07-01-2014, 12:08 PM
Here is a woman with a very interesting story. Donka Nikolova Demirevska, partisan and partner, later wife of Vasil Sotilov Demirevski, commander of the 3rd Guards Regiment "Dupnitsa" of the Bulgarian Army.
These photographs come from 1957 and 1959 awards books of her group of 6 Orders and 7 Medals dating 1948-1985.
During a "People's Court" trial of early 1945 Bozhija V'rbanova testified against Atanas Lazarov, mayor of Ploski that he had tried to rape Donka Demirevska. "I can say without shame - I met D. Demirevska and she told me A. Lazarova tried to rape her!".
The people's prosecutor then labelled Lazarov "a rapist" and "refined agent of fascism everywhere pushing its pro-German policy" - He was then executed.
The partisan activity of Donka is described as such -
On 29th - 30th October 1944 The 3rd Guards Rifle Regiment "Dupnitsa" under the command of Colonel Vasil Sotilov Demirevski attacked the heavily fortified German held Jastrebets Peak - elevation 711 Metres.
On 24th October Demirevski received orders from the commander of the 1st Sofia Guards Division Major-General Dimit'r Popov to attack and conquer Jastrebets Peak near Bojanova, Yugoslavia.
The task was extremely difficult and hard, as the long elevation was attacked unsuccessfully by the 10th Cavalry and 25th Infantry Regiment. At Peak Jastrebets the Germans had created a heavily fortified defence system. This enabled them to hold in their hands Bojanova whilst German troops retreated from Greece.
For attacking and conquering of elevation 711 was only known to the command. The last days of October were rainy and cold. The headquarters of the regiment decided the first attack was to take place on 29th October with the assault group led by group commander, Captain Velko Lazov. At 6.30 am, the regiment began preparation. The artillery did not leave a metre of land undestroyed. At 7am the top (of the peak) withstood a large "Hurrah" of the Guards Assault Group. The Germans were silent as though there was no-one left alive in their trenches. Hot and panting our troops reached the crest of peak Jastrebets and started the dogfight with the Germans who fought desperately for life or death. Velko Lazov reported to the regimental commander that Jastrebets was ours. The Germans quickly regrouped and counterattacked again taking the top. Velko Lazov was severely wounded but most of the Assault Group died.
For the current difficult situation, the commander of the regiment reported to the headquarters of the division and decided on 30th October to personally lead a new assault group to capture elevation 711. After artillery preparation, undaunted the group progressing to the top and permeates the trenches of the enemy. At this point the Germans pop out with flying white towels - a sign of surrender. But it was a scam. When our soldiers are close to them, to take them captive, they had become fast and opened fire. The commander of the regiment was badly wounded. Wounded as was his companion Donka Demirevska. Our soldiers withdrew them back, to assist them, but the Germans found them, directing fire at them and almost the entire group is killed.
After several days of attacks and counterattacks fighters of the 3rd Guards Regiment under the command of the new commander of the regiment - Colonel Boris Tashev crushed the heavily fortified line of the Nazis as a result of which found their way to town Bojanovo and on 8th November the regiment by storm over the river Morava (no bridges) and took Bojanova which forced the Germans to retreat westward through bottlenecks in the Albanian mountains.
Total - fighters of the regiment died 55 volunteers and the commander of the regiment.
It looks like she was lucky more than once during some very poor times.
These photographs come from 1957 and 1959 awards books of her group of 6 Orders and 7 Medals dating 1948-1985.
During a "People's Court" trial of early 1945 Bozhija V'rbanova testified against Atanas Lazarov, mayor of Ploski that he had tried to rape Donka Demirevska. "I can say without shame - I met D. Demirevska and she told me A. Lazarova tried to rape her!".
The people's prosecutor then labelled Lazarov "a rapist" and "refined agent of fascism everywhere pushing its pro-German policy" - He was then executed.
The partisan activity of Donka is described as such -
On 29th - 30th October 1944 The 3rd Guards Rifle Regiment "Dupnitsa" under the command of Colonel Vasil Sotilov Demirevski attacked the heavily fortified German held Jastrebets Peak - elevation 711 Metres.
On 24th October Demirevski received orders from the commander of the 1st Sofia Guards Division Major-General Dimit'r Popov to attack and conquer Jastrebets Peak near Bojanova, Yugoslavia.
The task was extremely difficult and hard, as the long elevation was attacked unsuccessfully by the 10th Cavalry and 25th Infantry Regiment. At Peak Jastrebets the Germans had created a heavily fortified defence system. This enabled them to hold in their hands Bojanova whilst German troops retreated from Greece.
For attacking and conquering of elevation 711 was only known to the command. The last days of October were rainy and cold. The headquarters of the regiment decided the first attack was to take place on 29th October with the assault group led by group commander, Captain Velko Lazov. At 6.30 am, the regiment began preparation. The artillery did not leave a metre of land undestroyed. At 7am the top (of the peak) withstood a large "Hurrah" of the Guards Assault Group. The Germans were silent as though there was no-one left alive in their trenches. Hot and panting our troops reached the crest of peak Jastrebets and started the dogfight with the Germans who fought desperately for life or death. Velko Lazov reported to the regimental commander that Jastrebets was ours. The Germans quickly regrouped and counterattacked again taking the top. Velko Lazov was severely wounded but most of the Assault Group died.
For the current difficult situation, the commander of the regiment reported to the headquarters of the division and decided on 30th October to personally lead a new assault group to capture elevation 711. After artillery preparation, undaunted the group progressing to the top and permeates the trenches of the enemy. At this point the Germans pop out with flying white towels - a sign of surrender. But it was a scam. When our soldiers are close to them, to take them captive, they had become fast and opened fire. The commander of the regiment was badly wounded. Wounded as was his companion Donka Demirevska. Our soldiers withdrew them back, to assist them, but the Germans found them, directing fire at them and almost the entire group is killed.
After several days of attacks and counterattacks fighters of the 3rd Guards Regiment under the command of the new commander of the regiment - Colonel Boris Tashev crushed the heavily fortified line of the Nazis as a result of which found their way to town Bojanovo and on 8th November the regiment by storm over the river Morava (no bridges) and took Bojanova which forced the Germans to retreat westward through bottlenecks in the Albanian mountains.
Total - fighters of the regiment died 55 volunteers and the commander of the regiment.
It looks like she was lucky more than once during some very poor times.
"Signed with his own rubber stamp"
