Deportation of Yugoslavic Jews in Skopje
Since the end of the Balkan Wars, Macedonia has been under the influence of German occupation. In Demir Kapija, where we are from, the tunnel that leads to the south into Greece was a checkpoint to cross the boarder. There is an inscription above the tunnel in German that illustrates this control. Macedonia was split to Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia after the Balkan Wars and the territory of the Republic of Macedonia fell under the control of Serbia, Bulgaria keeping much influence until the start of World War II.
The years of World War II saw nearly 8000 Macedonian/Yugoslavic Jews deported to concentration camps by the Axis powers. Jews had been in the Macedonian territory for millennia, from Thessaloniki to Skopje. In 1941, Macedonia-Yugoslavia was invaded by Axis powers and given control to Bulgaria.
Bulgarian citizenship was not granted to Jewish Macedonians
and commercial trade and commerce was forbidden in the key cities where
the majority of Jews lived. Bitola, for example, had around 2,000 Jews
in the early 20th century. On April 5, 1943, the Jewish population of
Bitola was deported to the German concentration/extermination camp of
Treblinka in German-occupied Poland. By 1952, one or two Jews were left
in Bitola. There had been five synagogues in Bitola, none of which remain
today. The Jewish presence in Bitola was wiped out.
Picture: German Bunker
An additional 50,000 Jews lived in Thessaoniki and just as many in Bulgaria proper. Today, very few remain due to the deportations of nearly all of them in the Balkans over this campaign.
Macedonia was not only split to Bulgaria, but also the western portion
including Tetovo, Gostivar, to Struga, 
were annexed to Albania. The Serbian
Orthodox, Macedonian Orthodox, Roma, and Jewish populations were the
targets for elimination/deportation of the Greater Albania movement.
On August 29, 1944, Bulgaria signed an armistice with Russia and switched
sides in the war following the advance of the Russian Red Army in the
Balkans and the defeat of the German forces. The 1st and 2nd Bulgarian
Armies attacked the retreating German forces which included the Albanian
militia.
Macedonia was liberated from Axis forces and Yugoslavia gained control again of the territory that occupies the Republic of Macedonia today. Macedonia declared its independence and we celebrate the liberation of German forces to this region every 7th of November.
Our Municipality Arms
The 7th of November Demir Kapija celebrates the 7th of November,
the day of it’s liberation from the Nazi occupation one of the most important
dates of Demir Kapija’s history which is deeply carved in the peoples mind.
A day when our grandfathers liberated the town. Inhabitants of the rebellious
Tikves region joined the army to help the liberation of the fascism. The
victory in that bloody epopee which lasted for four years was an act of
the survival fighters and of those who couldn’t see the achievement of
their ideals. The whole Tikves region was liberated on the 8th of November.
Our City as it appears today
Students working with Global Dreamers Unit
David Fox, Dimce Angelov Gaberot Primary School, Demir Kapija, Macedonia