Dashnor Kaloçi
Part One
Memorie.al/ publishes several unknown documents extracted from the Central State Archive in Tirana (the funds of the Antifascist National Liberation War and of the former Central Committee of the PPSH), dating from the years 1942–1945, which deal with Ludovik Nikaj, originally from the city of Shkodra and residing in Tirana, where he worked as an electro-technician, one of the first-hour communist youths, who on May 2, 1942, while he had gone to the city of Shkodra together with his wife, Qefsere Bekaj, was arrested by the Italian forces and sent to the Questura to be interrogated in connection with his activity in the ranks of the Communist Party. But during that time, while he was being held isolated in a cell, by order of the Communist Committee of Shkodra, his elimination was decided, as it was suspected that he had shown the houses and bases where the communists were sheltered, as well as the names of the main leaders of the Communist Party. How the action was carried out by the guerrilla units of the city of Shkodra, led by Perlat Rexhepi (‘Hero of the People’), by bombing with bombs and hand grenades the building of the Questura where Ludovik was being held isolated, and his transfer by the Italian authorities to Italy, placing him in an internment camp near Modena. Ludovik’s return to Albania, after several requests he made to the Albanian military mission in Rome, and his request to meet with Enver Hoxha, who refused to receive him, and his death sentence by the High Military Court in Tirana, following the accusations made against him as: “provocateur, agent of SIM and traitor of the PKSH”, who had shown the Italians the bases where Qemal Stafa, Koci Xoxe, Perlat Rexhepi, Ali Demi, Beqir Minxhozi, Gjystina Sata, etc., were hiding. The complete file of the judicial process against Ludovik Nikaj, about whom Enver Hoxha wrote at length in his books and for whom the film “Vendimi” (The Decision) was made by the “New Albania” Film Studio of that time, as well as the testimonies of his nephew, Luigj Nikaj (Kastrioti), who states that all the accusations against his uncle were fabricated by the high leadership of the Communist Party, in order to cover up the backstage dealings they had done against each other during the war period, such as the killing of Qemal Stafa, etc.!
The report of the Directorate for the Defense of the People, Durrës branch, sent to the Directorate for the Defense of the People in Tirana, regarding Ludovik Nikaj
SECTION FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE PEOPLE FOR DURRËS
DEATH TO FASCISM
FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE
Durrës, 29.3.1945
Directorate for the Defense of the People
Tirana
We send you herewith the convicted person Ludovik Nika, son of Nika and Shaqe, born in Shkodër and residing in Tirana, Çerçiz Topulli Street No. 33, by profession electro-technician. Also his wife Qefsere Beka, daughter of Cen and Kume, from Tirana and residing in Tirana, “Tafaj” Street No. 53, by profession student.
The above-mentioned persons come from Italy, where they were interned in Xakona (province of Modena). The arrest took place in Shkodër at the Çela field, in May 1942. The arrest was carried out because I was in the ranks of the Communist Party and for this reason I was arrested together with Qefsere.
My arrest was carried out by the Italo-Albanian police, while I was getting into the car to go to Tirana.
Ludovik Nikaj’s letter to Enver Hoxha requesting a meeting
Gen. Col.
Enver Hoxha
Acknowledging my mistake, I came here to discuss even the smallest detail concerning my approach. I need to speak about the situation of Albanians in Italy and other matters. If possible, to speak personally with you.
Ludovik Nika
Judgment Act of Ludovik Nikaj by the Military Court of the 1st Corps in Tirana
DEMOCRATIC ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT
MILITARY COURT OF THE MILITARY REGION
OF THE 1st CORPS TIRANA
DEATH TO FASCISM
FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE
JUDGMENT ACT
IN THE NAME OF THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE
The Military Court of the Military Region of the 1st Corps in Tirana, composed of
President Bilbil Klosi N/Colonel
Member Ismail Çaushi
Member Argjir Lipivani
With the Prosecutor Major Gjon Banushi in attendance, assisted by the secretary Mustafa Zaja, on this day 15.5.1945 assembled to judge the defendant Ludovik Nika, son of Gjekë and Shaqe, birth date 1921, born in Shkodër, married to Qefsere Beka, childless, unpunished, educated, and Qefserja daughter of Hysen Beka and Kume, born in Tirana, age 20, married to the defendant Ludovik, residing on “Tafaj” Street in Tirana, on the basis of the report kept by the Directorate for the Defense of the People, with the accusation of the defendant Ludovik, as an agent provocateur of fascism, traitor of the PKSH, agent of SIM.
The Court:
Having read the report contained in the file:
Having interrogated the defendants and heard their defence:
Established that:
On 2 May 1942, the defendant Ludovik Nika voluntarily goes to Shkodër, supposedly for organizational work and in reality as he himself admits, does no work, but falls into the hands of the police, together with his fiancée. That from the very first interrogations and under the slightest pressure exerted on him by the agents of the questura, he does not hesitate for a moment, but reveals everything he knows about the bases of the organization and the leading comrades.
He himself admitted before the court a part of these arrests, such as the denunciation of Zef Ndoja and the depot that was in his house, the denunciation of Jovan Bajraktari, Marije Lezha, and Kristo Proko, whereas the other revelations are understood from the heavy blow that fascism dealt the organization, precisely after Ludovik’s betrayal; the comrades Koci Xoxe, Lefter Kasneci, Gjystina Sata, Ali Demi, Beqir Minxhozi were arrested, and with the encirclement carried out on 5 May 1942, the hero Qemal Stafa.
That even the Information Service of the occupier, SIM, considered Ludovik’s betrayal as one of the most important revelations in Albania concerning communist activity, where in the report it was said that: Ludovik Nika voluntarily presented himself at the questura of Shkodër and made statements of very great importance regarding the general organization of the subversive society (Communist Party). That Ludovik Nika for his betrayal was attacked by the communist’s right in the office of the Questura where he was staying; that the fascists, after the attack, considering their despicable spy in danger, sent him to a village in northern Italy, where they gave him a monthly salary of 1500 lire. That Qefsere Beka, due to the excessive adoration she had for her husband, follows him on foot, and when his high betrayal becomes evident, seeing the attack made against him, she goes with him to Italy and converts to Catholicism. The Court, taking into account all the activity of the defendants Ludovik Nika and Qefsere Beka, and the losses they have caused to the Nat. Lib. movement and before it to the PKSH.
Declares:
On the basis of articles 14 and 15 of law no. 41, on the functioning and organization of the Military Courts, in accordance with the request of the Prosecutor, considers Ludovik Nika as a war criminal and enemy of the people, and Qefsere Beka, according to article 15 of that law, enemy of the people, and pursuant to article 18 of the same law
Decides:
To sentence Ludovik Nikaj to DEATH.
Contrary to the Prosecutor’s pretension, Qefsere Beka is sentenced to 2 years imprisonment.
This decision is subject to review by the High Military Court.
Communiqué of the Prosecutor’s Office and the High Military Court in Tirana, regarding the trial and sentencing of Ludovik Nikaj
Tirana 15.5.1945
ALBANIAN NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY
PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF THE HIGH MILITARY COURT
DEATH TO FASCISM
FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE
COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE HIGH MILITARY COURT
Here
The Prosecutor’s Office of the High Military Court, having examined the judgment act of the Military Court of the 1st Corps no. 196, dated 15.5.1945, in which the sentencing of LUDOVIK GJEC NIKA to DEATH was decided, on the basis of articles 14, 15, and 18 of law no. 41 dated 14.1.1945, on the basis of the functioning of Military Courts
Notes that
IN FACT:
LUDOVIK GJEC NIKA, supposedly to organize the resistance of the people against fascism, on 2 May 1942, goes to Shkodër together with his fiancée Qefsere Beka and without having done any work, falls into the hands of the police, where they reveal the entire organization of the bases and the movement that was being structured; he revealed all the members and leaders of the movement he knew, he spied on the bases and places where meetings were held, he gave the enemy the chance to strike the movement hard, he provoked that the agents would search Zef Ndoja’s house and arrest the latter; that Koçi Xoxe, Lefter Kasneci, Gjystina Sata, Ali Demi, Beqir Minxhozi, etc., would be arrested. Due to his spying, the hero Qemal Stafa was encircled and killed, the comrade Jovan Bajraktari was denounced, etc.
IN LAW:
His activity is high treason against the homeland and the freedom-loving people, foreseen and punished by articles 14, 15, and 18 of law no. 41 on the functioning of Military Courts.
For these reasons and for those to be presented orally before the Council, it is of the opinion that judgment act no. 196 dated 15.5.1945 of the Military Court of the 1st Corps should be approved.
Tirana 17.5.1945
PROSECUTOR
(Major Myftar Tare)
The trial process of Ludovik Nikaj by the Military Court of the 1st Corps in Tirana
ALBANIAN NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY
MILITARY COURT OF THE MILITARY REGION
OF THE 1st CORPS TIRANA
DEATH TO FASCISM FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE
TRIAL PROCESS
The Prosecutor’s Office attached to this Court refers to this trial the acts sent by the Directorate for the Defense of the People against the defendants Ludovik Gjekë Nika and Qefsere Nika Beka, to be tried for their traitorous and criminal activity because, being a member of the PKSH on 2.5.1942, he betrayed and voluntarily surrendered to fascism and showed to SIM, for which he became an agent, everything concerning the movement that was then in the process of organization, its members and bases, and his companion followed him, seeing his betrayal. After the acts were registered and the day of the trial was set for today, the judging body was composed of:
President Bilbil Klosi N/Colonel,
Member Ismail Çaushi,
Member Argjir Lipivani
With the participation of Prosecutor Major Gjon Banushi, and secretary Mustafa Zaja, began in public and in open session.
The defendant, Ludovik, was brought before the trial, being free, and was placed in the designated place.
Defendant Ludovik Nika, son of Gjekë and Sheqë, birth date 1921, born in Shkodër, childless, married to Qefsere Beka, educated at the Jesuit school in Shkodër. The acts were read and briefly stated in the preamble of this trial record.
The defendant was asked about the accusation and said: I was a member of the PKSH and carried out activity in Tirana. I went for Party work to Shkodër and from there I would go to the villages of Mirdita, where I had many friends for propaganda. Knowing that the situation had become very dangerous, I could not go, and so I returned to Tirana.
In the Çela field at the agency of Pjetër Çurçia, the police surrounded me and, as suspicious, asked me for my identification card, which I had different, but I gave it to them. They told me that as a formality we will send you to the police, and they sent me to the barracks, on 2 May 1942, where my mother was also present.
There, there was a Xhemal and one named Nush Doda, who recognized me. I told them that I am Lutfi Deliu. They hit me and asked me why I had gone to Shkodër.
My spiritual state was bad, because they engaged me to one against my will, and words slipped out of me, revealing Zef Ndoja’s house and a base, but I did not reveal any comrade.
Q&A. Why does SIM say about the statements I allegedly made that it is not true; I did not fight when they captured me because I had no weapon? I don’t know who revealed the house behind the Women’s Institute. I revealed that I stayed alone in Zef Ndoja’s house and I revealed no one. Perlat Rexhepi shot at me for nothing, soon after they interned me in Italy.
Q&A. I had connections with a Vasil and with Jovan Bajraktari. Even though they were caught, I don’t know how to explain it. As I said, I only revealed Zef Ndoja’s house when they asked me.
Shyqyri Këllezi’s depot, I don’t know who revealed. I knew other comrades as well, but I did not spy on them. Zef Ndoja was caught following my statement, as was his wife Marije Lezja. They found her photograph on me. After my arrest, many comrades were caught, but not as SIM say. /Memorie.al
