Independent Macedonia (1944)
The Independent State of Macedonia was a proposed puppet state of Nazi Germany during the Second World War in the territory of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia that had been occupied by the Kingdom of Bulgaria following the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941.
Bulgarian postage stamps overprinted for use in Independent Macedonia. They are dated September 8, 1944 − the date of the proclamation of the state.
Ivan Mihaylov Gavrilov, known also by his short name as Vancho Mihaylov, was a Bulgarian revolutionary in interwar Macedonia, and the last leader of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO).
Ivan Mihailov
Mihaylov (second from the right) with other IMRO-comitadjis ca. 1924.
Ivan Mihaylov, his wife Mencha Karnicheva and Marko Doshen on the grave of Todor Alexandrov in 1933
Mihaylov (to the left) with the vormer IMRO activist Pandeli Stoyanov in Rome (1969).