Written by Petrit Latifi
Isuf Rustem Mavrova (1879–1943) was an Albanian patriot who fought Greek and Serb forces in southern Albania in 1912 and continued to fight for Albanian freedom against Ballists and German forces at the battle of Drashovicë, in Vlorë, during World War 2. He died during the fight and became a heroic figure. His descendants, General Bejto Isufi, Colonel Arianit Osmanaj and Geologist Dr. Nuredin Osmanaj continued with his legacy.
He also served in the forces of Ismail Qemali. He was injured during fierce fighting with Serb forces dressed as Albanians to try and create a distraction. During World War 2 he fought Ballisto-German forces and died in Vlore.
In his early youth (1896), he refused to go as a soldier (nizam) to a foreign land and went to the mountains as a fighter (komit) together with other patriots such as Selam Musai from Salaria, Rrapo Meto from Vranishti and Laze Malua from Tërbaçi, creating armed groups until 1908 when they were amnestied by the Young Turks. At the head of this group, he fought several battles with the Turkish army’s koshalls and tax collectors who were accompanied by armed gendarmes and soldiers.
This made him a man of great reputation throughout the Vlora River region. He participated with his platoon in: the general anti-Ottoman uprising of Southern Albania in 1911, where one of the meetings preceding the uprising was organized in his house in Mavrovo on June 26, 1911 with representatives of the Secret Committees from Korça, Çamëria, Mallakastra, Tepelena, Delvina, Përmeti and Skrapari.
He actively participated in the Interprovincial Assembly of Drashovica where the Memorandum of Grëça was approved, in July 1911 as a representative of the village of Mavrovo; in the battles of 1912 in Qafë e Llogarasë, Qafë e Derros, in Kuç and in Pilur, against Greek forces in defense of the first Albanian government of Ismail Qemali; in other battles in the Fier and Lushnja areas against the forces of Haxhi Qamili and Esat Pasha Toptani where he was wounded in Karbunarë of Lushnja; participated as a representative in the Assembly of Barçalla and Beuni in the preparations for the War of Vlora; led in this war the united Mavrovo cheta with 160 fighters from the villages of Mavrovo, Kropisht, Peshkëpi and Penkovë, (one of the chetas responsible for the siege of Kota and the assassination of the Italian general Gotti) where he was seriously wounded again together with his brother, Cano Rustemi;[2] as a fanolist fighting against the Serbian and Menshevik forces in 1924 that brought Ahmet Zog to power after the democratic revolution led by Fan Noli; fought at the head of the cheta in Skela on April 7, 1939 against the Italian occupation of Albania; also, although in old age he became the inspiration of the territorial squad of the village of Mavrovo, supporting without reservations the National Liberation movement in World War II against the Nazi forces in the battle that took place in the village of Drashovicë, Vlorë, where his son was a partisan in this battle. He died two months after this battle, on November 5, 1943, in his house in Slap, Mavrovo.
For his patriotic merits and bravery shown in the defense of independence, he was decorated:
1- In 1930, by the Albanian Kingdom with the Order of Skanderbeg, Officer Class with the rank of Lieutenant (as an anti-Zogist he refused to withdraw the decoration and military rank).
2- In 1962 (posthumously) by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly “For Special Patriotic Merits” with the motivation:
“Patriot and brave fighter. He led the platoon with courage, bravery and selflessness in the war against the Italian imperialist invaders in 1920 for the liberation of Vlora”
3- In 2020, by the President of the Republic with the Title “Knight of the Order of Skanderbeg” with the motivation:
“For his contribution as a patriot and distinguished fighter for the freedom of Albania. Distinguished for his courage and sacrifice in the Battle of Vlora (1920), as commander of combat units in the defense of Independence and Albanian lands”[3]
He left behind a patriotic and patriotic legacy to his children: Bede Veliaj (Çeprati), General Bejto Isufi (Osmanaj), Colonel Aranit Osmanaj, Dr. Nuredin Osmanaj (geologist) and Ervehe Osmanaj (teacher).
References
Presidencia. Archivd from original from August 31, 2020.
Gani I. Abazi dhe Bardhosh Gaçe (red.): “Lufta e Vlorës në kujtimet e mia”, Shtepia Botuese “Naim Frashëri”, Tirane 1995, p. 45″
Metaj, Agron. Captain Sali Vranishti: monograph. Botimet Toena|ISBN 9789992711552.
Agaj, Ago. The Battle of Vlora: story a participant. B. Rukschcio|.
Gaçe , Bardhosh. The National Movement in Vlora, 1878-1912. Botimet Toena. Isbn 9789992711859.
Balkan Academia 