United Macedonia Diaspora

[Soldier of Macedon]

I would rather they post it here, then others can access it freely. The private correspondence over such information needs to cease.

[UMDiaspora.org]

SoM, sure, as long as we have it in one place to access. UMD would like to put up the exhibition once complete on our website either in photo or video format.

Also, another thing that would be key is if someone could provide a list of the Macedonian villages/towns burnt to the ground and people died/displaced as a result.

[Pelister]

I can think of two obvious examples of cultural genocide.

Changing the names of Macedonian places ...
Changing Macedonian personal names ...

Evidence is ubiqutious, wouldn't know where to go exactly right now but will look into it.

[Bill77]

"Name Changes of Settlements in Greece" by "Title"

http://pandektis.ekt.gr/dspace/handl...=-1&offset=521


It gives you info such as old name-new name, date the name was changed and more.

[julie]

displaced people? what about the detsa begaltsi, and what about the people that fled or faced execution for not abiding by the name changes. my maternal grandfather aNd mothers family were one of these "displaced" people. what evidence is required?

[Daskalot]

Originally Posted by Bill77

"Name Changes of Settlements in Greece" by "Title"

http://pandektis.ekt.gr/dspace/handl...=-1&offset=521


It gives you info such as old name-new name, date the name was changed and more.

Good link, thank you for sharing it.

[UMDiaspora.org]

Originally Posted by julie

displaced people? what about the detsa begaltsi, and what about the people that fled or faced execution for not abiding by the name changes. my maternal grandfather aNd mothers family were one of these "displaced" people. what evidence is required?

Julie, deca begalci were displaced from their homes. Any pictures of your family members at the concentration camps in Eastern Europe would be appreciated.

[julie]

Originally Posted by UMDiaspora.org

Julie, deca begalci were displaced from their homes. Any pictures of your family members at the concentration camps in Eastern Europe would be appreciated.

my aunt ended up in an orphanage in Serbia, Bela Crkva, as a 4 year old, she was found by my great uncle when he went searching for some of his own children, years later unfortunately i dont have any photographs.

She was cared for by older Macedonian children and the Red Cross

I dont think you will be able to successfully receive photographs from many of these people, most were small children with no belongings.

I dont have photographs of my grandfather fleeing under gunfire from the Greeks across the border.
He was being led away to be beheaded in the village square in Dolno Kotori, Lerin, florina Aegean Macedonia.
He literally ran away whilst being shot at. He did not want his name changed. he did not want to be called anything other than Macedonian. He did not accept the Greek forced upon his children at the schools. He did not want to worship in Greek, his grandfather was a priest and was the last of 7 generations of priets.

He fled across the border , and settled in a village called Bistrica just out of Bitola. He was a stonemason and died in poverty and endured a life of hardship
His distant cousin was a Greek spy and stole "accumulated" my grandfathers property and vineyards in Kotori.

I wont talk about my vuyce, that is another story the torture he endured
They did not take photographs of that.

[UMDiaspora.org]

Originally Posted by julie

my aunt ended up in an orphanage in Serbia, Bela Crkva, as a 4 year old, she was found by my great uncle when he went searching for some of his own children, years later unfortunately i dont have any photographs.

She was cared for by older Macedonian children and the Red Cross

I dont think you will be able to successfully receive photographs from many of these people, most were small children with no belongings.

I dont have photographs of my grandfather fleeing under gunfire from the Greeks across the border.
He was being led away to be beheaded in the village square in Dolno Kotori, Lerin, florina Aegean Macedonia.
He literally ran away whilst being shot at. He did not want his name changed. he did not want to be called anything other than Macedonian. He did not accept the Greek forced upon his children at the schools. He did not want to worship in Greek, his grandfather was a priest and was the last of 7 generations of priets.

He fled across the border , and settled in a village called Bistrica just out of Bitola. He was a stonemason and died in poverty and endured a life of hardship
His distant cousin was a Greek spy and stole "accumulated" my grandfathers property and vineyards in Kotori.

I wont talk about my vuyce, that is another story the torture he endured
They did not take photographs of that.

Julie, for those that are alive, perhaps a video recording of them talking about what they endured so we can share with the world. Oral history is key. If they do not speak English, we can get it translated.

Also, writing down all of this and documenting it.

[vodenka]

Originally Posted by Bill77

"Name Changes of Settlements in Greece" by "Title"

http://pandektis.ekt.gr/dspace/handl...=-1&offset=521


It gives you info such as old name-new name, date the name was changed and more.

The above is the law decree 17/26 September 1926 by which the names of the places all over Greece were changed. Not exactly all Greece: Epirus, Thessaly and Peloponese the old slavic toponyms did not change by force and are still used but in Macedonia the law was enforced 100% and not a single macedonian toponym is used today. The name change by this law was enforced also for associations, NGOs, cooperatives, etc.