Epilogue
The liquidation of the
campaign committees
did not smash the energy of Stephanov and Hadzhikimov.
They took up with Sofia
the organization of the so-called
Popular Banks. Their goal was to support the small producers. In
the heavy
economical and financial situation in Vardar Macedonia
their deed was very
beneficial. But that time they exchanged their roles - Hadzhikimov was
director
and Stephanov was president. Soon in the major towns in Vardar Macedonia
banks
were founded. Despite the conflict between them, their activity was
very successful
and it was important evidence that both of them were not adventurers
that made
use of the situation but that they were patriots who gave everything to
a
people's deed.
And there
again dark clouds and
insecurity threatened Macedonia.
In August-September 1944 Bulgaria
again faced a new catastrophe. In Macedonia came the period
of lack
of authority. Then again Hadzhikimov and Stephanov were on turn. In
that new
situation the Albanian Balists1 tried to catch fish in
muddy
waters. Perhaps with the agreement, or may be by order of the
Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Albania - Dzhafer Deva, several thousands Balists
with
Albanian flags set off to Skopje with an aim to take it until the
problem about
the new borders was settled. V. Hadzhikimov remembered “That day, late
in the
afternoon on August 30 I went for a walk on the promenade2 as usual and on the square in front of
today’s
“Nama” I met the hatter Panche Krustev. He said that if we did not do
anything
the Balists tomorrow would be in Skopje.
My brains were in fire and the counter strike was born there, on the street.
When a man has given all his life for his people and country he knows
how to
manage, how to help even in the most difficult moments in their
history.
Quickly I ordered to the man to inform everybody - friends, relatives,
the
citizens that were walking along the promenade, everybody that at 8.00
p.m. to
be at the meeting in the Chamber of Industry. There we had to decide
what to
do." 3 As in the case with the formation of the campaign
committees, Hadzhikimov remained true to himself - the voice of the
citizens
had to be heard - and then a decision for the future actions to be made.
The hall of
the Chamber of Industry
appeared small for all citizens. Hadzhikimov was well known with
his devotion
to people's deeds. The citizens also knew very well what to expect if
they did
not take measures against the Albanian peril. Hadzhikimov explained the
situation before the citizens and took the obligation as he did in 1941
that he
would not leave the town and would not run to Bulgaria
but would stay and help
with all means. He suggested the formation of an organization for
people's defense.
Central Committee of the people's militia for Macedonia
was established. For
secretary of the CC was chosen V. Hadzhikimov; for the relations with
the
German commandature - Dr. Nikola Andonov and Stephan Stephanov, for
relations
with the Bulgarian military and civil authorities - Mihail Domazetov.
Thus with a
slogan for independent Macedonia,
Hadzhikimov handed out weapons to the
citizens of Skopje
from the warehouse of the Regional Police Department. The German
commandantship
did not like those actions. It forbade the existence of the committee.
On
September 10 a new committee was created under German control which was
named
Local Committee for Skopje and the
Region, i.e.
the Germans wanted to limit the committee's as eventually it could turn
into an
independent government of Macedonia.
For members of the new committee were chosen Dr. Kosta Chohadzhich,
Emin
Yashar, Kumbaradzhi, Nikola Pavlov, Stephan Stephanov, Georgi
Kisselinov,
Reshid Dzhavid, Dr. Alexander Georgiev, Feta Rauf and Vassil
Hadzhikimov. They
assigned the tasks between the members as followed; Kosta Chohadzhich,
President - responsible for the food supplies; Vassil Hadzhikimov,
Secretary -
responsible for the common work, the administration and for director of
the
radio station; Nikola Pavlov and Reshid Dzhavid - for the finance
matters;
Georgi Kisselinov, Feta Rauf and later co-opted member Georgi
Poptrayanov - for
the cultural educational questions; Stephan Stephanov and Emin Yashar -
for the
people's militia; Dr. Alexander Georgiev - for the public health.
The meeting
approved a
proclamation, prepared by Hadzhikimov to the population of Skopje and the
region. It was published in Macedonia
newspaper, an organ of the committee,
that continued the traditions of Macedonia newspaper of the
campaign
committees from 1941. In the proclamation referred to the principles
stipulated
in the Proclamation of the CC of the People's militia of Macedonia
but
with some concretization on the forecoming actions with view to the new
circumstances. It said that the committee was formed with an aim to
protect the
order and the security" of Skopje
and the region. For the same reason was formed the people's militia -
the
people to be gathered and armed for defense. It was pointed that
it “was not a
political but an organization for defense of the people” (Document No.
44)
4
In
connection with the formation of
the people's militia, Lieutenant General Schorlen, Military
Commandant of Macedonia,
gave
an order that the service in the militia was not paid, but honourable
and only
the very poor would receive some remuneration (Document No.45) 5.
That order indicated that the Germans continued to regard the
Macedonian
Bulgarians like allies. It allowed full armament of the militia
that would
ensure the order as well as the support to some families in poor
financial
condition.
As it was
obvious the committee, of
course, with a lot of conventions, should be regarded as a
continuation of
BCCC from 1941. The name of the newspaper was Macedonia
as it was three years
ago. The name of the header article also was the same. In the past S.
Stephanov
had entitled it “Our Word” (Document No. 46) 6. In
September 1944
Stephanov again wrote the header article for the newspaper and entitled
it “Our
Word” (Document No. 47) 7
According
to the new situation, it
raised the slogan for “independent or autonomous” Macedonia.
Stephanov
and Hadzhikimov were as
if doomed to act in moments of lack of power in Macedonia.
How could that phenomenon
be explained? How it came that parties and personalities famous until
that
moment round the whole of Macedonia,
conceded into the background and their places were taken by those
.modest
organizers? The question was rudimentary and difficult at the same
time. All
activists were involved in some degree with a party or a principle of
action.
Some examples: Ivan Mihaylov as all members of IMRO were accustomed to
underground struggle against foreign oppressors and not to mass legal
actions;
communists were committed to Macedonism that was frank adoration of
Serbia. And
what was most important - the situation in both cases changed rapidly
and only
few people were capable to orient themselves correctly in such cases.
Actually
what did correct mean? Probably for correct had to be considered that
idea,
that thrill, which as electric power penetrated the society in a
crucial
moment. Then, when nobody knew what to do but all felt the same, and
then came
the spokesmen and the organizers - to express the will of the society.
And it
was logical that everybody followed them.
The law
courts in Tito's Yugoslavia
did
not forgive free thinking and patriotism. In February 1946 there
was a suit.
Chairman of the Skopje
Regional Court
was Panta Marina and members were Dimitur Toplichanets and Filimena
Mihaylova.
That “court” convicted V. Hadzhikimov to be shot and S. Stephanov to 16 years compulsory labor
because of the formation
of the campaign committees. Later on the Supreme Military Court changed
the
punishment of Hadzhikimov to 20 years close confinement. After 11 years
and 3
months Hadzhikimov was set free. He lived for a long time in Sofia
and died on December 20, 1992 in his native town of Shtip. The destiny of S. Stephanov
was
unknown.
1 Balists
- Albanian nationalists.
2 Promenade
- In all towns in Bulgaria
and Macedonia
(only) there was a custom
in the evening the young people to go for a walk in the town centre.
There they
met and talked with friends. That custom existed only among the
Bulgarians,
3 CSA, f. 1932, op. 4, a.e.32, p 32.
4 Macedonia
newspaper, No. 1, September 19, 1944
5 CSA, f. 1932,
op. 4, a.e. 32, p. 62
6 Macedonia
newspaper, No. 2, May 3, 1941
7 Macedonia
newspaper, No. 1, September 19, 1944