Dumkova Katina

Twenty-year-old Katina Dumkova, heroic girl, fighter for DAG, does not live among us today. She died in the area of Vulgara-Kotelsko (Gramos) fighting courageously in the front line for freedom, independence and democracy.

Katina was born in the beautiful and heroic village Ekshisovo in the Lerin region, to a poor farming family. She grew up with the burden of poverty and hard work. She was short in stature, full of life and active.

When our motherland was subjected to Nazi fascism and the voice of the doubly enslaved people called us to fight for freedom, this young girl joined the ranks of EPON. As a member of EPON, an "eponitka", she was tireless in her work. Her fiery heart was full of hate for the tyrants and desire for the emancipation of the people steered her to revolution. These were the reasons she gave her all in battle.

After Varkiza, Katina felt her people had again been enslaved. Her life was hard. She could not bear the disgrace imposed on her family or her beloved EPON by the monarcho-fascists. Before her very eyes, two of her neighbours, sisters Vesa and Niki Srezhovi were burned alive in the village square.

Despite seeing that brutal terror and torture the young revolutionary was not afraid, she did not bow her head for even a moment but rather continued to work tirelessly, she worked illegally in the ranks of EPON. In 1947 her revolutionary heart led her to the free mountain where she joined the ranks of DAG. She put a rifle over her shoulder and vowed revenge against the people's tyrants. In the harshest battles Katina distinguished herself and was an example of bravery.

She was ready for anything and always happy, spreading cheer, smiles and faith in revolution. In the campaign she was an outstanding fighter, a mother and sister, a leader, an example for her comrades and revolutionaries in the battalion. They all spoke about her golden heart, her strength. Fear was unknown to her. Her words and works repeated and strengthened the men and women fighters. She became a sergeant and was responsible for the women in her unit. She was like a mother to the young girls in the unit and all of them loved and respected her. The fighters in the unit treated her with the respect they would have shown their own sister and all of them called her "pride of our unit."

On 2 April 1949 on the march from Vich to Gramos, in the midst of the enemy lines, the small DAG fighter was tireless. She ran around and helped the young girls with a motherly manner. And on the mountain pass at Alevica, when her unit was cutting the barbed wire set up by the enemy, Katina showed real courage.

Early in the morning 5 April 1949 Katina's unit was pressed against a cliff, near the Kotelska hill (Pirgos Kotilis) from which two years earlier, three DAG warriors threw themselves to avoid being captured by the enemy. Katina remembered those three brave DAG members and took courage from their brave example. The intense battle started very early. Two enemy battalions attacked the unit. Specially selected people's fighters tore the enemy battalion apart and together with the other DAG units freed Gramos again. Katina fought bravely and fearlessly on the Vulgara hill as always. With the sub machine gun and bombs in her hands she aimed the people's wrath and vengeance at the enemy. And standing upright she went from one place to another, from one young woman to another and gave words of encouragement to the young women fighters - "Do not be afraid, we will eat them alive," she called fearlessly. "They are fighting for foreigners, for the American interests." Then she turned to the honourable solders and officers of the fascist battalion and with her words she sowed love and accord. She invited them to stop the battle in which brother was killing brother.

It was 11 in the morning and Katina was fighting with a song on her lips. For a moment she stood up to see, to help another young woman who was close to her. And just at that moment an enemy grenade wounded her in the stomach, the leg and arm. Katina realised she was hit but did not shed even a tear at the pain and sadness, and continued with the same belief and calm, to ensure that the others were not worried, and gathering her last strengths, she called: "Comrades! I am dying for the people, for the party, for democracy. You keep fighting."

The comrades lifted her up and took her to the rear and bandaged her wounds. Katina was half dead but still she could not stay at the rear. She made an effort to lift her head, to see the battle, but she could not manage, and, with all her remaining strength she said, "Men, shoot." And she lost consciousness, her body slackened and she fell off the cliff. She fell in that holy place below the Kotelska hill where the three heroes had fallen two years before.

Katina died but her example, the example of heroism and self sacrifice remained forever strong in the memories of her comrades and led them in the battle for Freedom, Democracy, Peace. And tomorrow when our motherland is liberated, the people will erect a tall memorial on the Kotelska hill as a mark of recognition in honour and eternal fame of the immortal heroes of the Liberation.

From: For Sacred National Freedom: Portraits Of Fallen Freedom Fighters

© 2009

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