Macedonian Struggle for Independence - Part XXIII, by Risto Stefov

The Ohrid Uprising Revolutionary District, which included the Ohrid and Struga Regions, consisted of 111 villages housing a total population of 64,000 residents. Of those, 46,000 were Macedonians, 7,000 Albanians, 6,000 Ottomans 3,000 Muslim Macedonians and 2,000 Vlachs. (Vanche Stojchev. "Military History of Macedonia". Military academy. Skopje, 2004. Page 336)

Even though the Ohrid Revolutionary District leadership had concluded that Ohrid was not ready to participate in the Uprising militarily, it did not want to go against the National leadership's decision to start an early Uprising, so after the Smilevo congress it began intensive preparations. Tome Davidov, a trained military officer, and his Cheta were dispatched to the region in March 1903 and were given responsibility for organizing training camps and acquiring food supplies, weapons and ammunition. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, soon after their arrival, his Cheta were surprised by a strong Ottoman force near the village Rbeni and in a pitch battle, Tome was killed and 150 of his insurgents were captured. The incident severely hampered preparations but soon afterwards Hristo Uzunov, just released from prison, took over the operation and brought it back on track.

Initially, the Ohrid Uprising Revolutionary District was divided into four Regions consisting of Debar with 18 villages, Lake with 37 villages, Malesija with 10 villages and Drimkol with 18 villages. By mid-May 1903 it was re-organized into six Regions consisting of Debar with 12 villages led by Smile Vojdanov, Malesija with 10 villages led by Tase Hristov, Dolna Debartsa with 23 villages led by Dejan Dimitrov, Lake with 19 villages led by Nikola Mitrov, Debar Drimkol with 7 villages led by Marko Pavlev, and Struga Drimkol with 11 villages led by Jakim Alulov. Recruitment and training began immediately after the re-organization and was conducted underground and with utmost secrecy.

On July 23rd, 1903 the General Headquarters announced the actual date of the Uprising, prompting the Ohrid District to set up its regional headquarters in the mountains and to prepare plans for combat. The Uprising was to begin in three regions in Ohrid; Gorna Debartsa, Dolna Debartsa and Lake. Uzunov made it clear to all the District Vojvoda's that the aim of the Uprising was to follow Gotse Delchev's prescribed methods of fighting which included first and foremost saving the population and second prolonging the struggle by carrying out Partisan style campaigns.

Their first task was to evacuate the population from the areas where battles were expected to take place. Then the Chetas were to attack and subdue the various Ottoman garrisons and strongholds in the Ohrid vicinity and finally the insurgents were to pursue and eliminate representatives of the Ottoman authorities and their collaborators; including tax collectors. It was prohibited to attack the Ottoman civilian population. Various posters were put up explaining the Organization's aims and that this was an attack on the Ottoman system; not on the people.

On July 28th, 1903 the district vojvodas held a meeting with the village leaders and local vojvodas in order to inform them of the Uprising date and of their plans for the Uprising. Unfortunately, as it turned out, one of the leaders from the village Velmej was also an Ottoman spy and the plans were revealed to the Ottoman authorities. Being discovered before the Uprising began ruined the surprise attack on the enemy and placed the insurgents at a disadvantage. As a result, events in Debartsa Drimkol and Struga Drimkol did not develop as planned and the village Chetas were not mobilized. Of all the Chetas from Struga Drimkol that were prepared to join the Uprising, only the Regional Cheta became active and participated in various battles outside of its territory. Because its support was needed at various other places, the Regional Cheta was split into two units, one commanded by Lazar Dimitrov and Marko Pavlev and the other by Milosh Krstev. While the first Cheta was tasked with cutting the telegraph lines connecting Debar to Struga, the second Cheta was sent to recruit insurgents for the village Chetas.

While this was going on, Malesija Region came under attack and Pavlev and his Cheta were dispatched to provide assistance, thus abandoning the mission to cut telegraph lines.
Because of the sudden and unexpected attack, the Malesija Region too deviated from its original plans and instead of providing support to neighbouring regions it ended up fighting for its own survival. Unprepared for a fight, the civilian population suffered the most.

On August 3rd, 1903 a Bashi-Bazouk group of 300 from the village Zhupa appeared in the region near Kale in Seltse and was confronted by Pavlev's Regional Cheta. A vicious battle broke out and unable to withstand the pressure the insurgents retreated. Then another battle broke out between Tase Hristov's Regional Cheta and a regular Ottoman army unit of 200. Hristov's insurgents fought hard but after the Bashi-Bazouks attacked them from the rear, the Cheta retreated to Debar.

In other parts of Malesija Region, the plan was for the village Chetas from Lazheni, Draslaitsa and Tashmaruninishta to go to the foot of Karaorman Mountain and, on August 1st, 1903, meet up with the Chetas from Struga Drimkol and leave together for Gorna and Dolna Debartsa. While the 210 insurgents from the three villages arrived on time, 80 being unarmed, the ones from Struga did not show at all. Then, after a three day wait, the village Chetas attacked the Ottoman garrison of 100 stationed in the village Velishta. Unfortunately the attack was unsuccessful and was quickly repelled by the Ottomans with assistance from the local Bashi-Bazouks. The insurgents then withdrew to Tashmaruninishta where they were followed and attacked by Ottomans and Bashi-Bazouks. A vicious battle ensued and lasted until the evening of August 3rd, 1903. By then the Ottomans had dispatched reinforcements from Ohrid numbering 800 soldiers but before they could engage in battle the insurgents withdrew and retreated to Karaorman. When it was over, 25 insurgents and 80 Ottoman soldiers lay dead and wounded. After this battle the insurgents went to Gorna Debartsa, signifying the end of the Uprising in Malesija Region.

In the Gorna Debartsa Region, in the meantime, 330 insurgents from Dolna Debartsa and Malesija arrived to join forces with Gorna Dabartsa and the surrounding villages and to attack Izdeglavje. Smile Vojdanov, the Regional leader, was given responsibility for mobilizing the 232 insurgent village Chetas in the six surrounding villages and to ultimately lead them in the attack. The aim was to approach Izdeglavje from two fronts, surround it and destroy its garrison. While the Chetas were attacking from the outside two village Chetas, one from Mramor and the other from Slatina, were tasked with simultaneously attacking the towers in Osashani, Ozdoleni and Slatinski Chiflik. The insurgents were successful in burning down the Osashani and Ozdoleni towers but failed to destroy the Slatinski Chiflik because the attack was expected and as the garrison moved its defenses forward the rear was reinforced with about 2,000 fresh Ottoman troops from Ohrid and Debar including Bashi-Bazouks from Pesochani. Unable to withstand the pressure the insurgents withdrew their forces to Rbeni and Laktinje. The Ottomans did not pursue and instead burned Ozdoleni to the ground.

In other places in Dolna Debartsa, on August 2nd, 1903, Vojvoda Gurko Sadulov mobilized the village Chetas from a number of surrounding villages in Struga Field and conducted demolition operations including the cutting of the Struga to Ohrid telegraph lines and demolishing the Ohrid to Struga road. Unfortunately their operations too were cut short as the enemy set an ambush and attacked and killed most of the insurgents including their leader Gurko Sadulov. During the same day a unit of 200 Ottoman soldiers attacked the three village Chetas from Brezhani, Belchishte and Velmej. The Chetas were forced to retreat but came back the next day and pushed the Ottomans back to Vemej where they remained under siege for the next three days. During the siege two insurgents were killed and six wounded. The Ottomans had five dead and three wounded.

While this was going on the Cheta from Belchishte, consisting of 140 insurgents, attacked the Ottoman garrison in Sirula from three sides but unfortunately the attack was anticipated and the insurgents were forced to retreat.

In the Lake Region in the meantime, the plan called for defensive and diversionary attacks. On August 2nd, 1903 the regional Cheta led by Argir Marinov was sent on a mission to cut telegraph wires and destroy the Ohrid to Resen road. The rest of the village Chetas led by regional vojvoda Nikola Mitrev were dispatched to carry out diversionary missions on the Ohrid to Pogradets road. Unfortunately unbeknownst to the insurgents, the Ottomans were aware of their plans and anticipated their moves thus ambushing Mitrev's Cheta in a surprise attack between the villages Elshani and Konsko. Five insurgents were lost during the ambush but they managed to successfully cut the Ohrid to Resen telegraph lines. After fleeing the scene the insurgents regrouped and took defensive positions outside the village Trpejtsa.
Marinov's Cheta was successful in blocking the Ohrid to Resen road and as a bonus managed to capture a convoy carrying food supplies.

Between August 2nd and August 6th, 1903 the Macedonian insurgents managed to liberate Gorna and Dolna Debartsa as well as part of Lake Region thus ending the first phase of the Uprising in the Ohrid Revolutionary District.

In the lull that followed the Regional Headquarters began to prepare for the next phase of fighting by tasking its forces with gathering provisions and war material. A number of checkpoints, shelters and warehouses were established in various mountainous regions in preparation for prolonged partisan-like warfare. A hospital with the capacity to handle 30 people was also established along with a kitchen and bakery well stocked with medical supplies and food. Hristo Angelov, a graduate of medicine, was appointed as the doctor who not only treated wounded insurgents but also sick villagers.

Given the proximities of the sub-regions liberated, Regional Headquarters on August 9th, 1903 decided to split itself into two headquarters. One, led by Uzunov, Tsvetinov and Zlatarev was established to lead the forces in Dolna Debartsa and Lake sub-Regions. The second, led by Ketskarov, Chakrov and Dimitrov was established near Gorna Debartsa.

Unfortunately, as it happened in other regions, the Ottomans, before commencing their offensive, bolstered their forces with significant reinforcements both with trained soldiers and with Bashi-Bazouks and began their attacks. As in other regions they were not simply attacks to recover lost territories, but assaults on the entire population with aims to eradicate it. The Ottomans burned houses, killed civilians and robbed and destroyed their properties. The insurgents fought back with all their might using every technique known to them but it was futile. As the number of insurgents declined the number of Ottomans kept increasing and the battles were moved out of the villages and into the mountains and campsites. Then on August 30th, 1903 a regular Ottoman army numbering about 3,000 soldiers accompanied by Bashi-Bazouks began to besiege the refugee camps. At the time these camps were sheltering over 2,000 refugees from 18 different villages from the Dolna Debartsa and Lake sub-Regions and were protected by 117 insurgents. A fierce battle ensued and lasted the entire day. Unfortunately vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the insurgents could not hold out and the battle turned into a massacre of women and children. About 190 were killed, mostly women and children and every female of young age was raped and dishonoured. Forty one insurgents were killed and 200 Ottoman soldiers were lost to the enemy. All the buildings that stored food and other supplies were looted and destroyed.

After this the civilians in Dolna Debartsa and Lake began to slowly return to their homes only to find them in ruins. After the disastrous battle insurgent activities continued to decline and completely ceased by the beginning of October. Those insurgents who remained active, including Hristo Uzunov, left for Demir Hisar.

The less devastated insurgents in Gorna Debartsa continued the struggle for a little longer but they too eventually were forced to flee for their lives and escaped to Albania and from there to Montenegro. Hristo Uzunov returned to Ohrid and shared his people's fate.

During the Uprising period from August 2nd to October 1903, 42 villages were burned down, 2,064 houses, 24 churches and 18 schools were completely destroyed in the Ohrid Revolutionary District. According to Hristo Uzunov, 483 people were killed of whom 116 were insurgents and the rest were civilians mostly women and children. (Vanche Stojchev. "Military History of Macedonia". Military academy. Skopje, 2004. Page 342)

After the Smilevo Congress, the Resen Uprising Revolutionary District with a population of 28,000 was sub-divided into two independent regions, Gorna and Dolna Prespa. Gorna Prespa was led by Slavejko Arsov, Dragan Petkov and Aleksandar Panajotov, while Dolna Prespa was led by Nikola Kokarev, Veljan Iliev, Naum Fotev and Angel Andreev.

Gorna Prespa Region consisted of the city Resen as the center and 32 surrounding villages. Dolna Prespa Region was made up of 43 villages with the village German as its center. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the population in the Resen Uprising Revolutionary District was Macedonian and the rest were Vlachs, Albanians, Ottomans and others.

Due to some prior successes in the struggle against the Ottomans, the people of Resen were ready to follow their leaders. In January 1903 Arsov and his Cheta engaged the Ottoman army and the Bashi-Bazouks in the village Izbishte in a great battle and won a victory. Following that more battles were fought and won thus giving the insurgents some reputation as good fighters and gaining the trust of the people. When the call to arms came, many volunteered for all sorts of duties including stocking food, clothing and other assets necessary for a prolonged struggle. Even many of those who had gone to work abroad as pechalbari answered the call and over 1,000 returned to prepare for the ultimate fight.

Purely for the purpose of better organization, the Dolna Prespa Region was further divided into two sub-regions, one covering the villages south of Podmochani to Dolno Dupeni, led by Valjan Iliev, and the second covering the villages near Mala Prespa Lake, led by Angel Andreev. Nikola Kokarev was appointed leader of both.

Just before the Uprising began, the Resen Revolutionary District was visited by Damjan Gruev and Boris Sarafov who offered some advice for the division of the forces and on how to commence the uprising. Having only 900 insurgents at their disposal, the local leaders were encouraged to recruit more and subdivide their forces so that they could simultaneously strike several targets. Village Chetas were also formed and charged with defending their villages.

On July 18, 1903 regional head Slavejko Arsov held a meeting in the village Bolno with the Resen city elders to convince them to prepare for an uprising inside the city but the idea was opposed. Failing that, the regional leader convinced them to at least help the rebellion by donating medicines, food, etc. and establish an intelligence service inside the city.

About a week prior to the Uprising, the District received its final orders and a decision was taken to strike at the mudirluk in Nakolets first where 200 Ottoman soldiers were stationed. The plan was for several Chetas to simultaneously attack on August 2nd, 1903 from various directions. Unfortunately not all the Chetas made it to their destination on time and left a gap for the Ottomans to escape. Having unexpectedly escaped, the additional Ottoman force was able to aid the Ottoman Beys in the village Slivitsa and to contribute to the defeat of the insurgents in other areas. Having freed Slivitsa the Beys then participated in the defense of Nakolets which lasted two days. A band of Bashi-Bazouks from the village Krani joined the Nakolets battle and drove the insurgents to retreat.

The Mala Prespa Lake sub-Region leadership in the meantime held a meeting on August 2nd, 1903 in the village Rudari and developed a plan of attack which called for attacking the village Ppli where 150 Ottoman soldiers were stationed. Village Chetas from Esvika, Oromnik, Bukovik and Drenovo on one side, and Chetas from the villages Rmbi, German, Medovo, Shtrkovo and Rudari on the other, with a total force of 200 insurgents, were to approach secretly and at their leader's signal attack simultaneously from all directions. Because of the close proximity of the Albanian armed population living in those villages extreme caution needed to be exercised. Unfortunately before the plan could be put into action, the Ottomans became aware of it and took precautions. Having lost the advantage of a surprise attack, the insurgent leaders decided to withdraw their forces and retreated to the village German where they held another meeting to decide what to do.

Despite their position of disadvantage, the leaders decided to carry out some attacks anyway. The first attack was staged against the village Shaovtsi during the night of August 8th, 1903, but without success. The next attack was carried out against the village Bostandzhiovtsi on August 8th, 1903 which was also unsuccessful. Both villages were well armed and well defended not only by the Ottomans but also by the Albanians who lived there.

The plan to commence the Uprising in Gorna Prespa was with an attack on the city Resen. To finalize preparations, the insurgent leaders got together in the village Bolno on August 1st, 1903. It was decided to split up the Chetas into 5 groups of 30 and commence the attack the same day. All Chetas except the one from Drmeni made it to its destination and waited for the signal to commence firing. The Drmeni Cheta was unfortunately intercepted by an Ottoman night patrol and had no choice but to open fire. The premature gunfire alerted the city authorities of the imminent attack and to prevent a counter attack the rest of the Chetas opened fire starting multiple battles. The firefight lasted 45 minutes before the Ottomans regrouped and had the Chetas driven out of the city.

While the main Cheta was battling the Ottomans in the city, several village Chetas from Izbishta, Kriveni, Krushe and Zlatari attacked Ottoman patrols but with little success. The Ottomans, with help from the Bashi-Bazouks, quickly took the upper hand and not only drove the insurgents out but in revenge also burned down the villages Krushe and Leva Reka. The village Chetas from Evla and Gorno Dupeni with about 50 insurgents attacked the Ottoman stronghold in Petrino which was guarding the Ohrid to Resen road. Skirmishes were also sparked in the villages Tsarev Dvor, Drmeni and Podmochani. Battles continued for the next couple of days and most of Prespa Revolutionary District, except for the City Resen, Nakolets and Ppli, were liberated. The failure to liberate these places was mainly due to treachery where the plans of the insurgents were secretly revealed to the enemy.

No sooner had the insurgents liberated the region than the Ottomans sent reinforcements. Late in the day on August 3rd, 1903 a column of 600 enemy soldiers and Bashi-Bazouks arrived in Resen and began surrounding villages and indiscriminately firing at the civilians. As each village fell, it was looted and houses were robbed and then burned. The general population was tortured and many women were raped and dishonoured. Each attack was concluded with the burning of the village. The worst suffering happened at the hands of the Albanians who formed a unit of 700 Bashi-Bazouks and went on a rampage robbing, beating and torturing the Macedonian population. After crossing the Devol River, these Bashi-Bazouks continued their rampage all through Nivitsi, Grazhdino, Orovo, Drenovo and other villages in the Dolna Prespa Region.

These severe attacks on the civilian population prompted many insurgents to leave their posts and join the village Chetas in an effort to save the Christian population. Unfortunately, the more the insurgents resisted the worse was the punishment on the villagers.

By August 11, 1903 almost the entire insurgence in the Resen Uprising Revolutionary District was engaged in the defense of the civilian population but without success. The Ottoman army received further reinforcements from Lerin and the massive revenge continued. Ljuboino and Brajchino were burned to the ground and as the battle moved from Brajchino to Dupeni both insurgent leaders Nikola Kokarev and Veljan Iliev were killed. The leaderless insurgents were then thrown into disarray, literally ending the Uprising in the northern part of Dolna Prespa.

In the southern part, meanwhile, the insurgents decided to stiffen the resistance and called for all available fighters to join the battles. When the Ottoman offensive began between August 23rd and 25th, 1903, near the village German, the first to arrive was the Bitola Cheta, numbering 86 insurgents, led by Aleksandar Eftimov and Ivan Kafedzhija. Joining in from Vmbelska Mountain were the Kostur Chetas, numbering 825 insurgents in total, led by Vasil Chakalarov and Pando Kljashev. Also joining the fight were about 200 local insurgents led by Andrev and Olchev. In total there were 1,100 Macedonian fighters pitted against an army of 6,000 Ottoman soldiers.

After surprising and demolishing the Bitola and German Chetas near the village Shtrkovo, the Ottoman army on August 28th, 1903 engaged the remaining Chetas near the village Rudari where several battles broke out. The results were catastrophic for the insurgency, leaving 85 insurgents dead and virtually ending the Uprising in that Region. Demoralized, both insurgents and civilians began to hastily retreat to the safety of Pelister Mountain.

After the mass exodus, the insurgents shifted their priorities from offensive to defensive tactics and concentrated their efforts on protecting the civilians and providing food and shelter for them.

Some Prespa residents made the Island of Ail into a stronghold and held out for the better part of September. But when word came that the Ottomans were about to acquire long range artillery, the Island defense leadership evacuated the island on September 20th, 1903. As the villagers began to return to their homes the insurgency quickly died down, thus concluding the August 2nd, 1903 Uprising in that district.

To be continued.

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You can contact the author at rstefov@hotmail.com