Edited by by Petrit Latifi. Original by Sheradin Berisha, 2022.
“We fight and maybe we don’t enjoy (freedom), but those who come after us will find our secrets” – Hasan Prishtina, 1873-1933.
Although Albania in the period March 7, 1914 – September 3, 1914 was under the administration of the German prince Wilhelm Wid, during this time Kosovo and other ethnic Albanian areas, (which by decision of the London Conference (1913), remained under the occupation of Serbia, Montenegro and Greece), were experiencing the most difficult moments in its history.
The leaders of the Albanian uprising in Kosovo: Hasan Prishtina, Bajram Curri, Isa Boletini and hundreds of other refugees from Kosovo, who had fled after the uprising of the autumn of 1913, took refuge mainly in Durrës and Shkodra.
Prince Widi and his government headed by Turhan Pasha, although they failed to create lasting political stability within the borders of London Albania, then had little opportunity to take concrete steps for the liberation of Kosovo and other Albanian territories, as some leaders of the uprising from Kosovo had thought, at the beginning of Widi’s arrival (March 7, 1914) in Albania.
In these circumstances, it was set as an imperative task by the Albanians themselves to prepare for a liberation uprising against the Serbian invaders… And this heavy burden would be taken on by Hasan Prishtina.
HASAN PRISTINA’S PREPARATION FOR ARMED Uprising
In the second half of 1914, Hasan Prishtina, after abandoning the post of minister (of post and telegraph) that he held in the Durrës government (with Prime Minister Turhan Pasha), went to northern Albania with the aim of organizing an anti-Serbian uprising. It was a time when Serbia was engaged in war with Austria-Hungary, due to the assassination of Prince Franz Ferdinand (on 28.VII.1914) in Sarajevo, and Hasan Prishtina considered this situation as favorable for the liberation of the occupied Albanian lands.
On August 6, 1914, the Austrian consul Karl, from Durrës, notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna “about the beginning of actions against the Serbian invaders” by Hasan Prishtina, Selim Batusha, Bajram Daklani, Qazim Begolli and Halim Deralla (son of Mehmet Deralla – Sh.B), who had with them “explosives and ammunition for Mausers”. (1)
Two days later (on August 8) Karl again notified Vienna of a protest by the Serbian consul Gavrillović, addressed to the Albanian government (of Durrës) about the beginning of the Albanian preparations against Serbia, led by Hasan Prishtina.
That this issue had become very worrying for Serbia in diplomatic terms is also understood from the announcement of the Serbian Foreign Ministry sent to the Serbian royal legate in Rome on August 12, 1914. It highlights the activities of Hasan Prishtina, Bajram Curri, Isa Boletin, etc., against Serbian chauvinist politics. (2) These developments are also confirmed by the press of the time.
HASAN PRISHTIN’S JOURNEY
According to the memoirs of I. Strazimir, at the end of July 1914, Hasan Prishtina with some 150 Dibra people and other fighters from Kosovo, had set off from Durrës and initially stopped in Peshkopi. In a meeting with the Dibra elite, he indicated that Austria-Hungary had brought weapons and ammunition to Shëngjin, and requested that an uprising against the Serbian invaders be prepared as soon as possible.
At the gathering with the people of Dibra, Hasan Prishtina also demanded the following declaration:
- To demand the release of the Albanian lands from Serbia, because they are not its own and it has no right or ability to govern them;
- If Serbia refuses to release them with grace, we will use force against it… (3)
From Dibra, Hasan Prishtina and his comrades crossed into the province of Luma. In those days before Hasan Prishtina arrived in Luma, the leaders of this province, in an assembly held in Bicaj, had decided (made a pact) not to interfere (remain neutral) in the political and military developments of the time.
This decision was also influenced by the dramatic events of October-November 1913, when 27 villages in Luma were burned and razed to the ground, while hundreds of Luma residents were killed and massacred by the barbaric Serbian army.
Despite this decision, Hasan Prishtina found support from some Luma leaders such as Hoxha Mehmeti, Qazim Lika, Sali Spahija, Suleh Elezi, Xhafer Bislimi, Xhafer Shema, Laçët e Bardhoci…, but also from the sub-prefect of Luma with headquarters in Bicaj, Sadik Gostivari. In the villages of Luma, there were also dozens of patriots who had fled Kosovo and were waiting for the moment to return there.
During this time, Hasan Prishtina took refuge in many patriotic families of Luma, such as: in Kolesjan, in Kukës, in Shtiqën, in Bicaj, in Gjinaj, in Kalimash, in Surroj, in Bardhoc, in Has, etc. (4)
Hasan Prishtina had also moved to Has and Malzi to join the highlanders of this area in the war against the Serbian invaders. Bajram Curri would do the same in the Gjakova Highlands. There were also movements to help the uprising in the Dibra region, but not on a large scale.
THE ASSEMBLY OF BICAJ AND KULLA E LUMĖS
In February 1915, at the initiative of Hasan Prishtina (also assisted by the leaders of Lumė and the sub-prefect Sadik Gostivari), two assemblies were organized in Lumė: in Bicaj and in Kullė tė Lumės. The first Assembly held in the Halil Aga mosque in Bicaj was attended by many leaders of the Lumajani and other leaders from the Kosovo areas, who had taken refuge in Albania, such as:
– Hasan beg Kizolli,
– Sheh Hasani of the Rrufai sect (Prizren),
– Ajet e Selim Dervina,
– Mehmet Konjuhi (Llap),
– Keri of Sadik Bardhi,
– Sadik Gostivari,
– Mehmet Delia,
– Isuf Mehaniqi,
– Rexhep Delia of Pozherani, etc. (5).
Among the leaders of the Lumajani were Sulë Elezi and his nephew Xhaferi, Isuf Dina (Bicaj), Mustafa Zyberi (Surroj), Hoxhë Mehmeti and Xhafer Shema (Shtiqën), etc., but Islam Spahija, Cen Daci and any others did not come there, because they remained loyal to the oath they had made (at the Dheu meeting) in order not to get involved in the political developments of the time.
The assembly discussed the preparations that should be made to attack the Serbian forces on the border and then liberate Prizren and other occupied places. (6)
After this assembly, Hasan Prishtina sent three Luma residents there to investigate the political and military situation in Prizren and its surroundings:
– Xhafer Shema (Shtiqë),
– Sinan Hyseni (Shahe) and
– Rasim Istrefi (Ramhas) (7) who throughout the entire time propagated against the occupying Serbian regime and recruited people to serve the national cause. Tracts and calls for uprisings were distributed in Prizren and the surrounding villages, while vigilance was increased in the Luma and Has regions to thwart Serbian agents. ( 8 )
BATTLE OF ZHUR, FEBRUARY 13, 1915
After the necessary preparations were made and a strike force of more than 300 men (some sources speak of 600 men) was secured at the second assembly held in Kulla Lumë, a plan was prepared to initially attack the Serbian Garrison stationed in the village of Zhur. The Albanian insurgents led by Hasan Prishtina and other leaders:
– Hasan beg Kizolli,
– Ajet e Selim Dervina,
– Mehmet Konjuhi,
– Keri i Sadik Bardhi,
– Mehmet Delia,
– Isuf Mehaniqi,
– Sulë Elezi,
– Xhafer Bislim Elezi,
– Mustafa Zyberi,
– Isuf Dina,
– Cen Seda,
– Januz Kurti,
– Xhafer Shema etc., from Kulla Luma concentrated in the villages of Bardhoc and Morinë and then in the early morning hours of February 13, 1915, through the mountains of this village, they continued their way to Zhur.
Since the fighters had occupied all the paths and roads leading towards the Zhur gorge, initially the group led by Hasan Prishtina cut the telegraph and telephone wires (9) in the Koretnik mountains. During this time, the mountaineers from the villages of Zapod, Belja, Lojme, Nimc led by Rasim Selmani will also arrive on the right side of the Koretnik mountain slope, to support the attacks that will be carried out against the concentration of Serbian border forces. (10)
The Albanian insurgents at dawn, helped by Mullah Nasuf Hoxha of Zhur, entered the village and after surrounding the Serbian garrison, they settled in the trenches – istikama that the Serbian forces themselves had opened. The signal for the start of the attack was the explosion of a bomb by the fighter Xhemë Voka from Shtiqën. The Serbian command, alarmed by the explosion, gave the order to move into position, but the Albanian forces furiously attacked the Serbian units.
The fighting was bloody and there were hand-to-hand clashes. Many men from Zhur, Dobrush, Shkoza and Vërmica joined the insurgents, who attacked the Serbian soldiers with rifles and axes, scythes and knives. The order to join the ranks of Hasan Prishtina was given by the patriot from Zhur, Asllan Rexhë Ademaj, who at that moment called out:
“Fall, men, fall bravely, today is the day,
the time has come to remove the trigger
from the homeland!” (11)
In this battle that lasted several hours, about 100 Serbian soldiers were killed (including several officers) and the enemy units were completely defeated. (12)
THE MARCH OF THE INSURGENTS TOWARDS PRIZREN
The Albanian insurgents, after taking control of the Zhuri Pass, marched towards Prizren. Although the explosions of bombs and rifle fire had also alarmed the Serbian central command in Prizren, it had sent several military units towards Zhuri. While the Albanian insurgent forces had reached the Vlashnjës Bridge (south of Prizren), they would face the Serbian units. The Albanian insurgents, positioned in the area: Drini River Bank – Vlashnjë – Poslisht – Billushë, fought a bloody battle with the Serbian units, which on this occasion also used heavy artillery.
In these battles, the following were killed by cannonballs: Nebi Latifi and Brahim Jashari from Brruti and two brave men from the village of Kabash in Prizren. After a In a heroic turn, the Albanian forces (lacking ammunition) and faced with an enemy many times larger in number and armed with cannons and machine guns, were forced to retreat towards Zhur, then to pass through the mountains of Koretnik and Gjallica deep into the Luma region.
Hasan Prishtina, after leaving the fighting area, experiencing this defeat severely, would declare: “We fight and maybe we will not enjoy (freedom), but those who come after us will find our remains…” (13) In those days, Hasan Prishtina with some fighters from the village of Dobrusht crossed the White Drin and passed to Has, and from this area after a few days went to Shkodra.
POPULAR RHAPSODY FOR THE BATTLE OF ZHUR
The popular rhapsody for the Battle of Zhur has also been composed in folk songs:
“…In the Tower of the River they have united,
some have been sworn in.
Sul’Elezi spoke these words:
“Whoever is a man and whoever is alive,
swiftly cross the border,
take Zhuri and surround me,
Hasan Prishtina, help me”…
Hasan Prishtina was a kobec (14) from Prishtina,
He has led me along these rivers,
He has surrounded the Mar’llagamet,
He has destroyed many of the hills.
CONCLUSION
After this bloody uprising, the inhabitants of the villages of Zhur, Shkozë, Dobrusht and Vërmicë, in order to escape the Serbian massacres, were forced to move from their homes and took refuge in the villages of Luma: Shtiqën, Nangë, Bicaj, Gabrricë, Kolesjan, etc. They stayed there for about three months and on the day of Saint George, May 6, 1915, they returned to their homes, which had been looted, burned and destroyed by the Serbian army and local Serbs (Sreckalitë), the so-called “Serbian raja” of Prizren.(15)
The Serbian invaders, despite the killings and massacres, the burning and destruction of Albanian settlements, the forced disarmament, the taking of hostages and numerous imprisonments…, the displacement of thousands of Albanians to Turkey and elsewhere, could not extinguish the Albanian resistance for liberation and national unification. The Albanian resistance was continued by the Azem and Shote Galica Çeta.
References
1 Shefqet.Hoxha – Luma in the freedom struggles, Tirana 2002, p.2658 (cited by Hasan Prishtina – documents, Tirana 1983 – / doc.50, p.927)
2 Ibid., /Hasan Prishtina – Documents, Tirana 1983 – doc. 51, p. 93; doc. 53, p. 94 / 96.
3 Sh. Hoxha – Luma in the freedom struggles, Tirana 2002, p.266-267 / I.Strazimiri (Memories 1910 – 1924) AIH File A – VII-94.
4 Sh. Hoxha – Portraits and views of patriots, Tirana 2002, p.168.
5 Mustafa Mamusha, 78 years old, Memories…Kukës 18.12.1968.
6 Sh.Hoxha – The work cited, p.46./ Sh.Hoxha – Luma in the freedom struggles…, p.270.
7 Memories from the 86-year-old Xhafer Shema from Shtiqa, 04.02.1972.
8 Ibid., / Xheladin Rustemi from Nanga and Xhafer Shema from Shtiqa-memories of those events. -In January 1915, the spy Isa Çaushi (Kuqoshi) who was working for Serbia was caught and hanged in Bicaj. According to an announcement in the magazine “Përparimi” no.4/1916, Isa was from Prizren who had sold his soul to Serbia.
9 Xh.Shala – Albanian-Serbian Relations 1912-1918, Prishtina 1990, p.240/241.
10 Q.Mataj – Hoxhë Mehmeti 1867-1927, Kukës 2002, p.132.
11 Ibish Avdi Rizanaj, Memoirs in manuscript, Zhur August 1992.
12 From this bloody battle in Zhur, 3 officers and several Serbian soldiers escaped, who took refuge in the house of Hysen Aga Hoxha, one of the loyal people of the Serbian invaders.
13 Memoirs by Mustafa Mamusha, 78 years old, Kukës 18.12.1968./ Sh.Hoxha-Luma in the battles for freedom…, p.275.)
14 Skifter,
15 According to the testimonies of the old man Ibish Avdia from the village of Zhur, the return of the inhabitants of Zhur and other surrounding villages was mediated by the agallars, who were cooperating at that time with the Serbian military government, such as: Hysen Aga from Zhur, Durmish Aga from Vërmica, Bislim Kadria, Sherif Aga Bajrami from Gjinovci, Haxhi Selimi and Jahja Aga from Prizren, etc. The Agallars in the center of Zhur declared to the returned residents that “the King of Serbia has forgiven you”!. While the next day (early in the morning) after he had prayed the morning prayer, as he was leaving the Mosque, the Serbian gendarmerie arrested the patriot Asllan Rexhë Ademaj (the grandfather of Remzi Ademaj – a national martyr), who will never return to his home (he is lost without a trace).
Balkan Academia 