By Enver Lepenica
Memorie.al / Hysni Lepenica fought the Battle of George and many other battles, but the communists have deliberately left his figure in oblivion, unfairly attributing it to Hysni Kapo. This is how Hysni Lepenica’s grandson, Shkëlqim Lepenica, said, who at the same time confesses that their family’s last name is, in fact, “Hysa”, but the people gave Hysni, as a last name, the name of their province.
Brilliant, was there a civil war in Albania?
This is not discussed. And I’m not the first to say this. Because the Communist Party considered all nationalists, or ballisticians, as anti-national and collaborators of the occupiers, categorically denying their struggle. On these slanders, the communists built the alibi of fratricide and civil war.
What exactly happened during the war with your uncle, in Grehot of Gjirokastra?
The Italian soldiers and officers of the “Perugia” battalion had capitulated and they had gathered in Grehot, Gjirokastra. They were waiting and looking for only one possibility, how to cross to Igoumenica and get on the ships and run away. The problem was who would accompany these people to the ship. And Hysni Lepenica, along with two others, went for talks and agreed that they would accompany. Of course, in exchange for receiving weapons and war tools.
How did the events unfold the next day?
Here lies the infidelity of the communists. After a secret agreement, the communists had decided to trap the nationalist forces and so they did. As soon as the nationalist forces of Hysni Lepenica entered the door of the garrison, the partisans who were positioned around them opened fire.
What happened next?
Then the Italians, unprepared, opened fire against 36 nationalists commanded by Hysni Lepenica. And of course, there were fierce battles, but Hysniu’s forces were caught by surprise. And they were all destroyed, except for two people who were injured. My uncle Hysni Lepenica was also killed there. As for the injured, one of them is our fellow villager, while the other is from Nivica. One of them, the fellow villager from Lepenica, is still alive, while I don’t have complete information about the other.
How did the partisans justify this betrayal?
Since then, until now, there has been no public explanation of the communists. But this event was marked as an act of disloyalty by the partisans. 34 people lost their lives from this act. And no matter how much they try to justify themselves in front of this fact, everything is revealed.
What were the consequences for your family?
In 1948, 80 men were arrested, who were members of the tribe, to which my father, or uncle, also belonged. Also, for political reasons, the communists arrested Hysni Lepenica’s only son, who had just finished high school, and the communists sentenced him to 10 years in prison. And here the civil war continued even more terrible, but it took place under the guise of class war.
What punishment did these people receive?
Ten or twelve of them were sentenced to be shot in Gjirokastra Castle and the others received severe punishments, being imprisoned or exiled. The massacre of the residents of the Lepenica area was very large. And the only reason had to do with the support they gave to the legendary patriot, Hysni Lepenica, who always put the interests of the Albanian nation first in every action he took.
How did other people react to your family?
It is well known by everyone that after the punishments given by the communist regime, there was a small siege, which was done to nationalist families. But, for the sake of the truth, it must be said that during this entire period, no one could throw mud on his image. All the common people who knew him appreciated him as a patriot and indomitable fighter of our nation.
In the history books of communism, how did the figure of Hysni Lepenica enter?
There is a problem here. Because the communist nomenclature found it very difficult to tarnish these patriots so much. Then, Hysniu is involved in those rare figures of history, where no path could be found to manipulate them. Remember that he was killed by the Italians and this prevented the communists from abusing.
Has Hysni Lepenica been accused by the communists of being an accomplice of fascism?
No, Hysni Lepenica has never been accused of being a collaborator of the occupiers. This is due to the very fact that he was killed fighting against the Italians. And this fact did not let them raise accusations of collaboration, but it also could not prevent them from organizing the insidious massacre against his people, close ones, or fellow villagers of Lepenica. Here, of course, there was no lack of zeal to manipulate history.
In what sense?
Whenever there was talk of the heroic, anti-fascist wars that were led by Hysni Lepenica, there was always a pause for his name and these battles were billed as successes to Hysni Kapos.
Which battles are you talking about, specifically?
Let us take, for example, the Battle of George, or other wars that are known to all, such as the battles fought by Hysni Lepenica. But the communists built a strategy of oblivion and slander, to erase the figure of Hysni Lepenica. In order to highlight the role of Hysni Kapo.
Do you have an argument of your own to show that Hysni Lepenica did not accept fratricide or civil war?
I have no reason to make such an argument, when basically, I have no argument against Hysni. So, we are talking about a man who went out and fought for his country, we are talking about a man who was killed in the war, by the invaders, for the freedom of his country. He was a patriot, fighting only for Albania and not for certain groups. The opposite happened with the communists, who staged fratricide in the name of the interests of power. And then, that civil war that they started during the war, they continued and deepened it further, with the installation of the dictatorship.
What happened after the 90s, with his figure?
He was recognized as “Martyr of the Motherland”. But in truth, the people had known him for a long time as a patriot and as a brave warrior, who sacrificed himself for the interests of our country’s freedom. Memorie.al
