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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox military person
| name = Mihailo Apostolski
| name = Mihailo Apostolski
| image = Mihailo Apostolski (WW II).JPG
| image = Mihailo Apostolski (WW II).JPG
⚫
| native_name = Михаило Апостолски
| caption = Mihailo Apostolski
⚫
| native_name_lang = mk
⚫
| native_name = Михаило Апостолски
⚫
| birth_date = November 8, 1906
⚫
| native_name_lang = mk
⚫
| birth_place = [[Novo Selo (Štip suburb)|Novo Selo]], [[Ottoman Empire]]
⚫
| birth_date = November 8, 1906
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1987|08|07|1906|11|08}}
⚫
| birth_place = [[Novo Selo (Štip suburb)|Novo Selo]], [[Ottoman Empire]] (present-day North Macedonia)
| death_place = [[Dojran]], [[SFR Yugoslavia]]
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1987|08|07|1906|11|08}}
| death_place = [[Dojran]], [[SFR Yugoslavia]] (present-day North Macedonia)
| allegiance = {{flag|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}};<br />{{flag|SFR Yugoslavia}}
| citizenship = [[SFR Yugoslavia]]
| alma_mater = [[Military Academy (Serbia)|Military Academy]], [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]
| education = Military academy in Belgrade
| rank = [[Colonel General]]
⚫
| known_for = Commander of the Headquarters of the [[Macedonian Partisans|People's Liberation Army]] and [[Partisan (military)|Partisan]] detachments in Macedonia during [[World War II]].<ref name="ME"/>
| alma_mater = [[Military Academy (Serbia)|Military Academy]], [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]
⚫
| spouse = Cveta Apostolska
| occupation = [[colonel general]], [[politician]], [[historian]]
⚫
| known_for = Commander of the Headquarters of the [[People's Liberation Army]] and [[Partisan (military)|Partisan]] detachments in Macedonia during [[World War II]].<ref name="ME"/>
| notable_works = [[ASNOM]]
| title = Dr., PhD.
| term = President of the [[Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts]] (1976–1983)
| predecessor = [[Blaže Koneski]] (1967–1975)
| successor = [[Jordan Pop Jordanov]] (1984–1991)
| party = [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]] (since April 1942)
| parents = Mite Apostolski and Vasa Apostolska
⚫
| spouse = Cveta Apostolska
}}
}}


'''Mihailo Apostolski''' ({{lang-mk|Михаило Апостолски}}; born '''Mihail Mitev Apostolov''',<ref>...''He was born in Ottoman Empire in Bulgarian Exarhists family as Mihail Mitev Apostolov''...: The Liberation struggles after the First World War, 1919-1944, Dobrin Michev, Macedonian Scientific Institute, Historical Institute ([[Bulgarian Academy of Sciences]]), 2003, {{ISBN|9548187612}}, p. 430.</ref> {{lang-bg|Михаил Митев Апостолов}};<ref>Bulgarian Archives State Agency, Personalities; № 8: Mihail Mitev Apostolov. {{Cite web |url=http://www.archivesforbalkans.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?qs=0002&sl=0090&ord=pos&ind=20&vis=000009&start=261&s=001&p=0090&n=000013&sstr=&ssec=0090&boolean=&&g= |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235208/http://www.archivesforbalkans.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?qs=0002&sl=0090&ord=pos&ind=20&vis=000009&start=261&s=001&p=0090&n=000013&sstr=&ssec=0090&boolean=&&g= |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{lang-sr|Михаило Митић}} or '''Mihailo Mitić''';<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Бјелајац|first1=Миле|last2=Трифуновић|first2=Предраг|year=1997|title=Између војске и политике |publisher=Институт за новију историју Србије, Народни музеј Крушевац | location = Београд, Крушевац|isbn=86-7005-020-X}}</ref> November 8, 1906 – August 7, 1987) was a [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonian]] general, [[Macedonian Partisans|partisan]], military theoretician, politician, academic and historian. He was the commander of the [[Macedonian Partisans|General Staff of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia]],<ref name="ME">{{Cite book |title=Македонска енциклопедија, том 1. |publisher=Македонска академија на науките и уметностите |year=2009 |isbn=9786082030234 |location=Skopje |language=mk}}</ref><ref name=":1">Narodni heroji Jugoslavije, ''Mladost'', Beograd 1975.</ref> [[colonel general]] of the [[Yugoslav National Army]], and was declared a [[People's Hero of Yugoslavia]].
'''Mihailo Apostolski''' ({{langx|mk|Михаило Апостолски}}; {{langx|bg|Михаил Митев Апостолов}};<ref>Bulgarian Archives State Agency, Personalities; № 8: Mihail Mitev Apostolov. {{Cite web |url=http://www.archivesforbalkans.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?qs=0002&sl=0090&ord=pos&ind=20&vis=000009&start=261&s=001&p=0090&n=000013&sstr=&ssec=0090&boolean=&&g= |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235208/http://www.archivesforbalkans.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?qs=0002&sl=0090&ord=pos&ind=20&vis=000009&start=261&s=001&p=0090&n=000013&sstr=&ssec=0090&boolean=&&g= |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{langx|sr|Михаило Митић|Mihailo Mitić}};<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Бјелајац|first1=Миле|last2=Трифуновић|first2=Предраг|year=1997|title=Између војске и политике |publisher=Институт за новију историју Србије, Народни музеј Крушевац | location = Београд, Крушевац|isbn=86-7005-020-X}}</ref>{{pn|date=July 2024}} November 8, 1906 – August 7, 1987) was a [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonian]] general, [[Macedonian Partisans|partisan]], military theoretician, politician, academic and historian. He was the commander of the [[Macedonian Partisans|General Staff of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia]],<ref name="ME">{{Cite book |title=Македонска енциклопедија, том 1. |publisher=Македонска академија на науките и уметностите |year=2009 |isbn=9786082030234 |location=Skopje |language=mk |pages=76-77}}</ref><ref name=":1">Narodni heroji Jugoslavije, ''Mladost'', Beograd 1975.</ref>{{pn|date=July 2024}} [[colonel general]] of the [[Yugoslav People's Army]], and was declared a [[People's Hero of Yugoslavia]].


==Biography==
==Life==
===Early life===
===Early life===
Apostolski was born in [[Novo Selo (Štip suburb)|Novo Selo]], then in the [[Kosovo vilayet]] of the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="ME" /><ref name=":1" /> He attended primary and secondary school in [[Štip]]. In 1927 graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade, capital of [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]. In 1933 he graduated from the High Military Academy, and in 1938 he graduated from the Commanding Academy as a major.
Apostolski was born '''Mihail Mitev Apostolov'''<ref>{{cite book|title=The Liberation struggles after the First World War, 1919-1944|first1=Dobrin |last1=Michev|publisher=Macedonian Scientific Institute, Historical Institute ([[Bulgarian Academy of Sciences]])|date= 2003|isbn=9548187612|page= 430}}</ref> in [[Novo Selo (Štip suburb)|Novo Selo]], in the [[Kosovo vilayet]] of the Ottoman Empire (now [[North Macedonia]]), in a [[Bulgarian Millet|Bulgarian Exarchist]] family to Mite Apostolov and Vasa Apostolova.<ref name="ME" /><ref name=":1" /> He attended primary and secondary school in [[Štip]]. In 1927, he graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade, capital of [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]. In 1933, he graduated from the High Military Academy, and in 1938 he graduated from the Commanding Academy as a major.


===During World War II===
===During World War II===
During the [[invasion of Yugoslavia]] in April 1941, he was a commander of the alpine units of the [[Royal Yugoslav Army]] in Ljubljana,<ref name="KG">Kiro Gligorov, ''Macedonia is Everything we Have'', Izdavacki centar TRI, 2001, Skopje {{in lang|mk}} Киро Глигоров, ''Македонија е сѐ што имаме'', Издавачки центар ТРИ, 2001, Скопје</ref> but then was in Belgrade.<ref>Блаже Миневски, Дража Михајловиќ: Вие Македонците сте целосно онеправдани. [https://novamakedonija.com.mk/makedonija/politika/дража-михајловиќ-вие-македонците-сте/ Од НМ - 12:19 06.08.2021].</ref> After the capitulation of Yugoslavia and the subsequent [[Occupation of Vardar Macedonia during World War II|occupation of Vardar Macedonia]], Apostolski moved back to [[Ljubljana]], where was captured by the Italian army and was taken to the [[List of World War II prisoner-of-war camps in Italy|camp Vestone]]. Shortly after, his father, a [[Bulgarian army]] veteran, petitioned the [[Bulgaria]]n [[Minister of War]] to help release Apostolski. He was released due to a Bulgarian intervention by the Italian authorities.<ref name=":0">Dimitar Bechev, Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Macedonia, Volume 68 of Historical Dictionaries of Europe, Scarecrow Press, 2009, {{ISBN|0810862956}}, p. 16.</ref>
During the [[invasion of Yugoslavia]] in April 1941, he was a commander of the alpine units of the [[Royal Yugoslav Army]] in Ljubljana.<ref name="KG">Kiro Gligorov, ''Macedonia is Everything we Have'', Izdavacki centar TRI, 2001, Skopje {{in lang|mk}} Киро Глигоров, ''Македонија е сѐ што имаме'', Издавачки центар ТРИ, 2001, Скопје.</ref> According to another report, he was a general staff officer in charge of the railway transport.<ref>According to a document signed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, General [[Konstantin Lukash]]; ДВИА ф. 20, оп. 3, а.е. 60, л. 534 София, 15 декември 1941 г.</ref> At that time he was in Belgrade.<ref>Блаже Миневски, Дража Михајловиќ: Вие Македонците сте целосно онеправдани. [https://novamakedonija.com.mk/makedonija/politika/дража-михајловиќ-вие-македонците-сте/ Од НМ - 12:19 06.08.2021].</ref> After the capitulation of Yugoslavia and the subsequent [[Occupation of Vardar Macedonia during World War II|occupation of Vardar Macedonia]], Apostolski returned to [[Ljubljana]], where was captured by the Italian army and was taken to the [[List of World War II prisoner-of-war camps in Italy|camp Vestone]]. Shortly after, his father, a [[Bulgarian occupation of Serbia (World War I)|First World War]] Bulgarian army veteran, petitioned the [[Bulgaria]]n [[Minister of War]] to help release Apostolski.<ref name=":0">Dimitar Bechev, Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Macedonia, Volume 68 of Historical Dictionaries of Europe, Scarecrow Press, 2009, {{ISBN|0810862956}}, p. 16.</ref>


After coming back from prison, Apostolski received a certificate that he was a ''trustworthy Bulgarian''.<ref>Михов, Милен Василев, Гребенаров, Александър Георгиев, (2016) Освобождението на българи от Вардарска Македония - военнопленници от бившата югославска армия през Втората световна война. Българска академия на науките, стр. 97, {{ISBN|9789542903253}}.</ref><ref>Властите в Щип гарантират за българския произход на Михайло Апостолски. Документът е публикуван в „Освобождението на българи от Вардарска Македония – военнопленници от бившата югославска армия през Втората световна война”, С., 2016, [http://www.mni.bg/2016/07/blog-post_11.html Македонски научен институт, 11/07/2016 г.]</ref> Later he filed an application for appointment in the Bulgarian army.<ref>Македонски научен институт, 13 юли, 2016 г. [http://www.mni.bg/2016/07/mihailo-apostolski-iska-da-stane.html Михайло Апостолски иска да стане български чиновник.]</ref> He was offered the rank of captain, however he refused.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=P-1m1FLtrvsC&pg=PA13&dq=yugoslavia+bulgarian+army+1941+macedonia&hl=en&ei=GGwVTpXfIs66-Aastogw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=yugoslavia%20bulgarian%20army%201941%20macedonia&f=false ''Contested Ethnic Identity: The Case of Macedonian Immigrants in Toronto, 1900-1996'', Chris Kostov, Peter Lang, 2010, p. 13.], {{ISBN|3-0343-0196-0}}</ref> Later, General [[Konstantin Lukash|Lukash]], interceded for him, looking for a job in the [[Bulgarian State Railways|BDZ]] system, but without success.<ref>Високопоставен български офицер ходатайства за ген. Михайло Апостолски. [http://www.mni.bg/2016/07/blog-post.html ДВИА ф. 20, оп. 3, а.е. 60, л. 534 София, 15 декември 1941 г.]</ref> Afterwards, Apostolski entered the [[Sofia University]], where he conducted underground work.<ref>Dimitris Livanios, The Macedonian Question: Britain and the Southern Balkans 1939-1949, OUP Oxford, 2008, {{ISBN|0191528722}}, p. 122.</ref> In April 1942 he became a member of the [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]], and in June the same year he was appointed commander of the [[Macedonian Partisans|General Staff of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia]]. In May 1943 he was promoted to Major General. During the Second Session of [[AVNOJ]] he became a member of the Presidency of AVNOJ.<ref name="ME"/> In addition to the Macedonian brigades operating under his command, in February 1944, he commanded the brigades from [[Kosovo]] and [[Southern and Eastern Serbia|Southern Serbia]].<ref name="ME"/> He became a member of the Initiative committee for the organization of the [[Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia|Antifascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia]] (ASNOM). He participated in the First Session of the ASNOM and was elected to its presidency.<ref name="ME"/>
After being released from prison, Apostolski received a certificate that he was a "trustworthy Bulgarian".<ref>Михов, Милен Василев, Гребенаров, Александър Георгиев, (2016) Освобождението на българи от Вардарска Македония - военнопленници от бившата югославска армия през Втората световна война. Българска академия на науките, стр. 97, {{ISBN|9789542903253}}.</ref><ref>Властите в Щип гарантират за българския произход на Михайло Апостолски. Документът е публикуван в „Освобождението на българи от Вардарска Македония – военнопленници от бившата югославска армия през Втората световна война”, С., 2016, [http://www.mni.bg/2016/07/blog-post_11.html Македонски научен институт, 11/07/2016 г.]</ref> Later he filed an application for appointment in the Bulgarian army.<ref>Македонски научен институт, 13 юли, 2016 г. [http://www.mni.bg/2016/07/mihailo-apostolski-iska-da-stane.html Михайло Апостолски иска да стане български чиновник.]</ref> He was offered the rank of captain, however he refused.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=P-1m1FLtrvsC&dq=yugoslavia+bulgarian+army+1941+macedonia&pg=PA13 ''Contested Ethnic Identity: The Case of Macedonian Immigrants in Toronto, 1900-1996'', Chris Kostov, Peter Lang, 2010, p. 13.], {{ISBN|3-0343-0196-0}}</ref> Later, General [[Konstantin Lukash]], interceded for him, looking for a job in the [[Bulgarian State Railways]]' system, but without success.<ref>Високопоставен български офицер ходатайства за ген. Михайло Апостолски. [http://www.mni.bg/2016/07/blog-post.html ДВИА ф. 20, оп. 3, а.е. 60, л. 534 София, 15 декември 1941 г.]</ref> Afterwards, Apostolski entered the [[Sofia University]], where he conducted underground work.<ref>Dimitris Livanios, The Macedonian Question: Britain and the Southern Balkans 1939-1949, OUP Oxford, 2008, {{ISBN|0191528722}}, p. 122.</ref> In April 1942, he became a member of the [[Communist Party of Yugoslavia]], and in June the same year he was appointed commander of the [[Macedonian Partisans|General Staff of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia]]. In May 1943, he was promoted to Major General. During the Second Session of [[Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia]] (AVNOJ) he became a member of 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 and Eastern Serbia|Southern Serbia]]. He became a member of the Initiative committee for the organization of the [[Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia|Antifascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia]] (ASNOM). He participated in the First Session of the ASNOM and was elected to its presidency.<ref name="ME"/>


===After World War II===
===After World War II===
After the Second World War Apostolski became one of the military leaders of the new [[SFRY]]. After the end of his active military service, he began intensively dealing with the history of the Macedonian nation. From 1965 to 1970, he was the head of the Institute of National History in Skopje, [[SR Macedonia]]. He was accused of systematically [[Historical negationism|falsifying history]] and in the use of [[hate speech]] against [[Bulgaria]] and the [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian people]].<ref>[http://macedonia.kroraina.com/kc/cyrn40_b.html 40. Противобългарската дейност на Темпо и неговите сподвижници - Апостоловски и Колишевски - II]</ref> On that occasion Apostolski became famous among Bulgarian historians with his phrase: "''I have no evidence, but I claim it.''"<ref>Венко Марковски, "Кръвта вода не става", София, издателство на БАН, 1981 стр. 100.</ref> He was actively involved in the formation of the [[Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts]], of which he was member of since its creation. He was also its president for the period 1976–1983.<ref name="ME"/>
After the Second World War Apostolski became one of the military leaders of the new [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (SFRY). After the end of his active military service, he began intensively dealing with the history of the Macedonian nation. From 1965 to 1970, he was the head of the Institute of National History in Skopje, [[SR Macedonia]]. He was accused of systematically [[Historical negationism|falsifying history]] and in the use of [[hate speech]] against [[Bulgaria]] and the [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian people]].<ref>[http://macedonia.kroraina.com/kc/cyrn40_b.html 40. Противобългарската дейност на Темпо и неговите сподвижници - Апостоловски и Колишевски - II]</ref> On that occasion Apostolski became famous among Bulgarian historians with his phrase: "''I have no evidence, but I claim it''".<ref>Венко Марковски, "Кръвта вода не става", София, издателство на БАН, 1981 стр. 100.</ref> He was actively involved in the formation of the [[Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts]], of which he was member of since its creation. He was also its president from 1976 to 1983.<ref name="ME"/> He was also a member of:
He was also a member of:
* [[Serbian Academy of Sciences]],
* [[Serbian Academy of Sciences]],
* [[Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts]] (now: [[Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts]]),
* [[Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts]] (now: [[Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts]]),
Line 43: Line 33:
* [[Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo]].
* [[Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo]].


He died on August 7, 1987, in [[Dojran]], [[SFR Yugoslavia]].<ref name="ME" /><ref name=":1" />
He died on August 7, 1987, in [[Dojran]], SFRY.<ref name="ME" /><ref name=":1" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
[[File:Михаило Апостолски.tif|thumb|200px|Mihajlo Apostolski in 1976]]
[[File:Михаило Апостолски.tif|thumb|200px|Apostolski in 1976]]
In 1995, the Military Academy in [[Republic of Macedonia]] was named "General Mihailo Apostolski".
In 1995, the Military Academy in [[Republic of Macedonia]] was named "General Mihailo Apostolski".


His birthplace, the [[House of Mihajlo Apostolski]], is a recognized as an object of [[Cultural Heritage of North Macedonia]].<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Национален регистар на објекти кои се заштитно културно наследство |trans-title=National register of buildings that are protected cultural heritage |url=http://mkopen.org/entry/b4lneRwy7EHOIGvCtgc7Vg |format= |accessdate=May 4, 2022 |date=2012 |publisher=Ministry of Culture |language=mk |archive-date=August 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809121456/http://mkopen.org/entry/b4lneRwy7EHOIGvCtgc7Vg}}</ref>
His birthplace, the [[House of Mihajlo Apostolski]], is recognized as a protected object of [[Cultural Heritage of North Macedonia]].<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Национален регистар на објекти кои се заштитно културно наследство |trans-title=National register of buildings that are protected cultural heritage |url=http://mkopen.org/entry/b4lneRwy7EHOIGvCtgc7Vg |format= |accessdate=May 4, 2022 |date=2012 |publisher=Ministry of Culture |language=mk |archive-date=August 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809121456/http://mkopen.org/entry/b4lneRwy7EHOIGvCtgc7Vg}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|30em}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110702030926/http://www.morm.gov.mk/morm/mk/Ministry/military-academy.html Website of the military academy "General Mihailo Apostolski"] {{in lang|mk}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.morm.gov.mk/morm/mk/Ministry/military-academy.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702030926/http://www.morm.gov.mk/morm/mk/Ministry/military-academy.html |archive-date=2 July 2011|website=Website of the military academy |title=МИНИСТЕРСТВО ЗА ОДБРАНА НА РЕПУБЛИКА МАКЕДОНИЈА ВОЕНА АКАДЕМИЈА "ГЕНЕРАЛ МИХАИЛО АПОСТОЛСКИ" - СКОПЈЕ |trans-title=MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA "GENERAL MIHAILO APOSTOLSKI" MILITARY ACADEMY - SKOPJE|lang=mk|access-date=27 February 2023}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Macedonian atheists]]
[[Category:Macedonian atheists]]
[[Category:Macedonian people of Bulgarian descent]]
[[Category:Macedonian people of Bulgarian descent]]
[[Category:Macedonian Partisans]]

Revision as of 03:48, 11 December 2024

Mihailo Apostolski
Native name
Михаило Апостолски
BornNovember 8, 1906
Novo Selo, Ottoman Empire
DiedAugust 7, 1987(1987-08-07) (aged 80)
Dojran, SFR Yugoslavia
Allegiance Kingdom of Yugoslavia;
 SFR Yugoslavia
RankColonel General
Known forCommander of the Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army and Partisan detachments in Macedonia during World War II.[1]
Alma materMilitary Academy, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Spouse(s)Cveta Apostolska

Mihailo Apostolski (Macedonian: Михаило Апостолски; Bulgarian: Михаил Митев Апостолов;[2] Serbian: Михаило Митић, romanized: Mihailo Mitić;[3][page needed] November 8, 1906 – August 7, 1987) was a Macedonian general, partisan, military theoretician, politician, academic and historian. He was the commander of the General Staff of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia,[1][4][page needed] colonel general of the Yugoslav People's Army, and was declared a People's Hero of Yugoslavia.

Life

Early life

Apostolski was born Mihail Mitev Apostolov[5] in Novo Selo, in the Kosovo vilayet of the Ottoman Empire (now North Macedonia), in a Bulgarian Exarchist family to Mite Apostolov and Vasa Apostolova.[1][4] He attended primary and secondary school in Štip. In 1927, he graduated from the Military Academy in Belgrade, capital of Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1933, he graduated from the High Military Academy, and in 1938 he graduated from the Commanding Academy as a major.

During World War II

During the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, he was a commander of the alpine units of the Royal Yugoslav Army in Ljubljana.[6] According to another report, he was a general staff officer in charge of the railway transport.[7] At that time he was in Belgrade.[8] After the capitulation of Yugoslavia and the subsequent occupation of Vardar Macedonia, Apostolski returned to Ljubljana, where was captured by the Italian army and was taken to the camp Vestone. Shortly after, his father, a First World War Bulgarian army veteran, petitioned the Bulgarian Minister of War to help release Apostolski.[9]

After being released from prison, Apostolski received a certificate that he was a "trustworthy Bulgarian".[10][11] Later he filed an application for appointment in the Bulgarian army.[12] He was offered the rank of captain, however he refused.[9][13] Later, General Konstantin Lukash, interceded for him, looking for a job in the Bulgarian State Railways' system, but without success.[14] Afterwards, Apostolski entered the Sofia University, where he conducted underground work.[15] In April 1942, he became a member of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, and in June the same year he was appointed commander of the General Staff of the National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Macedonia. In May 1943, he was promoted to Major General. During the Second Session of Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ) he became a member of 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 committee for the organization of the Antifascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM). He participated in the First Session of the ASNOM and was elected to its presidency.[1]

After World War II

After the Second World War Apostolski became one of the military leaders of the new Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). After the end of his active military service, he began intensively dealing with the history of the Macedonian nation. From 1965 to 1970, he was the head of the Institute of National History in Skopje, SR Macedonia. He was accused of systematically falsifying history and in the use of hate speech against Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people.[16] On that occasion Apostolski became famous among Bulgarian historians with his phrase: "I have no evidence, but I claim it".[17] He was actively involved in the formation of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, of which he was member of since its creation. He was also its president from 1976 to 1983.[1] He was also a member of:

He died on August 7, 1987, in Dojran, SFRY.[1][4]

Legacy

Apostolski in 1976

In 1995, the Military Academy in Republic of Macedonia was named "General Mihailo Apostolski".

His birthplace, the House of Mihajlo Apostolski, is recognized as a protected object of Cultural Heritage of North Macedonia.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Македонска енциклопедија, том 1 (in Macedonian). Skopje: Македонска академија на науките и уметностите. 2009. pp. 76–77. ISBN 9786082030234.
  2. ^ Bulgarian Archives State Agency, Personalities; № 8: Mihail Mitev Apostolov. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2012-11-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Бјелајац, Миле; Трифуновић, Предраг (1997). Између војске и политике. Београд, Крушевац: Институт за новију историју Србије, Народни музеј Крушевац. ISBN 86-7005-020-X.
  4. ^ a b c Narodni heroji Jugoslavije, Mladost, Beograd 1975.
  5. ^ Michev, Dobrin (2003). The Liberation struggles after the First World War, 1919-1944. Macedonian Scientific Institute, Historical Institute (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences). p. 430. ISBN 9548187612.
  6. ^ Kiro Gligorov, Macedonia is Everything we Have, Izdavacki centar TRI, 2001, Skopje (in Macedonian) Киро Глигоров, Македонија е сѐ што имаме, Издавачки центар ТРИ, 2001, Скопје.
  7. ^ According to a document signed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army, General Konstantin Lukash; ДВИА ф. 20, оп. 3, а.е. 60, л. 534 София, 15 декември 1941 г.
  8. ^ Блаже Миневски, Дража Михајловиќ: Вие Македонците сте целосно онеправдани. Од НМ - 12:19 06.08.2021.
  9. ^ a b Dimitar Bechev, Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Macedonia, Volume 68 of Historical Dictionaries of Europe, Scarecrow Press, 2009, ISBN 0810862956, p. 16.
  10. ^ Михов, Милен Василев, Гребенаров, Александър Георгиев, (2016) Освобождението на българи от Вардарска Македония - военнопленници от бившата югославска армия през Втората световна война. Българска академия на науките, стр. 97, ISBN 9789542903253.
  11. ^ Властите в Щип гарантират за българския произход на Михайло Апостолски. Документът е публикуван в „Освобождението на българи от Вардарска Македония – военнопленници от бившата югославска армия през Втората световна война”, С., 2016, Македонски научен институт, 11/07/2016 г.
  12. ^ Македонски научен институт, 13 юли, 2016 г. Михайло Апостолски иска да стане български чиновник.
  13. ^ Contested Ethnic Identity: The Case of Macedonian Immigrants in Toronto, 1900-1996, Chris Kostov, Peter Lang, 2010, p. 13., ISBN 3-0343-0196-0
  14. ^ Високопоставен български офицер ходатайства за ген. Михайло Апостолски. ДВИА ф. 20, оп. 3, а.е. 60, л. 534 София, 15 декември 1941 г.
  15. ^ Dimitris Livanios, The Macedonian Question: Britain and the Southern Balkans 1939-1949, OUP Oxford, 2008, ISBN 0191528722, p. 122.
  16. ^ 40. Противобългарската дейност на Темпо и неговите сподвижници - Апостоловски и Колишевски - II
  17. ^ Венко Марковски, "Кръвта вода не става", София, издателство на БАН, 1981 стр. 100.
  18. ^ "Национален регистар на објекти кои се заштитно културно наследство" [National register of buildings that are protected cultural heritage] (in Macedonian). Ministry of Culture. 2012. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
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