Macedonian Struggle (1903-1909)
The Medal for the Macedonian Struggle was instituted in 1931 by the Second Hellenic Republic. It was awarded to still living Macedonian veterans of the Macedonian Struggle 1903-1909. The Macedonian Struggle refers to Greek guerrilla warfare against the forces and supporters of the Bulgarian Exarchate (Bulgarian Orthodox Church) and the International Macedonian Revolutionary Organization that were aiming to annex Macedonia to Bulgaria. The Greek efforts for Macedonia were coordinated by the Hellenic Macedonian Committee, formed in 1903.Its fighting forces were mainly former Officers of the Hellenic Army, volunteers brought to Crete and the Peloponnesians as well as Greek Macedonians. The success of their efforts bolstered Greek presence in the still Ottoman-ruled Macedonia and prepared for the annexation of the Greek portion of Macedonia, following the Balkan Wars.
There were only approximately 2,000 medals awarded. The text HELLENIC REPUBLIC circumscribes it. Thew obverse depicts a sculpture of Alexander the Great and the curved inscription, MACEDONIAN STRUGGLE in the upper portion and 1903-1909 below the bust. The reverse features a Phoenix in the center with two different reverse inscriptions: Type 1, issued in 1931, is inscribed HELLENIC REPUBLIC and Type 2, issued in 1936, reads KINGDOM OF GREECE 1931.
Macedonian Struggle 1903-1909 and Type 1 Republican Reverse
The Medal for the Macedonian Struggle was instituted in 1931 by the Second Hellenic Republic. It was awarded to still living Macedonian veterans of the Macedonian Struggle 1903-1909. The Macedonian Struggle refers to Greek guerrilla warfare against the forces and supporters of the Bulgarian Exarchate (Bulgarian Orthodox Church) and the International Macedonian Revolutionary Organization that were aiming to annex Macedonia to Bulgaria. The Greek efforts for Macedonia were coordinated by the Hellenic Macedonian Committee, formed in 1903.Its fighting forces were mainly former Officers of the Hellenic Army, volunteers brought to Crete and the Peloponnesians as well as Greek Macedonians. The success of their efforts bolstered Greek presence in the still Ottoman-ruled Macedonia and prepared for the annexation of the Greek portion of Macedonia, following the Balkan Wars.
There were only approximately 2,000 medals awarded. The text HELLENIC REPUBLIC circumscribes it. Thew obverse depicts a sculpture of Alexander the Great and the curved inscription, MACEDONIAN STRUGGLE in the upper portion and 1903-1909 below the bust. The reverse features a Phoenix in the center with two different reverse inscriptions: Type 1, issued in 1931, is inscribed HELLENIC REPUBLIC and Type 2, issued in 1936, reads KINGDOM OF GREECE 1931.
Macedonian Struggle 1903-1909 and Type 1 Republican Reverse
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