Stracin–Kumanovo operation
Stracin–Kumanovo operation | |||||||
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Part of World War II in Yugoslavia | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Yugoslav Partisans | Chetniks | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Vladimir Stoychev | Alexander Löhr | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
100 guns and mortars 35–40 tanks and vehicles |
The Stracin–Kumanovo operation
By early October, Bulgarian forces were breaking through into eastern Serbia, Vardar Macedonia and Kosovo in support of the Soviet advance towards Belgrade. Although the Bulgarian army drove the Germans out of Skopje and what is now North Macedonia, later the Yugoslav and today the
After had captured Skopje, on 14 November the Bulgarian Second Army and the Yugoslav Partisans kept driving the
Development
Bulgarian military activity
The operation, from October 8 to November 14, was conducted in parallel with three other Bulgarian offensives in Yugoslavia: the
Capture of Skopje
Parallel to the Soviet advance in Eastern Serbia, Bulgarian forces south and south-west of
After the liberation of Skopje, the new Macedonian authorities confiscated лв.430 million, stamps, and other securities from the former Bulgarian National Bank building. They refused to give the funds to Sofia, and General Damyan Velchev ordered a Bulgarian artillery regiment to return from South Serbia to shell Skopje and confiscate the funds. The order was rescinded after the intervention of Marshal of the Soviet Union Fyodor Tolbukhin, preventing an armed conflict.[33] Bulgarian currency had been used by the short-lived pro-German puppet government, and remained in use by the new Macedonian communist authorities.[34]
Controversy
Descriptions of events
In the autumn of 1944, the Bulgarian army was the primary force driving the Germans out of Vardar Macedonia. The Macedonian Partisans were not a significant military force; they were ill-equipped, lacked tanks, artillery and airplanes, and relied on guerrilla warfare.[35] Before the Tito-Stalin split in 1948, General
On the other hand, according to Macedonian Goce Delčev Brigade commander and first commandant of Skopje after its liberation, Petar Traykov, Apostolski said that he had liberated Skopje and did not allow Bulgarian troops to enter the city even, but this was not true.[43] Goce Delčev Brigade member Metodi Karpachev said that his unit entered Skopje on the morning on November 14 to find it seized by Bulgarian troops. The population did not welcome the partisans with their expected enthusiasm, and Karpachev later joined the Bulgarian forces.[44] Bulgarian sources say that the first unit, which entered Skopje on November 13 at 6:30 pm, was the cavalry intelligence platoon of the Second Infantry Division of the 4th Bulgarian Army after the main German force had left the city. The Second Infantry Division of the First Bulgarian Army took its southern and the eastern areas at 11 pm, and the Bulgarians seized the city center at midnight.[45] Because the bridges and other approaches to Skopje had been destroyed by the Germans, only infantry and cavalry units entered the city first. Strategic parts of the city had been mined by the retreating Germans, and Bulgarian sappers de-mined them.[46]
Present-day views
Macedonian identity formed after World War II is deeply rooted in Yugoslav Partisan activity, and thus the Bulgarians are considered fascists.
In October 2019, the Bulgarian government proposed strict terms for North Macedonia's EU admission. One condition is for both countries to "harmonize" their World War II historical narratives, with North Macedonia tempering its view of Bulgaria.[50] In a November 2020 interview with Bulgarian media, North Macedonia's then-Prime Minister Zoran Zaev acknowledged the involvement of Bulgarian troops in the capture of Skopje and other towns during the war, and that the Bulgarians were not fascist occupiers.[51] The interview was followed by a wave of nationalism in Skopje,[52] with protests demanding Zaev's resignation; opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski accused him of threatening Macedonian national identity.[53][54]
According to former Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubčo Georgievski, the reaction was the result of ignorance, hypocrisy or politics.[55] Vlado Bučkovski, another former prime minister and chief negotiator with Bulgaria, stated a week later, amid the campaign against Zaev, that the Macedonians and Bulgarians were a single people, separated by the post-WWII Yugoslav policy.[56] Journalist Dejan Azeski said in the weekly newspaper Fokus that Zaev's interview was politically unwise but factually accurate.[57][58] Bulgaria denies any occupation during the war and insists on double liberation (in 1941 and 1944).[59]
Gallery
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Bulgarians re-entering occupied Yugoslavia
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Bulgarian troops entering Kriva Palanka, Macedonia
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Bulgarians advancing toward the ridge of Stražin
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Vladimir Stoychev and the commander of the Parachute Company, after the breakthrough at Strazhin.
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Bulgarian Messerschmitt Bf 109s in the autumn of 1944
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Bulgarian soldiers in the battle for Kumanovo
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BulgarianParachute Druzhinatroops welcomed in Kumanovo
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German soldiers captured by Bulgarians near Kumanovo
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Bulgarian troops entering Skopje on November 13
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Entry of the 42nd Macedonian Division into Skopje on November, 14.[60]
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Bulgarian troops greeted as liberators in Skopje on 14 November.
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Bulgarian troops in Skopje on November 14, 1944.
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Bulgarian troops in Skopje on November 14, 1944.
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Bulgarian troops welcomed in Skopje on November, 14.
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Bulgarian troops welcomed in Skopje on November 14
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Monument to Bulgarian paratroopers who fell during the Stracin-Kumanovo operation in Sofia[61]
See also
References
- ISBN 1351244892, chapter: Bulgaria in the shadow of Stalin, see also: Timeline of the People's Republic of Bulgaria.
- ISBN 0198723466, pp. 1096-1098.
- ^ Spencer C. Tucker as ed., (2016) World War II: The Definitive Encyclopedia and Document Collection [5 volumes]; ABC-CLIO, 2016; p. 1841, ISBN 1851099697.
- ISBN 0429976216, p. 60.
- ISBN 1351244892.
- ISBN 9780199237685, p. 134.
- ISBN 0804779244, pp. 751-752.
- ^ "Soviet arrogance was evident at all levels of the Red Army, beginning with its commander in chief. Stalin told Tito at a meeting that the Bulgarian army (which switched sides in the war in September 1944) was superior to Partisans, praising the professionalism of its officers. This was a pure provocation from the Soviet leader. The Bulgarians were Partisan wartime foes, and regardless of whether it was true, Stalin meant to put the assertive Yugoslav leadership in its place by insulting Tito's proudest achievement: his army. Furthermore, the Red Army's operational maps often excluded Partisan units, indicating the command's failure to even acknowledge that Yugoslavs played any role in the defeat of the Germans in the country. Further below in the chain of command, Partisan commanders had to appeal to the Red Army's political departments to include in their public statements the fact that Belgrade was liberated jointly by the Red Army and Partisans and not just by the Soviets, as well as to cease treating the Partisans as unknowledgeable and as a second-rate army." For more, see Majstorović, Vojin. "The Red Army in Yugoslavia, 1944–1945". p. 414 in Slavic Review, vol. 75, no. 2, 2016, pp. 396–421. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.5612/slavicreview.75.2.396. Accessed October 24, 2020.
- ISBN 0814755984.
- ISBN 1526761475, p. 86.
- ^ Македонски преглед: издава Македонският научен институт, Volume 28, 2005, стр. 11.
- ^ Egon Boshof, Kurt Düwell, Hans Kloft, Grundlagen des Studiums der Geschichte, Böhlau-Studien-Bücher: Grundlagen des Studiums, Böhlau, 1973, ISBN 3412864730, S. 487.
- ^ Karl Hnilicka, Das Ende auf dem Balkan 1944/45: Die militärische Räumung Jugoslaviens durch die deutsche. Wehrmacht Volume 13 of Studien und Dokumente zur Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkrieges, ISSN 0562-3189, Musterschmidt, 1970, ISBN 3788114142, S. 372.
- ^ Андон Андонов, Димо Ангелев, История на военната авиация на България. Военно издателство, 1988, стр. 172.
- ^ Karl Hnilicka: Das Ende auf dem Balkan 1944/45 – Die militärische Räumung Jugoslaviens durch die deutsche Wehrmacht, Musterschmidt, Göttingen 1970. (Studien und Dokumente zur Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkrieges, Band 13) ìn German; pp. 90-91; 95.
- ISBN 1597970107, p. 170: "November 13, 1944: Greece, land war. The Bulgarian First Army ejects Army Group E from Skopje although, as most Axis forces have left Greece, this does not trap the army group."
- ^ Stone & Ston; An online database of World War II, books and information on the Web since 1995: War Diary for Monday, 13 November 1944: "German forces withdraw from Skopje as Bulgarian 1st Army advances. Bulgarian 1st Army captures Skopje. Southern flank of the Russian Front, 1944-1945; Balkan campaigns, the Aegean, and the Adriatic, 1942-1945."
- ISBN 0752439383, p. 155. "... By the late autumn of 1944, however, the Germans could no longer hold their base in Macedonia and they had to evacuate Skopje on 13 November, bringing covert operations against "Old Bulgaria" to a momentary hold."
- ^ Sfetas, Spyridon. "The Bulgarian-Yugoslav Dispute over the Macedonian Question as a Reflection of the Soviet-Yugoslav Controversy (1968-1980)". Balcanica. 2012. 241-271. 10.2298/BALC1243241S. "Indeed, the Soviets contributed heavily to Belgrade’s liberation in October 1944, and Bulgarians, though undesirable for the Yugoslav partisans, fought in the battles for the liberation Skopje in November 1944."
- ^ Великите битки и борби на българите след освобождението, Световна библиотека, София, 2007, стр.73 – 74.
- ISBN 3517007900.
- ^ Germany and the Second World War. Volume VIII, The Eastern Front 1943-1944 : the war in the East and on the neighbouring fronts. The withdrawal battles in Macedonia.
- ISBN 0191528722, pp. 118-141.
- ^ Karl Hnilicka: Das Ende auf dem Balkan 1944/45 – Die militärische Räumung Jugoslaviens durch die deutsche Wehrmacht, Musterschmidt, Göttingen 1970. (Studien und Dokumente zur Geschichte des Zweiten Weltkrieges, Band 13) ìn German; pp. 90-91; 95.
- ISBN 0-8047-3615-4, pp. 751–752.
- ^ Витка Тошкова, България-непризнатият противник на Третия райх, Военно издателство, 1995, стр. 146.
- ISBN 9545092661, стр. 168.
- ISBN 954509270X, ст. 117.
- ISBN 9549800040, стр. 1147.
- ^ Georgi Daskalov, Bulgarian-Yugoslav political relations, 1944-1945, Kliment Ohridski University Press, 1989, p. 114; (in Bulgarian).
- ^ Atanas Semerdzhiev et al., Otechestvenata voĭna na Bŭlgaria, 1944-1945; Volume 4, Voen. izd-vo, 1982, str. 482.
- ISBN 0191528722, pp. 134-135.
- ^ Въпреки намесата на съветското военно командуване, югославските ръководители продължиха да провеждат своята враждебна антибългарска политика. Те побързаха да сложат ръка върху 430 млн. български лева - собственост на Българската народна банка в Скопие в пари, марки, бандероли и други ценни книжа. Без малко във връзка с този дързък грабеж не се стигна до военно стълкновение, тъй като министърът на войната ген. Д.Велчев заповяда на един полк артилерия да се върне в Скопие и със сила да възвърне тази българска собственост. ЦК на БРП (к) успя обаче да предотврати този инцидент и се обърна за съдействие към маршал Толбухин. For more see: Добрин Мичев, Македонският въпрос и българо-югославските отношения: 9 септември 1944-1949, Унив. изд-во "Св. Климент Охридски", 1994, ISBN 9540701821, стр. 119.
- ^ Костадин Христов, За първите македонски банкноти. 20.09.2017, Управление на риска.
- ISBN 1443888494, p. 212.
- ISBN 0160872421, 2006, pp. 77-85.
- ^ Sfetas, Spyridon. (2012). The Bulgarian-Yugoslav dispute over the Macedonian question as a reflection of the Soviet-Yugoslav controversy (1968-1980). Balcanica. 2012. 241-271. 10.2298/BALC1243241S.
- ^ Михаило Апостолски, Завршните операции на НОВ за ослободување на Македонија, "Кочо Рацин", Скопје, 1953.
- ^ Како Бугарите "учествуваа" во ослободувањето на Скопје. Јордан Цеков-Дане
- ^ Skopje was liberated by Bulgarian forces, and the Macedonian Partisans came down from the surrounding hills to celebrate their entrance to the city; similar scenes occurred in other Macedonian and Serbian towns. The official Macedonian historiography, written primarily by Apostolski, played down the Bulgarian role and emphasized that of the Partisans. For information on the military situation in Macedonia and Serbia and the role of the Bulgarian army, see FO 371/43608, R17271, 24/11/1944; FO 371/44279, R16642,14/10/1944; FO 371/43630, R19495, 24/11/1944; WO 208, 113B, 12/9/1944. The sources, which contain intelligence reports from BLOs, confirm the role of the Bulgarian army in the liberation of Skopje, Nis, Prilep, and the Morava Valley. For more, see Dimitris Livanios, The Macedonian Question: Britain and the Southern Balkans 1939–1949, Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2008; ISBN 9780199237685, p. 134.
- ^ 70 години слободно Скопје! Мали битки за голема победа! ФАКТОР.МК, 13 Ноември, 2014.
- ^ Како не успеала бугарската парада за „ослободувањето“ на Скопје Pressing TV
- ^ Коста Църнушанов, Македонизмът и съпротивата на Македония срещу него, Университетско изд-во "Св. Климент Охридски", София, 1992, стр. 370.
- ^ Никола Стоянов, Генерал Михаило Апостолски: поучителна история на трите превъплъщения на Михаил Митев, злостен българомразец, в-к Струма, 11.02.2021г.
- ^ "The first unit to enter Skopje at 18:30, abandoned by the Germans under pressure from the Bulgarian army, was the intelligence cavalry platoon of the Second Infantry Division of the 4th Bulgarian Army; detachments of the Second Infantry Division of the First Bulgarian Army also contributed to the liberation. They forced the withdrawing Nazi detachments to retreat from the city, and on November 13 at 11 pm controlled the southern and southeastern areas of the city; at midnight, they seized the city center." Georgi Daskalov, Bulgarian-Yugoslav political relations, 1944-1945, Kliment Ohridski University Press, 1989, p. 113; (in Bulgarian).
- ^ Военно-исторически сборник, том 37, Институт за военна история, Военно-историческа комисия при Щаба на армията, 1968, стр. 34.
- ^ Katerina Kolozova, On the Macedonian-Bulgarian dispute and historical revisionism. 7 Dec 2020, Al Jazeera.
- ^ Захариевa: Бугарите не биле фашистички окупатори. Тогаш на 13 ноември партизаните го ослободиле или го окупирале Скопје од Бугарите Ное. 13, 2020, Во Центар. [dead link]
- ^ Македония с нов филм против българската окупация (трейлър); OFFNews.bg 27.09.2016.
- ^ Sinisa Jakov Marusic, Bulgaria Sets Tough Terms for North Macedonia’s EU Progress Skopje. BIRN; 10 October 2019.
- ^ Зоран Заев: Договорът с България ще бъде закон. Меdiapool публикува интервюто на Любчо Нешков, собственик на информационната агенция БГНЕС. 25 November, 2020; Mediapool.bg.
- ^ Sinisa Jakov Marusic, North Macedonia PM’s Remarks About History Hit a Nerve. BIRN, November 26, 2020.
- ^ Мария Атанасова: Мицкоски: Заев да внимава с приятелството с България, Факти.бГ. 25 Ноември, 2020г.
- ^ VMRO-DPMNE leader Mickoski demands PM Zaev's resignation, announces more protests. MIA, 26 November, 2020 Archived 2021-01-19 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Любчо Георгиевски: Хората са шокирани от Заев, защото не познават миналото. Епицентър, 28 ноем. 2020.
- ^ Владо Бучковски: Македонците съществуват от 1944 година, българите са по-стар народ. 2 дек. 2020, Епицентър.
- ^ Дејан Азески, Зошто Зоран Заев политички греши, а историски е во право? Fokus 02.12.2020
- ^ В Северна Македония: Българската армия бе едновременно окупационна и освободителна, Факти.бг. 4 Декември, 2020.
- ^ Boris Georgievski Bulgaria asks EU to stop 'fake' Macedonian identity. 23.09.2020, Deutsche Welle.
- ^ Военно-исторически сборник, Volume 64, Issues 1-3, Армия. Щаб. Военно-историческа комисия, Bulgaria. Министерство на народната отбрана, Институт за военна история, Военно-историческа комисия при Щаба на армията, 1995, стр. 162.
- ^ Тодор Атанасовски, Тито ја сакал Македонија како држава;списание Глобус; 01.12.2009 г. Archived 2020-06-27 at the Wayback Machine