Autonomist movements of the Slavophones in 1944 : the attitude of the Communist Party of Greece and the protection of the Greek-Yugoslav Border

Abstract

In this brief study the writer uses mainly archival material to
document the view that the autonomist movements of the Slavophones
in Greek Macedonia were above all a result of the expansionist policy of
the political and military agencies in Yugoslav Macedonia and were
fomented by the military liaison officers operating in Greek Macedonia.
The KKE handled the Macedonian Question sensitively, in order to keep
EAM together. However, the recognition of the existence of a “macedonian nation” which was the KKE’s fundamental mistake and the source
of its inconsistent policy towards the Macedonian Question, the confusion of the national and ideological sphere, and above all the influence of
external factors, all had the effect of making the Slavophones in Greek
Macedonia opt for different political choices than the official party line.
But the situation was not of control, and the majority of the Slavophones preferred to fight in the ranks of ELAS.