GORNICHEVO

The village of Gornichevo was forcibly renamed by the Greek government to Kela. It is about 26 kilometres east from Lerin on the road that leads from Banitsa to Voden. It lies at 21 degrees 41 minutes longitude and 40 degrees 47 minutes latitude and 940 metres above sea level. It has an area of about 58 square kilometres.

The village borders the following: to the north the mountain Golem Vrv, to the northeast the once large villager Chergan, to the southwest the villages Tserovo and Banitsa, and to the west Zabrdeni.

Before the start of the Greek Civil War in 1945 about 1,580 residents lived in the village who were of Macedonian background. They were employed in raising livestock, agriculture and timber getting and other essential activities.

The residents actively took part in the organization of NOF and the armed forces of DAG led by the KPG with more than 200 active fighters. 36 fighters gave their lives.

They were:

1. Boglev Trajan
2. Volchinov Kole
3. Volchinov Jane
4. Volchinov Gele
5. Volchinova Rina
6. Geridov Harishi
7. Geridov Tashko
8. Girichov Icho
9. Gruev M Doncho
10. Grueva M Tsotsa
11. Gruevski P Lako
12. Dishliov D Kile
13. Dorev Zhezhov Petse
14. Zhakov Vane
15. Karadafova M Tina
16. Karaulov K Stavre
17. Klandzhov V Pandil
18. Krchov Dine
19. Nikov P Lambo
20. Poptashov Andrea
21. Poptashov P Gele
22. Poptashov P Micho
23. Projov Kitse
24. Rashov Vane
25. Romov Tashe Petse
26. Romova Dine Fika
27. Stangolov Hristo Pancho
28. Stangolov Kitse
29. Tashkov Pandil
30. Totsev A Gjorgji
31. Totsev M Tsile
32. Totsev M Kitse
33. Totsev M Bladzhe
34. Shishkov Najdo Tashe
35. Shongov D Micho
36. Shopov D Kile

The details of the fallen fighters were obtained from Totsev Kole from the village of Gornichevo.

Of all of the fighters named above who gave their young lives, 32 were men and 4 were women.

After the Greek Civil War and after the great emigration and forced emigration from Gornichevo, the number of residents fell. This can be seen from the official census in 1991 in Greece according to which there were 980 residents in the village.

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