days later a cripple.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, pages 157, 158)

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.

Janis 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.

On July 10th, 1945 the Greek Gendarme located in the village Lukovtsi detained 4 girls from the same village. No reason was give. The girls were taken away to jail and placed under guard in the city of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

As the national election date in March 1946 approached terror and pressure on the Macedonian people increased dramatically. 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 (GNLF) and of the National Liberation Army of Greece (NLAG). Similar events took place in the villages Neokazi, Popozhani, Boreshnitsa, and Sekulevo.

On March 13th, 1946 10 people from the village Petoratsi were sued in the Lerin court and were given 10 to 15 year prison sentences for accusations of being GNLF and NLAG members. Among those sued were Bitko Mijalev, Lazo Damjanov, Naso Zhinzov and Vasil Popov. Another 18 people from the village Setine were also sued by the same court and handed 8 to 10 year prison sentences. These people were accused of various crimes by the teacher Miltiadis Dulukas who was a witness at their trials.

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.

In a separate incident on March 15th, 1946, the same 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 Jordan 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”.

(Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 161)

While rounding up resistance fighters the Gendarme was also looking to recruit new informants. This was done by intimidation or by bribes. Fearful for their lives some could not take the pressure and succumbed to the will of their torturers while others were willing to sell their services for a price. Among those who succumbed were Gjorgij Bukovski, Metodi Mechkarov, and Spase Rumelov all from the village Krushoradi. They became the new agitators for the nationalists and took on the role of spreading rumors and pitting neighbour against neighbour. They were also put in charge of dividing the relief aid donated by the United Nations Relief Agency. Unfortunately none of the relief aid was given to the needy. Almost all of it was stolen by those in charge and sold in the black market.

Terror was not restricted to Voden, Meglen and Lerin Regions alone; it was widespread throughout all of Macedonia but more prevalent in the Western Region. There was massive terror and persecution against the Macedonian people in Kostur Region since Varkiza, prompting the Regional Council of the GNLF to list some of them in the bulletin “News of the Day” on June 6th, 1945.

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.

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.

On May 23rd, 1945 the same village was blockaded by the National Guard. This time 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Unrestricted nationalist bands went on committing crimes in Kukush and Drama Regions, spreading rabid terror wherever they set foot. Terrible tortures were committed in the village Postol, Enidzhe-Vardar Region, resulting in the death of 70 year old Poliakov. In Kukush Region a band of nationalists, lead by ex-German collaborator Kisabadzhak, indiscriminately rounded up and beat people, wounding 8. Andreas Georgiadis and Hristos Georgiadis were both wounded with a pistol blow to the head.

It is unfortunate that these brutal acts were committed against innocent civilians and will remain a black spot in the history of Greece but what is most unfortunate is the behaviour of the Bulgaris and Sofulis governments during 1945-1946 which praised these atrocities as acts of heroism committed in the defense of Greece.

Gumendzhisko Region is another place in the dark history of Greece where a long list of imprisonments, tortures, maltreatments and killings were committed against the Macedonian people. The following report entitled “Blockades, imprisonments and internments after Varkiza,” was prepared by Hristo Balkanov leader of the PLF for Gumendzhisko Region. (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, pages 163 - 165)



Imprisoned



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 Korov, Trajko Kalinov, Hristo Michjorov, Hristo Hadzhigjoriov, Vangel Hr. Nichev, Dimitar Shaldev, Hristo Chjakov and others.

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.

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 villge 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.

From January to August 1946 more than 100 citizens from Gumendzhe alone were imprisoned including members of the Menchev family. From the village Barovitsa imprisoned were Jovan Chutra, Hristo Sjuli, Hristo Ajta, Gjorgij Kjosev, Jovan Gata, Katina Kuta, the entire Vangel Shoshov family, Paskalina Garti and Gjorgij Todorov Shoshov. From the village Karpi imprisoned were Gjorgij Tekni, Hristo Pejkov, Hristo Kirkov, Hristo Kjoska, Gjorgij Kjoska, Gjorgij Dzharov, Gjorgij Popnokolov, Atanas Betov, Maria Beta, Aneta Benova, Gjorgij Erov, Aneta Tumba, Dimitar Popjanov and Jovan Popjanov. From the village Mandelevo 16 people were imprisoned, from Isiklar 50, from Boemitsa 15 and from Gorgopik 50.



Raped



Four women were raped.



Killed



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.

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.

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.

On August 15th, 1946 in Gumendzhe the nationalists and gendarmes killed Gjorgij Hadzhipopov, Dimitar Karadzha from Gumendzhe, Kosta Popjanov from Karpi, Lazo Projchev from Gomendzhe, Gjorgij Tampov from Kastaneri, Petad Dautis, Jovan Shahsov, Trifun Minov, and Tano Mitachov from Karpi.

On September 16th, 1946 civilian nationalists aided by the Gendarme beat to death with sticks Janis Asaridis from Gerakona, Nikos Karamanlis and Janis Sideris from Aksiupolis.



Plundered and Burned



On September 20th, 1946 a detachment of gendarmes and bandits entered the village Barovitsa and burned the houses of brothers Trifun and Gjorgij Kuplev and took 2 mules, 300 goats, cheese, butter and everything of value they could find. They did the same to Hristo P. Kurlev’s house and to the houses and properties of Petar Ajta, Kosta Projchev, Tano Gatsev, Kosta Gatsev, Gjorgij Taratev, Jovan Kovachev, Hristo Cholakov and Gjorgij Poppetrov.



According to a report compiled by Petar Asprov, the Regional leader of the PLF for Prespa Region, on December 23rd, 1945 atrocities were also committed against the Macedonian people in Prespa Region.

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.

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.

Prespa Region remained under a state of terror from the moment Gizas and Sarandopoulos were appointed Police Chiefs in the villages Gjerman and Popli respectively, to the spring of 1947 when they were driven out by the Democratic Army of Greece (DAG).

This perpetrated terror horrified the people and weighed very heavily on those who had just liberated Greece from the German, Italian and Bulgarian occupiers only to hand it to a more ferocious enemy determined to destroy them. The peace loving Macedonians who wanted nothing more than to live as equals with the Greeks now once again became a target of ultra-nationalism. But in spite of the reality on the ground Greek authorities, who at the time were in control, made every effort to downplay the situation. Printing presses and radio stations were busy misinforming the public by putting the blame north of Greece’s border. It was they that were causing the problem and putting Greece’s national integrity into jeopardy. The world however was wise to Greece and the best Greek reactionary propaganda could not stop the objective observers from expressing their own displeasure and repulsiveness regarding the atrocities committed by the pro-government nationalists and the organs of the government itself.

A British officer, who at the time was stationed in Greece, on November 22nd, 1947 made the following remarks for the newspaper “New Statesmen and Nation”. In short he described the situation in Greece like this: “One week after the signing of the Varkiza agreement I witnessed the most horrific and antisocial behaviour committed by the newly formed National Guard made up from personnel from the former collaborators of the occupiers. Everyone who placed their faith in the word of the agreement (which the English had guaranteed) and did not leave in good time, were put in prison and mistreated. In an underground enclosure in the larger part of a kitchen in a small flat I saw 16 men, women and children. Two of the men were lying on the floor unconscious swimming in a pool of their own blood. Every prisoner had the right to go to the toilet only once in three hours and only for three minutes. An old man, because he was selling GNLF newspapers, was tied and beaten for an entire hour. None of the prisoners were informed as to why they were imprisoned. None of the prisoners were taken to court, sued and found guilty but were kept in prison for nine months. This was not an isolated situation during the time when not a single group of communists existed and not even a single leftist activity was taking place.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, pages 166 - 167)

The newspaper “Daily Mirror” published an article written by a British soldier who personally had witnessed atrocities committed by the Greek Rightist forces. The article was illustrated with photographs showing people being tortured and beaten. There were photographs of mass slaughters and decapitations. There was even a photograph of a 16 year old decapitated girl. People’s decapitated heads were shown to be carried as trophies hung on the saddles of horses or propped up on spikes.

The people who had suffered and died at the hands of these blood thirsty Greeks were Macedonians who had done nothing wrong except to have being born Macedonian.

Connie (Koni Ziljakus (sp?)) wrote that the official Greek government and the military which was organized by General Charles Ujkam, (sp?) a well known enemy of the communist ideology, well known from the time he was chief of the British military interventionist forces in the Soviet Union, were no better than the police and the gendarmes. “Four fifths of the forces in the official administration, in the courts and in the police are in the hands of these extremists. Surlas’s bands ruled the province and had established their own administration. They are well armed and do what they feel like.” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 167)

On December 12th, 1947, quoting British Colonel Shepard, the newspaper “New Democracy” wrote: “The backbone of the Royal Gendarme, making up Greece’s Security battalions today, consists mainly of German collaborators”.

Richard Mayer from the American Overseas Information Agency reported from Athens that “a large part of the former gendarme which a while ago served the Germans is now using the lists left by the Germans to oppress doubtful personalities…” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 167)

During 1946 a Commission made up of British Labour Representatives (Solej, Tifanis and Dode (sp?)), visited Greece and examined the political situation in some detail. Upon their return to their own country, on July 17th, 1946 they announced that Greece is 90% Fascist, after which Laski, the former British President of the Labour party of Great Britain prophetically said: “The return of King George to Greece will convert this state into a second Spain…” (Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971, page 168).



Sources:



Andonovski, Hristo. Vistinata za Egejska Makedonija. Skopje: Misla, 1971.



Koliopoulos, John S. Plundered Loyalties; Axis Occupation and Civil Strife in Greek West Macedonia, 1941-1949. London: C. Hurst & Co., 1999.



Mazower, Mark. After the War was Over: Reconstructing the Family, Nation, and State in Greece, 1943-1960. Princeton University Press, 2000.



Pejov, Naum. Makedontsite i Gragjanskata vojna vo Grtsija. Skopje: Institut za Natsionalna Istorija, 1968.



To be continued.