Bulgaria Demographic history of Macedonia

annex 1878 treaty of san stephano, showing boundaries of bulgaria.

the bulgarian population in pirin macedonia remained bulgarian after 1913. macedonian question, became prominent after balkan wars in 1912–1913, followed withdraw of ottoman empire , subsequent division of region of macedonia between greece, bulgaria , serbia. slav - speakers in macedonia tended christian peasants, majority of them under influence of exarchate , education system, considered bulgarians. moreover, bulgarians in bulgaria believed of population of macedonia bulgarian. before balkan wars regional macedonian dialects treated bulgarian , exarchate school system taught locals in bulgarian. following balkan wars bulgarian exarchate activity in of region discontinued. after world war i, territory of present-day republic of macedonia came under direct rule of kingdom of yugoslavia , termed southern serbia . portion of today s serbia, belonged officially newly formed vardar banovina. intense program of serbianization implemented during 1920s , 1930s when belgrade enforced serbian cultural assimilation process on region. between 2 world wars in vardar banovina, regional macedonian dialects declared serbian , serbian language introduced in schools , administration official language. there implemented governmental policy of assassinations , assimilation. serbian administration in vardar banovina felt insecure , provoked brutal reprisals on local peasant population. greece, other balkan states, adopted restrictive policies towards minorities, namely towards slavic population in northern regions, due experiences bulgaria s wars, including second balkan war, , bulgarian inclination of sections of slavic minority.

bulgarian campaigns during world war i.

imro state within state in region in 1920s using launch attacks in serbian , greek part of macedonia. time imro had become right-wing bulgarian ultranationalist organization. according imro statistics during 1920s in region of yugoslav (vardar) macedonia operated 53 chetas (armed bands), 36 of penetrated bulgaria, 12 local , 5 entered albania. in region of greek (aegean) macedonia 24 chetas , 10 local reconnaissance detachments active. thousands local of slavophone macedonians repressed yugoslav , greek authorities on suspicions of contacts revolutionary movement. population in pirin macedonia organized in mass people s home guard. militia force, resisted greek army when general pangalos launched military campaign against petrich district in 1925, speculatively called war of stray dog. imro s constant fratricidal killings , assassinations abroad provoked within bulgarian military after coup of 19 may 1934 take control , break power of organization. meanwhile, left-wing later did form new organisation based on principles of independence , unification of partitioned macedonia. new organisation opponent ivan mihailov s imro called imro (united). founded in 1925 in vienna. however, did not have real popular support , remained active until 1936 , funded , closely linked comintern , balkan communist federation. in 1934 comintern adopted resolution recognition of macedonian nation , confirmed project of balkan communist federation creation of balkan federative republic, including macedonia.

the outbreak of world war ii on 1 september 1939, inspired whole macedonian community, foremost refugees occupied parts, seek ways liberation of macedonia. in 1941 british vice-consul @ skopje provided foreign office more extensive , perceptive analysis of current state of macedonian question. claimed vast majority of macedonians belonged national movement; indeed, estimated 90 percent of slav macedonians autonomists in 1 sense or another.... because movement wrapped in secrecy, however, extremely difficult gauge relative strength of various currents, except assumed imro had lost ground since banned in bulgaria , leaders exiled.

between 6 april 1941 , 17 april 1941, axis forces invaded kingdom of yugoslavia. axis victory swift, yugoslavia had surrendered within 11 days. macedonian newspaper makedonska tribuna , organ of macedonian patriotic organisation, published macedonian immigrants in u.s. , canada, vaunted german victory in invasion , fall of kingdom yugoslavia. @ beginning of invasion of yugoslavia meeting held on april 8, 1941, in skopje, in participated followers of idea liberation through independence or autonomy of macedonia. there activists of imro, yugoslav communists - former imro (united) members, followers of idea creation of pro-bulgarian macedonian state under |german , italian protection. meeting decide of action towards independence of macedonia, situation changed dynamically. local population in macedonia met joy defeat of kingdom of yugoslavia. saw end of serbian rule , not surprising soldiers vardar macedonia, mobilized in yugoslav army in large numbers refuse fight. serbian administration in places had run away afraid not of germans or bulgarians of revenge of local population.

although bulgarian government had officially joined axis powers, maintained course of military passivity during initial stages of invasion of yugoslavia , battle of greece. german, italian, , hungarian troops crushed opposing forces of yugoslavia , greece on 6 april 1941, yugoslavian airplanes bombed bulgarian town of kyustendil, 67 people killed , 90 wounded , suburb of sofia 8 people killed. yugoslav government surrendered on april 17. greek government hold out until april 30. on 18 april 1941 bulgarian government received telegram joachim von ribbentrop in specified regions taken units of bulgarian army. in greece, units occupy thrace, macedonia between strymon , nestos rivers. in yugoslavia, bulgarians occupy area river vardar , pomoravlje pirot-vranje-skopje line. ribbentrop s telegram said line temporary, i.e., moved west of river vardar well.

the movement of bulgarian army in yugoslavia started on april 19, , in greece on april 20. prominent force occupied of vardar macedonia, bulgarian 5th army. 6th , 7th infantry divisions active in invading vardar banovina between 19 , 24 april 1941. bulgarian troops present in western part of vardar macedonia, close italian occupational zone, because of border clashes italians, implemented albanian interests , terrorized local peasants. of vardar banovina, (including vardar macedonia), annexed bulgaria , along various other regions became greater bulgaria. western-most parts of vardar macedonia occupied fascist kingdom of italy. bulgarian army entered vardar macedonia on 19 april 1941, greeted local population liberators meant end of serbian rule. former imro , imro (united) members active in organizing bulgarian action committees charged taking on local authorities. bulgarian action committees propagated proclamation bulgarians in macedonia on occasion of invasion of bulgarian army in vardar banovina. regards serbian colonists, members of campaign committees adamant - had deported possible , properties returned locals. arrival of bulgarian army mass expulsion of serbs area of vardar macedonia took place. first, city dwellers deported in 1941, of suspected pro-serbs. metodi shatarov-Šarlo, local leader of yugoslav communist party, refused define bulgarian forces occupiers (contrary instructions belgrade) , called incorporation of local macedonian communist organizations within bulgarian communist party (bcp). macedonian regional committee refused remain in contact communist party of yugoslavia (cpy) , linked bcp invasion of yugoslavia started. cpy formally decided launch armed uprising on 4 july 1941 Šarlo refused distribute proclamation of calling military actions against bulgarians. more 12,000 yugoslav macedonian prisoners of war (pows) had been conscripted yugoslav army released german, italian , hungarian armies. slav-speakers in occupied bulgarian army part of greek macedonia greeted liberation.

before german invasion in soviet union, there had not been resistance in vardar banovina. @ start of world war ii, comintern supported policy of non-intervention, arguing war imperialist war between various national ruling classes, when soviet union invaded on 22 june 1941, comintern changed position. german attack on soviet union sparked rage of communists in bulgaria. same day bcp spread brochure among people urging hinder means usage of bulgarian land , soldiers criminal purposes of german fascism . 2 days later, on 24 june, bcp called armed resistance against wehrmacht , bogdan filov government. after that, , when months ago yugoslavia annexed axis powers, macedonian communist partisans, included macedonians, aromanians, serbs, albanians, jews , bulgarians had begun organizing resistance. first skopje partisan detachment founded , had been attacked axis soldiers on 8 september 1941 in bogomila, near skopje. revolt on 11 october 1941 prilep partisan detachment considered symbolic beginning of resistance. armed insurgents prilep partisan detachment attacked axis occupied zones in city of prilep, notably police station, killing 1 bulgarian policeman of local origin, led attacks in kruševo , creation of small rebel detachments in other regions of macedonia. partisan detachments formed in greek macedonia , today s bulgarian macedonia under leadership of communist party of greece , bulgarian communist party.

in april 1942 map titled danube area published in germany, so-called new annexed territories of bulgaria in vardar , greek macedonia , western thrace described territories under temporary bulgarian administration . failure sofia s official propaganda, claimed have completed national unification of bulgarians , showed internal contradiction among italy, bulgaria , germany. ongoing war, new anti-fascist partisan units formed , in 1942 total of 9 small partisan detachments active in vardar macedonia , had maintained control of mountainous territories around prilep, skopje, kruševo , veles. clash between yugoslav , bulgarian communists possession on macedonia not ended. while bulgarian communists avoided organizing mass armed uprising against bulgarian authorities, yugoslav communists insisted no liberation achieved without armed revolt. of comintern , of joseph stalin himself decision taken , macedonian communists attached cpy. because of unwillingness of local communists earnest struggle against bulgarian army, supreme staff of cpy took measurements strengthening of campaign.

otherwise policy of minimal resistance changed towards 1943 arrival of montenegrin svetozar vukmanović-tempo, began organize energetic struggle against bulgarian occupants. tempo served on supreme staff of cpy , became josip broz tito s personal representative in vardar banovina.

bulgaria during world war ii.

meanwhile, bulgarian government responsible round-up , deportation of on 7,000 jews in skopje , bitola. refused deport jews bulgarian proper later under german pressure jews new annexed territories, without bulgarian citizenship deported, these vardar macedonia , western thrace. bulgarian authorities created special gendarmerie forces received unlimited power pursue communist partisans on whole territory of kingdom. gendarmes became notorious carrying out atrocities against captured partisans , supporters. harsh rule occupying forces , number of allied victories indicated axis might lose war , encouraged more macedonians support communist partisan resistance movement of josip broz tito.

many former imro members assisted bulgarian authorities in fighting tempo s partisans. of bulgarian government , former imro members, several pro-bulgarian , anti-greek detachments - uhrana organized in occupied greek macedonia in 1943. these led bulgarian officers greek macedonia , served protection of local population in zone under german , italian control. after capitulation of fascist italy in september 1943, italian zone in macedonia taken on germans. uhrana supported ivan mihailov. apparent mihailov had broader plans envisaged creation of macedonian state under german control. follower of idea united macedonian state prevailing bulgarian element. anticipated imro volunteers form core of armed forces of future independent macedonia in addition providing administration , education in florina, kastoria , edessa districts.

then in resistance movement in vardar macedonia visible 2 political tendencies. first 1 represented tempo , newly established macedonian communist party, gave priority battling against form of manifest or latent pro-bulgarian sentiment , bringing region new projected communist yugoslav federation. veterans of pro - bulgarian imro , imro (united) had accepted solution of macedonian question ethnic preference, regarded main objective being unification of macedonia single state, postwar future involve not inclusion in yugoslav federation. foresaw in new form of serbian dominance on macedonia, , prefer rather membership of balkan federation or else independence. these 2 tendencies have struck in next few years. in spring of 1944 macedonian national liberation army launched operation called spring offensive engaging german , bulgarian armies, had on 60,000 military , administrative personnel in area. in strumica, approximately 3,800 fighters took part in formation of military movements of region; 4th, 14th , 20th macedonian action brigades, strumica partisan detachment , 50th , 51st macedonian divisions formed.[1] since formation of army in 1943, macedonian communist partisans aspiring create autonomous government.

on 2 august 1944, on 41st anniversary of ilinden-preobrazhenie uprising, first session of newly created anti-fascist assembly of national liberation of macedonia (asnom) held @ st. prohor pčinjski monastery. А manifesto written outlining future plans of asnom independent macedonian state , creation of macedonian language official language of macedonian state. however, decision later reached vardar macedonia become part of new communist yugoslavia. in summer of 1944, ohrana constituted 12,000 fighters , volunteers bulgaria. whole slavophone villages armed , developed formidable enemy of greek people s liberation army (elas). @ time ivan mihailov arrived in german occupied skopje, germans hoped form independent state of macedonia support on base of imro , ohrana. seeing war lost germany , avoid further bloodshed, refused.

at time new bulgarian government of ivan bagryanov began secret negotiations allies aiming find separate peace repudiating alliance nazi germany , declaring neutrality, ending anti-jewish laws , ordering withdrawal of bulgarian troops macedonia. through in macedonia-born minister of internal affairs alexander stanishev, government tried negotiate macedonian partisans promising after bulgarian army withdrawal vardar macedonia arms given partisans. possible condition partisans guaranteed establishment of pro-bulgarian macedonian state without frame of future yugoslavia. negotiations failed , on 9 september 1944 fatherland front in sofia made coup d état , deposed government. after declaration of war bulgaria on nazi germany, withdrawing bulgarian troops in macedonia surrounded german forces, fought way old borders of bulgaria. under leadership of new bulgarian pro-communist government, 3 bulgarian armies, 455,000 strong in total, entered occupied yugoslavia in late september 1944 , moved sofia niš , skopje strategic task of blocking german forces withdrawing greece. operated here in interaction local partisans. southern , eastern serbia , of vardar macedonia liberated within end of november. toward end of november , during december, main bulgarian forces assembled in liberated serbia prior return home. 135,000-strong bulgarian first army continued hungary, aided yugoslav partisans.

however, bulgarian army during annexation of region partially recruited local population, formed as 40% of soldiers in battalions. official comments of deputies in macedonian parliament , of former premier, ljubčo georgievski after 1991 announced struggle civil, not liberation war . according official sources number of macedonian communist partisan s victims against bulgarian army during world war ii 539 men. bulgarian historian , director of bulgarian national historical museum dr. bozhidar dimitrov, in 2003 book ten lies of macedonism, has questioned extent of resistance of local population of vardar macedonia against bulgarian forces , describes clash political.

after end of world war ii, creation of people s republic of macedonia , of new macedonian language, started process of ethnogenesis , distinct national macedonian identity formed. new yugoslav authorities began policy of removing of bulgarian influence, making macedonia connecting link establishment of new balkan federation , creating distinct slavic consciousness inspire identification yugoslavia. after world war ii ruling bulgarian communists declared population in bulgarian macedonia ethnic macedonian , teachers brought in yugoslavia teach locals in new macedonian language. organizations of imro in bulgaria destroyed. former imro members hunted communist militsiya , many of them imprisoned, repressed, exiled or killed. internments of disagreeing political activities people @ belene labor camp organized. tito , georgi dimitrov worked project merge 2 balkan countries bulgaria , yugoslavia balkan federative republic according projects of balkan communist federation. led 1947 cooperation , signing of bled agreement. foresaw unification between vardar macedonia , pirin macedonia , return of western outlands bulgaria. supported greek communists , slavic-macedonian national liberation front in greek civil war idea of unification of greek macedonia , western thrace new state under communist rule. according project bourgeoisie of ruling nations in 3 imperialist states among macedonia partitioned, tried camouflage national oppression, denying national features of macedonian people , existence of macedonian nation. policies resulting agreement reversed after tito-stalin split in june 1948, when bulgaria, being subordinated interests of soviet union took stance against yugoslavia. policy projection , recognition of regional countries , nations since 1930s example macedonia, had been norm in comintern policies, displaying soviet resentment of nation-state in eastern europe , of consequences of paris peace conference. 1943 dissolution of comintern , subsequent advent of cominform in 1948 came joseph stalin s dismissal of previous ideology, , adaptation conditions created soviet hegemony during cold war. dimitrov s sudden death in july 1949 followed titoists witchhunt in bulgaria.

after greek communists lost greek civil war, many slav speakers expelled greece. although people s republic of bulgaria accepted few refugees, government policy changed , bulgarian government actively sought out refugees greek macedonia. estimated approximately 2,500 children sent bulgaria , 3,000 partisans fled there in closing period of war. there larger flow bulgaria of refugees bulgarian army pulled out of drama-serres region in 1944. large proportion of slavic speakers emigrated there. slavic committee in sofia (bulgarian: Славянски Комитет) helped attract refugees had settled in other parts of eastern bloc. according political report in 1962 number of political emigrants greece numbered @ 6,529. policy of communist bulgaria towards refugees greece was, @ least initially, not discriminative regard ethnic origin: greek- , slav-speakers both categorized greek political emigrants , received equal treatment state authorities. however, end of 1950s marked adecisive turn in macedonistic policy of bulgaria, did not recognize anymore existence of macedonian ethnicity different bulgarian 1 . result, trend discriminative policy, refugees greece – more targeted @ slav-speakers , less ethnic greeks – given proselytizing aspect. many of these migrants assimilated bulgarian society.

at end of 1950s communist party repealed previous decision , adopted position denying existence of macedonian nation. inconsistent bulgarian policy has thrown independent observers ever since state of confusion real origin of population in bulgarian macedonia. in 1960, bulgarian communist party voted special resolution explained fact of macedonians have clear bulgarian national consciousness , consider bulgaria homeland. result international relations upon sofia - belgrade line deteriorated, , in fact broken. led final victory of anti-bulgarian , pro-yugoslav oriented macedonian political circles , signified definite decline of notion of south slavonic federation. in macedonia bulgarophobia increased level of state ideology.

bulgaria kept right declare ethnicity @ census, bulgarian identity minimized in censuses of yugoslavia , blagoevgrad province of bulgaria. between 1945-65 forcefully macedonians blagoecgra dprovince 1946 , 1956 census population forced list ethnic macedonians against communist government in accordance agreement yugoslavia

pirin macedonia within bulgaria

after fall of communism , brief upsurge of macedonian nationalism @ beginning of 1990s, resulting in clashes between nationalist internal macedonian revolutionary organization (imro) , ethnic macedonian separatist organization umo ilinden-pirin, commotion has largely subsided in recent time , ethnic macedonian idea has become marginalized. total of 3,100 people in blagoevgrad district declared macedonian in 2001 census (0.9% of population of region).

in bulgaria today, macedonian question has been understood largely result of violation of national integrity, beginning revision of treaty of san stefano 1878. bulgaria denies existence of separate macedonian identity. bulgarian denouncement based on strong sense of loss of territory, history , language shared macedonia in past. after collapse of socialist federative republic of yugoslavia , consequent independence of macedonian state in 1991, bulgaria continued question of legitimacy of macedonian nationhood, yet @ same time recognised republic of macedonia. bulgarian government of 1991 promoted political compromise constructive way of living national question, rather suppressing them. yet none of fundamental tensions on macedonian question have been resolved, , issue remains important undercurrent in sofia politics.