| Mirka Ginova | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mirka Ginova | |
| Born | 1916 Rusilovo near Vodena, Greece |
| Died | 26 July 1946 Giannitsa, Greece |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Nationality | Macedonian |
| Other names | Irini Gini |
| Occupation(s) | Teacher, Partisan |
Mirka Ginova, also known as Mirka Ginova Macedonian: Мирка Гинова; 1916 – 26 July 1946), was a Macedonian communist partisan and teacher during World War II and Greek Civil War. She was the first woman to receive capital punishment in Greece.
Biography
Mirka was born in 1916 in the village of Rusilovo, near Vodena. She was not even two years old when she lost her mother to influenza.
After finishing elementary school in Katranitsa she applied to the school of home economics in the city of Voden but was not accepted. Failing that, she enrolled at a similar school in Lerin and was accepted. Later she went to Kostur and graduated as a schoolteacher. Although she enjoyed learning, Mirka’s experience in school was not very pleasant.
After graduation and placing numerous applications, Mirka was unable to get a teaching job for the next six years. The reason: she was Macedonian.
Given her revolutionary family background, the Greek authorities found it very dangerous to have her as a teacher in any of the Macedonian speaking villages. Fortunately, just before the start of WW II, Mirka was finally given a teaching job in the village Kutugeri, in Voden region.
Later Mirka found a teaching job in the Macedonian-speaking village Vlkojanevo, in Voden Region. In view of the outbreak of the Greek-Italian War and later the German invasion, she felt compelled to return to her own village and together with her neighbours she joined the underground movement against the occupation.
Revolutionary activity In the spring of 1943 Mirka joined the newly-formed youth organization EPON (National All-Greek Youth Organization) and became a committee member in the organization. Soon afterwards her talks of patriotism caused her popularity to rise not only among the Macedonian youth but also in the entire general public in Ostrovo region.
During the summer of 1943, Mirka joined the KPG (Communist Party of Greece) and EAM (National Liberation Front) and began campaigning against the German-Bulgarian occupation and organized resistance movements in the Macedonian villages of Ostrovo Region.
Around the end of 1943 Mirka came into contact with the Macedonian Partisans, in then Republic of Macedonia, who during that time were stationed in the mountains Kozhuf and Kajmakchalan.
With the formation of the Voden Macedonian Battalion in the summer of 1944, within the ranks of ELAS (National Peoples Liberation Army) Mirka worked very hard as a recruiter of young Macedonians. She was very patriotic, charismatic and a big influence on the Macedonian people. As a result of her efforts many joined the Voden Battalion in Kajmakchalan.
After Germany’s fall and the capitulation to ELAS, according to the Varkiza Agreement, Mirka did not surrender her arms. She went to the Macedonian people and continued the war against the new reactionary Greek government which, with greater fanaticism continued to terrorize and murder the Macedonian population.
Mirka Ginova gave her life for the freedom of Macedonia and the Macedonian people. She suffered immensely but died as a hero, that is why in the hearts and minds of all Macedonians she will forever be remembered as a fighter and a legend.
See also
References
External links
Media related to Mirka Ginova at Wikimedia Commons