By Hysen Selmani
The sixth part
Memorie.al/ European and American press have often addressed the subject of the memories of the Albanian King, Zogu i-r, which he wrote and dictated during his exile from Albania. Considering the notes and syntheses that his assistant, Colonel Hysen Selmani, compiled over the years in his service, – always, next to the King of the Albanians, both at home and in exile, these notes, more or less with parts of detached, without strictly following the usual criteria of memoirs, and without having the definite, final form of an edition, they are prepared by Hysen Selmani himself, who has dedicated most of his life, as in Albania, as well as during the exile, serving the First Zog, the King of the Albanians.
Continues from last issue
Tirana on April 3, 1939
When we were leaving, Mehmet Konica came and was immediately received by the King. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kotta and Interior Minister Musa Juka went to enter at 6 o’clock in the evening. As for me, I went all the way to Durrës, to see and talk with the garrison commanders, as well as to talk to 200 prisoners, who were in Durrës, Mat, Dibër, Mirdita, they were strong men and I knew them all, and you I said that for everything, don’t be upset, and we will even let you go free, that I have become a guarantor for you, and in case of need, I can trust you, and even, to arm you , being under the orders of the Durrës Garrison Command.
They answered me, swearing that: “We are loyal to the King and the Fatherland, that you will be guaranteed for us once again and we are ready to die, without the slightest pain.” With that, I parted with them and returned to Tirana, directly to the Palace.
When I returned to the Durrës Palace, there I found Prime Minister Kota and Interior Minister Juka, the National Defense Commander, General Aranitas, the Gendarmerie Commander, Colonel Shatku and Lieutenant Colonel Sami Koka. They were in the salon, and I greeted them, entered the King and presented everything, as far as I visited Durrës. He ordered me to enter the King, the Prime Minister and the others, and so we all entered.
Earlier, the Minister of the Interior, Juka, stood up and presented the state of the country’s government, in all the Prefectures, which reigned best, as well as on the instructions he had given to the Prefectures, to be in close relationship with the Army Commands and, of the Gendarmerie and give them all the help you need. But so far, nothing has been presented to them by the Army nor have they seen any movement.
The Commander of the National Defense, General Arantiasi, stated that: “Today, the Gendarmerie battalions were ordered to be transported to the designated places, the necessary trucks were given, and regarding the replenishment of the military forces, the commands have not yet given notices , let’s hope that tonight they will inform us, as far as they have completed”.
The annoyed king said to you: “Commander, when I did not expect such great negligence from you, well, everything can be forgiven, but a lie, especially for us soldiers, is never forgiven. I don’t understand a commander who takes responsibility, which has to do with the fate of the homeland, because you don’t tell the truth”.
And he ordered the commander of the National Defense, general Aranitas, the commander of the Gendarmerie, colonel Shatku, lieutenant colonel Sami Kokë, that: “All the responsibility is on you, for completing the plan presented and accepted by you. I want this done exactly, no later than April 5. Of course, without any great commotion, but even without appearing, it is not possible to complete these movements, but nevertheless, by any means, there must be a date, so that all completed orders have come to an end, among the designated places of defense , according to the plan that you yourself have presented and I am telling you: the Minister of the Interior Juka, as he stated until now, has given all the instructions to the Prefects, that they all agree with the Commands of the Army and the Gendarmerie, giving them all the support for the needs you will need, such as in transport, logistics and other needs.
In particular, the Minister of the Interior, Juka, will be closely linked in cooperation with the Army Command, that he is also responsible, like you, that the country’s situation is related to military operations, and now, there is nothing hinders you. The Minister of the Interior, the commander of the National Defense, the commander of the Gendarmerie, closely connected and, with complete harmony and trust, under such a great responsibility, which has to do with the victory and honesty of the homeland”.
And he said to you: “These are the last orders that I am giving you and every deficiency that is to be ascertained, the responsibility does not belong to just one, but to all three, equally. From now on, start filling in any gaps, together in one responsibility. With that, Mr. Minister, together with the two commanders and the vice-president, you can go and give all your contribution to the defense of the homeland”. But, Musa, you didn’t like it, because he, more than others, had worked hard.
How did these go, the King told Prime Minister Kotta, that it was known that to change the command, at this moment we are in, is very difficult, because still, in all sections of the command, there are Italian organizers. Because even a commander who would take command would need to change all the officers of the Command’s offices. And this, within this time, was not done, because no one took it over.
TIRANA, APRIL 3, 1939
Her Majesty, Queen Gerlandine, feels so tired that the Austrian professor, Weibel, who has been called for the Queen, announces that, in two days, we have a birth, from the Queen of the Albanians. This news was revealed to the public.
When it was opened to the people, all the demonstrations, for four days, that were called against Italy, returned, calling that; we want an heir. This news was immediately shared among all the Prefectures of Albania, where the people were waiting at the Telegraph Post Offices for the joyful news, as the delegations have informed and are waiting in the offices of the Prefectures, to leave for the capital, to participate in merry congratulations, to the heir to their throne.
Meanwhile, the City Hall of the capital has quickly started all the installations and lighting for the celebration that awaits the Albanian Nation, after 500 years.
All the demonstrators, who had been on the streets for four days without sleep, men, women, girls, educated boys, officials, are all equipped with flags in their hands, singing the Royal anthem and the National flag. These are brought around the Palace, waiting for an heir of theirs, and calling.
“At 5 o’clock, in the afternoon, on this date, Colonel De Andrea, Italian, comes to me at the Mobilization office of the National Defense Command and wants to meet with me, for something very important. I immediately told him to order at the office and within five minutes, he came. I shook his hand and laughingly said; how well you did, because I haven’t seen you for two weeks”. I took her with me and we entered the office. When we sat down, he said to me:
“Mr. Commander, please allow me to ask you something, as I have been ordered and we are waiting for an answer.” “I happily told him, – talk then.” He said: “We are informed that you have called to mobilize all the volunteer forces in Burrel, Mat, Dibër, Kthellë, and among other places. And the National Defense Command has no idea. But he told us to go to Colonel Selmani. It is true, for what reason is this mobilization done?! Please, if possible, give me an answer, because it is also in your interest, i.e., Albania’s”.
I was also well aware of this and I answered you: “Yes, Mr. Colonel, it is true.” But he did not receive mobilization, but for celebration, because this is the custom in our countries, for such occasions, very festive, especially since he is the first heir to be expected, after 500 years, where a happiness is repeated in the souls of all the people Albanian, where we are fully convinced that you Italians, as allies and friends of Albania, feel this joy. Well, dear colonel, this is the call you are telling me, as in all the Prefectures of Albania, crowds of people have gathered, they are waiting minute by minute for the happy news. With that, I hope that I have satisfied you as much as you want”.
Colonel De Andrea, after these words, stood up, honored me and said: “I wish you with all my heart, God willing, a son heir, with a long life and full of happiness, for the good of my nation and Albanian ally , and bring the happiest fortunes. With that, thank you very much, and you always have me personally, a close friend”. He took permission, he came out as satisfied.
After I sent the colonel; D’Andrea, I went to the Palace, and immediately entered the King. Prime Minister Kotta was also there. I submitted to the King, as far as Colonel D’Andrea had come, as well as the answer I gave him. The king said to me: “You said it very well, others should say the same.”
But, – returned Prime Minister Kotta, addressing you to the King: “Allow me Your Majesty”!
“Yes, speak Mr. Prime Minister”, said the King.
“Please, does this mean that the commander of the National Defense, who today is also the commander of military operations, dares to say to an Italian, in the service of the Command: Go to the Palace, ask Colonel Selman, because he knows, The command doesn’t know anything”. Well, shame on this man, Your Majesty. How do you leave it?! This is a provocation that is made here, that this word is not said to any Albanian, in these circumstances that we are in today, no longer an Italian”!
The King was very pleased by the speech of Prime Minister Kotta and laughed: “You are right Mr. Prime Minister, but you too, come and tell me. Don’t you say these words to the commander?! But laughing, he says: “No serious”. Prime Minister Kotta said: “Mor… you are Your Majesty, if it were for me, I would not leave him in command for a single hour.” With these words, the King was a little satisfied, because he loved Kotta very much.
Her Majesty, the Queen, is feeling quite tired. The palace with open doors, day and night. For two weeks, the king has been sleepless, tired and busy, day and night, both with foreign ministers, with the Albanian Government, with the Parliament, and with Commands, and other persons. All kinds of news came to him. All over the King, they beat. Both internal and external. A problem that cannot be described, even with ten volumes, this event of these critical times. The people, day and night, are in demonstrations, calling in the streets and around the Palace. How many telegrams and letters of Mussolini, just to pass the time, and nothing else. There really was no longer any hope of faith in Mussolini’s great words.
The call of the Kreshniks in Mat, Dibër, Mirdita, and in other places, has made a big fuss, so much so that even the National Defense Command is very scared. And in reality, they themselves made the call and now, they are taking cause, because it was done! I immediately sent Major Sulkurt to Burrel to give you the weapons, and I sent three officers to arrange food in Burrel and Qafë-Shtame.
At seven o’clock in the evening, on this same date, I called Colonel Ali Topalli, commander of the Vlora area, and asked him: “Has he received an order from the Command to go to the center?” He answered me that: “No, no order”.
“Then, well, – I told him, without telling me, if the Border Guard Command only has the Training Battalion in Korça, ready, and nothing else”?!
“Yes, well, well,” I told him, “just get ready to go.” In the conversation with Colonel Ali Riza, I called the commander of the National Defense and told him: “Did you give the order for the departure of Colonel Ali Riza, for the instructions, and was it ordered in terms of the Border Guard battalions?”
“Yes”, he told me. After that I went to the National Defense Command together with Colonel Ali Riza Topalli. In front of the commander, I told Colonel Ali Riza that: “Within 20 hours, you must implement the order that the Command will give you now”.
Colonel Ali Rizaja said: “Yes, I am ready and even before that, I can complete all of them, if only the centers where they will be concentrated are assigned to me.” At this time, the commander was shaking and not speaking.
I said: “Mr. Commander, why aren’t you ordering him”?! “Yes, yes – he said and turned and said: “Mr. Colonel, you need three battalions to be ready, as well as the mission battalion.”
Colonel Ali Rizaj answered: “I am ready to fix them, but when should these battalions be centralized”? I stopped talking and immediately called lieutenant colonel Sami Koka, in the presence of the commander and Ali Riza, I told him that: this order that I now gave orally to colonel Ali Riza, officially confirm in writing, based on the plan that was presented to the King, and that the necessary means of conveyance be made available to him, now that I am here. Immediately, Colonel Sami Koka went, compiled the order, together with the table of designated places, and gave it to the commander of the National Defense, General Aranitas, to sign. He signed it and took it to Colonel Ali Riza Topalli and went to his command to give the necessary orders. When Colonel Ali Rizaja came out, I told him: “After I march, after giving the orders, come to me.”
How did Colonel Ali Rizai go, I stopped Lieutenant Colonel Sami Koka there and said to the commander of the National Defense, General Aranitas: “I see you are a little tired, you seem to be sleepless”?
– “Yes,” he told me, “I don’t feel well.” At that time, I returned to Sami Koka and said: “You must help the commander, because you, too, do not escape responsibility.” Why haven’t these orders been implemented since two weeks ago?! It was you yourself when you presented the plan to His Majesty, the King, and promised that they are ready. And today, the commander of the border, Colonel Ali Rizai, had no knowledge. Well, now the plan needs to be completed completely, because there is a possibility that the King will order me to check all the countries”. With these words, I shook hands with them and left, I went directly to the Palace.
As soon as I went, I entered the King and presented everything, what was discussed, and the state of the command. “The King told me very well”, but Sadik Shaska is here, with a part of the Vlora parish, talk to them and keep well, inform the “International” Hotel, that these are the friends of the Palace, the invoices, they send them to you. Pay tomorrow, at 10 o’clock in the morning, bring it to me, and these will leave together with Colonel Ali Rizana and Major Bilal Nivica, prepare 1,200 rifles, with the necessary ammunition, to mobilize the Prefecture of Vlora.
We will talk with the priest of Vlora, that they will be the ones responsible for the Creshnika power. But the weapons, to be ready, tell the commander, to be loaded on the truck. Only when the pariah of Vlora arrives, call Colonel Ali Riza, so we can say a few words to him, and later, Bilal Nivica, and tell him that they will go together”, concluded the King. .
After the King’s order, I ordered the Head of the Royal Guard, Captain Mendu Kodra, to call the director of the “International” Hotel and tell him that the Vlora Parish are friends of the Palace, and in terms of their expenses, send the bill, get the money, next to the Guard. After that, I went personally and paid you a visit, and within these friendly talks, I told him that you are friends of the Palace, for every expense, and tomorrow at 10:00 am, you will be in audience with the King. If you come to my office first, we will go together. When I left and went up, Sadik Shaska said to me: “What do you have?” I answered: “We have many things, but as soon as you finish the talks with the King, you will come to the command of the Guard, and there we will talk about everything”, – we said goodbye. I went directly to the Palace, entered the King and presented to him, regarding the talks with the Vlora priory and left. Memorie.al
The next issue follows
