Brother Against Brother оn The Macedonian Front

Panorama of the location of Macedonian front near the villages Gradeshnica and Staravina, Mariovo region

Mitre and Petre were two brothers from village Staravina, Mariovo region, who during the First World War were mobilized by the Serb army and sent to the front with Austria. Petre was imprisoned by the Austrian army, and later was sent to Macedonia, to fight within the Bulgarian Army.
Mitre survived the withdrawal of the Serbian army through Albania, survived typhus, and after his recovery on the island of Corfu, was sent to the newly established Macedonian Front, in the area called “Sokol” (Falcon), near his home village Staravina.
What Mitre did not know is the fact that his brother was alive and stationed less than hundred meters away, on the other side of the barbed wire.
According to the story, Mitre, with his regiment, captured several Bulgarian soldiers, among which was Petre, his brother. Both brothers withdrew to the Serbian side, survived the war and returned to their village, which was destroyed to the ground.
This story with minor variations can be found in many publications and stories from Macedonia, and is used to emphasize the fact that many Macedonians were forcibly recruited from both warring sides (Bulgarian and Serbian army) and fought against each other in the Balkan Wars and First World War.
It is important to emphasize that even today, the exact number of soldiers from Macedonia, who died during these wars is unknown.
Connected to this story, not so far from village Staravina, in village Dobrushevo visitors can see the grave of Petko Liskovski, Macedonian soldier which had the tragic destiny of many men in Macedonia:

Petko Liskovski (1882 - 6.II.1970)

Turkish soldier from 1910 to 1912

Serbian soldier from 1914 to 1915

Bulgarian soldier from 1916 to 1918

Village cemetery, Church St. Spas village Dobrusevo.