“Çabej openly declared himself in favor of the fascist regime, was appointed as Minister of Education during the German occupation and cooperated with them, defended the Nazi policy and…”/ Security File, for the famous professor

The first part

Memorie.al / It has been repeatedly said that the prominent Albanian scientist, Professor Eqerem Çabej, was treated as an enemy by the dictatorial regime of Enver Hoxha, but the fact that he was one of the people most under the control of the State Security was not known precisely. . In this exclusive material that “Minerva” is publishing for the first time, you can clearly see the danger and the great pressure in which Prof. lived and worked. Eqerem Chabey. Dozens of leaders and officers of the Security and dozens of agents and spies followed him, while being pursued and endangered were many of his friends and collaborators, mostly well-known people in the scientific, literary and political circles. This file, as well as others that we will try to make public in the future, proves once again the importance of opening the files of the State Security and the lustration of the state policy and the Albanian society, not only for the past, but also the present and, especially, our future. We are publishing the complete file, without many comments, to give the reader the opportunity to judge for himself the activity of one of the most criminal organizations of the communist dictatorship, State Security, whose former head and functionary are still active and with a lot of power in Albania. (Nebil Chika)  

The great Italian critic F. De Sanctis, in the work “Critical Test” (Naples 1920), says: “It is a kind of fatalism that I would say human, to be born in such a place and at such a time, to receive such an upbringing, being around such people, these are the fatal conditions that drag a person’s future behind them”.

From the file that the State Security has kept for the great Albanian albanologist, Eqerem Çabej, we are publishing a very small part of the voluminous file of 205 sheets. The entire file from the first page to the end is filled with an anti-human hatred that shocks and revolts you with its perversity. And to think that they were talking and writing about a great Albanian, a scientific personality without a peer in Albania, who had the admiration and appreciation of albanologists and the scientific circles of Europe.

Ignorants of the Security had the courage of the barbarian to label the great professor Eqerem Çabej; “with Nazi convictions” and hinted that he could be a “collaborator of German espionage” and to whom did they say these epithets?! To the man who devoted his whole life to Albania, in his field of linguistics, and has given more for it than anyone else in this country, that even today cannot dim the power and tribal enlightenment that this great patriot gave him this nation.

File 2383 – Eqerem CABEJ

Here’s what’s in this text:

1. The first page of the file begins in 1952, where Professor Eqerem Çabejn is categorized as dangerous for the communist government and it is decided to open file 2/B.
2. It is the professor’s autobiography, written and signed by him.
3. One of the many letters that State Security State opened read and analyzed to the professor.
4. One of the countless control reports that made you the figure of prof. Eqerem Çabejt.
5. An investigation report is the only material the investigator has in the professor’s file.
6. A report about the prominent Austrian albanologist, Hermann Olberg.

For the ease of reading these materials which are endless, but almost all of them are in the same style and mindset, almost annoying, I tried to extract only a few parts of this material, not that they are the most important in this file, but I judged that they are enough to introduce the reader to this dark and dangerous world that the Communist State Security held for the citizens of Albania.

            Tirana

Top secret

Model 4

Died (handwriting)

MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Directorate of Internal Affairs

Tirana

2383

Form file

Category 2/B No. 2885

For Eqerem Çabej

There are 205 sheets

Page 3

List of P.O.’s following processing

                                                 Rank Name Surname P. Op. Date, etc.

Captain Koli Shuke, 1952 Tog. Vaskë Afezolli

Lieutenant Laze Damo, 52-1953 Tog. Taip Radoi.

Lieutenant Lazar Karafili, 1953-52. Ndriçim Seitaj.

Captain Dhimitër Lazëri, 956-1958 Trasf the object.

Captain Sali Miti, 20.2.58 Transfer.

Captain Qako Prokopi, 1.1.960, Facility Transfer.

Captain Dhimitër Kumia, 20.1.61-16.11.62 Transferred P.Op.

Captain Qako Prokopi, 16.11.962-24.10.63 Archived.

Officer Qazim Majko, 20.6.74 -16.1.81 Archived.

Sheet No. 2. On the elements involved with the object

No. First name and last name. In which sheet of the file.

                                                                        Remark

1. Sejfulla Malëshova, 5, 10, 28 II/A (risk level)
2. Pashko Geci, 5, 24, B.p. Branch 2.
3. Sabiha Kasimati, 5, 10, 12, 20, 21, 24, (Shot).
4. Osman Myderizi, 5 II/A, Branch 2.
5. Sokrat Dodbiba, 9, Burrel Prison.
6. Vedat Kokona, 9 II/B.
7. Selaudin Toto 9, 16, (Shot).
8. Gjergj Ashta, 9?
9. Shyret Turkeshi, 10, 24 II/A, II Directorate.
10. Rrok Zojzi, 10, 24, 42, II/B, Directorate II.
11. Zaif Çeka 10, II/A Branch of I.
12. Fatbardha Prodani, 10, 24 II/B, Branch II.
13. Anton Krajni 10, 49, II/B. Branch of I.
14. Filip Ndocaj, 10, 24, II/B. Tirana branch.
15. Ndoc Ashta, 10?
16. Spiro Belkovi, 10 II/B. Directory ????
17. Jonuz Tafili, 16 (Arrested), Branch I.
18. Jup Kastrati, 17, (cannot be read).
19. Aldo Çobo, 19, B.p. Branch II.
20. Marika Gogo, 20, (not legible).
21. Gjergji Geci, 24, (Shot).
22. Edith Ndroqi 24, 21 II/A. Branch II
23. Vangjel Zoto 24, 52?
24. Rudolf Peci, 24?
25. Naxhie Duma 24, 29, 37, 44 II/A. Sec I. Branch II.
26. Sotir Pilinci, 24, (Unregistered).
27. Andromaqi Xorxhi, 37, 42, 44, (Unregistered), did not accept B.p.
28. Ethem Çomo, 44, (Prison).
29. Filip Llupi 44 (Runaway).
30. Muhamet Hoxhaj, 46 II/B. Branch II.
31. Gafur Çomo, 44, (Imprisoned).
32. Lasgush Poradeci, 47.
33. Avga Koliqi, 54.
34. My name is Hajdar Cara, 55.
35. Zija Shkodra, 61, 63.

Sheet no. 3, on the nicknames of B.p., which they give for the object

No. Nickname. Remarks.

1. “Tisi” (excluded).
2. “Comma”, Section I, Branch II.
3. “Gevreku”, Sec I Branch II.
4. “Korça Beans”.
5. “Kalaja” Directorate of Tirana (excluded).
6. “Taraboshi”?
7. Shy Sec I. Branch II.
8. “Fox”, Sec I. Branch II, (Enjoyed fully).
9. “Therpalase”, Direct. Tirana (excluded).
10. “Edie”, Sec I. Deg II. (Resident).

Report – Control

For the anti-popular activity against the homeland and the people, for this to be processed and registered in category II/B of the card file, of the opposing element, the person marked with Nazi tendencies.

Eqerem Çabej, the son of Hysen and Aisha, born in 1907 in Gjirokastër and living in Tirana, with service at the Institute of Studies, completed his university studies in Austria, speaks German, French, Italian, with Albanian citizenship and nationality. Wealthy citizen class.

During the occupation, Eqerem followed the Nazi policy and was never a good element, since Eqerem was in Austria, he had such tendencies. From 1936-’37 he was the first secretary in the Ministry of Education, since that time he lived in bourgeois circles, throughout Zog’s regime, he was a functionary and implemented Zog’s policy. Also, his family was in favor of the Zozist regime, because at that time they were known as influential people and were supported.

He welcomed the fascist occupation well and as a friend of our people, and openly declared it, he also worked with all his heart, for the fascist regime, Eqeremi is supported by the people of fascism, for this he was sent to Italy for studies, wherever he has been, has propagated in favor of Italian fascism, spent the entire time of the Italian occupation in Italy.

After the capitulation of Italy, Eqeremi was appointed as Minister of Education even though he was still in Italy. During the German occupation, he returned to Albania and began to cooperate with them, defending the Nazi policy.

His social circle was composed of intellectuals and functionaries of that time, such as Sokrat Dodbiba, former minister and now arrested, all his circle were opponents of our liberation war, with Vedat Kokona, former functionary and his family his adapted to every situation, Eqeremi his family and social circle, thought badly of our war and propagated against it.

After the liberation of Albania today, he does not maintain a good political position, he has Nazi tendencies, and he comments on the politics he thinks in his circles. He is affected by past privileges, he is cunning and clever, he wants to take advantage, and today he appears as an indifferent element. Eqerem Çabej is a suspicious element and had connections with Selaudin Toton, Gjergj Ashtë (now imprisoned).

Today, the entire family and social network is composed of elements opposed to the Government, affected by various reforms, who hate the Party and the Government. In everyday work, he is punctual, but he does this to mask his attitude.

PROPOSAL LIKES

Head of Section M.P.                                      Refer Org. measures

(Koli Shuke)                                   Captain II N/lieutenant (Vaskë Afezolli)

3.10.952

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I was born on August 6, 1908, in Gjirokastra. I come from a family in middle economic condition. My father was a judge. I received from him an education guided by civic honesty and love for the country. From 1915 to 1920, I taught elementary and city school in my native country. In 1921, I won the State bruce competition and was sent to Austria. There, within two years, I passed as an external private student, the exams above the 5th high school in ST. Polten, and then I finished the 6th grade. In that city and the 7th, in GRAZ.

In 1926, I graduated from KLAGENPURT. I studied for a year in Italy and returned to Austria. There I followed higher university studies at the University of Vienna, specializing in General and Indo-European LINGUISTICS, in Albanistics under Professor JOKL and in the history of the Balkans. On 30.12.1933, I received the Doctor’s degree in Philosophy and at the beginning of 1934, I returned to Albania.

In 1934 I was a professor of Albanian in the state high school of Shkodra and Director of the “Malet Tona” dormitory. In 1934-1935, he was a professor at NORMAL in Elbasan and at the high school in Gjirokastra. In 1935-1936, he was head of the Secondary Education Section at the Ministry of Education. In 1937, out of anger that I didn’t become anyone’s tool and to get me out of that place, I was sent to the school of completion and here I did 10 months of military service. After completing my military service, I went back to Gjirokastër as a professor, where I stayed until the end of 1938-1939.

In the summer of 1939, I was appointed director of the Tirana Lyceum, where I remained until 1940. In August 1940, as a director, I protected with all my powers the students and professors of the lyceum from agents and the pursuits of the agents and the pursuits of Fascist Italians and Albanians, I was sent as a semi-exile to Italy, but in return, I was assigned a scientific job, near the Italian academy in Rome.

I stayed there until June 1944. In July 1944, I returned to Albania and in the summer of 1944, I was given a temporary job in the Ministry of Education in the Textbook Commission (Senior Inspector). In 1944-1945, like all teachers, I was unemployed for 7 months. In May 1945, I was appointed a technical sub-worker at the Institute of Sciences, where I had worked as an extern since I had returned from Italy in 1944, and I continue to be in this job today all day.

Regarding my political stance, we can say the following:

During Zog’s time, civil servants, especially teachers, were not allowed to engage in politics, so I have not exercised any political activity, I have fulfilled my duty, we can say that neither I personally, nor any other member of my family, have not been in any way pampered, or favored by that regime. During the Italian occupation, I did not get along well with the Italians or with the Albanian fascists. As a director, I defended the Liceu, as much as I could, the Albanian school.

And the learning of the Albanian language, which was at risk at that time, especially in primary school, that’s why I was kicked out of Albania. In 1942, the Italians from Tirana, with someone sent to Rome, approached me to choose the position of Minister of Education and Popular Culture, but I refused both.

I also refused to come as Minister of Education in 1943, when I was appointed as such during the time of the Germans in Albania. I rejected two proposals for cooperation with foreigners; everything that did not agree with my Albanian honor and the good of the country and the people.

During the National Liberation War, I was abroad and therefore did not participate. Yes, I have always been anti-fascist. In 1943-1944, as much as I could, I saved some Albanians who were interned from exile and sent them to their homeland.

After the liberation of the country, I worked, just like me, with all my modest powers, in the tasks assigned to me by the State, such as in the Institute of Sciences; as in the Pedagogical Institute with lessons, as in the Ministry of Education with textbooks, and everywhere else where I am called and work, believe that a good Albanian who loves his country and his mother tongue, will continue to work without sparing, for our people.

Tirana, on 14.XI.1949

Prof. (Eqerem Çabej)

Note; It is not true that he was sent to Italy as an exile, but he was sent on duty to the Royal Italian Academy. It does not record that a brother was killed by partisans in Kosovo, as a bad element. Memorie.al

26. XII. 1950

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