The Eleven Shot from the Village Ekshisovo
After Varkiza the Greek monarcho-fascist forces persecuted the Macedonian
people with frenzy. Thousands of Macedonians were arrested and exiled
to the islands, camps and prisons. Hundreds were sentenced to death
and shot. Mass shootings took place in all corners of Macedonia: Lerin,
Kostur, Voden, Enidzhe-Vardarsko, Gumenichko and others.
In 1947 more than 20 people were arrested in one day - men and women
from the village of Ekshisovo. The torture that took place in the police
cells could not be described. In the Surovichko police cells Aspasija
Streshova had her throat cut. In Ekshisovo her two sisters were burned
to death - Vesa and Niki, as well as Matka Popova. Eleven others were
dragged to the Lerin prison. There they remained for a long period and
later, after a military court process, were sentenced to death. In November
of the same year the following patriots were shot -
1. Adzhikirev Trifon
2. Adzhikirev Frosa
3. Vasov Mihal
4. Velashkov Anastas
5. Dimulkov Mihal
6. Durdanova Marika
7. Masev Stefo
8. Masev Tasho (son of Stefo)
9. Robev Vasil
10. Romanov Pando
11. Trajkov Stojan
All patriots, while they were in the police cells and the prisons and
while they were before the military courts and before being executed,
never gave any concession. Characteristic of the group were the two
20-year-old EPON members Frosa Adzhikireva and Durdanova. The whole
time they were in prison, even though they knew they were to be killed,
they were not afraid. They sang revolutionary songs and gave courage
to their fellow prisoners. On 20 November 1947 they were informed that
they were to be executed, so they got up very early, got dressed, combed
their hair carefully, and beautiful as they were, they walked with their
heads held high to their executioners. As they walked along the streets
of Lerin, they sang partisan songs and revolutionary songs with their
lovely voices and called "Long live the partisans, CPG, Freedom." Many
Lerin citizens, surprised by the revolutionary songs, came out onto
the streets and were impressed by the bravery and self sacrifice of
the young heroines. And none of them accepted a blindfold at the moment
of being shot.
M Adzhikirev
From: For Sacred National Freedom: Portraits Of Fallen Freedom
Fighters
© 2009
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For Sacred National Freedom: Portraits Of Fallen Freedom Fighters