Memorie.al / The trial held at the “Kosova” Cinema in Tirana, at the end of September and the beginning of October 1947, otherwise known as the trial of the “Group of Deputies”, had a great echo throughout the country, for because some of the deputies of the People’s Assembly, high-ranking officials of the state, the Democratic Front, and former personalities of the Anti-Fascist War, who had expressed their reservations about the political line and terror, were sentenced to death or severe punishment there the senior leadership of the Albanian Communist Party, led by Enver Hoxha, was following.
This event is already well known, since in the beginning of the 90s, and following, in the Albanian press and various television shows, many testimonies and archival documents have been published, which shed light and enlighten the most well that whole painful story, which had Enver Hoxha as its main author. Based on this, in this article, we are publishing the echo that that trial had at that time, as well as the letters and telegrams that were addressed to the Supreme Court, from employee collectives, workers, soldiers, intellectuals, youth volunteers, teachers, etc., etc. who demanded the death penalty of the “Group of Deputies”!
The trial for the punishment of the “Group of Deputies”!
Among them were names like Riza Dani, deputy of Shkodra; Shefqet Beja, deputy of Durrës; Enver Sazani, deputy of Durrës; Selaudin Toto, deputy of Gjirokastra; Irfan Majuni, deputy of Dibra; Faik Shehu, deputy of Dibra; Kosta Boshnjaku, deputy of Tirana and Gjergj Kokoshi, deputy of Shkodra, etc. In this article, we will not talk about the trial, but about the impact that this judicial process had on the people. In order to give a popular character to the elimination of the Albanian opposition, hundreds of letters and telegrams were sent from all over Albania to the Supreme Court. They are workers, peasants, young people, clerks, youth action volunteers, intellectuals, teachers, soldiers, carpenters, drivers, etc.…!
The letters are templates; it looks like they are written by the same hand. Everyone expresses hatred and demands the death penalty “of the spies of the Anglo-Americans, who sought the overthrow of the People’s Power”. Below, we are publishing some of the letters and telegrams that supported the Supreme Court’s capital sentences. Some are signed with signatures, but there are only fingerprints on them… all of these are part of the file of the Deputies, which have been made available to us, by the Authority for the Information of the Files of the former State Security.
LETTER FROM THE EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE PLANNING COMMISSION, SENT TO THE SUPREME COURT, FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF THE DEPUTIES
Tirana,
September 9, 1947
BODY OF THE HIGH MILITARY COURT
Tirana
We, the employees of the Planning Commission, gathered today, on 8-9-1947, in a trade union conference, for the preparation of the indictment of the People’s Prosecutor, against the leading group of the Saboteur Tracht Organization, who are today in the banks of the accused; outraged by their high treachery, and wanting to protect the victories and interests of our People, we show the greatest hatred, against the enemies of the People and ask the Judiciary, the right decision, for their capital punishment.
Death to Fascism-Freedom to the People
For the officers of the Planning Commission
For the head of the Branch Trade Union Council
Secretary Chairman
Ferdi Tirana Jano Dibra
THE TELEGRAM OF THE YOUTH VOLUNTEERS OF THE DURRS-ELBASAN RAILWAY, SENT TO THE HIGH MILITARY COURT, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
Telegram
Durrës 19.9.1949
HIGH MILITARY COURT
Tirana
We, the 13,500 volunteers of the first Railway of Rini, following closely the development of the trial process against traitors, spies and enemies of the people, express the greatest hatred for their vile criminal acts.
We who attack night and day with picks and shovels on rocks and objects and who do not spare even the last drop of sweat to build the new life under the leadership of Enver and the Party do not tolerate that our Democratic Power and our works of glorious that we are rising today.
So revolted at the top, for their crimes at the expense of the people, we ask the Judiciary, that the sword of Justice falls mercilessly on these saboteur spies, waste of Ball and Legality, to be sold with Anglo-American sterling.
13,500 Volunteers of the Youth Railway
Durrës-Elbasan
LETTER FROM THE SOLDIERS OF THE AUTOMOBILE BATTALION COMMAND, SENT TO THE HIGH COURT, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
ALBANIAN NATIONAL ARMY
BAT COMMAND. AUTOMOB. INSTRUCTIVE
Death to Fascism-Freedom to the People
HIGH COURT MILITARY
Tirana
Us, soldiers N/Officers and Officers of the Battalion Aut. Instructive, following carefully and with the greatest attention the reading of the newspapers “Bashkimi and Luftëtari”, we have paid special attention to their pages, where it is about the development of the sessions of the Court of Criminals and Saboteurs of the People and to our People’s Republic, which we were able to win through many bloody battles with external and internal enemies, with those comrades who today are captured by the People and have appeared before the dock, to give an account for their crimes and goals have the power to overthrow the People’s Power, through foreign imperialist intervention.
Therefore, Comrade Prosecutor, our hatred increases and becomes even more, in front of those criminals and spies of the Anglo-Americans, who have wanted to destroy and divide Albania for their imperialist interests, who assert it even today in front of the Court of To the people. When we see their assertions that they have tried to introduce panic and disunity in our glorious Army, where we hear today that they wanted to assassinate our Illustrious Leaders; we are revolted and filled with hatred, for their criminal actions and preparations that want to throw our people into the fire of miserable suffering and the fratricidal war of our country.
Agents and spies of imperialism, saboteurs and enemies of the Albanian People, have never had and will never have a place in the Albania of Enver, the beloved leader of the Albanian People. We, the military men mentioned above, promise our Commander-in-Chief and our Heroic Party, the “Communist Party”, that we have been and will always be vigilant and strong protectors of the interests of our brave People, but we ask you, Comrade Prosecutor, that your claim be as strict as possible, without exception, for all those who with conscious preparation want to throw our People into the abyss.
For this fellow Prosecutor, we have full confidence that you will be merciless with the right decisions, as will the Supreme Military Court.
Long live the Commander-in-Chief and the People’s Justice
Long live the Albanian Communist Party
Long live the Albanian people and their heroic army
Long live our Allies
Down with Spies and Agents of Foreign Imperialism
Tirana on 21/IX/1947
Verified
Battalion Commissar Aut.
N/Lieutenant, Elmas Kondi
LETTER FROM THE WORKERS OF THE MILITARY PRINTING OFFICE IN TIRANA, SENT TO THE PROSECUTOR OF THE HIGH COURT, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
Death to Fascism-Freedom to the People
Prosecutor of the Supreme Military Court
Tirana
Following with interest the trial that is taking place against the saboteurs, traitorous deputies, spies and waste of the ‘Balli’ and ‘Legality’, we are ascertaining every day more clearly the damage they have caused to the government, in order to waste the sweat and blood of the People Albanian.
Because the people in the hands of the People’s Justice are steeped in treason and have been sold to the foreign, Anglo-American imperialists, in order to sink the Motherland and cause new miseries to our people, I beg you, fellow prosecutor, to ask the jury for the strictest punishment, because they deserve it. With such a punishment, they will be able to pay once and for all the crimes and damages caused.
Civilian and Military Workers of the Military Printing Office
Tirana on 16-IX-1947
THE TELEGRAM OF THE CARPENTERS AND MASONRY OF SUBSECTION IV, SENT TO THE SPECIAL COURT IN TIRANA, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
Telegram
We, the carpenters and masons of N/sek IV, in a conference that brings everyone together, finally heard and learned about the trial of criminals that takes place in Tirana. We show our hatred towards them and ask the Judiciary to give them the punishment they deserve. We demand the death penalty for criminals, saboteurs, enemies of the Albanian people.
Carpenters and masons of N/sec IV
LETTER FROM THE WORKERS OF “MISTO MAME” CARPENTRY AND THE SITE OF N.SH.N. OF CARPENTRY, SENT TO THE SPECIAL COURT, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
V.F. – LP
Dt. 14-IX-47
SPECIAL TRIAL
Tirana
We gather at a conference for the importance of the historic day of the conference of Peza – the establishment of the Democratic Front and that we are committed to a series of commitments for the realization and overcoming of the Plan, we show our indignation, for the ugly faces of traitors and saboteurs, and that they are closely related to the external reaction, they tried in our factories, enterprises, to hinder our work, to get in the way of the path that our people are following, for a happy and better life.
We raise our voice and insistently ask that the sword of justice to the people, mercilessly hit them.
V.F. – LPTirana, on 8.9.’47
Carpentry workers “Misto Mame”
and the construction site N.SH.N. of Carpentry Construction
LETTER FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION NO. 2 IN TIRANA, SENT TO THE PROSECUTOR OF THE SPECIAL COURT, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
Comrade Prosecutor!
The people of this region gathered in a rally of more than 600 people, on the occasion of the blackening of the volunteers for the Railway, which occupies the main place in the State Plan, full of hatred against the work of the traitorous deputies, old spies of imperialism. Anglo-American, of the criminal saboteurs, enemies of the people, demands their death penalty according to the path they followed in order to forcefully overthrow the People’s Power, whose rise cost us so much blood and sacrifice.
People of Region No. 2
Tirana, on 12/9/1947
THE TELEGRAM OF THE EDUCATORS OF KURVELESHI GATHERED IN KUCH, SENT TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY
Telegram
20.10.1947
To the teachers of Kurveles gathered in Kuç, after discussing the treasonous organization of spies and foreign agents in which the teachers are located, we show the greatest hatred against these vile people and demand the punishment until death. We are for the republic led by Enver. We will be on full alert for any act of criminals who dare to undermine popular power.
THE TELEGRAM OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE VII BRIGADE OF STUDENTS IN GJIROKAŠTER, SENT TO THE SPECIAL COURT, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
Telegram
PROSECUTION
Tirana Special Courts
We, the young people of the VII Brigade of Students of Gjirokastra, express our displeasure against the saboteurs of our Government who appeared in court today and demand their death penalty.
205 volunteers of Brig. VII Gjirokastra
THE TELEGRAM OF THE YOUTH OF THE “URANI PANO” BRIGADE, SENT TO THE PROSECUTOR OF THE SPECIAL COURT, FOR THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE GROUP OF DEPUTIES
Telegram
PROSECUTION
Special Trials
Tirana
We, the young women of the “Urani Pano” brigade, gathered today on 16-IX-47 in a political conference (about the conduct of that trial) with one voice and insistence demand the most severe punishment for the criminals and traitors of our country who are giving an account today to the people. Memorie.al
The news of Brig. “Uranus Pano”
