In memory of all the Jews killed and killed in World War II, we share with you the story of courage of Branko Fritzhand in the assassination of Mane Machkov. The original text about this assassination is taken from the book “Skopje during the War for Liberation and Revolution 1941-1945” published by the Skopje Archive in 1984.

 

In the Second Boys' Gymnasium in Skopje, in the period September to November 1941, the number of SKOJ members increased from 9 to 22 in just one class, which had 37 students. At the time, Branko Fritzhand was the secretary of a SKOJ group.

 

The Bulgarian government expelled Branko Fritzhand from the gymnasium without the right to enroll in the 1942-1943 school year on charges of ideas contrary to the constitutional order of the country.

 

Branko Fritzhand joined a sabotage group in the city in 1942 and took an active part in the armed combat by assassinating enemy spies.

 

His group also included other SKOJ members: Trpe Jakovlevski, Kocho Bitoljanu and Angel Mijahlovski. On 20 August 1942 they carried out the second assassination and killed the infamous traitor and executioner Mane Machkov who was a spy for the Bulgarian police and a servant of the occupier.

 

..... Machkov lived in Bunjakovec, near the corner of “280” and “230” streets. At around 13:00 hours the three of us set up around the corner on “230” Street – each armed with a revolver and the other two also had bombs. Opposite the other corner was Mihajlovski, armed only with a bomb. He was watching the entrance of the house where Machkov lived, and we were constantly staring at him while waiting to give us a specific sign – to run his right hand slowly through his hair.... Bitoljanu continues his narration.... It was after 15:30 hours –Branko Fritzhand added, looking at his watch a little disappointed. But, at that moment, we noticed how Mihajlovski meticulously run his hand over his slicked-back hair. We run down the stairs of a closed bar where we had been sitting until then and headed for the corner. We pulled the revolvers out from under the belts and then we heard footsteps and saw his long shadow around the corner, and then Machkov appeared. It seemed scarier to me than I initially knew him. And then – shots echoed and Machkov collapsed on the sidewalk with a terrible roar. It happened on 20 August 1942. The party kept its word – the traitor will be punished…

 

After two days, the police already had all information about the assassins.

 

Soon they arrested around twenty people and imprisoned them. They were severely tortured and beaten during the investigation. The main organizer of the assassination, Pero Nakov, was hanged a few days later. We were not enough to the Bulgarians - several days afterwards they shot another larger group of patriots in the prison.

 

Since the assassins were underage, they got 15 years in prison.

 

The sister of Branko Fritzhand, Zlata, joined another SKOJ group as a pupil. This was ‘purely’ Jewish group and was in hiding.

 

SKOJ members that were arrested and sentenced in 1942 were Shami Moritz, Moritz Romano, Victor Pardo, Avram Anaf and Eli Faradzi. Fighters in NOPO "Damjan Gruev" from the very beginning were the following: Victor Meshulam-Bustrik, Josef Peso (Pepo), Mordo Todolano (Spiro). Fighters in the "Jane Sandanski" detachment were the following (1942): Beno Ruso (Koki), Mordechai Nachmias (Lazo), Nisim Alba (Miki), Aaron Aroesti. Fighters in the units of the National Liberation Army from March 1943 were the following: Estreja Ovadia (Mara), posthumously proclaimed national hero, Zhamila Kolomonos (Cveta), Adela Faradzi (Kata), Estreja Levi (Lena), Rosa Kamhi, Samuel Sadikario (Mo), Sami Sadikario, Albert Kasorla (Berto), Albert Ruso (Kate).

 

The surviving Macedonian Jews that remained to live in Macedonia were actively engaged in the national fight for liberation. They had many prominent fighters and first fighters. Let us remember the general Beno Ruso, the national hero Estreja Ovadija – Mara. Let us remember the first fighters Roza Kamhi Ruso, Zhamila Kolomonos - Cveta, the fighters Isak Sion, Samoil Mizrahi, Benjamin Samokovlija, Milan Bahar, Gjorgje Blaer, Meshulam Alba, Haim Levy, Josef Pesso, Shami Parorist, Ari Mororist, A Anaf, Haim Sadikario, Branko Fritzhand, Avram Sadikario, Eli Fraji, Moritz Romano and many other Macedonian Jews. They all embedded themselves in the Macedonian freedom and independence. We are eternally grateful to them for that.

In memory of all the Jews killed and killed in World War II, we share with you the story of courage of Branko Fritzhand in the assassination of Mane Machkov. The original text about this assassination is taken from the book “Skopje during the War for Liberation and Revolution 1941-1945” published by the Skopje Archive in 1984.

 

In the Second Boys' Gymnasium in Skopje, in the period September to November 1941, the number of SKOJ members increased from 9 to 22 in just one class, which had 37 students. At the time, Branko Fritzhand was the secretary of a SKOJ group.

 

The Bulgarian government expelled Branko Fritzhand from the gymnasium without the right to enroll in the 1942-1943 school year on charges of ideas contrary to the constitutional order of the country.

 

Branko Fritzhand joined a sabotage group in the city in 1942 and took an active part in the armed combat by assassinating enemy spies.

 

His group also included other SKOJ members: Trpe Jakovlevski, Kocho Bitoljanu and Angel Mijahlovski. On 20 August 1942 they carried out the second assassination and killed the infamous traitor and executioner Mane Machkov who was a spy for the Bulgarian police and a servant of the occupier.

 

..... Machkov lived in Bunjakovec, near the corner of “280” and “230” streets. At around 13:00 hours the three of us set up around the corner on “230” Street – each armed with a revolver and the other two also had bombs. Opposite the other corner was Mihajlovski, armed only with a bomb. He was watching the entrance of the house where Machkov lived, and we were constantly staring at him while waiting to give us a specific sign – to run his right hand slowly through his hair.... Bitoljanu continues his narration.... It was after 15:30 hours –Branko Fritzhand added, looking at his watch a little disappointed. But, at that moment, we noticed how Mihajlovski meticulously run his hand over his slicked-back hair. We run down the stairs of a closed bar where we had been sitting until then and headed for the corner. We pulled the revolvers out from under the belts and then we heard footsteps and saw his long shadow around the corner, and then Machkov appeared. It seemed scarier to me than I initially knew him. And then – shots echoed and Machkov collapsed on the sidewalk with a terrible roar. It happened on 20 August 1942. The party kept its word – the traitor will be punished…

 

After two days, the police already had all information about the assassins.

 

Soon they arrested around twenty people and imprisoned them. They were severely tortured and beaten during the investigation. The main organizer of the assassination, Pero Nakov, was hanged a few days later. We were not enough to the Bulgarians - several days afterwards they shot another larger group of patriots in the prison.

 

Since the assassins were underage, they got 15 years in prison.

 

The sister of Branko Fritzhand, Zlata, joined another SKOJ group as a pupil. This was ‘purely’ Jewish group and was in hiding.

 

SKOJ members that were arrested and sentenced in 1942 were Shami Moritz, Moritz Romano, Victor Pardo, Avram Anaf and Eli Faradzi. Fighters in NOPO "Damjan Gruev" from the very beginning were the following: Victor Meshulam-Bustrik, Josef Peso (Pepo), Mordo Todolano (Spiro). Fighters in the "Jane Sandanski" detachment were the following (1942): Beno Ruso (Koki), Mordechai Nachmias (Lazo), Nisim Alba (Miki), Aaron Aroesti. Fighters in the units of the National Liberation Army from March 1943 were the following: Estreja Ovadia (Mara), posthumously proclaimed national hero, Zhamila Kolomonos (Cveta), Adela Faradzi (Kata), Estreja Levi (Lena), Rosa Kamhi, Samuel Sadikario (Mo), Sami Sadikario, Albert Kasorla (Berto), Albert Ruso (Kate).

 

The surviving Macedonian Jews that remained to live in Macedonia were actively engaged in the national fight for liberation. They had many prominent fighters and first fighters. Let us remember the general Beno Ruso, the national hero Estreja Ovadija – Mara. Let us remember the first fighters Roza Kamhi Ruso, Zhamila Kolomonos - Cveta, the fighters Isak Sion, Samoil Mizrahi, Benjamin Samokovlija, Milan Bahar, Gjorgje Blaer, Meshulam Alba, Haim Levy, Josef Pesso, Shami Parorist, Ari Mororist, A Anaf, Haim Sadikario, Branko Fritzhand, Avram Sadikario, Eli Fraji, Moritz Romano and many other Macedonian Jews. They all embedded themselves in the Macedonian freedom and independence. We are eternally grateful to them for that.