Authored by Dr. Sc. Qazim Namani. Translation Petrit Latifi.

Kosovo Institute for the Protection of Monuments, IKMM, Prishtina.

Mitrovica is the second city in Kosovo, after Pristina, for the presence of the Jewish community during this period. Based on some sources of the time, it is thought that close to 200 Jews lived in this city between the two world wars. The Jewish community in this city had a very important role in the development of the cultural and economic life of the city. 

In this city, traces of the Jewish community are preserved in some residential buildings in the central part of the city. During this time, Germany, Italy and Bulgaria divided the territories inhabited by Albanians according to spheres of interest. For narrow political and economic interests, Mitrovica remained under the administration of the Serbian Quisling government and the German army.

In the city of Mitrovica, in June 1941, the Secret Military Police Commissariat was formed. In 1942, the secret police service (Gestapo) was founded. In 1942, the persecution of members of the Jewish community in Mitrovica began, who were recruited and then killed in the Sajmishta camp and the Batajnica camp in Belgrade. Several Chetnik groups operating in the Mitrovica region collaborated with the Germans to arrest and send Jews to concentration camps.

Another collaborative force for the identification and surrender of the Jewish community into the hands of the Nazi German government, the role of the city’s Orthodox church has also been discussed. The Albanians made their contribution by transferring several dozen Jews from the area controlled by the Germans to the area controlled by the Italians.

Persecution of Jews by Serbian Chetniks through Albanian settlements during World War II

The division of spheres of interest between Germany, Italy and Bulgaria in the Albanian lands 

In the following, let’s see how the talks between Germany, Italy and Bulgaria took place, regarding the division of the spheres of interest, in these territories inhabited by the Albanian population.

During the talks on the division of the spheres of interest in the territory of Kosovo between Germany, Italy and Bulgaria, the talks were held from April 22 to 24, 1941 in Vienna, Austria.

The demarcation line between Germany, Italy and Bulgaria in Kosovo, and in blue the southern border of Serbia, Prapashtica to Priboc

Although Hitler had promised Italy, the territory of Kosovo, for narrow political and economic interests, due to the mines of Trepça, Mitrovica remained under German control, with its surroundings, Vushtrria and Besiana (Podujeva), a part of Drenica, Obiliqi until very close to Pristina. Also, in this meeting, the Germans allowed Bulgaria to occupy the territories of Eastern Kosovo, up to near Dardana (Kamenica), Gjilan, Viti and Kaçanik. Finally, on August 3, 1941, the superior command of the German armed forces notified the commander in Serbia that the demarcation line had been set.

The decisions of the Serbian Kuislinge Government and its cooperation with the German army

The Council of Commissioners of the Quisling government of Serbia, on August 6, 1941, issued the decree for the formation of the district of Kosovo.

Acimovic was chosen as the head of the Serbian Quisling government. The district founded by the Germans in the territories with Albanian population was within Serbia, but with a special status, for joint power between Albanians and Serbs.

The commander of the 60th motorized division, General Eberhard, on April 21, 1941, in Mitrovica, had organized a gathering, to which the Albanian prime minister had also been invited.

When the German plan “Final Solution” or the final choice was used for the first time at the Vansi (Vannsee) conference in Berlin, on January 20, 1942, where senior German military officers discussed the implementation of this plan to kill all the Jews in Europe at this time, the attitude of the Albanians towards the Jews was humane and just.

The military units of the 60th Division and the 294th Division operated under the instructions of the Second Army’s rear commander, Colonel General Voltfgang Schmit-Llogan.

Later on April 22, 1941, these duties passed into the hands of the new military commander for Serbia, Lieutenant General Helmut Ferster.

Helmut Ferster was tasked with leading the military and administrative administration in the entire territory of Serbia.

At that time, Orts Command 1/861 was formed in the city of Mitrovica, as a body of military administration.

On May 2, 1941, Orst Command changed its name and became Krajs Komandura 86, within the Feld Command Bridge 816, which was headquartered in Užice.

Krajs, the commander of the German army in Mitrovica, on May 16, 1941, had participated in consultations with the staff of the commander-in-chief of the German army in Serbia, General Helmut Ferster.

The regional command of Mitrovica was competent for the districts and controlled the territories of Mitrovica, Vushtrri, Llap, Studenica and Dezheva (New Market).

The Germans started talks, with all the reactionary forces of the communities within the territory of Serbia: Serbs, Montenegrins, Bosniaks, Albanians, Volksdeutsche, White Guards, etc.

The Germans in Mitrovica were welcomed by the Albanian paria, chiefly Xhafer Devë, while in Trepça the Germans were welcomed by the Loticists, Foldojčers, Bellogardists, and other admirers of fascism, who were supported by the technical director of the mine, Gjorgje Dimitrijevic. As can be seen in the mines of Trepça, Albanians were excluded from any influence of leadership or even employment, even though the population of these settlements was predominantly Albanian.

At that time, 3,600 workers were employed in the Trepça mine, while in the city of Mitrovica, a total of 13,000 residents of many nationalities lived, such as: Albanians, Serbs, Malaysians, Turks, Roma, Jews, etc.

The competent leaders of the German army (Neuhausen, Braumiller, etc.), and their exponents in the Trepçë mine, exploited the minerals and wealth of those three for the needs of the economy and the German army. Orst Command, from May 2, 1941, and Krasj command bridge 861, as the highest body of military-administrative power of the German army for the District of Kosovo, implemented all the measures ordered by the German administration in Serbia.

In Mitrovica, the headquarters of the branch of the German service ABVER (defense), whose center was located in Belgrade, was responsible for information work and the counter-intelligence service. Another military information organization that had an executive function (made arrests, investigations, etc.), was the secret military police (Gehajmefe-LD police)-GEP, and its center was also located in Belgrade, (GEP-group 20). 

On June 12, 1941, in the city of Mitrovica, the Commissariat of the Secret Military Police was formed. This commissariat cooperated closely with the ABVER branch, and carried out its orders, as well as the orders of the German military commands.

The third information organization was the I-C service (Ajus-ce), in the units of the German army, which also operated in the field. ABVER and GEP organized informative activities on the ground of Mitrovica and Kosovo District in general. At that time, the GESTAPO branch had not yet been established. Gesoapo was formed in February 1942.

Police and security affairs were dealt with by the gendarmerie (Feld Gendarmerie), whose command was next to the Mitrovica Regional Command, which had its branches in Tregun e Ri and Raskë.

The border customs guard (Colgreneslive), in addition to the border customs service, also had police and security duties of a military-informative and counter-informative nature. In the city of Mitrovica, there was a police station of this service also in the field. 

The interest of the Germans was to ensure free travel, towards Belgrade and central Serbia, through the valley of the river Iber. The Germans saw the free journey through the Ibri valley alone, cooperating with Milan Nedic, and the Chetniks who were concentrated in that area. Next, let’s look at the cooperation of the Chetniks with the German army.

Philip Cohen in his book “Serbia’s Secret War, Propaganda and Falsification of History” documents the cleansing of all Jews by the Nazi collaborators of Serbia, who writes that it was the head of the Serbian government, General Milan Nedici, who boasted that Belgrade was the first European capital cleansed of Jews. 

The Chetniks became the most loyal allies of the Germans in Mitrovica and its surroundings

The Germans in the city of Mitrovica found their collaborators, from all communities, who lived in Kosovo in those years. The Germans found Kosta Milovanovic and his group of Chetniks as their most loyal ally. Vojvoda Kosta Pecanci, under the patronage of the Germans, went to Belgrade, and formed the headquarters of the Chetniks. As can be seen, the main role for cooperation with the Gestapo was played by two Chetnik formations in the city of Mitrovica, the group of Kosta Milovanovic and that of Kosta Peçanc.

All German commanders, by order of the High Command 65, were informed about the readiness of Kosta Peçanc and his Chetniks, that they will clear the territory of this area from the communists and other opponents of the German army. 

As everywhere, the German forces, although they had absolute military and civilian power, relied on the Quislings, mainly in the local branch of the Special Police, the gendarmerie, the Lotic forces, Chetnik formations, and members of the administrative apparatus. In the area of ​​Leskoci. the volunteers of Kosta Peçanaci were also quite active.

Kosta Peçanci accepts the task, that I will clean the territories of Prej Leskoci, Ibri Valley, Kraleva, Rashka and Raça. On September 17, 1941, the Headquarters of the German army, the 717th Kosovo Division, was also informed about this issue. These forces began the action by arresting and shooting Jews in the cities where they lived. In Leskoc, on December 11, 1941, 6 Jews were shot.

Following the situation of the Jews of Thessaloniki, the most assured way of salvation for the Jews was the Albanian lands towards the border in the area controlled by the Italians. The most secured and closest area for the rescue of Jews from these parts were the Albanian villages in the Galab Mountains. 

In this period, Xhafer Deva mobilized the Albanians for the protection of the Jews, within the area controlled by the Germans. Seeing the danger, some Jewish families from Nishi, Kushumlia, Piroti, Vraja and Leskoci managed to pass through the Albanians to the territory controlled by the Italians.

On April 24, 1942, Mitrovica was visited by Dr. Harold Turner, chief of the Administrative Staff at the Military Administration of Serbia and representative of the Serbian Quisling government, Millan Aqimovic. The regional command of the Serbian state guard was located in Mitrovica. The “Zbor” organization continued to work and act in an organized manner even after the German occupation.

Stevan Ilic, leader of the organizational region of “Zbor” in Mitrovica, on July 8, 1941, had visited the general secretary of “Zbor” in Belgrade, and since then regularly sent reports to him and Millan Nedic about the circumstances in Kosovo. Stevan Ilic was appointed head of the Information Center for Kosovo.

Stevan Ilici also cooperated with the Gestapo in Mitrovica. On this occasion, Horald Turner informed the Albanian gendarmerie that the District of Mitrovica, as a territory belonging to Serbia, must therefore be applied unconditionally, and a number of decree-laws were established for the administrative regulation of Kosovo.

Kosta Pecanci and his Chetniks, being dissatisfied with Acimovic’s administration, formed the Quisling government headed by General Milan Nedic, who was entrusted with the task of working with the German armed forces to liquidate the partisans, other opponents, and establish regular power.

The forces of the Chetniks of Nedic also took control of the valley of the Ibër river, and there they developed several conflicts with the Albanian gendarmes. The Chetnik units in this area were led by Mashan Gjurovici. Gjurovici constantly accused the Albanians of putting pressure on the Serbian population in Leshak, Leposavic, Slatina, and Bajnsk.

The Chetniks of Mashan Gjurovic, Vaso Popovic, Radomir Svetic, David Popovic, Brana Petrovic, were very active, and gathered the Serbs around them along the valley of the river Iber, beyond the stream of the village of Ceraj. Two other currents of Chetniks were formed in this region, that of Drazha Mihajlovic and Kosta Peçanci. From these data it is clear that the valley of the river Ibër was completely controlled by the formations of Serbian Chetnik groups.

The Germans and Milan Nedici, at the beginning of 1942, sent large military forces to the Ibër river valley, with the task of ensuring unhindered travel, for the maintenance of the road and railway, from the city of Mitrovica to Kralevë. The Germans attached special importance to this territory and the lines of communication.

The quisling forces of the Chetniks of Milan Nedic, since the beginning of 1942, were distributed in Mitrovica, Raskë, Vushtrri, Besiana, Tregun e Ri and Lugina e Ibri.

The border customs protection, apart from the Germans who had a small number of soldiers, most of the customs officers were from the Chetnik forces of Nedic, among others, Nedic had sent 29 officers and 658 soldiers for this purpose. Among these customs officers were also a small number from the Albanian gendarmerie under the command of Bajazi Boletini, who were treated as members of the Serbian state guard.

By order of the German military command, the gendarmerie of the Albanian forces was forced to join the Serbian state guard.

The Serbian state district guard command for this area is located in Mitrovica. Milan Nedic’s arrival in Mitrovica also brought some Serbian armed units.

The Fascist Loti organization “Zbor” made the arrest of Jews in Mitrovica and its surroundings

This Serbian fascist organization started its activity against the Jews before the Second World War.

The behavior towards the Jews in Serbia changed towards the end of the thirties of the 20th century, when the Serbian fascist party “ZBOR” started an open anti-Semitic campaign. Chief Rabbi Alkalaj was expelled from the senate in 1938, while in 1939 and 1940 various legal restrictions were applied against the Jews.

The Serbian fascist organization, the “Zbor” Lotici, continued its activity even under the conditions of occupation by Germany. During the years 1941/42, the Serbian fascist organization “Zbor” led by Lotici, supported by a part of the Serbian clergy, made lists for the liquidation of Jews. In 1941, this Serbian organization handed over to the Germans a list of all the Jews living in Kosovo. 

Stefan Ilici, not encountering obstacles from the Albanian gendarmerie, who now had no chance to oppose him, operated in the region of Mitrovica, unimpeded by anyone. Stefan Ilic, who was the leader of the organizational region of “Zbor” in Mitrovica, on July 8, 1941, visited the general secretary of “Zbor” in Belgrade, and informed him about the circumstances created in the city of Mitrovica.

From that time, Stefan Ilici regularly sent reports to the secretary of “Zbor” and Milan Nedic. Stefan Ilici was appointed head of the Information Center for Kosovo. Stefan Ilici was a collaborator of the Gestapo in Mitrovica, and was involved in the detection of members of the partisans and Jews.

When the German plan “Final Solution” or the final choice was used for the first time at the Vansi conference (Vannsee) in Berlin, on January 20, 1942, where senior German military officers discussed the implementation of this plan to kill all the Jews in Europe, at this time the attitude of the Albanians towards the Jews was humane and just.

On April 24, 1942, Mitrovica was visited by Dr. Harold Turner, chief of the Administrative Staff at the Military Administration of Serbia and representative of the Serbian Quisling government, Millan Aqimovic. The regional command of the Serbian state guard was located in Mitrovica. The “Zbor” organization continued to work and act in an organized manner even after the German occupation.

Stevan Ilic, leader of the organizational region of “Zbor” in Mitrovica, on July 8, 1941, had visited the general secretary of “Zbor” in Belgrade, and since then regularly sent reports to him and Millan Nedic about the circumstances in Kosovo. Stevan Ilic was appointed head of the Information Center for Kosovo. Stevan Ilici also cooperated with the Gestapo in Mitrovica.

The Serbian government of Milan Nedic in early 1942 increased the rewards for information, capture and liquidation of opponents. 

In the Ibri valley, the Chetnik Aradha also operated under the leadership of Mashan Gjurovic who addressed you to Millan Nediq with a request to ask the German military authorities that this land remain in this valley. This was achieved after the Chetniks had given many evidences of cooperation with the Germans.

In April 1942, the Lotiqists also came to the Ibri valley, on this occasion they organized a solemnity on May 26, 1942. Mass was held in the Orthodox church in Leshak Kleriku-Lotiqist Boshko-Haxhi-Trifunovic. In March 1943, the second Chetnik Corps of Kosovo was formed with seven brigades.

The Germans and Millan Nediqi already at the beginning of 1942 sent large military forces to the Ibri valley for the maintenance of the railway and the road. Nedic’s units were distributed in Mitrovica, Raskë, Podujevë, Vushtrri, and Novi Pazar.

From March 1942, the branch of the Gestapo was formed, to liquidate the partisans and Jews, the Government of Milan Nedic, at the beginning of 1942, increased the rewards for the capture and killing of members of the partisans and Jews, where some of them had supported the communist and partisan groups.

His government offered a reward for the liquidation of each member of the communist party, the reward was increased from 3000 to 25,000 dinars, while for that Chetnik, who kills the leader of the armed partisan gangs, the reward was increased from 25,000 to 100,000 dinars.

The killers of the communists received several other rewards, and for the Chetniks, the concealment of their names was guaranteed. After offering these conditions, the Chetniks started the action, for the arrests of the opponents of the German army

The arrests made by the Gestapo, in May 1942, brought harm to the movement because the Gestapo arrested 44 members of the movement, 24 of them were members of the PKJ, while 14 were members of the LRKJ.

Vojvoda Mashan Gjurovici, in one of the letters he sent to Kosta Pecanci, praised how a group of 28 partisans had infiltrated the internment camp in the city of Nis. The Chetniks received salaries from the Government of Milan Nedic so that they could maintain the highway and the railway that ran through the valley of the Iber River.

Milan Nedici, at the beginning of 1942, promoted Voivode Mashan Djurovic, giving him the rank of second class captain. From these sources, it now becomes clear to me that all the Jews of the Nis area, who were captured by the Chetnik groups, were sent to the Sajmishta camp, in Belgrade.

Several hundred Jews from Mitrovica infiltrated the Zemun camp, and then Bergen-Belsen. Based on this data from the Zagreb Museum, it is said that there are 550 Jews left in Kosovo, of which 210 or 38.2% were killed. From this data, we understand that it is about the murder of 210 Jews, a figure that various Slavic circles tried to inflict on the Albanians. The question is added to this figure, were the Jews from Mitrovica and its surroundings included, since at that time these territories were within the borders of Serbia.

From the data mentioned above, we can affirm that even if this murder and surrender of the Jews took place, the Albanians had no hand in this, because many concrete examples prove the virtue of the Albanians and their sacrifice for the salvation of the Jews.

The question is added, whether the fate of the 210 Jews was the work of the Chetnik forces operating in Mitrovica and its surroundings, who at that time cooperated with the German forces. This made us think that these Jews were from Serbia who were prevented from entering Kosovo by the Serbian collaborators, returning them to Serbia-Zemun to then send them to the Bergen Belzen camp, of course the Albanians did not send them to Zemun or from Zemun to the camp for their murder. This issue requires a detailed study to understand the reality and the fate of these 210 Jews that Slavic researchers, and especially Serbian ones, tried to put this evil on the Kosovar Albanians.

From the documents of the time and the survivors of the Jews who had been in the Pristina camp, we understand the humane and correct behavior of the Italian soldiers and the Kosovar Albanians who did their best to send the Jews from this camp to Albania.

When in 1942 the Germans ordered the capture of the Jews in Kosovo, the Albanian authorities ordered the Jews to go to Albania. About 500 Jews who were in Kosovo at that time moved to Albania, who settled in Berat, Krujë and other places. Prenk Uli who had been the secretary of the Prefecture of Pristina during the Second World War is known as the greatest savior of the Jews in Pristina, this was proven by Josif Levi who had been a Jewish rabbi in Pristina when he says that Prenk Uli with peerless bravery saved 52 Jews.

The murder of three of Mitrovica’s best-known merchants in Leshan

The Chetniks began to kill members of other communities, but the killing of three well-known Albanian merchants from Mitrovica, who were killed in Leshan, resonated more. This case forces the Germans to investigate the case and demand the removal of the Chetniks from that area, and move to Western Serbia.

For this occasion, Mashan Gjurovici addressed a letter to Milan Nedic, begging you to intervene with the German military administration, so that he and his Chetniks remain in the valley of the Ibër river.

Mashan Gjurovici wrote in his letter. The Chetniks of this area have done their best for this area, to liquidate the partisans and other opponents of the German army, that its Chetniks, together with the German army, have given full evidence of cooperation. The tendentious presentations of the Albanians about the Chetniks in front of the German troops is incorrect, he writes, because in this part where my army operated until now, nothing unpleasant for the Germans has happened.

After the intervention of Milan Nedic, the Chetnik forces of Moshan Gjurovic remain even further in the valley of the river Ibër.

The German forces, together with the Chetniks operating in that area, searching for the murderers of the three most well-known merchants of Mitrovica, in the village of Belluq, had captured Jews and other citizens, who held them for several months in the prison of Mitrovica, then interned them in concentration camps, where most of them were liquidated.

The concentration of Chetniks in the valley of the river Ibër

As can be seen after these interventions and arrests with the help of the Chetniks, who by serving the German army, the Chetniks were well consolidated to stay even further in the Iber river valley. Cooperation between the German army, and the Chetnik and military formations of Nedic increased. 

In addition, in April 1942, in the valley of the Ibri, the loticists came with the third volunteer army under the command of captain Jovan Kragujac. This same day, after coming to Leshan, he donated a big bell to the Orthodox church because on May 26, 1942, he organized a big meeting.

The church mass on this occasion was performed by the Lotigist cleric, Boshko Haxhi Trifunoviqi, and after the mass, captain Jovan Kragujac also spoke, after him the engineer Dragutin Jakshiqi and Mladen Vuçkovici, a volunteer, spoke. This Serbian army, which came as reinforcement in Leshan, had 341 soldiers, 18 of whom were engaged in the police.

In this period, the Germans found that the German administration, with the help of the Serbian Quisling government of Milan Nedic, had strengthened enough, and had no great need to cooperate with the Chetnik alliance of Drazha Mihajlovic and the other communities living in Mitrovica. After this cooperation with the German army, the Chetniks strengthened their ranks, and started organizing Chetnik organizations in the settlements where the majority of the Albanian population lived. 

It is important to know that the Germans had also brought a corps of Russian soldiers to the Iber river valley, to secure the railway and traffic through the Iber river valley, in a length of 98 km, from Zvecan to Ushche, along the road 66 reinforced concrete bunkers were built, and 1,100 soldiers were mobilized in this Russian defense corps. The Chetnik garrison had 685 people, with them were also units of the Serbian state guard, as well as the corps of Serbian volunteers.

All these forces had the task of ensuring the communication and preventing the penetration of the partisan army, from Sanjak to Serbia. In fact, all this number of Serbian, Russian and German soldiers were in full control of this area, and prevented any cooperation and connection of the Albanians of the New Market with the Albanians of Mitrovica through the Iber river valley.

Nedic’s agreements with the Germans and the creation of the first partisan formations against the Germans

In these circumstances, the Germans made several written agreements with the Chetniks of Nedic. The commander of the German army, General Field Marshal Maximilian Von Weix, wrote in one of his orders: In this situation we find ourselves, the offers of the Chetniks must be reconsidered. He also ordered to cease all forms of propaganda against the Chetnik movement.

In the spirit of these agreements between the major of the Chetnik corps, Vojslav Llukacevic, and the German army, joint war with the German army was foreseen in many cities, including the city of Mitrovica.

In 1942, in Mitrovica and its surroundings, the first cells began to be formed, against Chetnik formations and the German army. A number of members of the parties opposing the German occupation were imprisoned, some of them together with the Jews were sent to concentration camps, while some were even killed.

From the written sources of the time, we learn that after the imprisonment in May 1942, among the prisoners was also the Chairperson of the District Council of the Women’s Organization in Mitrovica, Silvira Tomazini, who, after staying for about 3 months in the Mitrovica prison, was finally shot.

The most distinguished agent of the Abwehr in the territory of Mitrovica was Konstantin Plavsici, who acted against the Italian zone of occupation and the British agency. From German documents, it has been revealed that Konstantin Plavsici had handed over to Abver in Mitrovica, a large part of information about the number, leaders, and locations of partisan groups operating in different regions of Albania. As can be seen, the agencies of the Serbian Chetniks, in 1942, managed to operate even within the territory of Albania. 

The formation of Chetnik corps within the borders of Albania

In the following, we provide data about the extent and organization of the Chetnik corps, within the borders of Albania, organizing their ranks in the entire territory of today’s Kosovo and Albania.

The commander of the first Chetnik corps in Kosovo, Captain Jovan Milladinoviqi, on November 11 ordered Captain Zhivorad Zhika Markovic to go to the field in the districts of Mitrovica, Vushtrri, and Llapi to form Chetnik organizations. In the spring of 1943, he had returned a telegram to the Supreme Command, writing that he is very happy that he was entrusted with the task of organizing the Chetniks in the territories of Kosovo.

The second Chetnik corps of Kosovo was formed in March 1943, in Llokovica near Leposaviq, the fourth Chetnik corps was formed on September 7, for the territory of Dukagjin, which numbered 120 people. Radovan Role Vulici was appointed brigade commander for this task.

The brigade of Chetniks of Mitrovica consisted of members of Keserovic, and its commander was appointed Zarija Radovanovici. The brigade operating on the Ibër River at that time was under the command of Mihajlo Zekic. The Chetnik brigade that was founded in December 1943, in the city of Peja, was commanded by Milosh Petrovici. The Chetnik brigade of Sharri was led by Bogdanovici, the commander of the Chetnik brigade of Graçanica was appointed Vaso Zokici, while the Chetnik brigade of Drenica was led by commander Makarija Llazarovici.

In 1943, it is clearly seen that the Chetniks had established brigades in all areas with an Albanian population within the area of ​​Italy, which at that time had joined the Albanian lands and were called Albania. From these sources it is clear that all the territories of Kosovo, such as those under the control of the Germans but also those under the control of the Italians, were covered with the organized network of the Chetnik forces of Serbia.

The Chetnik Corps of Kosovo in 1943 had become one of the largest in Serbia, and by that time had mobilized 1,700 people. The Chetniks gathered people in their network, who had a chauvinistic background, and who incited aspirations for the murder and displacement of Albanians.

The general staff of the Chetnik corps, in addition to the commander Zhika Marinkovic, also consisted of Mitrovica gendarmerie lieutenant Miorad Popovici, as chief of staff, and Major Dragolub Radovici from Toplica, as deputy commander of the Chetnik corps.

During this period, the information officer was chosen Lluka Radonjici, former head of the railway station in the city of Mitrovica, who worked persistently to secure as many people as possible for information work in Mitrovica and other places in Kosovo. 

Next to the headquarters of the Chetniks there was also the propaganda service, the radio station, the itendantura and the special military court. From these data it is clearly understood that in the territory of today’s Kosovo, during 1943, the formations of the Chetniks had in their hands the entire situation on the ground. 

These formations of Chetniks, along with those that were established in today’s Macedonia, in 1944, joined the Yugoslav partisan forces, and committed terrible massacres against the unprotected Albanian population.

The relations of the German army with the Albanians of Mitrovica and Sanxhak

In the following, let’s see the position and reports of the German information service, with the Albanian population of Kosovo, and that of Sanjak, which, with the division of the spheres of interest, remained within the borders of Serbia.

On April 21, 1941, in Mitrovica, the agreement of the Albanian representatives was made with the 60th division of the German infantry and the Albanian gendarmerie was formed under the command of Captain Pajazit Boletini, and the high court level was established.

In August 1941, the organization “Albanian People’s Union” was formed, Rexhep Mitrovica was elected president. This organization acted in two directions: opening as many branches as possible in Albanian settlements and opening schools to educate Albanian youth. This organization made propaganda to unite Albania.

Cultural and artistic societies such as “Skënderbeg” were formed in Mitrovica. “Terik”, etc. In July 1941, the school in the Albanian language was opened, and the opening of 48 elementary schools in the Albanian language was foreseen, and there was a need for 104 teachers. Elementary schools in the Albanian language were also opened in Pazar ri, Vushtrri and Podujevë.

In March 1943, the German information service held a meeting in Sjenica, in which Xhafer Deva and Hasan Zvizdici participated, on which occasion it was decided to form the ninth company of the fourth regiment of the “Brandenburg” Armored Division, in which 80 people were engaged. The squad was formed in Raskë and then completed in the city of Vushtrri.

Most of the members of the gang were Bosnian, with a small number of Albanians attached to them. The members of this gang were engaged in information work and actions with saboteurs. Until February 1944, this ox operated in Sanjak and in Serbia.

After the formation of the Second League of Prizren on September 16-19, 1943, in order to protect the liberated Albanian villages even after the capitulation of Italy. The chairman of the Central Committee of the Second League of Prizren, Bedri Pejani, at the end of March 1944, sent a letter to Hitler, requesting the arming of the Albanians of Kosovo, and asking for Germany’s help in liberating all the Albanian villages occupied by the Slavs. Bedri Pejani requested that in April 1944, an “SS” division be formed with Albanian volunteers.  

Oliver Jens Schmit also writes that at the beginning of 1944, the SS Skanderbeg Division was founded, but its action was limited. The division had weak military power, therefore more was taken with the penetration of 281 Jews from Kosovo. In this case, it is clear that Schmit is referring to Pavle Dzeletovic Ivanov’s book, this book was ordered by anti-Albanian Yugoslav circles, to deny the contribution of Albanians to the rescue of Jews during the Second World War. From later sources it was proven that the data in Ivanov’s book do not have a stable scientific basis, but are inaccurate and propagandistic writings by Milorad Vavic, which were published in 1983.

This is just an example that a serious historian must be very careful when he writes without verified facts about the traits and virtues of a foreign people.

The accusations that the Kosovar Albanians handed the Jews over to the German soldiers do not stand, because there are many cases in the field when the Kosovar Albanians risked their families to save the Jews. Xhafer Deva, Rexhep Mitrovica and many other Albanians from Kosovo who went on duty in Tirana can testify to this. 

These Albanians from Kosovo who took over the governance of Albania at that time, if they had been persecutors of the Jews, they would have done this in Tirana, and other cities of today’s Albania, no Jew would have survived in Albania, and Albania would have been listed together with other states in the region as places where Jews were persecuted. On the contrary, even when they acted in Kosovo and Serbia, they were humane and protective of the Jews, now they showed this respect for the Jews in Albania as well.

After the capitulation of Italy, Albania was occupied by the Germans, but all the Jews took refuge with the Albanian peasants. Albania emerged from the Second World War as the only European country that had more Jews than before the war. 

Drazha Mihajlovic’s cooperation with the German army 

After the capitulation of Italy, the German army entered the territory of Albania. Germany formed the new government in Tirana. Xhafer Deva and Rexhep Mitrovica were appointed to be part of this government. After the transfer to Tirana of these well-known figures from Mitrovica, the Albanian population of the surroundings of Mitrovica and Sanxhak remained under the control of the German army and Chetnik formations. This was a favorable opportunity for the Chetniks to start their actions against the unprotected Albanian population.

After the capitulation of Italy, the German units, members of the volunteer corps of the district, and Drazha Miahajlevici with his Chetniks, participated together with the German army in fighting against the partisans.

The attitude of Drazha Mihajlovic, and his Chetniks, was to cleanse the northern territories, killing and removing the Albanians from their settlements. Drazha Mihajlovici declared against personal revenge, and insisted that only collective and organized revenge would achieve the effect of his goals.

Drazha Mihajloviči and other formations of Chetniks, on the night of Bozhiki in 1943, precisely on the 5th and 6th of January 1943, Serbo-Chetnik forces killed and massacred 9,200 innocent Albanians, while they forcibly displaced 32,000 other inhabitants of Albanian origin from their homelands. This massacre was carried out with the blessing of the Orthodox Church of Serbia. Chetnik corps committed one of the most serious crimes during the Second World War in this part of our Peninsula. The survivors of the Bihor Massacre were forced to convert by force. Young girls and women left without husbands were enslaved for the needs of Chetnik battalions.

These serious crimes, which the Chetniks committed against the innocent Albanian population, did not prevent the cooperation of the Chetniks with the German army.

At the beginning of 1944, the Second Corps of Chetniks of Kosovo, among the largest in Serbia

The Second Corps of Chetniks of Kosovo, at the beginning of 1944, had mobilized a number of volunteers somewhere between 1500-1700, and was among the largest corps in Serbia.

The Chetniks in Mitrovica moved freely, and developed blackmail and propaganda, and even received material aid from the citizens. At the end of April 1944, the commander of the Second Corps of the Chetniks of Kosovo, Zhika Markovici, addressed the Serbs of Vushtrri and Mitrovica, that on May 6, Saint George’s Day, they should go to the mountain of Kopaunik (Albaniku), to give the king’s oath for the homeland. In the text of the oath, supporters of the Chetnik movement vowed to fight and take revenge for Kosovo, the Dukagjin Plain, Drenica, Kollashini, Lebana and Ibri.

After this oath, Ratko Krivokapici, who was elected commander of the Chetnik flying brigade in Sanjak, carried out great massacres of the Muslim population in that region.

The Second Corps of Chetniks of Kosovo, in 1944, openly cooperated with the German army, and took an active part in fighting alongside the German army.

In a telegram of the German information service, dated April 13, 1944, it is said that Zhika Markovici, commander of the Second Corps of Kosovo, is ready to be placed under German command with 4,000 soldiers. As you can see, the Second Corps of the Chetniks of Kosovo, in 1944, in April of this year, was very active and had full cooperation with the German army, so the possibility is not excluded that any of the actions carried out by the Chetniks against the Jews will be blamed on the Albanians.

In conclusion, based on the written sources, but also from the number of Jews who escaped during the Second World War, we as a people can be proud of the governments of the time, because if they had in their program the pursuit of the Jewish population, no Jewish citizen would survive in the Albanian heels. In some Serbian sources, Kosovo Albanians are accused of arresting some Jews in Pristina, by the SS Skanderbeg division, during 1944. It is not excluded that there was a case, but the Albanians did not have any competence to lead such actions, and they did not have full command in any action, since this division was founded in April 1944. For the protection of the Jews, there is undoubtedly great merit. and the government of Rexhep Mitrovica.

Murteza Studenica in his book “Albanians and Jews” writes: When the Germans had asked for the list of Jews living in ethnic Albanian territories, two Jewish leaders of the Jewish community, With. Kohen and Mr. Jakoel went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Albania and asked for protection. There was an agreement between the Germans and Xhafer Deva, that the Germans should not interfere too much in the internal affairs of the government.

These two Jews met with Xhafer Deva, they were worried that he would hand them over to the Gestapo (Geheim Stat Polizei-German Secret Police). Xhafer Deva, to the pleasant surprise of these two Jews, refused to hand over the lists of the names of the Jews who were in the ethnic Albanian territories. Albanian doctors and judges from Kosovo sent the Jews either for treatment or to prison in Albania, with the sole purpose of saving them.

When the Nazis requested the lists of Jews in 1943, the Albanian government refused to hand them over. The Albanian people regardless of religion gave you shelter, bread, protection and made sure that none of them became victims of the holocaust.

In May 1945, the Committee of the Jews of Yugoslavia addresses with greetings the Democratic Government of Albania where it is said: “When the Jews of Yugoslavia, Poland, Germany” etc., were exterminated with gas and iron tools by the Nazi fascists, without distinction, men, women, and children, in the Balkans there was a people who rose above any racial theory and above Western civilization, a hero and host nation of Albania.

In the history of this war, it will remain marked a small, but generous and heroic people, the Albanian people, who will probably be noted as the only one, of all the conquered peoples of Europe, that prevented and stopped the extermination and persecution of the Jews.

Reference

https://gazetadielli.com/perndjekja-e-hebrenjve-nga-cetniket-serbe-neper-vendbanimet-shqiptare-gjate-luftes-se-dyte-boterore/