ALDA International
Summer School
First World War on the Macedonian Front:
Remembrance through the cultural heritage
For this Summer school we propose a multidisciplinary approach on the subject of the First World War on the Macedonian front. The speakers on the Summer school will be various international experts and researchers who will contribute with different perspectives on this complex conflict. We offer a unique interdisciplinary, interactive experience with on the field visits of the remains of the Macedonian Front in the Republic of Macedonia. This summer school is a result of several years’ work in Bitola region on First World War in the framework of the cooperation Normandy – Macedonia.
ALDA’s International Summer School on “Remembrance through the cultural heritage of the First World War on the Macedonian Front” provides a unique opportunity to visit and research untouched cultural heritage from the First World War on the Fronts where several armies from the Entente and the Central Powers were stationed.
Program
– Lectures on the First World War: social history, archaeology, cultural heritage, ethnology, culture
– On the field visit of the tranches from the First World War in Novaci, Dojran and Prespa
– Visit of Bitola Museum, French cemeteries, Archives of Bitola
– Meetings with decision-makers and local population and discussions on heritage from WW1
– Cultural program: films, photos and videos as cultural heritage from First World War
– Interactive workshops and discussions on the topic of war and remembrance
– Optional: One-day visit in Ohrid
– The program is led by professionals, professors and practitioners in the field of history, archaeology, ethnology, cultural heritage and art.
Location: Bitola (Republic of Macedonia)
Dates: 25.06.2016 – 30.06.2016
Participants: Open to students on history, archeology, ethnology or other related fields, civil society representatives or activists on remembrance questions, history enthusiasts (age: 18 to 30)
Language: English
Deadline for application: 25 May 2016
Application: If you are interested to apply for ALDA Summer school please contact ALDA Skopje office at: aldaskopje@aldaintranet.org
More info about the historical context: The Macedonian Front is also known as “the forgotten Front”, it is true that History celebrates the triumphs and losses of the Western Front, while the Macedonian Front also known as the Salonika Front, Front d’Orient or the Southern Front has been disregarded. Nonetheless, all the belligerent armies were stationed and battled at one point thousands of soldiers perished on the Macedonian Front, often because of the terrible conditions due to sicknesses and famine. Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia (which encompasses the current territory of the Republic of Macedonia) and Albania were at the heart of the Macedonian Front. The losses on the Macedonian Front of the First World War were heavily neglected throughout history, even though, nearly one million soldiers of ten different armies fought and died there between autumn 1915 and September 1918. The Commemoration of Centenary of the First World War is an opportunity to remember and contextualize this forgotten Front. The remains from the First World War in the Republic of Macedonia is an invaluable terrain for research in social, military and cultural history, ethnology and archeology. This school is an opportunity for pioneer work on the subject of First World War in the Republic of Macedonia for it has been scarcely researched as is the case for the whole history of the Macedonian Front. The battle of Monastir (now Bitola) is one of the crucial battles where the Allied forces won. As a result of that battle the city was almost completely destroyed. One hundred years later the cultural heritage of that period (cemeteries, war constructions, trenches) is a silent witness of the struggles and victories of soldiers and locals. In September 1918, the Allied troops led by French General Franchet d’Esperey overthrew the enemy forces and conquered the current territory of the Republic of Macedonia. Indeed, the great battle that took place near Bitola (formerly Monastir) is considered as a crucial event which led to the eventual defeat of the Central Powers. The current territory of the Republic of Macedonia was the battle scene between the Austro-Hungarian armies, German, Bulgarian and Turkish, on the one hand and the French armies, English, Greek, and Serbian on the other. Thus, the current territory of the Republic of Macedonia was one of the most affected territories in the action of the Macedonian Front. The cities: Bitola, Dojran, Gevgelija, Kukush, Ohrid, Prilep, Krushevo were almost completely destroyed during the War. In Novaci, the trenches and remains of the Allied as well as the Central Powers front’s positions are still visible and can be visited on the field.
