From Veli Haklaj
-The unknown side of the battles and efforts of Muharrem Bajrakatari and his forces, with the departments of the Ministry of the Interior, in the years 1945-1946-
Memorie.al / At the beginning of March 1946, the communist government of Tirana announced an apology and sent people to negotiate with Muharrem Bajraktari. Muharrem, together with Bajram and other followers, go to the Domaj neighborhood (Ujmisht) to meet for this purpose with Sadik Spahi. For this meeting, Murat Hani and Maliq Islami had mediated. While they were in agreement with Sadik, Mus Istrefi and Isak Kasemi, sent by Xhetan and Beshir Ndreu, came to Murat Zejneli’s house for a meeting. They talked with Muharrem, only Musa and Isaac. After the meeting, Muharrem told his supporters that they had proposed him a job in Tirana and told them that he would be staying for a month. But he did not want to have serious conversations with the Dibrans, but only with Sadik Spahi. That day, as they parted with Musa and Isak, two hours before the light came out, a force of 600-700 people; the government force from Kukësi, Bicajt, Lusna surrounded the meeting place.
-The attempt of Trulla (Surroj), March 8, 1945-
Muharrem Bajraktari and his fighters, just five minutes ago, had left and headed for the mountain of Ujmish, from where, after seeing the Follow-Up Forces of the communist regime, they crossed to Surroj and Trulle, walking day and night. There was heavy snow and they arrived an hour before the light came out. An hour after the light came out, the partisan company arrived. They had come to check for rifles, or for some particular fugitive. Muharrem Bajraktar’s forces were stationed in two camps, in one Muharrem with the majority, in the other Bajrami with 7-8 people. Bajram and his, they were ready, while for Muharram, only Tahir Hajdari, Imer Myftari and Dem Nura were ready. Only when the Pursuit Forces came to the door of Muharrem’s stable, did they hear them.
The partisans did not come in combat formation and Muharrem Bajraktar’s fighters were caught by surprise. The fire was opened in front of the door of Muharrem, at the entrance of the fence, simultaneously by the partisan vanguard and by Tahir Hajdari, Dem Nurja and Imer Myftari. The rest of the army fired a battery against Bajram Bajraktar’s station, which was answered by someone from inside, someone had come out. In the first surprise, Bajram Bajraktari scored three times from inside the stadium. The attempt lasted only five minutes. While the partisan vanguard was separated from its comrades and remained behind the Muharrem stand, in the fight with Tahir, Dema and Imer, the others fled freely in the direction of Surroj and many of them (the partisans) asked to surrender.
Under these conditions, Muharrem Bajraktari ordered the cessation of fighting and the soldiers left without a trace, from that very dangerous lawn. But after the Muharrem stan, things had developed differently. Of the six partisans, Tahir Hajdari had killed three and wounded one; Imer Myftari, killed one dead and saved the other, on whom Tahiri had rushed, after he had given signs of surrender. Tahir Hajdari and Dem Nura were slightly injured, the first in the thigh and the second in the cheek. Simultaneously with the attempt of Trulla (Surroj), Tahir Hajdar, his brother was shot at the Post Office of Surroj (for service) and he knew about it. However, Muharrem Bajraktari warned his comrades: “As long as I am there, I will shoot anyone who kills us, surrenders, or injures us. The soldiers are not to blame, they are under discipline and I fight manfully and not meanly”!
Muharrem Bajraktari, Muharrem Bajraktari, said to Muhin Hoxha (?) from Remulli i Mati: “You are a good boy, if you want to go to your friends, or go home, or stay with me.” After he asked for a meeting with Muharrem, they immediately gave him weapons. Then they left in the direction of Malziu (Shëmri), from where they crossed the Drini in Manëz at night, in extremely difficult meteorological conditions: very cold water.
At Muhamet Sula, the soldier asked him to go home. They gave him two people, because he did not know the place, but he ran away from them on the road. According to Bajram Bajraktari, the act of forgiveness of the soldier of the Pursuit Forces was not repentance for the first mistake, or a desire to serve the government, but the aforementioned was convinced of the impossibility of staying in the mountains like the fugitives. He had in his hand, an invaluable service for the communist government: the murder of Muharrem, after he had been left on guard, like the others, at night, was on his head.
In the effort of Trulla (Surroj) were: Muharrem Bajraktari, Imer Myftari, Tahir Hajdari, Sef Xheladini, Bajram Bajraktari, Hamdi Bajraktari, Ibrahim Bajraktari, Sul Dogjan Skavica, Ali Xhelili, Islam Lami, Kadri Mata, Sul Dogjan Misini, Mus Mahmuti 28 people. And there were 60-70 people from the forces following the communist regime.
The attempt in Domaj (Ujmisht), August 1945
In July 1946, at the Drini Bridge, a fellow soldier of Muharrem Bajraktar, Hasan Sulejmani, who had unknowingly moved forward, encountered an ambush, investigated it and shot five times at them. The hidden patrol of the Pursuit Force (Can Xhelili) ran away from them and after half an hour, made a false alarm with rifle and machine gun fire. Meanwhile, Muharrem Bajraktari and his group had crossed the Drini to another place. In August 1946, Bajram Bajraktari and Sul Dogjan Skavica settled in Domaj. Bajram was sick and for this reason he was separated from Muharram, with whom he sometimes had disagreements.
On the day of the attempt, one hour before dawn, Bajram Bajraktar and Sul Dogjan Skavica were hidden in the field of Mehdi Baftjar (Domaj) by his son, Adem Mehdi, whom they had found in Vreshta. They are hidden here against Bajram’s will and without the knowledge of other family members. Units of the Special Battalion, under the command of Selim Brat (nearly 100 people), do a fine check in the entire Domaj neighborhood and around. When they were returning to the village from Vreshta, a patrol (8 people) encountered Bajram Bajraktari and Sul Dogjan Skavica, at a distance of five meters. The last of them looks at them and calls out; “Who are you?”
Bajrami and Sula had the opportunity to kill two or three of them quite easily, but they did not shoot. They walked in the direction of Resk and the partisans shot them 50-60 times, no farther than 20 meters. Bajrami and Sula not only didn’t answer them, but they didn’t put the rifle down at all and left the village, with slower steps than the regulars. The partisans, who surprisingly did not see their direction, continued the pursuit and control on all four sides (except where they had gone). The guard of Cape Kala has no interest in them, because they were in military clothes and their walk did not at all denounce them as escaping, with pursuit behind.
Sul Dogjani swore that he would no longer go with Bajram Bajraktar, but he explained the reasons: 1) He did not feel the war against the partisans. 2) He considered himself guilty, why he entered that place. 3) The duty of government bodies was to follow up, kaçak must be preserved. 4) Any damage caused by Bajram Bajraktari was the shooting of the owner of the house, who had no knowledge at all. According to Bajram Bajraktar, these were sufficient reasons, before which the death of Bajram and Sula were small dâmi mâ.
The attempt of Limth (Lusa), March 10, 1946
When the attempt of Limth (Lusa) took place, the group of Muharrem Bajraktar’s fighters was in the center of Liman Peposhi and Dostan Rexhepi. They had arrived only the night before and, it seems, that siege was not for them, but for Dostan, who was ill with his legs (invited to Tetovo) and had a half-dead friend (Hazir Tajnova, who surrendered three days later). The Special Battalion Company, under the command of Lieutenant Hasan Myftari, on the first day controlled the Karshi area, up to where the traku started (which was exactly Kerri Road). Perhaps he was impressed by the signs that there would be more escapees than he thought, Hasan Myftari postponed the siege until tomorrow and informed Bicaj to take the side of Kolesjani (Truiz).
In the effort were Muharrem Bajraktari, Bajram Bajraktari, Ibrahim Bajraktari, Sef Bajraktari, Hamdi Bajraktari, Esat Bajraktari, Dostan Rexhepi, Nexhet Hamzi, Elmaz Tosuni, Tosun Çiku, Liman Peposhi, Mehmet Labi, Avdi Rakipi, Imer Myftari, Tahir Hajdari, Dem. Nura, Zeqir Nura and 18-19 others. Liman Peposhi, who himself was the third guarding the track, announced the arrival of the force and the group of Muharrem Bajraktar, tried to retreat, but it was impossible because of the sick person who was carrying him on his back. The partisans jumped on his back and the effort began. Muharrem Bajraktari’s vanguard, consisting of Bajram Bajraktari, Tosun Çiku (both of them were assigned to walk long enough and not be separated by the war), Sef Xheladini (also sick), Hamdi Bajraktari, Dem Nura and Zeqir Nura, did not take part in the fight. Muharrem Bajraktari, Liman Peposhi, Elmaz Tosuni, Avdi Rakipi, Dostan Rexhepi, Tahir Hajdari and Imer Myftari have actively participated in this effort.
Lieutenant Hasan Myftari of the pursuit forces was killed in this battle. Liman Peposhi, Elmazi Tosuni, Avdi Rakipi, Mehmet Labi and two others left in the direction of Ujmish, taking the pot after the vedi and hiding Hazir Tajnova. The rest of Muharrem Bajraktar’s fighters left in the direction of Lera Sorrave and Fshat village. In Lera of Sorrave, they had the opportunity to stop and seriously damage the partisans, but no one wanted bloodshed. In the village Fshat, they took bread by compulsion and this burden was taken over by Bajram Bajraktari, for the reason that we did not take it from any poor person, because he did not have a wife and it did not meet their needs.
They received bread from Molla Jashari, Sheh Isufi, Ali Shehu, Vaid Shehu, Hafuz Dardhesi. Muharremi and Dostani took offers from the merchant Hafuz Shtini and offered to pay him the money, but he did not accept. A total of 15 loaves of bread (50 kg.) were received. As they were retreating beyond the Reka, the following patrol arrived and the fight began. The whole group had gone out of range, only Bajram Bjaraktari and Sef Bajraktari, had remained behind and eaten a barrage of bullets. They took positions and for three hours in a row, the fighting continued only with the partisans. Sefa has shot 50-60 times. On the other side, the position was such that only one man held it (the river was between them). In this effort, a partisan was wounded in the village, from Sefa’s shooting. In the evening, Muharrem Bajraktar’s group left for Grame (Diber). They had bread for more than a week.
The Persecution Attempt, April 1-2, 1946
A partisan unit (50 people) under control on the mountain of Vila came and encountered Muharrem Bajraktar’s group of fighters, while Muharrem and Osman Lita targeted the Doda Castle. They were in the effort: Muharrem Bajraktari, Ibrahim Bajraktari, Bajram Bajraktari, Hamdi Bajraktari, Sef Bajraktari, Esat Bajraktari, Imer Myftari, Tahir Hajdari, Dem Nura, Zeqir Nura, Dostan Rexhepi, Neshet Hamzi, Xhemali Mërtini, Osman Lita, Taf Lita, Sali Lita, Vahab Lita, Zejnel Lita, Rrahim Lita, Rushit Lita, Jahe Lita, Shefqet Lita, Hysen Lita, Emri Lita and Ukë Lita. Among these Rrahimi, Saliu, Wahabi, Shefqeti, Hyseni, were completely untried and with 10 bullets each.
The partisans have attacked well and it seems that they have had no losses. Their main attack was organized towards Muharrem Bajraktar’s position. Among Muharrem Bajraktar’s fighters, Uk Lita and Rrahim Lita were killed. According to Bajram Bajraktar, the Litajs were settling their accounts that day, but the strong resistance of Muharrem, Dostan, Tahir, Dema and Esat saved them. Only Tafa, Emria, Rushiti and Uka were properly armed and skilled. They were attracted towards Gjineta Kalis, with defense from afar and from there they returned at night to Grame. They met by chance at night with Han Kotare and this one from Litajt, they took a lot of food from the villagers of Grame.
The effort in the village stables, April 8-9, 1946
On the way back from Grame to Ujmisht, Muharrem Bajraktari’s group of fighters entered a deserted camp above the village, where a partisan patrol (15-20 people) accidentally came. They had money and retreated towards Cape Cam (border), but after the partisans fired, Sefa and Tahir Hajdari responded, briefly 20 shots from both sides. Here too, Muharrem Bajraktar’s group, if they wanted to, would have killed the bad partisans from a completely favorable position.
Meanwhile, Dostani and Nesheti were separated and the family of Muharrem Bajraktari, plus Imer Myftari, Tahir Hajdari, Dem Nura and Zeqir Nura remained. Sefa was sick and separated that night when they returned from Çaje to Lusa and Ujmisht. According to Bajram Bajraktari, after the meeting with Litajt, trouble began to haunt him and the main factor was the lack of food (rationing of bread).
The attempt of Shpaza (Domaj), April 16, 1946
In the battle of Shpaza (Domaj), on April 16, 1946, from the group of fighters of Muharrem Bajraktari, there were: Muharrem Bajraktari, Bajram Bajraktari, Ibrahim Bajraktari, Hamdi Bajraktari, Esat Bajraktari, Imer Myftari, Tahir Hajdari, Dem and Zeqir Nura ( 9 people). Tahir Hajdari had left the machine gun with M. I. and taken a German rifle. Esati was holding a German “Mashinka” and Bajrami a rifle. They stayed two or three days in Domaj and took food from M.I. Although M. told them: “I think they have found out”, they could not leave that night, because Muharrem was sick (besides Bayram, he died) and they did not have time to leave the outskirts of Domaj (of the siege). In other words, to avoid the attempt with the partisans, I had to cross Drini (impossible), Limth (far), Dardhëzen and Bicaj (partisans).
As they understood, the information was given by M.S. (revenge for militia lieutenant G.), who knew that Sefa was also with them. Since there was no mountain, his daughter saw them by chance, so she asked for a cow. Bajrami had insisted that they leave, but Imeri guaranteed that he had not seen them. M.I., was meeting with his uncle Z.S., in Bicaj, and, after realizing that he knew, he confirmed it exactly, telling me how many there were and the weaponry. Then, out of fear that no one would be saved, Muharrem said to Bajraktar: “The Bicajs know, but there are no soldiers there, I don’t think they will come tomorrow, now it’s your job.” Two-way loyalty, refined.
This is how Muharrem Bajraktari’s group, or at least Bajrami, blamed the deconspiracy, because Muharrem believed in M. For this, Bajram Bajraktari says: “I swear that, for the boys who were killed there, I am not desperate, except for M. (Ishalla is not). Partisan forces have been astronomical for our number; they say 800 – 900, but not less than 500 people”. When the partisan forces arrived, Muharrem Bajraktar’s group of fighters was on the hill between Shpaza and Domaj. The most logical solution was the position (Hurdha e Alisa), where two people could fight with a thousand, but Imer Myftari raised them for Shpaza, where he was the only zabel with new leaves. Muharrem, when they are on their way down, tells them: “Guys, we have never been in a more difficult position. We have no choice but to sell the skin dearly. If only one of us gets out of this siege, these units’ military, do not deserve such a name”.
As soon as they started to fall in the direction of Drin, the guard got tired and the fight broke out. Bajram was hit by a bullet in his left arm, before he had discharged his rifle. He didn’t tell his friends, but he was practically out of the fight and his rifle with all cartridges was taken by Dem Nura, whose machine gun had broken when the attempt began. From 12 o’clock in the afternoon until 8 o’clock in the evening, it was fought without interruption. Muharrem Bajraktari’s group was in two positions: 1) Imer Miftari, Hamdi Bajraktari, Zeqir Nura, Tahir Hajdari, and Ibrahim Bajraktari in several corners (Gabrica wing). 2) Muharrem Bajraktari, Dem Nura, Esat Bajraktari at the end of the field (arm of Ujmish). The distance between the two groups was 200 meters.
Bajram Bajraktari tried to maintain communication, but it was impossible (he couldn’t hear anything even five meters from the sound of the guns). When it was evening, with the exception of the Bajram wound, there was no other dam from the Muharram group. The Muharrem group, led by Bajram, went out two hours after the evening in the direction of Gabrica. They went to the place of their friends (Imer Myftari’s group) and, after not finding them; they suspect that they had left the siege. In fact, they did not know the path, they came to the group of Muharrem and there they were crucified. In the end, they attacked the partisan position of Gabrica and from this attack, only Tahiri came out (his story).
Only after 5-6 days, they found out about the murder of their friends.
Among Muharrem Bajraktari’s fighters, Imer Myftari was killed on the spot; Zeqir Nura, shot on the road Gabricë – Bicaj; Hamdi Bajraktari, injured and died in Bicaj; Ibrahim Bajraktari, lost without a trace, but certainly dead, otherwise they would have found him, and he was thrown into Dri, otherwise they would have investigated where he died. When the fighting started, Hamdiu had said: “Even if I was wounded, Drini would be blessed.” (Hamdi and Ibrahim Bajraktari were the sons of Muharrem Bajraktari – V.H.). The losses of the partisans are not known, except for Nuhi Bislim Mata and the son of Ismail Gjuta (grandfather of the Bajraktar family), but Captain Beqir Ndou had told Bajram Bajraktar that many were killed.
According to Bajram Bajraktar, they had suffered these losses, only because of a big mistake: a) Why was Bajram not separated from Muharram. b) Of course Bajram, he had killed his friends without a care at all and Muharram the others. Only Bajram and Muharram, we knew the place well. Mistakes by the partisans, according to Bajram Bajraktar:
1) Complete lack of military tactics by the power commander, as well as lack of courage. 2) Sabotage (intentionally or unintentionally), of civilian elements, who knew very well the strategic positions for positions. For example, the side of Ujmish (Ali Selmani), in Kalin e Shpaza and Dri, the land without fairies; while from the Gabrica side, the hill is empty, between Gabrica and Shpaza, where the Muharrem group passed. 3) A certain lack of aggressiveness, on the part of the soldier element, with wasteful consumption of ammunition, to no avail.
4) Only a decisive attack would have annihilated Muharrem Bajraktar’s fighters, with the same losses from the besieging forces.
The Game Effort, June 16-17, 1946
Muharrem Bajraktar’s group of fighters stayed in Lojme for three or four days. They were supplied by Beqir Tafa and have knowledge of their location, Men Ismeni (?) and another Lojmjan, Ramadan Bidini from Brekia, Iliaz Haxhia and Mal Brahimi from Topojani. A man from Prizren was with them, whom they found there in the morning, when Bajrami went to buy bread in Lojme, to Beqiri. It was made by Iliaz Haxhija. However, as it was found out later, he had been sent from Prizren, with a different program. In Lojme were: Muharrem Bajraktari, Bajram Bajraktari, Sef Bajraktari, Esat Bajraktari, Dostan Rexhepi, Neshet Hamzi, Avdi Rakipi, Tosum Çiku, Elmaz Tosumi. According to Bajram Bajraktar, the attack by the Pursuit Forces was perfect for execution and courage. Bajrami was asleep, 5 meters away from the rifle; Muharrem tuj sheti, 20 meters away from the rifle; Avdi Rakipi, 100 meters from the rifle; Elmaz Tosuni, 20 meters away, but with nagantes. I.e. only Dostani, Sefa, Esati, Nesheti (asleep) had their own weapons. How the Game attempt was performed:
1) A sergeant came and emptied the “Car” at the door of Dostan e Sefa’s hut and returned, because he didn’t have time to fill it. He was neck and neck with Neshet Hamzi, who had woken up from sleep.
2) Captain Shukri Meka, attacked directly in Muharrem, but was thrown in front of Elmaz Tosumi and Esati. Elmazi killed the captain (who apparently did not light the “Mashinka”) with a chest-to-chest revolver. Esati injured a soldier.
3) When Bajrami jumped towards the rifle, he was hit by a rifle bullet and seven bomb fragments in the head (the bomb fragments are worse than the bullet), but not hard. Eid was covered in blood and there was no rain at all. Esati had given him the gun.
4) Tosum Çiku and Sefa, remained in place in the first fire.
5) Elmazi was injured twice near Bajram and did not answer him when he called him.
Bajram blamed the dead, but he fainted and later fought alone for half an hour. Meanwhile, the other fighters were gone.
6) Dostan Rexhepi was killed by a soldier, with one more, 200 meters above the hut. Dostani forward, I let him go, but the bullet didn’t take him. They did not see the soldier anymore.
7) Avdi Rakipi, was wounded with several pieces of bombs under the navel and has no access to the rest of the group, he has two rifles and binoculars left. 8) Muharrem, when he jumped and reached for the weapon, something scratched his ribs. They couldn’t tell if it was a bullet or a wooden stake (there were 5 stakes there for the rifle, in the oak near the bed, and the gun on top). There is no treatment at all, nor was he understood. Only Esati and Nesheti have escaped this time and the one from Prizren, who was without a rifle.
In conclusion: Captain Shukri Meka and a soldier were killed by the Autonomous Battalion. But from the group of fighters of Muharrem Bajraktari, Dostan Rexhepi, Sef Bajraktari, Elmaz Tosumi, Tosum Çiku are dead; Bajram Bajraktari, Avdi Rakipi and Muharrem Bajraktari, who more, who less injured. According to Bajram Bajraktari, when his sons (Ibrahimi and Hamdiu) were killed in Shpaza, Muharrem Bajraktari did not show even the slightest sign of demoralization. And when he lost Dostani and Sefa, he did not contain his despair, but this stopped him from saying: “Well done to this officer (Captain Sh. Meka), this is an honorable death, perfect in the performance of his duty.” Memorie.al
