By Franz-Llesh Grishaj
Part Two
—SHKREL AND ITS ROLE IN THE ANTI-COMMUNIST UPRISING OF MALËSIA E MADHE, IN 1945—
Memorie.al / As per Frederick Douglass, “The truth is uniform and beautiful in all times and places.” But unfortunately, this truth was the opposite in our Mother State and in other Albanian lands, under Greek chauvinist and Slav-communist-Yugoslav rule. Historical truth has not only been denied and left in darkness but has also been inexcusably distorted. For example, the document of the Proclamation of Albanian Independence in 1912 was falsified by the historiographers of the Academy of Sciences of the Socialist People’s Republic of Albania, covering the signatures of Mid’hat Frashëri, Lef Nosi, and Mustafa Merlika Kruja.
Continued from the previous issue
A part of the partisans attacked and the two sides clashed muzzle-to-muzzle. In the initial shooting, Pjetër Gjokë Hoti (nephew of Gjon Martin Lulati, who died a few days later in Bajzë) was wounded, and Gjosh Nika along with two other partisans was wounded. After a fierce battle, the partisan forces were defeated, and for safety, about fifteen soldiers entered the houses of the Grishajs and surrendered. Llesh Marashi ordered that their weapons be taken and that they be set free. It is said that some of them went with the insurgent forces to Bajzë (taken from Llesh Luket Grishaj, who was one of those who supplied the freedom fighters; along with his family, and who himself experienced this event).
This is how the anti-communist uprising of Malësia e Madhe began on January 23, 1945. The insurgent forces descended to Bajzë, where after a fierce clash, they captured the post-command where Zef Tomë Ceka of Shkrel was killed face-to-face with Januz Naçi. Lulash Cuk Curanaj (Uldedaj-Bajzë) was also killed. After capturing the post-command, the freedom fighters gathered at the Bajzë churchyard, where the patriotic Franciscan, Father Ciril Cani, rang the church bells as a call to arms and prayed to God to guide the nationalist forces successfully. At the same time, with the blessing of the Shkrel parish priest, Dom Nikollë Gazulli, Kolë Nikë Prela Marcinaj (Cekdedaj-Bzhetë) rang the bells to mobilize Shkrel for war.
The men of Shkrel set off to join the insurgent forces in Koplik. Knowing the danger, the commissioner of the Malësia e Madhe district, Çun Januzi (son of Januz Naçi), left for Shkodra to confront the insurgents. After a stand in Koplik, they left for Shkodra. The partisan forces, warned by Çun Januzi, took up positions at the Rrjoll Bridge. The fiercest and most decisive battle for the uprising took place there, where Gjon Martin Lulati and Mirotë Paloka were bravely killed, and many others were wounded. Meanwhile, at the Shkrel church, Marash Tomë Gjeloshi (Makaj-Bzhetë) fought against a platoon of the Pursuit Forces and was killed while fighting, along with Luigj Kolë Shetajn, Mirash Gjoni, and Prekë Kola. After fierce fighting, the insurgents retreated to the mountains, where they hoped that their fellow highlanders, along with other nationalist forces from Shkodra and other regions, would organize a counter-attack, even though the uprising started prematurely.
At this time, according to Vasel Pjetër Gjoka, some Hoti fighters were prepared to join the fight, but Kadri Deli Meta (Bajraktar of Hoti) did not allow them to participate, saying: “We are trying to stop the killings, and whoever started it, let them have it for themselves, and if you listen to me, you will not go to that place.” Kadri’s instruction was heavy even for Hoti, because he did not take into account that the hero of Dedë Gjo’ Luli’s house, Gjelosh Luli, was in cooperation with his close friend, Llesh Marashi, against communism. Consequently, he remained in Kastrat, sheltered by his relative, Marash Doda, and in Traboin, by the brothers, Mark and Kolë Miri (Dedvukaj-Hot). Here the forces of Lieutenant Baba tortured Kolë Miri, roasting him on a spit, to find out from him where Gjelosh Luli was, and only with the courageous help of the hero Marash Lushk Gjoni (Dushaj-Hot), Kolë Miri managed to escape from their hands.
The fighters of Shkrel and Kastrat remained in the mountains. As punishment for the first shots fired at Luket Marashi’s house, Çun Jonuzi sent his brother, Çela, whose mission was to imprison Luketa’s family, along with the wives and children of his uncles (Zef and Franë Luca). They looted and burned the house, just as the Turks had done in 1911 and the Slavs in 1913. Luket Marashi’s house was the first in Shkrel and Kastrat that the communists set on fire, about which the renowned writer and historian Uran Butka wrote: “The house of Luket Marashi was seen as a volcano, which was a great potential of honor and manliness, in Malësia e Madhe.” This is how the revenge against Malësia e Madhe began!
The year 1945 was difficult even for that part of Malësia e mbi Shkodra that remained under Montenegrin occupation, especially for Hoti and Gruda, where to subdue the highlanders, Bajo Stankoviqi would cooperate with Lieutenant Baba and Petro Bullatoviq. The Yugoslav communists would sing, “Tito-Enver-Stalin, Trisine (Triad),” while the Albanian communists, “Enver-Tito-Stalin, we are all for one oath!” Bajo Stankoviqi, who had an iron fist against this zone, began arresting the highlanders. The son of Prekë Tomë Ujkaj (Selisht-Grudë), Luc Preka Lulgjuraj, with his cousin, Mirash Zef Kola, returned from Kelmend (where they were volunteer fighters) and issued a call to arms to help their highlander brothers of Kelmend, Shkrel, and Kastrat. At that time, Shab Smaku Berisha died, and in his honor in Priften-Grudë, a gathering was set to discuss the fights that had been waged against communism in Malësia e Madhe and other regions in Albania.
And at this gathering, Luc Preka Lulgjuraj read the letter of Prekë Cali, which among other things said: “Whoever feels Albanian and believes in God, I call upon them to come to the aid of Kelmend and Malësia e Madhe, against communism.” Unfortunately, circumstances were the factor for which the leaders of Gruda and Hoti could not participate in this discussion, because they were between two fires. A part of Rrapshë and all of Traboini, along with Gruda, remained under Yugoslav occupation, where Bajo Stankoviqi, with his partisans, terrorized the highlanders; while on the other side were Lieutenant Baba along with the Yugoslav Petro Bullatoviq. Thus, the unbreakable alliance during five centuries, and through bloody wars for Albanian freedom and territorial integrity, was broken in Malësia e Madhe!
In February of that year, the Yugoslav communists arrested the parish priest of Traboini, Father Leonard Tagaj (called Father Zefi by the highlanders), with Pjetër Zeku Camajn (cousin of Smajl Mark Luli) and Vasel Mirash Camajn (Vojvoda of Vuksanaj). They were executed without a judicial process. Immediately after these, Gjelosh “Losh” Gjokë Lajcaj (Luket Marashi’s maternal cousin) went to his kumbar and friend of Luketa, Zef Miliqi Lulgjuraj, in Selisht, with the purpose of sheltering Luketa’s two sons (Paloka and Dedë) and his cousin (Prel Franë Grishaj), who was in Hoti. Here too, Bajo Stankoviqi arrested Luc Preka in Selisht for his anti-communist activity, along with his two brothers, Dodë and Gjergj Lulgjuraj, Kolë Gjel Caku (Ujkaj-Trepsh), and Zef Miliqi and Gjelosh Gjokë Lajçajn, and executed them all without trial, at the Gruda church (this event is known from Gjelosh Gjoka’s nephew, Vasel Pjetër Lajçaj).
As a note, it is worth mentioning that during the time of the Informburo, Bajo Stankoviqi sought political asylum in Albania, and Enver Hoxha immediately accepted him, rewarding his barbarism against the Albanians under Montenegro and appointing him Chairman of the Office for Yugoslav subjects’ Refugees in Albania, where the overwhelming majority were Albanians. In the spring of the same year, 1945, Lieutenant Baba, accompanied by the local partisan, Nikollë Mirash Gjonaj, went to Drume-Hoti, seeking to arrest the Shkodran Gjysh Pistullin with Vasel Pjetër Gjonaj. In a barbaric manner, Marash Uc Gjonaj, Franë Pjetër Gjonaj (Vasel’s brother), Lene Kolën Gjonaj (Vasel’s cousin) were tortured, and Gjeto Dedë Vatë Gjonaj was taken for interrogation.
During the years 1945–’46, only a few fighting bands remained, pursued by the communist forces. The others were executed, imprisoned, interned, or, due to known circumstances, surrendered. In early 1946, Prekë Lekë Gjoni, with his brother Pashku, were surrounded by the partisan brigade, but they did not surrender and were killed in the mountains, above the Kroni i Kurrilës of Dedaj, after resisting heroically. That same year, the scholar and patriot Dom Nikollë Gazulli was killed by the State Security forces. The communist newspaper “Koha e Re” of Shkodra, trumpeted; “On March 23, 1946, Dom Nikollë Gazulli, a collaborator of Llesh Marashi, a traitor of the people, is killed in Sukë e Madhe, Kastrat Village in the Sub-Prefecture of Koplik.”
For 18 consecutive months, Luket Marashi remained in resistance, to avoid falling into the hands of the State Security. A great help to Luketa’s resistance was given by his friends, often sheltering him and supplying him with food. In a siege by the Pursuit Forces in Kastrat, he was wounded while breaking the encirclement. His body, semi-decomposed, was found on Good Friday, 1946, on the side of Kastrat, at the White Stones (Gurët e Bardhë), by his cousin, Gjon Zefi, along with his father, Zef Luca (Luketa’s uncle). Llesh Marashi with Pjetër Gjokë Bajraktari and Rrok Kanti also remained in hiding, based in the Mountains of Vrrith. Here the Pursuit Forces discovered and surrounded them. Pjetër Gjokë Bajraktari was seriously wounded; Rrok Kanti attempted to kill himself, so as not to surrender. Lleshi surrendered on the condition that they would not kill Pjetri and Rroku.
After their capture, the newspaper “Koha e Re” informed readers that the Special Court would proceed against Llesh Marashi and his comrades, accused as “traitors” and “collaborators” with foreign enemies. The trial began on July 10, 1946, at the “Rozafat” Cinema and concluded on July 17, with this decision: “Llesh Marashi is sentenced to death, by hanging on the rope.” He was hanged at the New Shops (Dugajat e Reja) in Shkodra. With the same decision, another leader of Shkrel, Nikollë Prekë Dedaj, and Dom Alfons Tracki (the parish priest of Velipojë, where the overwhelming majority of the parish were Shkrel people who had settled down from the mountains), were sentenced to execution by firing squad as Lleshi’s collaborators.
With the failure of the Uprising of Malësia e Madhe, the ordeal of Malësia e mbi-Shkodra began which remained one of the most persecuted and terrorized regions in all of Albania by the Stalinist-Enverian regime. In conclusion, we recall the words of John Adams, who said: “Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.” And, indeed, the freedom-loving spirit of the highlander did not bow, but on the contrary, became a sacrifice for the high ideal of Albanian nationalism, which means – the Albanian National Idea! So, by recalling the words of Schillenbeeck once again, I believe it is clear who served freedom, the nation, faith, and the fatherland. May their memory be eternal!
Nominal List of Martyrs and Victims of Enverian Communism, from the Shkrel tribe
Martyrs and Victims of Communism from the Shkrel Tribe (1945–1990)
Vrrith:
- Pjetër Gjokë Deda Milaj, Bajraktar, 101 years of imprisonment.
- Preq Pjetër Vulaj, death from torture.
- Mirash Gjoka Arratisë, wounded and died in Yugoslavia.
- Martin Franë Popaj, killed.
- Kolë Tomë Deda, killed.
- Gjokë Dedë Milaj, died in internment (Berat).
- Franë Cul Kroni, 20 years of imprisonment.
- Prekë Gjergj Milaj, 10 years of imprisonment.
- Pjetër Prekë Pacaj, imprisonment, house burned.
- Gjergj Kolë Luca, imprisonment.
- Gjeto Prekë Ramaj, imprisonment.
- Lukë Mac Tucaj, imprisonment.
Bzhetë:
- Mark Tomë Gjeloshi (Makaj), killed in resistance.
- Nikollë Zef Patanaj, killed by partisan forces.
- Prel Tomë Makaj, 101 years of imprisonment.
- Kolë Nikë Marcinaj, sentenced to 25 years, died in prison.
- Gjon Lekë Mirukaj, sentenced to 20 years, tortured, died in prison.
- Zef Murran Luca, 25 years of imprisonment.
- Franë Zef K. Gjeli, 25 years of imprisonment.
- Gjeto Lekë Miruka, 25 years of imprisonment.
- Prel Tomë Gjeloshaj, 20 years of imprisonment.
- Pjetër Lekë Mirukaj, 20 years of imprisonment.
- Gjokë Zef Cekaj, 15 years of imprisonment.
- Marash Zef Cekaj, 10 years of imprisonment.
- Gjelosh Nikë Vukelaj, 5 years of imprisonment.
- Pashko Vat Malota, imprisonment, house burned.
- Tomë Franë Brrakaj, imprisonment.
- Prel Vat Malotaj, imprisonment.
- Lulash Palok Vrucaj, imprisonment.
- Tereze Prekë Xhaj (sister of Nikollë Prekë Dedaj), tortured inhumanely, stood heroically, did not betray her brother.
Dedaj:
- Nikollë Prekë Dedaj, executed by firing squad with Dom Alfons Tracki, etc.
- Gjokë Koka, executed by firing squad.
- Prekë Gjon Dedaj, executed by firing squad.
- Mirash Gj. Sokolaj, executed by firing squad.
- Pjetër Kolë Sokolaj, executed by firing squad.
- Mark S. Sokolaj, 20 years of imprisonment, house burned.
- Marash Kolë Mali, Vojvodë (leader), 3 years of imprisonment.
- Marash Kolë Staka, imprisonment.
- Kolë Tomë Staka, imprisonment, house burned.
- Gjelosh Martini, imprisonment.
- Zef Mali, imprisonment.
- Gjek M. Sokoli, imprisonment.
- Rrok Nikollë Zefi, imprisonment.
Zagorë:
- Major Llesh Marashi, hanged by rope, house burned.
- Luket Marash Grishaj, killed in the mountains, house burned.
- Prekë Lekë Kolaj, killed in the mountains, house burned.
- Pashko Lekë Kolaj, killed in the mountains.
- Dan Coli Vucaj, killed by partisans (Lezhë Church).
- Franë Pjetër Marashi, executed by firing squad.
- Ndue Gjelosh Marashi, executed by firing squad.
- Nrekë Pjetër Zef Culaj, executed by firing squad.
- Mark Gjokë Leknikaj, died in prison.
- Rexhë Mehmet Vucaj, died in prison.
- Gjelosh Marashi, 101 years of imprisonment.
- Edvard Llesh Marashi, imprisoned, released after having both legs amputated.
- Rrok Kanto Marashi, 10 years of imprisonment, internment until 1990.
- Pjetër Marashi, imprisoned, died after release from prison.
- Mark Gjelosh Marashi, 10 years of imprisonment.
- Kolë Nikë Colaj, 10 years of imprisonment.
- Mirash Prec Grishaj, 10 years of imprisonment.
- Prel Gjelosh Marashi, 7 years of imprisonment.
- Gjelosh Ndoc Marashi, 7 years of imprisonment.
- Marash Vat Gjelosh Marashi, 7 years of imprisonment.
- Franë Luc Grishaj, imprisonment, tortured, 3 years of imprisonment.
- Brahim Xhigji Vucaj, imprisonment.
- Sadri Zekë Leknikaj, imprisonment.
- Dyl Qerim Leknikaj, imprisonment.
- Prec Curri Grishaj, imprisonment.
- Zef Luc Grishaj, imprisonment.
- Prel Franë Grishaj, imprisonment.
- Palok Luket Grishaj, imprisonment, internment.
- Dedë Luket Grishaj, imprisonment.
- Llesh Marashi’s Family (wives and children), internment in Berat (approx. 2 years).
- Luket Marashi’s Family (wives and children), imprisoned in Shkodra prison and internment in Berat (16 months total).
- Zef and Franë Luc Grishaj’s Families (wives and children), imprisoned in Shkodra prison.
- Palok Luket Grishaj, interned for the second time in Savër, from 1957 until 1990 (internment with family), where he also died in internment.
Catholic Clergy (Parish Priests of Shkrel or served there):
- Dom Nikollë Gazulli, killed by Pursuit Forces in 1946.
- Dom Ndre Zadeja, executed by firing squad in 1945.
- Dom Gjergj Volaj (Monsignor), executed by firing squad in 1947.
- Dom Pjetër Quni, died from torture in 1948.
- Dom Aleksander Sirdani, died from torture in 1948.
- Dom Ndoc Nikaj, died in prison in 1951.
- Dom Pjetër Gruda, died in prison in 1989.
Note: This paper was first presented at the Scientific Symposium, for the 60th Anniversary of the Anti-Communist Resistance and Uprising of Malësia e Madhe, in 1945, in the “Father Gjergj Fishta” hall, of the Albanian Catholic Church of Saint Paul in Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S.A., on February 6, 2005. Memorie.al
