The Tsaous Andon Militia during WW2 Macedonia...

[HellenicPride]

During WW2 while Northern Greece was under Bulgarian rule three Greek volunteer battalions also 9 security battalions were formed in Hellenic Macedonia. The one Im going to write about is called The Tsaous Andon militia. This group the Tsaous Andon was led by an individual named Andonios Fosteridis. Although this band had a British liason officer by the name of Major Miller, it had a non aggression treaty with the Bulgarian forces in 1944. The band's 5,000 men controlled an area north of Drama district were they operated.

They were anti Communist but also wished to unite Hellenic Macedonia with Bulgaria. In January 1 1944 when an Elas Communist force, was invited to celebrate the New Year with units of the Tsaous Andon militia, the Communists were slaughtered with guns and axes and cut to pieces. Afterwards, the Tsaous militia assisted the Bulgarian military in sweeps and anti guerrilla drives against the 6th Elas division.

There were a total of 250 Bulgarians in the Tsaous Andon militia. One of the leuitenants was Commander Theodoros Mikropoulos who led the 2nd Double Company/26th Nationalist Regiment, stationed in the town of Bairam Tepe. In addition to these 5,000 militiamen, the Bulgarians had organized a small detachment of 300 Muslim Bulgarian volunteers who were sent to operate in western Macedonia in the Kastoria Florina district. They were called Comitadjis.

This group though Nationalistic wished for Hellenic Macedonia to be united with Bulgaria. After the Bulgarian withdrawal from Macedonia the Tsaous Andon militia either dispersed or became completely dismantled.

Source Herakles & the Swastika: The Greek Volunteers in the German Army, Police & SS. 1943-1945 by Axis books... Read more here at http://www.helleniclife.net/greece_in_world_war_two.htm

[Amarantos]

It is not an easy task to understand what was exactly the role of Anton Tsaous(Antonios Fostiridis,of Pontiac origins).And it's not an easy thing to do,because all dipends on the sources one possesses and follows and on the orientation of these sources.
So,it's the communism orientated sources that present him as a traitor.Though i have to add that this is the first time i read that he wished to unite Macedonia with Bulgaria.He was accused by communists that he colaborated with Germans and that's the worst thing i found yet,keeping always in mind that he was in conflict with EAM/ELAS.The fact that he was anti communist and even armed by Germans-always according to what communists say-i believe that it has a logical explanation for the reason that the best way for the Germans to administrate the occupied territory was that of the "divide and rule" mode.Germans had every reason to tollerate the operations of the anti-communists and vice versa from the time that inner-Greek conflicts prevented Greeks from uniting and combatting the occupiers.
Now from the other point of view,Anton Tsaous was considered a hero who fighted the bulgarians in the region of Drama and that was the reason why he was honored after WW2 by the King.The English Miller was not a part of Tsaous militia but one of the heads of the Allies,and the one who stopped the attack that Tsaous was preparing against the Bulgarians.Bulgaria on September 11,1944 passed from the Axis camp to that of the Allies and from that moment on,being an ally of USSR and England the Greek militia groups were ordered with the comform opinion of the official Greek government(p.m Georgios Papandreou) NOT to attack the bulgarian troops.So to sum it up,Tsaous followed his government's orders.The non aggression agreement with the Bulgarian forces took place in Sofia on September 14,1944(English Miller,American Donal,Greeks Papadopoulos,Sfetzos,Topouzoglou) and the order was given by an official military governor appointed by the Greek government to the Greek militia groups on October 1944.
Christopher Montague Woodhouse the commander of the Allied Military Mission to the Greek Resistance in World War II in "Apple of discord" writes
"...in Eastern Macedonia and in Western Thrace, the only Greek Nationalistic organisation,that had begun recently action under the guidance of Tsaous Anton,was under pressure simultaneously from the Germans,the EAM-ELAS,the Bulgarian army of occupation and the Bulgarian Partisans."

[HellenicPride]

It is not an easy task to understand what was exactly the role of Anton Tsaous(Antonios Fostiridis,of Pontiac origins).And it's not an easy thing to do,because all dipends on the sources one possesses and follows and on the orientation of these sources.
So,it's the communism orientated sources that present him as a traitor.Though i have to add that this is the first time i read that he wished to unite Macedonia with Bulgaria.He was accused by communists that he colaborated with Germans and that's the worst thing i found yet,keeping always in mind that he was in conflict with EAM/ELAS.The fact that he was anti communist and even armed by Germans-always according to what communists say-i believe that it has a logical explanation for the reason that the best way for the Germans to administrate the occupied territory was that of the "divide and rule" mode.Germans had every reason to tollerate the operations of the anti-communists and vice versa from the time that inner-Greek conflicts prevented Greeks from uniting and combatting the occupiers.
Now from the other point of view,Anton Tsaous was considered a hero who fighted the bulgarians in the region of Drama and that was the reason why he was honored after WW2 by the King.The English Miller was not a part of Tsaous militia but one of the heads of the Allies,and the one who stopped the attack that Tsaous was preparing against the Bulgarians.Bulgaria on September 11,1944 passed from the Axis camp to that of the Allies and from that moment on,being an ally of USSR and England the Greek militia groups were ordered with the comform opinion of the official Greek government(p.m Georgios Papandreou) NOT to attack the bulgarian troops.So to sum it up,Tsaous followed his government's orders.The non aggression agreement with the Bulgarian forces took place in Sofia on September 14,1944(English Miller,American Donal,Greeks Papadopoulos,Sfetzos,Topouzoglou) and the order was given by an official military governor appointed by the Greek government to the Greek militia groups on October 1944.
Christopher Montague Woodhouse the commander of the Allied Military Mission to the Greek Resistance in World War II in "Apple of discord" writes
"...in Eastern Macedonia and in Western Thrace, the only Greek Nationalistic organisation,that had begun recently action under the guidance of Tsaous Anton,was under pressure simultaneously from the Germans,the EAM-ELAS,the Bulgarian army of occupation and the Bulgarian Partisans."


Very interesting information can you give me a reference or source on the Tsaos Andon militia, I would really like to check it out thanks.... The Communists always mention their enemies in a negative way and try to alter history ect to benefit them. I myself refuse to read anything written by a Commie. This book is unbiased and only states the different Greek Right Wing Anti Communist Battalions and Militia's during German WW2. Its a pretty good book and talks about the Poulos Verband, Evzone Battalions and ect...... One would suspect thought that since he worked with the Bulgarians who were illegaly occupying Greece at that time , that must of been some kind of alliance. Im under that impression I mean why else would he work with the Bulgarians or even have Bulgarians and Muslims in his militia and also considering the fact that Bulgaria wanted Macedonia? Whether he was a commie or a right winger something smells fishy about him maybe its just me.

[Nikos]

Hellenic Pride, bravo for your unbiased information about Anton Tsaous.
This guy was a dosilogos (traitor) whose only motive was opportunism and nothing else.
That's why after the Germans left the country he immediately twisted to the English.
It is time to stop considering the clear traitors as "controversial personalities".

Amarante, ti pramata einai auta pou les????

[HellenicPride]

Listen to be honest I dont know much about the guy except from what I read out of the book. I would like for Amarantos to provide the source or book from were he read what he did. Im curious to find out more. Maybe what I read is biased I have no clue. Axis books has good credentials. This was the first time I ever heard of Tsaous Andon.

[Amarantos]

Amarante,ti pramata einai auta pou les????
:lol: will you put pepper on my tongue?(sic)
Nikos,i would expect by someone,in this case you,to appreciate the fact that both sides of the story are heard,rather than reprove me!It's obvious that you are part of one of the sides.It's your right to do so and there is no problem with me.
As i wrote in my first post "It is not an easy task to understand what was exactly the role of Anton Tsaous...because all dipends on the sources and on the orientation of these sources."It's not an easy task too,because as rightly HellenicPride states
The Communists always mention their enemies in a negative way and try to alter history ect to benefit them.
Some time ago during a discussion someone reffered to Anton Tsaous in the same way Nikos is doing.For the reason i mentioned earlier,i made a research in the net and surprise,surprise,i found out that there is an other side of the story.
So,HellenicPride,my sources can be found in internet.Unfortunately,i haven't got a book or something like that,but since the whole issue seems interesting,as soon as something comes to my possession i'll let everyone know.My intention in my first post was to present both parts.As you see i added that i never found before an agreement about handing Macedonia over to the Bulgarians.This,eventually,is another point to clarify.As far as the "agreement" is concerned,the second version of the story(that he let bulgarian troops go from Greek territory without attacking them because he was following superior orders)rings more true to me.
One would suspect thought that since he worked with the Bulgarians who were illegaly occupying Greece at that time , that must of been some kind of alliance. Im under that impression I mean why else would he work with the Bulgarians or even have Bulgarians and Muslims in his militia and also considering the fact that Bulgaria wanted Macedonia?
I have read that his militia was formed by pontians=Greeks.I think one should consider though mostly the role of Bulgaria before and after it changed part in WW2 and what was the relation between the left wing parties.When with the entry of the Soviet army in Bulgaria,followed the governmental change there,important changes did not take place among the bulgarian staff in occupied Macedonia,considering that all Bulgarian troops were placed under the soviet general's orders.It is well known that Bulgarians(communist administration at this point) tried to delay their withdrawal wishing that the Allies would have permitted them to administrate Macedonia.
I write all these because they are the things i have read.If someone can add or cross information is welcome.

[akritas]

We want something that must clear regarding this thread.I start that the historical events take part in Eastern Macedonia.
The agreement between the Bulgarian occupied forces and the E.A.O. established after the political change in the Bulgaria (Communistic dominance). Many Bulgarian commanders (Royalists) were against in this change. The British liaison Mikelthwaite (Code name Mulller) without any order from the British FO make negoatiations between the E.A.O.(Fosterides) and the Bulgarian commander Asen Sirakof in order to succeeded a unity between the nationalistic parts with aim the neutralize the Communistic danger that named ELAS forces.
The British FO when learned the actions Muller immediately dismissed him from his duties and sent him in Italy.
Tottally I disagree that E.A.O. had the same aim like ELAS. The unite Hellenic Macedonia with Bulgaria as also the dates that given are not accurate.Also there are a lot of sourses that describe the situtations in that specific era.
These little staff for now.

[HellenicPride]

Interesting info guys. Its obviously something that must be looked into more and studied.

[Ditikomakedonas1]

Many inaccurate said.I will soonly post some information

[Truth Bearer]

Oh please do I was under the impression only EDES with Napoleon Zervas was the right wing antartes.

[Tsontos]

There were plenty of smaller rightist/ non-leftist resistance groups. In Crete the biggest resistance was a native inspired one which could be described as Venizelist. EDES was the bigget though.

[Ehetlaios]

To thread einai 14 mines palio...

:laugh: