Macedonian Federative Organization
Encyclopedia
The Macedonian Federative Organization (MFO) (Bulgarian
:Македонска федеративна организация) was established in Sofia in 1921 by former Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) left wing's activists.
it launched armed attacks and propaganda campaigns into Northern Greece and Vardar Banovina
. Although it appeared as well organized group, it had its own left wing. In the early 1920s, the IMRO split over the ultimate goal of its activity. The right faction led by Alexandar Protogerov sought incorporation of all Macedonian territory into Bulgaria, while the left faction sought an autonomous Macedonia that could join Balkan Federative Republic. In December 1921, left-leaning deserters formed the official
Macedonian Emigre's Federalist Organization (MEFO). In 1922 another group of former Aleksandrov's supporters formed the clandestine Macedonian Federative Revolutionary Organization (MFRO).
state within a future Balkan Federation
, which concept was similar to the ideas proclaimed by the Balkan Communist Federation
at that time. The federalists' programme contained a bizarre formulation of a future Macedonian state using Esperanto
as official language. The initial leaders of that movement were Filip Atanasov, Todor Panitsa
and Hristo Tatarchev
. Its adherents were commonly known as "federalists" by way of distinction from the IMRO-members known as "autonomists". As for the relations of the Organization with the Bulgarian government of Aleksandar Stamboliyski
, it supported the federalist's movement and was openly hostile to the aspirations of the autonomists. MFO organized a number of armed forays into Pirin Macedonia (Nevrokop and Kyustendil), where it attacked the local IMRO detachments. In March 1923, Stamboliyski, in consequence of the Yugoslav-Bulgarian agreement reached in Nish
, began cooperating with Yugoslavia
against IMRO. Aided by the government, the federalists set out to destroy the military network of the enemy, but the autonomists scattered the federalist's cheta
s and launched an attack on the Stamboliyski's government.
. The fall of the government was a great success to the power of IMRO. The government was condemned by the Communist International, as well as the absent communist resistance to it. When the communists aided by the federalists did try to revolt in the September Uprising
, they were quickly crushed by the government and its IMRO allies. As a result some of the fleeing federalists placed themselves in Serbia
n service, others collaborated with the Greeks
. Panitsa also had to flee and went in Vienna
, where the federalist's leadership began seeking foreign contacts, especially Soviet diplomats. They served as mediators by consecution of secret reconciling negotiations with IMRO. Continuing into 1924 secret negotiations between the federalists, BCP and IMRO representatives were conducted to unite all groups under the goal of independence or autonomy of a Macedonian state. The new position of the IMRO was identical to that of the Balkan communists and won for the MFO the endorsement of its policy by the Comintern
. Lately IMRO officially rejected its support of the document and its leaders even denied endorsing it. In the aftermath of the failed agreement (the so called May Manifesto
from 1924) Todor Alexandrov, as well as key figures of the Federalists, were assassinated in the subsequent clash. Weakened the organization disappeared as a real entity. Most of its members joined afterwards the IMRO (United) and later the Bulgarian Communist Party
.
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
:Македонска федеративна организация) was established in Sofia in 1921 by former Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) left wing's activists.
Background
Reestablished in 1920 IMRO became a formidable organization, with Pirin Macedonia as its stronghold. From its secure bases in BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
it launched armed attacks and propaganda campaigns into Northern Greece and Vardar Banovina
Vardar Banovina
The Vardar Banovina or Vardar Banate or Vardarska Banovina was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. It was located in the southernmost part of the country, encompassing the whole of today's Republic of Macedonia, southern parts of Central Serbia and southeastern parts of...
. Although it appeared as well organized group, it had its own left wing. In the early 1920s, the IMRO split over the ultimate goal of its activity. The right faction led by Alexandar Protogerov sought incorporation of all Macedonian territory into Bulgaria, while the left faction sought an autonomous Macedonia that could join Balkan Federative Republic. In December 1921, left-leaning deserters formed the official
Macedonian Emigre's Federalist Organization (MEFO). In 1922 another group of former Aleksandrov's supporters formed the clandestine Macedonian Federative Revolutionary Organization (MFRO).
Origins and goals
Violence between the two groups reinforced a political crisis growing public impression that Bulgarian governments were unstable. Both wings of the MFO supported the creation of a federal MacedonianMacedonians (ethnic group)
The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness...
state within a future Balkan Federation
Balkan Federation
The Balkan Federation was a project about the creation of a Balkan federation or confederation, based mainly on left political ideas.The concept of a Balkan federation emerged at the late 19th century from among left political forces in the region...
, which concept was similar to the ideas proclaimed by the Balkan Communist Federation
Balkan Communist Federation
The Balkan Federation was a project about the creation of a Balkan federation or confederation, based mainly on left political ideas.The concept of a Balkan federation emerged at the late 19th century from among left political forces in the region...
at that time. The federalists' programme contained a bizarre formulation of a future Macedonian state using Esperanto
Esperanto
is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...
as official language. The initial leaders of that movement were Filip Atanasov, Todor Panitsa
Todor Panitsa
Todor Panitsa was a Bulgarian revolutionary figure active in the region of Macedonia. He was one of the leaders of the left wing of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization. He took part in the struggles of the Bulgarians in the beginning of the 20th Century...
and Hristo Tatarchev
Hristo Tatarchev
Hristo Tatarchev was a Bulgarian revolutionary and first leader of the revolutionary movement in Macedonia and Eastern Thrace . He wrote the memoirs The First Central Committee of the IMRO . He authored several political journalism works between the First and Second World Wars...
. Its adherents were commonly known as "federalists" by way of distinction from the IMRO-members known as "autonomists". As for the relations of the Organization with the Bulgarian government of Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Aleksandar Stamboliyski was the prime minister of Bulgaria from 1919 until 1923. Stamboliyski was a member of the Agrarian Union, an agrarian peasant movement which was not allied to the monarchy, and edited their newspaper...
, it supported the federalist's movement and was openly hostile to the aspirations of the autonomists. MFO organized a number of armed forays into Pirin Macedonia (Nevrokop and Kyustendil), where it attacked the local IMRO detachments. In March 1923, Stamboliyski, in consequence of the Yugoslav-Bulgarian agreement reached in Nish
NISH
NISH is United States non-profit agency that supports other agencies which provide employment opportunities for people who are blind or disabled.-Background:...
, began cooperating with Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
against IMRO. Aided by the government, the federalists set out to destroy the military network of the enemy, but the autonomists scattered the federalist's cheta
Cheta
Cheta was an armed band, organized by the Christian population on the territory of the Ottoman Empire, aiming at anti-Turkish activity. The cheta was usually led by a leader, called voivoda. The members of the chetas were called chetnik....
s and launched an attack on the Stamboliyski's government.
Decline and dissolution
In the Summer of 1923, IMRO aided by radical officers, organized a coup d'étatBulgarian coup d'état of 1923
The Bulgarian coup d'état of 1923, also known as the 9 June coup d'état , was a coup d'état in Bulgaria implemented by armed forces under General Ivan Valkov's Military Union on the eve of 9 June 1923...
. The fall of the government was a great success to the power of IMRO. The government was condemned by the Communist International, as well as the absent communist resistance to it. When the communists aided by the federalists did try to revolt in the September Uprising
September Uprising
The September Uprising was an armed insurgency staged in September 1923 by the Bulgarian Communist Party under Comintern pressure, as an attempt to overthrow the Democratic Accord government of Bulgaria that had come to power with the coup d'état of June 9. Besides its communist base, the...
, they were quickly crushed by the government and its IMRO allies. As a result some of the fleeing federalists placed themselves in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n service, others collaborated with the Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
. Panitsa also had to flee and went in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, where the federalist's leadership began seeking foreign contacts, especially Soviet diplomats. They served as mediators by consecution of secret reconciling negotiations with IMRO. Continuing into 1924 secret negotiations between the federalists, BCP and IMRO representatives were conducted to unite all groups under the goal of independence or autonomy of a Macedonian state. The new position of the IMRO was identical to that of the Balkan communists and won for the MFO the endorsement of its policy by the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
. Lately IMRO officially rejected its support of the document and its leaders even denied endorsing it. In the aftermath of the failed agreement (the so called May Manifesto
May Manifesto
The so-called May Manifesto of May 6, 1924 was a paper in which the objectives of the unified Macedonian liberation movement were presented: independence and unification of partitioned Macedonia, fighting all the neighbouring Balkan monarchies, supporting the Balkan Communist Federation and...
from 1924) Todor Alexandrov, as well as key figures of the Federalists, were assassinated in the subsequent clash. Weakened the organization disappeared as a real entity. Most of its members joined afterwards the IMRO (United) and later the Bulgarian Communist Party
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
.
Sources
- Гребенаров, Александър, Легални и тайни организации на македонските бежанци в България (1918–1947), МНИ, София, 2006 г.,470 с.
- The Communist party of Bulgaria: origins and development, 1883–1936, Joseph Rothschild, AMS Press, 1972, ISBN 0404071643, p. 117.
- „Националноосвободителната борба в Македония, 1919 - 1941 г.“, Колектив, Македонски Научен Институт.