By Erald Kapri
Part Two
Memorie.al / The liberation movement of Gani Kryeziu and his brothers in the Second World War in Albania was among the most powerful in the North of the country, so much so that the British expressed a rare admiration and supported it. At its head were the brothers Gani, Hasan and Said Kryeziu. After the Italian occupation, they organized the anti-fascist resistance and later the armed war against the German occupiers. Gani Kryeziu, the head of the movement, with the help of the British Julian Amery and the coordinator, Oakley Hill, began the war against the Italian occupier as early as April 1941, in cooperation with Abaz Kupi, Mustafa Gjinishi, Muharrem Bajraktari, Mehmet Ali Bajraktari and others, but later was forced to withdraw because Germany began the invasion of Yugoslavia. The brothers Gani, Hasan and Said Kryeziu were arrested by the Germans and imprisoned in the concentration camp in Zemun.
Continues from the previous issue
He was constantly on the move because of the Germans and spent this time in the mountains with a number of about 200 supporters. His people were equipped only with rifles, without mines, explosives, grenades, etc., which were indispensable for a determined attack on the enemy. In this situation, Gani was securing weapons and ammunition from the peasants of the area, who were secured by the withdrawal of the partisans into this area.
Before the British mission went to him, Gani had spared several German patrols, but never attempted to attack them with the force he had. In the month of May, based on the instructions that came from Lieutenant-Colonel McLean, I arrived in the region of Has, with the aim of organizing talks with the chiefs of the north. I met with Said Kryeziu and Llazar Fundo, who represented Gani and explained to me the situation described above.
I concluded that in the North, not only is there a desire to fight, but there are also honest nationalists, prepared and very pro-British with the desire to raise a fighting movement with our help. On 17 June, Gani sent his men to attack a German patrol. The result was in Gani’s favor and several Germans were killed, several were wounded and several were taken prisoner.
This was a small action at the start, but it would be the beginning of a series of other very successful actions, which proved not only Gani’s ability, but gave him a deserved name throughout the country. The presence of the British mission near Gani gave more courage to the other chiefs in Kosovo, who after receiving letters from Gani and from the mission it, many of them came to the headquarters and expressed the desire to fight.
Several chiefs and many other Albanians from the North, who came and joined Gani, and together had important actions such as the taking of the mine in Zogaj or the attacks from outside Gjakova, happened because of the influence of the figure of Gani Kryeziu himself. Gani’s movement, with British aid, was becoming strong and more effective than KOSMET. The influence of KOSMET fell because of their policy and in these conditions they called for help the 5th Albanian Brigade of the NOF, in order to do everything possible to achieve the objective of stopping aid to Gani.
This action by the partisans was very well calculated and began the time when Gani had difficulties in ammunition and his forces were not in readiness. If they were to attack Gani, then they would have taken upon themselves two mistakes. First, they would have had the British mission as witnesses and second, they would not be able to find any justification at a time when the opinion of this area about the communists was not at all positive for them.
Therefore they undertook a secret plan behind the scenes to capture, first, our British mission, with the reasoning that every foreign mission had to be under the control of the new partisan government. As an individual, Gani is of a great personality who stands out for his honesty and genius. He is very educated, has traveled the world and is a true gentleman. This honesty has made his figure more influential and more respected by those who oppose him.
I have no doubt that he could become harsh, but only in cases where this was necessary. He has great faith in British policy, although he knows very little about his fate and in the past has made only the partisans responsible for what was happening in the Balkans. I must emphasize about Gani, who is perhaps the only person who has such a widespread influence, whose word is listened to and who has in his movement people with different ideas, different religions, etc.
He never declares a large number of personal supporters. He is not like Kupi, Marka Gjoni, or Muharrem Bajraktari and relies only on the people of his region. But with simplicity and as a national figure, he has drawn many people from every area of the country into his movement, who want to fight for the freedom of their country. Recently, even officers from the gendarmerie of Tirana have deserted and gone to join Gani’s movement.
If he were to act as was suggested to him (and they forced him), that he should join the NOF, he would go there alone. His family, his close fellow fighters and a few supporters would follow behind him, while the others, who have fought alongside his ideas, would lose respect and immediately leave his movement. About this there is no doubt.
HASAN KRYEZIU
Hasan has followed the political line of his brother, Gani, but sometimes has remained aside on some issues. He is more anti-communist than his brother, but still neutral and not active. He is very intelligent and honest, but at the same time very brave in battle and a good organizer, but certainly is inferior in relation to Gani’s leadership. Hasan’s role in the movement was after his brother, as its number two. He was very suitable for this place for several reasons. First of all, Hasan knew the people quite well, especially along Gjakova.
Unlike Gani, he spent a quieter life before the war in his home in Gjakova. He is married and has several children, unlike Gani, who spent his life more away from home. Second, he too has many supporters and is very influential in Gjakova. While Gani was on the move finding supporters throughout Kosovo, Hasan was the force that guaranteed even more supporters in the locality.
Third, he was capable in management and in the administrative sides of the movement, managing the aid that came from the air, arranging the food that was needed or any other need. These activities did not prevent him from taking a greater role in the war against the Germans and indeed he led quite difficult operations. He led the difficult operation at Qafa e Prushit, capturing the chrome mine.
SAID KRYEZIU
Said is the younger brother of Gani and unlike the elder brother who was killed (Hasan), he is very interested in politics and quite active behind the scenes. He became involved in politics while he was a student in Paris and joined a movement that was against King Zog, after he signed an agreement in favor of the Italian government in 1926. He was part of this movement until the occupation of Albania, when Zog left the country. Among the supporters of this movement was also Enver Hoxha, who being poor, was kept financially by Said.
Likewise also Dr. Ymer Dishnica and the other victim of the communists, Mustafa Gjinishi. Said was in the movement early when he resisted the enemy and later was captured and imprisoned in a concentration camp in Italy, where they later escaped and arrived in Albania, in December 1943. Since then he had played a very active role in the movement being Gani’s political advisor, especially in the knowledge of international politics. Later, at the request of Lt. Colonel McLean, he worked as a translator for three months, near the British mission that was with Abaz Kupi.
It was hoped that Said Kryeziu would go to Bari as a representative of Gani, Muharrem Bajraktari and Abaz Kupi. When this was not possible, he returned to his brother’s movement, being again very active. He returned only four days when the 5th Brigade came, which arrested him. He remained as a political prisoner, until he was allowed to leave for Italy. Said Kryeziu is an extraordinary Albanian and despite his nervous temperament, he has a marked intelligence and personality. He is a true gentleman, full of charm and sincere. His experience makes him a very good conversationalist.
OTHER NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS
There are also several other chiefs in the northern area of Dibra, who although they declare themselves supporters of Muharrem Bajraktari, their supporters should have an independent movement like that of Gani Kryeziu. The proposals of Muharrem Bajraktari’s organization have been taken into consideration by other officers who have worked in the region of Dibra and are noted in various reports, such as the report of Major Ridell.
These local leaders are: Mehmet Alija, the bajraktar of Has, who declared that he had a large number of supporters, but who in fact did not have the full trust of the people in his region. He became a strong supporter of Gani’s movement and participated with his forces in the attack on the Zogaj mine. Ymer Bardhoshi from Puka. Together with Pashk Guri from Mirdita he claimed that he could raise a strong nationalist force and attack the garrison of Puka.
They cooperated with Gani and coordinated future actions, but seemed more interested in personal matters than interested in fighting the Germans. In fact, they carried out two small actions on the road between Kukës and Puka. Surely they would have joined Gani completely if he were allowed to exist.
THE CATHOLICS
Albanians of Catholic faith were in large part hostile to the Movement and in particular to relations with the communists. German propaganda had found a place in the Catholic areas and in Gani’s movement many of them viewed it with suspicion. The most infected regions were those under the direction of Marka Gjoni, as well as the region of Nikaj and Shala. The chief of Shala and Nikaj in fact began to cooperate with Gani’s movement.
At this time it was understood that the need to gain influence was only by fighting and in particular to support Gani’s movement which was the wing of the allies. While Gani’s success increased, so too did the ranks of Catholic supporters near him./ Memorie.al
