I entered the coach shouting: Guys, hurray! Here they are speaking as we do! The Macedonian element among Greek refugees
Abstract
This collective monograph's chapter deals with ethnic composition of Greek emigration to the socialist Czechoslovakia following the outbreak of civil war in Greece (1946-1949). Apart from ethnic Greeks which formed a majority of all emigrants about one third were Greek Slavs, or Slavic Macedonians.
Also other ethnic groups were represented but in smaller numbers such as Aromanians and Turks. Given cultural and language roots similar to the Czechoslovak population the integration of Slavic Macedonians into the society was easier than in case of ethnic Greeks.
On the other hand the Greek state has not till nowadays recognized the Slavic Macedonians as an ethnic minority. Under these circumstances their return to homeland became more complicated, as well as their relations with the emigrants of ethnic Greek origin.