We Macedonians Still Find Ourselves Divided into Three Parts (1928)

[TrueMacedonian]

IMG_5370.jpg Like the good ol’ times.

IMG_5369.jpg IMG_5371.jpg

[Soldier of Macedon]

Hi TM, the images are a bit blurry and the text not entirely clear. Aside from the obvious matter of division in 1928, was there another point being made?

[TrueMacedonian]

Hey SoM. Hristos Voskrese! Not sure why the pics are blurry. I posted the same thing on Facebook and the pages were clear. Anyways here’s the text from the page:


Go down into Macedonia and talk to the leaders of the Macedonian societies. You have already gained the impression from the news that comes to America that the "comitadjis" who make their raids across the border are mere murderous outlaws. But you soon get a different impression once you have heard the story of Macedonia. They make one think that there had never been a more noble body of patriots than these same so-called bandits and outlaws. Theirs are great sacrifices for liberty. The economic motive seems highly subordinate or absent in their warlike behavior.

I remember talking to one Macedonian. I asked this man, "Why is it that you men of common Slav blood quarrel, Macedonians with Yugoslavs? Why can you not have peace with the Serbians?"

He said, "My dear sir, it ought not to be very difficult for you to understand. All of the Southern Slavs, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Serbians, Roumanians, Bulgars, and the rest had long been persecuted by the Turk. Through all these hundreds of years we fought for the liberty of our peoples. One by one all the other Slavs achieved their independence, and we Macedonians still find ourselves divided into three parts and governed by others. We are worse off than Poland was. When a Slav tyrannizes over a Slav, it is less endurable just because it comes from nations of our own blood. I want to tell you that tyranny from a fellow Slav is less tolerable than tyranny from a Turk. A Slav who has suffered, should understand a Slav who is suffering. We have tried open revolution. It doesn't work. The modern means of warfare are such that an established government can always defeat the uprisings of common men. But we propose that tyranny shall be diminished if not stopped by the only means at hand. We can go across the border and make maladministration so costly that the tyrant doesn't quite dare to go quite so far, at least for a year or two."

[Soldier of Macedon]

Thanks TM, навистина воскресе and I trust you enjoyed the Easter.

Given the insinuation of cross-border raids, the Macedonian who provided the response appears to be part of the VMRO that was established by Aleksandrov in 1919 and usurped by Mihailov in 1924. His animosity, entirely justified, is primarily aimed at the Yugoslavs (i.e., Serbs) and their oppressive measures in Vardar Macedonia. However, in 1928, Pirin Macedonia was also being terrorised. Mihailov was a murderous villain who had the backing of an official Bulgaria that feigned support for Macedonian freedom so long as the leader of that nominal “VMRO” did its bidding when required.

The interwar period was riddled with treachery and tyranny. In different ways, the Macedonian people of both regions suffered as a result. In Yugoslavia, it was more encompassing but primarily focused on the socio-cultural aspect, where the Macedonian language and identity were suppressed on all levels. In Bulgaria, it was more about political repression, particularly of those who were anti-imperialist, left-leaning, socialist, etc. Macedonians in this category genuinely believed in a sovereign Macedonia and the establishment of a Balkan Federation – a notion that was supported by those who adhered to the ideals of Delčev and Sandanski.

In both regions, there were collaborators who worked against their own people, directly or indirectly, and Macedonian fratricide was gleefully received by the governments of both Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. There were many complexities during that period and whilst life in Vardar Macedonia was certainly destructive, life in Pirin Macedonia was no cakewalk either. I agree with the sentiment in the article, in that oppression is less tolerable under the rule of supposedly kindred peoples (even our own!). We gave thousands of volunteers to support the liberation movements of Serbia and Bulgaria. The Serbs and Bulgars repaid the favour by dividing Macedonia and poisoning the minds of our people, in furtherance of their political objectives from the Ottoman era. That is not only a matter of perception. It is the matter itself.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Well summarised SoM.