Macedonia year 1993 – Foundation of IMRO MNH stamp

Macedonia year 1993 – Foundation of IMRO ☀ MNH (**)stamp

The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) was a revolutionary nationalist organization founded in 1893 by Macedonian intellectuals in Ottoman Macedonia. Initially, IMRO aimed to fight for the autonomy and rights of the Macedonian people within the Ottoman Empire. However, as the organization grew, its goals shifted towards the creation of an independent Macedonian state.

IMRO played a significant role in the struggle for Macedonian autonomy and independence. It organized numerous uprisings, including the Ilinden Uprising in 1903, and engaged in guerrilla warfare against Ottoman authorities. The organization’s tactics often involved targeted assassinations of Ottoman officials and perceived traitors.

IMRO’s activities were not without controversy, as it also engaged in internal power struggles and conflicts with other ethnic groups in the region, particularly Greeks, Bulgarians, and Serbs. These conflicts sometimes led to violent clashes and atrocities committed against civilians.

After the Balkan Wars and World War I, Macedonia was divided among Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia (later Yugoslavia), which significantly weakened IMRO’s influence. The organization continued to exist in various forms throughout the 20th century, including during the period of communist rule in Yugoslavia, but its significance diminished over time.

Today, IMRO remains a complex and controversial topic in the history of Macedonia and the Balkans, with differing interpretations of its role and legacy among various communities and historians.