People's Liberation Army of Macedonia

Last updated
National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia
Flag of North Macedonia (1944-1946).svg
The flag of the Macedonian Partisans
Active1943 – 1945
Country Macedonia (region)
Allegiance Communist Party of Macedonia
Size1,000 (1941) – 8,000 (August 1944) [1] [2] to 66,000 (late 1944) [3] up to 100,000 (April 1945) [4]
Part of Yugoslav Partisans flag 1945.svg Yugoslav Partisans
AnniversariesAugust 18
October 11
Engagements National Liberation War of Macedonia
(part of World War II in Yugoslavia)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Mirče Acev
Mihajlo Apostolski
Metodija Andonov-Čento
Svetozar Vukmanović-Tempo

The Macedonian Partisans, [lower-alpha 1] officially the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia, [lower-alpha 2] was a communist and antifascist resistance movement formed in occupied Yugoslavia during World War II which participated in the National Liberation War of Macedonia. Units of the army were formed by Macedonians within the framework of the Yugoslav Partisans as well as other communist resistance organisations operating in Macedonia at the time [5] and were led by the General Staff of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia, headed by Mihajlo Apostolski. [6]

A resistance movement is an organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to withstand the legally established government or an occupying power and to disrupt civil order and stability. It may seek to achieve its objectives through either the use of nonviolent resistance, or the use of force, whether armed or unarmed. In many cases, as for example in Norway in the Second World War, a resistance movement may employ both violent and non-violent methods, usually operating under different organizations and acting in different phases or geographical areas within a country.

World War II 1939–1945 global war

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.

Macedonians or Macedonian people, are a nation and a South Slavic ethnic group native to the region of Macedonia. They speak the Macedonian language, a South Slavic language. About two thirds of all ethnic Macedonians live in North Macedonia and there are also communities in a number of other countries.

Contents

Partisans of Stiv Naumov Battalion, set up in November 1943 in Gorna Prespa. Bataljon Stiv Naumov, 1943.jpg
Partisans of Stiv Naumov Battalion, set up in November 1943 in Gorna Prespa.
Formation of the 51st Division in Shirok Dol, October 1944. 51va Divizija, 1944.jpg
Formation of the 51st Division in Shirok Dol, October 1944.

History

After the Bulgarian takeover of Vardarska Banovina in April 1941, the Macedonian communists fell in the sphere of influence of the Bulgarian Communist Party. [7] They thought that the ordinary Macedonian people believe in Bulgaria's role as liberator and that no Macedonian wants to fight against the Bulgarian soldiers. [8] Nevertheless when the USSR was attacked by Nazi Germany in June, some form of anti-Axis resistance started, with the emergence of Macedonian Partisan military units. Initially they had no real success, starting to grow only in 1943 with the capitulation of Italy and the Soviet victories over Nazi Germany. [9] [10] The role of the Bulgarian communists, which avoided organizing mass armed resistance in the area, was also a key factor. [11] Although several Macedonian partisan detachments were formed through the end of 1942 which fought battles against the Bulgarian, Italian, German and Albanian occupation forces and despite Sofia's ill-managed administration, most Macedonian Communists had yet to be lured to Yugoslavia. Between 1941 and 1943, Tito have sent five emissaries to Macedonia, to persuade his ill-disciplined comrades, but their efforts had limited success, and the Regional Committee of the Communists in Macedonia was de facto under the control of the Bulgarian Communist Party. [12]

Bulgarian Communist Party political party in Bulgaria between 1903-1990

The Bulgarian Communist Party was the Communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1989 when the country ceased to be a socialist state. The Bulgarian Communist Party had dominated the Fatherland Front coalition that took power in 1944, late in World War II, after it led a coup against Bulgaria's tsarist regime in conjunction with the Red Army's crossing the border. It controlled its armed forces, the Bulgarian People's Army.

Nazi Germany The German state from 1933 to 1945, under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler

Nazi Germany is the common English name for Germany between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party (NSDAP) controlled the country through a dictatorship. Under Hitler's rule, Germany was transformed into a totalitarian state where nearly all aspects of life were controlled by the government. The official name of the state was Deutsches Reich until 1943 and Großdeutsches Reich from 1943 to 1945. Nazi Germany is also known as the Third Reich, meaning "Third Realm" or "Third Empire", the first two being the Holy Roman Empire (800–1806) and the German Empire (1871–1918). The Nazi regime ended after the Allies defeated Germany in May 1945, ending World War II in Europe.

Josip Broz Tito Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman

Josip Broz, commonly known as Tito, was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman, serving in various roles from 1943 until his death in 1980. During World War II, he was the leader of the Partisans, often regarded as the most effective resistance movement in occupied Europe. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian and concerns about the repression of political opponents have been raised, most Yugoslavs considered him popular and a benevolent dictator.

To change that, in the beginning of 1943 the Montenegrin Svetozar Vukmanović-Tempo was sent by Tito as an assistant to the HQ of the Macedonian partisan forces. He was supposed to set up a Macedonian Communist Party within the framework of the Yugoslav one. One of his objectives was to destroy the influence of the BCP in Macedonia and to fight against any form of Macedonian autonomism. He would have to "Macedonize" the struggle’s form and content, and to give it an ethnic Macedonian facade. One of his main achievements was also that the wartime pro-Bulgarian trend receded into the background of pro-Yugoslav one. Tempo was able to capitalize on the growing contradictions towards Bulgarian authorities, which during 1942 were involved into a policy of centralization, contradicting their initial agenda to respect Macedonian autonomy. Yugoslav communists proclaimed as their aim the issue of unification of the three regions of Macedonia – Yugoslav, Greek and Bulgarian, and so managed to get also Macedonian nationalists. As result the Communist Party of Macedonia (CPM) was formed on 19 March 1943 in Tetovo.

Yugoslavism political ideology encouraging nationalism or patriotism associated with South Slavs and Yugoslavia

Yugoslavism or Yugoslavdom refers to the unionism, nationalism or patriotism associated with South Slavs/Yugoslavs and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavism has historically advocated the union of all South Slav populated territories now composing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and, for some like Ivan Meštrović, Bulgaria. It became a potent political force during World War I with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by the Yugoslavist militant Gavrilo Princip and the subsequent invasion of Serbia by Austria-Hungary. During the war the Yugoslav Committee composed of South Slav emigres from Austria-Hungary, supported Serbia and vouched for the creation of a Yugoslav state. On 1 December 1918, King Peter of Serbia proclaimed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, commonly known as "Yugoslavia". During the Yugoslav period, a Yugoslav identity was propagated.

The date of the creation of its major unit, the Mirče Acev Battalion, on August 18, 1943 on Mount Slavej [13] between Ohrid and Kičevo, is officially celebrated today in North Macedonia as the Day of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia. On 11 November 1943, the 1st Macedonian Kosovo Shock Brigade was formed in western Macedonia by merging two Vardar Macedonian and one Kosovo battalion. The second — larger ethnic Macedonian military unit was the 2nd Macedonian Shock Brigade, formed on 22 December 1943 just across the border in Greek Macedonia. [14] On 26 February 1944 in the village of Zegljane, near Kumanovo, the 3rd Macedonian Shock Brigade was formed. These three brigades were the nucleus of the National Liberation Army of Macedonia, which after constant battles became stronger in numbers. From 7,000 partisans in the late 1943, until the final military operations in the Yugoslav National Liberation War in April 1945, the National Liberation Army of Macedonia had increased to three Corps, seven divisions and thirty brigades, all with a total of 100,000 regular soldiers. [15]

Battalion military unit size

A battalion is a military unit. The use of the term "battalion" varies by nationality and branch of service. Typically a battalion consists of 300 to 800 soldiers and is divided into a number of companies. A battalion is typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. In some countries, the word "battalion" is associated with the infantry.

Ohrid Place in Ohrid Municipality, North Macedonia

Ohrid is a city in North Macedonia, the seat of Ohrid Municipality. It is the largest city on Lake Ohrid and the eighth-largest city in the country, with over 42,000 inhabitants as of 2002. Ohrid once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem of the Balkans". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and Bitola. In 1979 and in 1980 respectively, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are Cultural as well as Natural sites.

Kičevo Town in Kičevo Municipality, North Macedonia

Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of North Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.

Commanders

Mirče Acev was a Macedonian organizer of the communist resistance in Vardar Macedonia during World War II. He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law in Yugoslavia, after which he became a commander of the Macedonian Partisans and was declared a People's Hero of Yugoslavia.

Metodija Andonov-Čento Macedonian politician

Metodija Andonov-Čento was a Yugoslav statesman, the first president of the Anti-Fascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia and of the People's Republic of Macedonia in the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia after the Second World War.

Orders of battle

Brigades

  • 1st Macedonian Auto-Brigade
  • 1st Macedonian Cavalry Brigade
  • 1st Aegean Assault Brigade
  • 1st Macedonian Brigade
  • 2nd Macedonian Brigade
  • 3rd Macedonian Brigade
  • 4th Macedonian Brigade
  • 5th Macedonian Brigade
  • 6th Macedonian Brigade
  • 7th Macedonian Brigade
  • 8th Macedonian Brigade
  • 9th Macedonian Brigade
  • 10th Macedonian Brigade
  • 11th Macedonian Brigade
  • 12th Macedonian Brigade
  • 13th Macedonian Brigade
  • 14th Macedonian Brigade Dimitar Vlahov
  • 15th Macedonian Brigade
  • 16th Macedonian Brigade
  • 17th Macedonian Brigade
  • 18th Macedonian Brigade
  • 19th Macedonian Brigade
  • 20th Macedonian Brigade
  • 21st Macedonian Brigade
  • 11th Macedonian Brigade (41st Macedonian Division)

Corps

  • 15th Corps (operated in Zemun)
  • 16th Corps
  • Bregalnica-Strumica Corps
Zemun Municipality in Belgrade, Serbia

Zemun is a municipality of the city of Belgrade. Zemun was a separate town that was absorbed into Belgrade in 1934. The development of New Belgrade in the late 20th century affected the expansion of the continuous urban area of Belgrade.

Divisions

  • 41st Macedonian Division (General Staff of Macedonia)
  • 42nd Macedonian Division (15th Corps)
  • 48th Macedonian Division (15th Corps)
  • 49th Macedonian Division
  • 50th Macedonian Division
  • 51st Macedonian Division
  • Kumanovo Division

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. Macedonian: Македонски партизани, Makedonski partizani
  2. Macedonian: Народноослободителна војска и партизански одреди на Македонија (НОВ и ПОМ), Narodnoosloboditelna vojska i partizanski odredi na Makedonija (NOV i POM)
    Serbo-Croatian: Narodnooslobodilačka vojska i partizanski odredi Makedonije

References

  1. Bulgaria During the Second World War, Marshall Lee Miller, Stanford University Press, 1975, p. 202.
  2. Who Are the Macedonians? Hugh Poulton, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2000. p. 104.
  3. The Slavonic and East European review, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London, 1991, p. 304.
  4. Зимските операции на Македонска војска 1943/44 – Раде Гогов, носител на "Партизанска споменица 1941".
  5. Trifunovska, Snežana (1994). Yugoslavia Through Documents: From Its Creation to Its Dissolution. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 209. ISBN   0-7923-2670-9
  6. History of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia – World War II Archived 2007-10-10 at the Wayback Machine – Ministry of Defense of the Republic of North Macedonia Official site
  7. Historical dictionary of the Republic of Macedonia, Valentina Georgieva, Sasha Konechni, Scarecrow Press, 1998, ISBN   0-8108-3336-0, p. 223.
  8. Encyclopedia Jugoslavie volume 7, 1955, p. 686.
  9. Bulgaria During the Second World War, Marshall Lee Miller, Stanford University Press, 1975, ISBN   0804708703, pp. 132–133.
  10. Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Macedonia, Dimitar Bechev, Scarecrow Press, 2009, ISBN   0810862956 introduction Ixiii.
  11. Viktor Meier, Yugoslavia: A History of Its Demise, Routledge, 2005, ISBN   1134665113, p. 181.
  12. Dimitris Livanios, The Macedonian Question: Britain and the Southern Balkans 1939-1949, OUP Oxford, 2008, ISBN   0191528722, p. 121.
  13. “НОБ на Македонија“ Јован Поповски. Скопје, 1962
  14. "Историја на Македонскиот Народ" Александар Стојановски, Иван Катарџиев, Данчо Зографски. Скопје, 1988
  15. Зимските операции на Македонска војска 1943/44 – Раде Гогов, носител на "Партизанска споменица 1941" "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-30. Retrieved 2008-05-02.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)

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