Mihajlo Apostolski
Encyclopedia
Mihajlo Apostolski (born on 8 November 1906 as Mihail Apostolov in Štip
, Ottoman Empire
(now Republic of Macedonia
) - 7 August 1987 in Dojran
, SFR Yugoslavia (now Republic of Macedonia
)) was an ethnic Macedonian
general, military theoretician, politician, historian, Commander of the Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army and Partisan detachments in Macedonia.
(now Republic of Macedonia
). In 1927 graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
. In 1933 he graduated from the High Military Academy, and in 1938 graduated Commanding Academy (serbocroation: Generastabna Akademija).
During the invasion of Yugoslavia
by Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Romania, in April 1941, as a commander of the alpine units, he ordered demolition of bridges in order to slow the progress of the German troops.
After the capitulation of Yugoslavia was captured by the Italian army and was taken to the camp Vestone. Shortly after his father, Bulgarian army veteran, made a request to the Bulgaria
n Minister of War and it was granted soon. Apostolski, as well as other 12,000 Macedonian POWs, were released with Bulgarian intervention by German, Italian and Hungarian authorities. After his liberation from the prison, Apostolski was offered to became Bulgarian officer with rank captain, but he considered this unsatisfactory. Thus, in September Apostolski entered the Macedonian National Liberation Army and became a partisan leader in the National Liberation War of Macedonia. In May 1943 he was appointed Major General. During the Second Session of AVNOJ
he was appointed to the Presidency of AVNOJ. In addition to the Macedonian brigades operating under his command, in February 1944, he commanded the brigades from Kosovo
and Southern Serbia. He became a member of the Initiative Board for organization of ASNOM. He participated in the First Session of the ASNOM and was elected to its Presidency. He successfully fought against forces of Bulgaria
(which, even today, considers itself as force that liberated Macedonia, while in Republic of Macedonia it is considered as occupying force), as well as against Italian fascist and German nazi forces throughout World War II
.
After the end of his active military service he began intensively to deal with history of the Macedonian nation. From 1965 to 1970 was head of the Institute of National History in Skopje.
He was actively involved in formation of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
, of which he was member since its creation. He was president of Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
for the period 1976-1983.
He was also member of:
was named "General Mihajlo Apostolski".
Štip
Štip is the largest urban agglomeration in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, serving as the economic, industrial, entertainment and educational focal point for the surrounding municipalities. As of the 2002 census, the Štip municipality alone had a population of about 47,796...
, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
(now Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
) - 7 August 1987 in Dojran
Dojran
Dojran was a city located on the western shore of Dojran Lake in the south-eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. Today, it is collective name for two villages that exist on the territory of the ruined city: Nov Dojran and Star Dojran, which contains both old ruins and recent construction,...
, SFR Yugoslavia (now Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
)) was an ethnic Macedonian
Macedonians (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...
general, military theoretician, politician, historian, Commander of the Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army and Partisan detachments in Macedonia.
Biography
He attended primary and secondary school in ŠtipŠtip
Štip is the largest urban agglomeration in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, serving as the economic, industrial, entertainment and educational focal point for the surrounding municipalities. As of the 2002 census, the Štip municipality alone had a population of about 47,796...
(now Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
). In 1927 graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
. In 1933 he graduated from the High Military Academy, and in 1938 graduated Commanding Academy (serbocroation: Generastabna Akademija).
During the invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
by Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Romania, in April 1941, as a commander of the alpine units, he ordered demolition of bridges in order to slow the progress of the German troops.
After the capitulation of Yugoslavia was captured by the Italian army and was taken to the camp Vestone. Shortly after his father, Bulgarian army veteran, made a request to the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
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...
n Minister of War and it was granted soon. Apostolski, as well as other 12,000 Macedonian POWs, were released with Bulgarian intervention by German, Italian and Hungarian authorities. After his liberation from the prison, Apostolski was offered to became Bulgarian officer with rank captain, but he considered this unsatisfactory. Thus, in September Apostolski entered the Macedonian National Liberation Army and became a partisan leader in the National Liberation War of Macedonia. In May 1943 he was appointed Major General. During the Second Session of AVNOJ
AVNOJ
The Anti-Fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia, known more commonly by its Yugoslav abbreviation AVNOJ, was the political umbrella organization for the national liberation councils of the Yugoslav resistance against the World War II Axis occupation, eventually becoming the...
he was appointed to the Presidency of AVNOJ. In addition to the Macedonian brigades operating under his command, in February 1944, he commanded the brigades from Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
and Southern Serbia. He became a member of the Initiative Board for organization of ASNOM. He participated in the First Session of the ASNOM and was elected to its Presidency. He successfully fought against forces of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
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...
(which, even today, considers itself as force that liberated Macedonia, while in Republic of Macedonia it is considered as occupying force), as well as against Italian fascist and German nazi forces throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After World War II
After the Second World War Apostolski became one of the military leaders of new SFRY.After the end of his active military service he began intensively to deal with history of the Macedonian nation. From 1965 to 1970 was head of the Institute of National History in Skopje.
He was actively involved in formation of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most eminent academic institution in the Republic of Macedonia.-History:The Academy of Sciences and Arts was established by the Macedonian Assembly on 22 February 1967 as the highest scientific, scholarly and artistic institution in the country...
, of which he was member since its creation. He was president of Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most eminent academic institution in the Republic of Macedonia.-History:The Academy of Sciences and Arts was established by the Macedonian Assembly on 22 February 1967 as the highest scientific, scholarly and artistic institution in the country...
for the period 1976-1983.
He was also member of:
- Serbian Academy of Sciences,
- Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts (now: Croatian Academy of Sciences and ArtsCroatian Academy of Sciences and ArtsThe Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Croatia. It was founded in 1866 as the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts , and was known by that name for most of its existence.- History :...
), - Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and HerzegovinaAcademy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the national academy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...
and - Academy of Sciences and Arts of KosovoAcademy of Sciences and Arts of KosovoThe Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo is the national academy of Kosovo.- History & Organization :The Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo was founded on December 20, 1975 by decision of the Assembly of Kosovo. Its first president was Esad Mekuli, who is considered to be the father of...
.
Legacy
In 1995 the Military Academy in Republic of MacedoniaRepublic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
was named "General Mihajlo Apostolski".