Todor Aleksandrov

[Liberator of Makedonija]

For all the talk of Aleksandrov being some kind of right-wing figure in our history, the man endorsed the Communist Party of Yugoslavia during the 1920 election: the party was most successful in Vardar Macedonia that year

[Liberator of Makedonija]

"The fight for the liberation of Macedonia will continue unless autonomous administration is achieved for the three parts of the province, currently seperated amongst Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria......A unified, independent or autonomous Macedonia could be placed under the protection of the League of Nations or one of the Great Powers, its members, or it could even enter a Yugoslav state as an equal member in a federation, if the Serbs accept a federalist arrangement for the new state"

- Letter addressed to Organisation members from Todor Aleksandrov (28/6/1920)

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Aleksandrov's support for a federative Yugoslavia goes as far back as 1920 when he issued a directive to VMRO(A) members in Vardar Macedonia to agitate for the idea and to form a legal organisation called the 'Macedonian Federative Union' to collaborate with other nationalities in Yugoslavia and promote the federal concept

[Liberator of Makedonija]

In early 1920, Aleksandrov and Protogerov met with Cevat Abaz in Sofia to discuss collaboration between the Macedonian and Turkish revolutionary movements. The agreement reached was that the Turkish government would encourage the Turks of Vardar Macedonia to assist VMRO(A) and that the organisation would be allowed to establish a base in Istanbul in the event the organisation's members were persecuted in Sofia - the Turkish government would offer them aid

[Liberator of Makedonija]

I feel the connections between VMRO(A) under Aleksandrov and the Italian government have been grossly overlooked by Macedonian historiography

[Liberator of Makedonija]

A section of Zoran Todorovski's biography on Todor Aleksandrov touches on his [Aleksandrov's] reflection on the failures of the First World War, specifically acknowledging that the Macedonian community in Bulgaria had participated in the war for "autononmy" and not for "annexation". These reflections lead to the redirection of the Macedonian revolutionary movement and a readoption of the "Goce VMRO" ideals. Aleksandrov felt that most Macedonians preferred autonomy but saw union with Bulgaria as the most preferable plan b as Bulgars were the "lesser evil" to the Serbs and Greeks.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

"The internal organisation [VMRO], faithful to its costly vow to work for the freedom of the whole of Macedonia, I [Aleksandrov] in the name of our tortured people ask you [Ferdinand] to cease with all means to the partition of Macedonia......Let your Majesty be assured that he can count on help for that purpose from the Macedonian Bulgarian until his last drop of blood "

- Memorandum from Todor Aleksandrov to Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria c. 1913

[Liberator of Makedonija]

In his memoirs, Krum Radonov (WWII partisan) claims VMRO(A) was hated by the Macedonians of Pirin because of the "black tax" they imposed and because they were seen as carrying out the oppressive will of the Bulgarian government. Radonov implicates both Protogerov and Mihajlov in the assassination of Aleksandrov.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

There are certainly some issues with Aleksandrov and his perspectives but I don't think it can be doubted that he had a genuine concern for Macedonia and its people. The controversy relating to his conflict with Sandanski also contributed to the negative views held by Macedonians in the Pirin region. But to compare him with Mihajlov, who cared more about himself than his people, is unfair. The comparison with Karakachanov is just an insult and can't be taken seriously.

I am inclined to agree, OMO Ilinden - Pirin style themselves as the ideological successors to Sandanski, and so naturally they would possess an inherit issue with Aleksandrov. I think they made claims that Aleksandrov terrorised Pirin Macedonia, in which I am interested to know if there are any people there today who can recount stories of that being true, or if it is just the exaggerated opinion of the organisation? I would love to hear more on OMO Ilinden's views on Aleksandrov, instead of just comparing him to Mihajlov and Karakachanov without explanation

[Soldier of Macedon]

Ǵorgi Hristov from OMO Ilinden - Pirin likens Aleksandrov to Mihajlov and BND leader Krasimir Karakachanov: claims the Macedonians of Pirin all hold negative views of Aleksandrov.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMCV...NLkYZm6SdYau7A

There are certainly some issues with Aleksandrov and his perspectives but I don't think it can be doubted that he had a genuine concern for Macedonia and its people. The controversy relating to his conflict with Sandanski also contributed to the negative views held by Macedonians in the Pirin region. But to compare him with Mihajlov, who cared more about himself than his people, is unfair. The comparison with Karakachanov is just an insult and can't be taken seriously.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Ǵorgi Hristov from OMO Ilinden - Pirin likens Aleksandrov to Mihajlov and BND leader Krasimir Karakachanov: claims the Macedonians of Pirin all hold negative views of Aleksandrov.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMCVwUMUuqM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0JGv6MYaExnc9QLr7GT_da_V_X7kxWi1Nr9JlfRUtUyNLkYZm6SdYau7A

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Two quotes from Todor Aleksandrov:

1) ”Болшевикот Хаџидимов, aнaрхистот Герџиков, Ѓорче Петров и Санданистите, „предавниците на бугарскиот народ“ се борат и отсекогаш се бореле и агитирале за автономија на Македонија како одделна економска и географска единица, со посебен македонски народ, со посебна историја од векови наназад... Тие дури и се заканауваат дека со оружје в рака би се бореле против обединувањето на Македонија со Бугарија.” [21]

2) "Македонците никогаш нема да прифатат да бидат управувани од Грци, Срби или Бугари … Организацијата е народот, и народот е Организацијата...“ [22]

Sources:

https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BE%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%82#%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2

http://www.sitebulgarizaedno.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=242:2011-02-23-17-45-4

https://documents-mk.blogspot.com/20...ary-chief.html

Two very contradictory statements.

[Carlin]

Two quotes from Todor Aleksandrov:

1) ”Болшевикот Хаџидимов, aнaрхистот Герџиков, Ѓорче Петров и Санданистите, „предавниците на бугарскиот народ“ се борат и отсекогаш се бореле и агитирале за автономија на Македонија како одделна економска и географска единица, со посебен македонски народ, со посебна историја од векови наназад... Тие дури и се заканауваат дека со оружје в рака би се бореле против обединувањето на Македонија со Бугарија.” [21]

2) "Македонците никогаш нема да прифатат да бидат управувани од Грци, Срби или Бугари … Организацијата е народот, и народот е Организацијата...“ [22]

Sources:

https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BE%D1%82_%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%82#%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%A2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%80_%D0%90%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2

http://www.sitebulgarizaedno.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=242:2011-02-23-17-45-4

https://documents-mk.blogspot.com/2010/01/revolutionary-chief.html

[Momce Makedonce]

My theory is post-communism: During the second Yugoslavia, Macedonians could really only appreciate historical figures who's views were more in line with the socialist government, with those who weren't branded as Bulgarophiles. With the end of the Cold War and the emergence of an independent Macedonian state, there grew a new outlook on our history that sought to rehabilitate figures that were demonised by the communists. Aleksandrov was often characterised as "right-wing" and so many took to raising his image as to counteract the engrained mentality in Macedonians that only the "left-wing" figures of our history had done good. It's a phenomenon that can be witnessed in all post-communist states.

Okay I can see how that would be the case with post communism. I just find it interesting that from discussions in this thread we view him as a controversial character who did a mixture of good and bad acts which puts us on the fence with him, whereas some Macedonians are vehemently saying that he is their favourite. This makes me feel like I don't know something they do considering that are choosing Aleksandrov over the traditional likes of Delcev, Gruev, Karev, Guli, Sandanski and others. I mean regardless if he was left or right his life and actions remain the same so that alone surely wouldn't push people to being fond of him just because he is considered more right wing. I think you are on to something though that some people want a more right wing and 'fierce' figure to look up to considering Macedonians are generally quite peaceful and passive.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

Am I missing something about Aleksandrov? He seems to be a very popular figure and even a favourite amongst many Macedonian patriots both in Macedonia and in the diaspora. Why is he so revered? I can see that he did some good for the cause, but I can also see he did some things which were not very good for the cause and not very Macedonian. This is why I am still a confused when it comes to him and why he seems to be such a favourite from the revolutionary period for many Macedonians.

My theory is post-communism: During the second Yugoslavia, Macedonians could really only appreciate historical figures who's views were more in line with the socialist government, with those who weren't branded as Bulgarophiles. With the end of the Cold War and the emergence of an independent Macedonian state, there grew a new outlook on our history that sought to rehabilitate figures that were demonised by the communists. Aleksandrov was often characterised as "right-wing" and so many took to raising his image as to counteract the engrained mentality in Macedonians that only the "left-wing" figures of our history had done good. It's a phenomenon that can be witnessed in all post-communist states.