The military history of North Macedonia spans from the beginning of World War II until the conflict with ethnic Albanian militants, such as the 2001 Macedonia conflict. The country also contributed troops in the War on Terror.
20th century
editWorld War II
edit1941–1945
editThe Mirče Acev Battalion, called the first regular unit of the Macedonian Partisans, was formed on 18 August 1943 on Mount Slavej between Ohrid and Kičevo. Since 1993, that day has been celebrated as the Day of the Army. On 11 November 1943, the 1st Macedonian Kosovo Shock Brigade was formed in western Macedonia by merging two Vardar Macedonian and one Kosovo battalion. The second — larger ethnic Macedonian military unit was the 2nd Macedonian Shock Brigade, formed on 22 December 1943 just across the border in Greek Macedonia.[1][page needed] On 26 February 1944 in the village of Zegljane, near Kumanovo, the 3rd Macedonian Shock Brigade was formed. These three brigades were the nucleus of the National Liberation Army of Macedonia, which after constant battles became stronger in numbers. Meanwhile, the second session of AVNOJ recognized the Macedonians as a separate nation for the first time in November 1943. From 8,000 partisans in the summer of 1944, until the final military operations in the Yugoslav National Liberation War in April 1945, the National Liberation Army of Macedonia had increased to three corps, seven divisions and thirty brigades, all with a total of 100,000 regular soldiers.Meanwhile, the second session of AVNOJ recognized the Macedonians as a separate nation for the first time in November 1943. From 8,000 partisans in the summer of 1944, until the final military operations in the Yugoslav National Liberation War in April 1945, the National Liberation Army of Macedonia had increased to three corps, seven divisions and thirty brigades, all with a total of 100,000 regular soldiers.
In 1943, the Partisan detachments in Macedonia became formally part of the People's Liberation Army of Macedonia, the first Macedonian military organization. The unit consisted of various battalions, brigades and regiments that adopted the names of former Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) revolutionaries, rebel leaders and founders of the partisan detachments.
Cold War
editDuring the Greek Civil War ethnic Macedonians in Edessa, Kastoria and Florina, Paskal Mitrevski, Mihail Keramidzhiev, Georgi Urdov, Atanas Koroveshov, Pavle Rakovski and Mincho Fotev, formed the National Liberation Front on 23 April 1945. According to its statute, their objectives were: to resist the "Monarchist-Fascist aggressors", to fight for democracy and a Greek Republic; and the physical preservation of the ethnic Macedonian population.[1]
During the former Yugoslav period, SR Macedonia, like each of the Yugoslav constituent republics had its own Territorial Defense armed forces.[2] During the breakup of Yugoslavia these forces acted as a predecessor to today's military of the Republic of North Macedonia by taking over the control of the military bases and borders from the retreating Yugoslav People's Army.
21st century
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2001 insurgency
editThe 2001 insurgency was a short-lived civil conflict between ethnic Albanian militants of the NLA and special police and military forces of the Republic of Macedonia.
The conflict, which ended with the disarmament of the Albanian militia, resulted in 63 Macedonian military killed in action.