- Massacre of 1951 in Albania
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Massacre of 1951 in Albania Location Tirana, Albania Coordinates 41°19′48″N 19°49′45″E / 41.33°N 19.82917°E Date 26 February 1951 Target Intellectuals Attack type Massacre Death(s) Twenty-two killed Injured Mehmet Shehu (lightly injured) during interrogation Perpetrator(s) Communists, notably Enver Hoxha and Mehmet Shehu The Massacre of 1951 in Albania was the killing without trial of 22 intellectuals in the Socialist People's Republic of Albania on 26 February 1951, as ordered by Enver Hoxha, accused of bombing the Soviet Union's embassy in Tirana.[1] The victims were 21 males and one female. One day earlier, another person, Jonuz Kaceli had been killed while accused of the same crime. It was the first time the Agitation and Propaganda law was used.
They were executed at midnight, near the bridge Beshiri, 15 km from Tirana, linked hand in hand with a chain and they were buried in a common grave.[2]
The bomb was thrown in fact by Hysen Llulla and Qazim Laçi.[3] The head of the police during that time, Sali Ormëni, was killed one week after the bombing.
Manol Konomi, then one the minister of justice didn't want to sign the killing without aprovoal the 22 people.[4]
All the victims where posthumously awarded the order Honor of the State by president Bamir Topi.[5]
Background
The massacre of the night of 26 February 1951 started with the arrests of the 22 people during the four-day period between 20 and 22 February 1951. The 22 arrested people were put in prison and then shot on 26 February. The pretext was the discovery of a small amount of dynamite in the Soviet Embassy in Tirana on February 19, at 5:45 pm, and the arrested persons were accused of having something to do with this.[6]
Reaction of the Communist government
Immediately after the event, on February 20 1951, there was a Political Bureau meeting held. Here was decided the measures that must be taken. The most prominent communists were at this meeting: Enver Hoxha, Tuk Jakova, Mehmet Shehu, Bedri Spahiu, Hysni Kapo, Gogo Nushi, Spiro Koleka, Beqir Balluku and Liri Belishova. Here, reported Deputy Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Mehmet Shehu, who said:
"... Last night, at 7 and 47, from a small road that is behind Soviet Ambassade someone throwed a dynamite wrapped with a paper and tied with a fuse. Dynamite wasfell in the yard and has burst the windows and broken door, and has made a loud noise. Immediately have gone forces to chase, but did not find thing. Then they dropped after signs and have captured some people who were there. Our suspicions are that might be trace of a process, but, despite if any of those who think us or not, should definitely discover source and the people of this assassination. Given that this is not a simple action, but an event Political large caliber, even more than an assassination that could be done against any of us, it is politically necessary that we take extraordinary repressive measures, without taking into account applicable laws. A measure so we've got even when he was killed Bardhok Biba, ie, we shot outside the law. I think that it will take, be in a scale such that the element that is processed, reactionary element type Kasoruho, etc., to arrest tonight. The arresting about 100 or 150 people, of which, 10 or 15 of them to be executed, choosing the course of those on top, after want to organize attempted other. This measure will proceed even with a measure stripping from Tirana, reactionary families within a month. We need terror to respond to terror and, this can do with full consciousness in cold blood. We have prepared lists of arrests and, if are you agree, do you tonight. Since yesterday we have received measures for the protection of all people the Soviet Legation located here as advisors, professors, being put our people to accompany. The main part of them will be armed, then we thought to point guard in all facilities where work and live around them-who will do their cleaning to remove suspicious families, and other people who work near them, Although we noticed that are introduced to those sneaky people, two drivers not good. These measures are thinking of joining wherever we Soviet, which are about 200 people of them. We will also, in this case, the some of the best measures to protect The legation of popular democracy, which, for the moment have only a guard. Although these measures will become quite expenditure, we will do it, they are necessary measures and should take " All members of the Bureau,
unanimously approved measures of prime minister.Completely unfounded accusation
None of the 22 victims had any connection with the incident and no attempt was ever made to prove the connection. All of the arrests were completely political ones prepared by Sigurimi and the Albanian Ministry of the Interior. The arrests were directly ordered by the Political Bureau of the Party of Labour of Albania.
Arrests and execution
The arrests were made based on death lists prepared in advance by the Ministry of Interior. The charge, as prepared and signed by Military Prosecutor Siri Çarçani and dated 25 February 1951, was the same for all 22 victims and read:
These people have been put at the service of imperialist foreign espionage, they have become members of a terrorist organization. They have made propaganda about the violent collapse of the people's power and have distributed slogans for a new war from the American and British imperialists and their satelites.—Siri Çarçani, Military Prosecutor of communist AlbaniaThe same Çarçani admitted later that when he wrote the charge he was completely unaware of any investigation having ever been performed. In addition, the charge was never communicated to any of the victims. Furthermore a trial was never held.
The 22 victims were killed on 26 February 1951, six days after the first arrest was made. All of the victims were shot based on a government decree issued by the Ministry of the Interior on the same day of the killings. The Minister of Interior that issued the decree was Omer Nishani.
One of the victims, Jonuz Kaceli, was killed on 25 February 1951, one day before the others. He was killed by Mehmet Shehu. The reason was that Jonuz Kaceli had attacked him. After this happened, he was thrown out of a window in the pretense that he had committed suicide. But in fact he was dropped head-first from the second floor, and died.[8] On 26 February 1951 the other victims were shot by an execution squad.
Legal Process
On 5 March 1951 the execution of these people was approved by the military court of Communist Albania, that is 8 days after the killing op these people.[9]
Rejudging by free judges
In 1991 all were declared innocent.[10]
Discovery of the mass grave
All victims were found bound with barbed wire in a joint mass grave on the Erzen river edge.
List of victims
- Ali Qoraliu
- Anton Delhysa
- Gjon Temali
- Fadil Dizdari
- Gafurr Jegeni
- Haki Kodra
- Hekuran Troka
- Jonuz Kaceli
- Lluka Rashkoviç
- Manush Peshkëpia
- Mehmet Ali Shkupi
- Myftar Jegeni
- Niko Lezo
- Pandeli Nova
- Petro Konomi
- Pjerrin Guraziu
- Qemal Kasaruho
- Reiz Selfo
- Sabiha Kasimati
- Tefik Shehu
- Thoma Katundi
- Zyhdi Herri
Victims
Ali Qoraliu
Ali Qoraliu (1890–1951) is one of the 22 victims of the Massacre of 1951 in Albania carried out by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha.[1]
Ali Qoraliu was born in 1890 in Tirana. He studied in Selanik and was part of the anti-royalist demonstrations in Fier in the 1930s. In 1945 he was not allowed to work because he was an anti-communist.[citation needed] In 1951 he was shot dead by the communists. The accusation was bombing the Soviet Union's embassy in Tirana, Albania.
Anton Delhysa
Anton Delhysa (1904–1951) is one of the 22 victims of the Massacre of 1951 in Albania carried out by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha.[1][11]
He was born in the city of Prizren. Later he became the dean of the Polytechnical High School of Tirana. In 1951 he was killed under the charge of having bombed the Soviet Union's embassy in Albania.
Gjon Temali
Secondary school finished in Austria, studied in university for pharmacy in Florence. Arrested and executed in 1951: "bombs on the Soviet embassy."[12]
Fadil Dizdari
Fadil Dizdari was born in Kavaja and was a bookseller.
Gafurr Jegeni
Gafurr Jegeni was born in Macedonian Debar, in 1908. Finished military academy and worked commander of the finance guard in Vlora.
Haki Kodra
Haki Kodra was born in Debar, in 1921. Exercised trade in Tirana.
Hekuran Troka
Hekuran Troka was born in Kuçovë on 1919, he worked as a trader.
Jonuz Kaceli
Main article: Jonuz KaceliJonuz Kaceli (1908–1951) was an Albanian businessman and dissident against the communist regime in Albania. He was one of the 22 victims of the Massacre of 1951 in Albania carried out by the regime.[1]
Jonuz Kaceli was born in 1908 in Tirana. Prior to his arrest and killing, he had been a well-known businessman in Albania, as the co-owner in the company Osman Kaceli e djemtë, which was one of the first companies registered in Tirana, Albania after the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912.
Accused by communists of: Jonuz Kaceli, comes from a trading family. During the war he has supported Balli Kombëtar with both moral and matrial. He is interested by receiving messages of outside the country, and the state has to be protected of this.[13]
Lluka Rashkoviç
Lluka Rashkoviç was born in Montenegro, in 1900. Mechanical driver of Montenegro, remained in Albania after World War II. Acccused of: Auto owner from the rich elite, he is suspected to be agent of the Slavic countries and CIA. The Italians wanted to make him gouvernator of Montenegro.[13]
Manush Peshkëpia
Manush Peshkëpia was born in Vlora in 1912. Won wide culture, working as an auto-didact. Was arrested for the second time.
Mehmet Ali Shkupi
Mehmet Ali Shkupi was born in Skopje in 1893
Myftar Jegeni
Myftar Jegeni was born in Debar, in 1915. Gratuated at Academic military and Served in the armed forces.
Niko Lezo
Niko Lezo was born in Delvin. Creator of the first chemical laboratory Albania. Member of parliament from 1923 to 1925. Among the two deputies who abstained on January 21, 1925, when it was first proclaimed Republic of Albania.
Pandeli Nova
Pandeli Nova was born in Opar on 1892. Dealt with trade.
Petro Konomi
Petro Konomi was born in Cairo. Studies in Italy. Employee at the ATA's, until the arrest.
Pjerrin Guraziu
Pjerrin Guraziu
Qemal Kasaruho
Qemal Kasaruho
Reiz Selfo
Reiz Selfo
Sabiha Kasimati
Sabiha Kasimati was born in 1912 in Ankara (the origin of Libohova). The first woman had finished Lycée. Had finished Faculty of Biological Sciences in Turin. School had been friends of Enver Hoxha.
Tefik Shehu
Tefik Shehu
Thoma Katundi
Thoma Katundi was accused of:
- Without work out of Korça, he had collected propaganda thrown by airplanes, he may be part of the french secret serves. By the communist party, a letter of him was captured wherein he reported about the situation in Albania.[13]
Zyhdi Herri
Zyhdi Herri
See also
- List of massacres in Albania
External links
- Short documentary about the massacre English
- Special about Massacre of 1951 in Albania (Albanian)
- Special on TV Klan (Albanian)
Further reading
- Gazeta 55, p. 16-17 (Albanian)
References
- ^ a b c d "Uran Butka: Masakra e 1951, Prokurori dhe Gjyqtari: I pushkatuam pa gjyq 22 vetë". Zemra Shqiptare. 2009-02-27. http://www.zemrashqiptare.net/article/Historia/7046/. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ Shqipëri: 26 shkurt 1951 regjimi komunist ekzekuton 22 intelektualë shqiptarë
- ^ [1], Gazeta 55, p.13-14
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz26O4yIalw&NR=1
- ^ http://www.tvklan.al/lajmi.php?id=15452
- ^ "Shqipëri: 26 shkurt 1951 regjimi komunist ekzekuton 22 intelektualë shqiptarë". Radiovaticana.org. http://www.radiovaticana.org/ALB/Articolo.asp?c=360125. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ [2], Gazeta 55, p.13
- ^ "Pushkatimet e të dënuarve të bombës sovjetike në shkelje me ligjet". Zemra Shqiptare. 2008-08-31. http://www.zemrashqiptare.net/article/Komente/4583/. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ [3] (Albanian)
- ^ report: East Europe, Nummers 152-161, Google Books
- ^ 15122008. "Nis seanca e Kuvendit, pritet të miratohet pr/ligji për spiunët". Iliriadaportal.com. http://www.iliriadaportal.com/shtypi-f32/nis-seanca-e-kuvendit-pritet-te-miratohet-pr-ligji-per-spiunet-t1832.htm. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ "Gazeta Panorama Online". Panorama.com.al. 2007-07-15. http://www.panorama.com.al/index.php?id=1922. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ a b c "TV Klan special on massacre of 1951". Klan TV. http://tvklan.tv/emisioni.php?id=401#.
Victims of the Massacre of 1951 in Albania Ali Qoraliu · Anton Delhysa · Gjon Temali · Fadil Dizdari · Gafurr Jegeni · Haki Kodra · Hekuran Troka · Jonuz Kaceli · Lluka Rashkoviç · Manush Peshkëpia · Mehmet Ali Shkupi · Myftar Jegeni · Niko Lezo · Pandeli Nova · Petro Konomi · Pjerrin Guraziu · Qemal Kasaruho · Reiz Selfo · Sabiha Kasimati · Tefik Shehu · Thoma Katundi · Zyhdi HerriCategories:- 1951 in Albania
- Socialist People's Republic of Albania
- Massacres in Albania by communist regime
- Enver Hoxha
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