Dashnor Kaloçi
The first part
Memorie.al publishes the unknown story of the former chairman of the “Communist Youth Group” Anastas Lula, nicknamed “Qorri”, one of the participants in the founding meeting of the Albanian Communist Party, in November ’41, who with On the order of Enver Hoxha, on March 12, 1943, he was executed in the village of Gllava, Tepelena, by a partisan unit of Ramiz Aranitasi’s gang, commanded by Orhan Frashëri, in the presence of all the inhabitants of that village, who had gathered there by order of that partisan unit. Testimonies of Ham and Isuf Keçi, two friends of Anastas’s school, during the period they were studying at the American Fultz Technical School in Tirana, as well as Shyqëri Këllez, Enver Hoxha’s former personal bodyguard during the war, regarding with the deep contradictions of “Qorri” with Enver, Miladin and Dushan, during and after the founding meeting of the SNP, which came mainly due to the problem of Kosovo! The many vicissitudes of the Lula family (originating from the family tree of the former Prime Minister of the Zog Monarchy, Pandeli Evangjeli), to find the remains of Anastasios, after numerous meetings that Dhimitraq Lula had, with some people who showed two the brother’s executors, his last words before the shooting, as well as the place where they had buried him, where he went and found them in 1996!
“On March 12, 1943, a group of partisans of Ramiz Aranitasi’s gang came to my house for lunch, who were commanded by Orhan Frashëri and one of his deputies, whose name was Dhori and who was from Kolonja. They told us that three hours ago, they had shot a former partisan in Glava’s neck, whose name was Anastas Lula. “Anastasin” they said, “we shot him because he had deserted from the leadership in Tirana and cooperated with the occupier, and he had betrayed the Communist Party and the Central Committee. The Central Committee therefore ordered that he be shot. ‘ ‘We’, said Orhan Frashëri, ‘before we shot him, we gathered a part of the population of Glava, we read the order of the Central Committee and after we asked him, what Anastasi had to say, he answered: I want a tobacco cigarette’ . After putting the cigarette in his mouth, as they said, he smoked it several times and then threw it away, addressing them: ‘Now I’m ready. Long live Albania ‘! After Anastasius had said these words, they fired at him with automatic weapons. ‘So’ said Dhori, ‘I fired two more times with a pistol at that cart…! Dhori at the time, was about 35 years old, of medium length and with black hair. I later learned that Anastas Lula had been from Cologne and was the chairman of the “Communist Youth Group” and a member of the Central Committee of the Party. This is what Ferik Demir Çorej, from Uznova in Berat, said in his testimony regarding the murder of Anastas Lula, former chairman of the Communist Youth Group ”and one of the founders of the Albanian Communist Party, who by order of Enver Hoxha, on March 12, 1943, was executed by a partisan unit of Ramiz Aranitasi’s gang, commanded by Orhan Frashëri, a well-known prosecutor before the ’90s in the city of Berat, (he passed away a few years ago at the age of large), which holds the title “Honorary Citizen” of Berat, Skrapar, Mallakastra and Frashër commune in Përmet.
Anastasi was born in Shala of Kolonja, from the family tree of former Prime Minister Evangjeli
According to the testimony of Dhimitraq Lulo, his brother, Anastasi, was born on April 20, 1916, in Shala, Kolonjë, and he was the first of five sons and two daughters, who had Refail Lula, who descended from the family tree of Pandeli Vangjeli, former prime minister and chairman of the Senate during the Zog Monarchy. After completing the Plotore School in Ersekë, Ansatasi gained the right to continue his studies at the American Technical School in Tirana, which at that time was run by Harry Fultz. According to some testimonies of his family and also of his schoolmates who were studying with him at that time, in the Tirana Technical School, Anastasi was by nature a very intelligent guy, he studied a lot. Based on these qualities, he managed to complete his studies at the Technical School in 1938, receiving the title “Graduate”, which was the highest grade given by that school.
Anastasi with Sadik Friday, at the head of the “Communist Youth Group”
Like many young people of that time, who had come into contact with communist ideas and thought that communism would bring a new life and only he would face it, opposing fascism that was preparing to plague the world, Anastas Lula was also among the first to embrace those ideas, from which he would soon be separated, being his first victim in Albania. Thus, with the beginning of the communist movement in the late ’30s, which began to spread in several cities of the country such as: Shkodra, Gjirokastra, Korca, Elbasan, Tirana, etc., several cells were created, in the form of groups of Anastasi together with his friend, Sadik Premten (from Tragjasi of Vlora), stood out among the young people who attended the American Technical School in Tirana and they both formed the communist group, which was known and baptized as’ The Group of the Youth ‘, where besides Sadik and Anastas, there were also some young boys, originating from Kosovo, such as: Sadik Staveleci, Ramadan Çitaku, Xhoxhi Martini, etc. That group that was formed with young people, mainly of that school, but that also established its branches in some of the main cities of Albania, began to consolidate and under the leadership of Sadik Premte and Anastas Lula, took the first actions against fascist Italy, especially with the denunciation of the war against Greece in 1940, which was done by throwing tracts. Regarding the above, Hamit Keçi, one of the first members of this group and former fighter of the anti-fascist resistance, guerrilla and commander of one of the first anti-fascist squads in Albania, commander of the 23rd Partisan Brigade, (after the war , Colonel and Director of the Intelligence Directorate at the Ministry of People’s Defense, sentenced to many years in prison by Enver Hoxha), testified, among other things: of Pali Ternova, driven by the bad economic situation and the danger that threatened Albania, began to worry and think about the problem of protection from this danger. During the years 1938-1940, this group had an influence and extension from Gjirokastra to Shkodra. In Gjirokastra with Bedri Spahiu, in Vlora with Sinan Gjoni, Hysni Abazi and Fejzo Gjomema, in Elbasan with Kadri Hoxha and Met and Hasan Bajraktari, in Shkodra with Perlat Rexhepi and in Korça with Nasi Marjani and Ajet Rusin. The Vlora group extended its activity to Fier, Lushnjë and Berat”.
March 1939, Anastasi and Sadiku, against the Italian occupation
According to the testimony of Isuf Keçi, on March 31, 1939, when the wind of fascist occupation began to be felt, Niko Llaci (a well-known activist of the Communist Youth Group) went and informed Isufi, that the next day, April 1, in the cinema ” “Gloria” would be the part “Flower of Remembrance”, so all the young people of that communist group, should participate there, to organize a protest against the fascist occupation. That evening, the cinema was packed like never before, and at the end of the show, well-known artists Tefta Tashko and Marie Paluca descended into the auditorium, singing aloud the ‘Flag Hymn’, which was followed by immediately from all those present in that hall, which caused the doors of the cinema to open and the whole crowd to come out, singing loudly and throwing banners. At the head of this protest were Anastas Lula and Sadik Stavaleci, while the crowd that consisted mainly of members of the ‘Youth Group’, after walking the salary “November 28”, went to the square of the Italian embassy, which was there at the time. Where is today the Association of the Politically Persecuted of Albania. A few minutes later, the commander of the Royal Guard, Colonel Hysen Selmani, arrived and ordered the forces he commanded to disperse the crowd. Seeing the aggravation of the situation, Anastas and Sadiku called on the crowd to disperse, as the purpose of the demonstration had been achieved. This call was not answered by a small number of young people, who clashed with the gendarmes and received some minor injuries. The next day, the Chief of Tirana Police, Major Kamber Qafmolla, personally went to the directorate of the Technical School and called a group of young people who had been in front of her demonstration, telling them: “Leave The king is calm, to think in front of this situation, which is threatening Albania… ”!
Anastasi and Sadiku hand over 400 gold francs to Myslym Peza
According to some testimonies, at the end of August 1941, Ymer Keçi, instigated by his nephew, Isufi, went to the village of Ndroq in Tirana and sought to meet with Myslym Peza, who at that time had formed his own gang (among the first anti-fascist squads throughout Eastern Europe) and accompanied by Kajo Karafili, Shaban Rexha and Beqir Koleci, bring Myslym to his home in Tirana. Ymer’s action was made after the request you had made to him and Isuf, Anastas and Sadik (Friday), to meet with Myslym Peza. At that time Myslymi had attacked with his gang, a unit of Italian carabinieri and also helped by many of his Pezak fellow villagers, had been able to win and seize two captive trucks, which had given him a great popularity in it all of Albania. Anastasi and Sadiku met Bab Myslym at the house of Mer Keçi (Isuf’s Uncle) and after congratulating him on the victory he had achieved, against the Italians by letting him know the good name he had won, they gave him as help for his Peza gang, 400 gold francs, which the members of the “Communist Youth Group” had collected in Tirana merchants. In the same house, Bab Myslymi also met with the captain of the Questura, Selim Kelmendi, (who served there as an infiltrator of the communists), who donated a rifle to Myslymi.
Anastasius, an ardent propagandist of the war against the Italians
At that time, at the head of the “Communist Youth Group”, Anasatas Lula became one of the most ardent orators, calling on young people to join the ranks of the Anti-Fascist Movement and fight against the Italian invaders. According to many testimonies of his former schoolmates, he had the gift of captivating anyone he talked to, bringing to the fore the logic and strength of the argument. At that time, Skënder Çaçi (“People’s Hero”), one of the members of the “Youth Group” sought to persuade and throw in the ranks of the Anti-Fascist Movement, Dr. Ibrahim Dervishi, who had just returned from Italy, but could not achieve his goal. For this he asked for the help of Hamid Keçi, who talked to Anastas, who met with the doctor and managed to convince him, from the first meeting. Anastasi, from time to time, organized such meetings with young people and groups of young people, to whom he spoke about the war and the need to participate and engage in that war. Thus, according to some testimonies, such a meeting, Anastasi has organized in the house of Hamit Ding, in the street “Hoxha Tasin”, (on the second floor of an unfinished house), where about 50 young people had gathered. Among these were: Shyqëri Ishmi, Xhoxhi Martini, Sabaudin Gabrani, Skënder Çaçi, Xhezmi Delli (the fifth “People’s Heroes”) and Avram Kaja, Abdyl Këllezi, Xhavit Pëllumbi, etc. At that meeting, Anasatsi spoke to those present, about the fight against the Italians and the need to extend it, throughout the country, mainly in the countryside. Thus, giving importance to the explanatory work with the village, at that time Anastasi undertook several trips and went several times alone, to the villages around Tirana, such as in Priska e Madhe, where he met the leaders of its five neighborhoods, who did not want to fight, on the pretext that: “We are a small people and we do not have the opportunity to fight Italy.” At the end of the conversation with them, Anastas was told: “We are really a small people, but we should never stand idly by, do as much as we can.” After that, almost most of the Priscilla of Greater Prussia pledged to engage in the Anti-Fascist Movement.
October 1941, Anastasi shelters Miladin Popovic in Tirana
In early October 1941, Miladin Popovic, who, with the help of Mustafa Gjinish, had been evacuated from a concentration camp near Peqin, accompanied by several people, was able to come to Tirana illegally. Regarding this, in his memoirs, Enver Hoxha writes, among other things: “We placed Miladin on a safe base in Tirana”. But what was this basis and who brought Miladin, Enver Hoxha did not mention it in his memoirs?! This became public only after the 1990s, with the testimony of Shyqyri Këllez (Enver’s former personal bodyguard during the war, expelled from the Central Committee in 1950 and later sentenced to ten years in political prison). ) Miladin was brought to that base by Mustafa Gjinishi and Anastas Lula. Anastasios personally took care of Miladin, at the base of Këllez’s house (which was the main base of the “Youth Group”), thinking that at the main meeting of communist groups, which was expected to be held, Miladin would be a ‘neutral judge’. , in the disputes that existed between them, but this hope of Anastas, was not said to be realized as he had thought! In the formative meeting, known as the creation of the Albanian Communist Party, Anastasi and Sadiku (Friday) as the two main leaders of the “Communist Youth Group”, insisted that the contradictions that existed between the three communist groups be resolved and smoothed out. Proceeded to announce the creation of the party. This proposal of theirs was rejected by Enver Hoxha who had the support of Miladin, who insisted: “Once we announce the formation of the party, then we work to smooth the disagreements that we have between us.” After that, Anastasi and Sadiku, out of naivety and in order not to become an obstacle, fell into the trap of Enver Hoxha’s evil deeds, accepting the announcement of the creation of the Communist Party.
How was Anastas Lula not fired from the leadership of the Communist Party?
According to the testimony of Shyqëri Këllez, after the founding meeting of the Albanian Communist Party, Miladin Popovi fill began to get in touch, with all the members of that meeting, calling them all, one by one and among others asking them about the Kosovo issue, that what their opinion was. When he asked Anastasios, he replied: “That problem has been solved by the Atlantic Charter, which was promulgated on August 14, 1941. According to that Charter, all minorities on the borders of states will be resolved by plebiscite by themselves. Those peoples who will decide with whom they wish to unite. So the people of Kosovo, being 85-90% Albanians, will unite with Albania “. It was this very sincere opinion of Anastasios, that he would later be eliminated by entering from that moment in the “black list” of Miladin, which would soon be executed by Enver Hoxha. In all the conversations he had with Miladin and Enver, Anastasi expressed his views, with a social-democratic tendency and the whole group he led, defending the thesis that: “In Albania there is no proletariat, because there is no industry and without a crystallized proletariat, there can be no future and no basis for communism, like doctrine”. Always having almost opposite views with Miladin and Enver, Anastasius and Sadiku began to become their potential enemies. In this regard, Hamit Keçi testified: “I heard with my own ears from the mouth of Sadik Friday, when he talked to Anastas he said about Dusan and Miladin that they are Serbian chauvinists.” Also in a report by Mihal Durit (“Hero of the People “), among other things it is said:” I asked Gjinish how is Keçi? He answered me: Very well and ‘Qorri’, he Lula, (Anastas Lula), who is more active, the bravest, the only ones who face the dangers. While Miladin and the others, are chickens. Gjinishi also told me that, in fact, they do not want to do anything but force him to leave his job they go bad. ”Memorie.al
The next issue follows
