by Nail Draga. Translation Petrit Latifi

The Genocide of the Greeks against the Albanians in Southeast Albania. December 3, 2024. On the occasion of the 110th anniversary.

Data extracted from Kosta Papa Tomoris “Greek barbarities in Albania-historical memories (1913-1914)” Published: Naimi, Tirana, 2012

The expansionist plans of our Slavic and Greek neighbors against the Albanian ethnogeographical areas are known from the 19th century, which were verified by the Congress of Berlin (1878), but they continued in the 20th century, which is evidenced by the independence of Albania and after it, as half of the Albanian lands and population remained outside the Albanian State.

In this specific case, we are dealing with the invasion policy of the Greeks who had planned in detail to conquer the Albanian south, which according to them should have been part of Northern Epirus. And such an action was initially carried out by the Andarts and then by the regular Greek army who massacred the local population, during the years 1913-1914. Such an action should be called by its true name genocide, which was for ethnic cleansing against Albanians for territorial gains of Greek politics

Kosta Papa Tomori provides us with data precisely regarding this genocide with the book “Greek Barbarities in Albania”, published in the USA in 1917, while it was printed by SHB “Naimi” in Tirana in 2012.

According to the publisher, the book “Greek Barbarities in Albania” contains historical records of a very little known activity in Albanian studies for the period from the declaration to the recognition of the Independence of the Albanian state. Kosta Papa was a protagonist and witness to the traumatic events of the two Balkan wars, mainly in southern Albania.

In particular, he warns that he will stop at the evil year of 1913 and at several other evils that followed in 1914 and later. Although there is not much information, one thing has been preserved and transmitted to this day about the author: Kosta Papa was sentenced to death by the Greek government of the time precisely because he published shocking evidence that would shame the face of the world any country and people that undertakes such hostile acts against its historical neighbor, even in evil historical circumstances.

The Massacre of Albanian Civilians

Thanks to this publication, the reader will be informed about the massacre of the civilian population by the Greek army in the cities and villages of southeastern Albania in the years 1913-1914 in Përmet, Leskovik, Kolonjë, Korçë, Tepelenë, Memaliaj, Skrapar, Berat, Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Delvinë etc., without religious distinction, Muslims and Christians, old people, men and women, young people, children and minors, was done in the most macabre way that world history has ever seen and heard. They opened the bellies of pregnant mothers with daggers and knives and mocked in front of them the living, unborn child.

They cut off the heads of children and adults with axes, they cut open their stomachs with knives and machetes, telling them that they would be hanged with their intestines, they cut off their limbs while they were still alive, they burned them and threw them into a well alive, continuing with psychological torture.

The Greek soldiers tied the men with chains and ropes and in front of them they dishonored their mothers, brides and minor daughters, where they even died. Let us mention on this occasion the two largest massacres by the Greeks, such as the one in Panarit, Korça, where 375 people were massacred from July 2-10, 1914, as well as the one on April 29, 1914 in Hormova, where 217 Albanians were slaughtered and killed.

According to the data, it is estimated that about 50,000 Albanians were killed in the Greek genocide during this period, and thousands were expelled from their homes. Greek criminals also burned thousands of houses in villages and cities, and stole all their property, looted their livestock and agricultural products, causing damage and theft that exceeds hundreds of millions of dollars.

Greek massacres must be recorded

Until now, various authors, such as researchers or intellectuals, have had the opportunity to read where these massacres by the Greeks have written with the titles “The Panarit Massacre”, “The Hormova Massacre”, etc., but they should be written correctly as the Greek Massacre in Panarit, or the Greek Massacre in Hormova, the Greek Massacres in Frashër, in Kolonjë, etc.

Such an action is a moral and professional obligation because the uninformed may be mistaken, because they may think that those crimes were committed within the Albanians. Therefore, even in the memorial sites or various tombstones, they must be marked correctly and without prejudice, so that the local or foreign public understands the truth that the subjects of the crimes were the Greeks.

In this regard, we must appreciate the book by Kosta Papa Tomori “Greek Barbarities in Albania”, which is mandatory for all those who want to know the truth about the massacres of the Greeks against the Albanians in Southeastern Albania.

Since until now the Albanian state, respectively the state institutions, have not taken by documenting the crimes that the Greeks have committed in this period in Albania, by creating a special file, it turns out that in relation to this issue they have been passive, a phenomenon which is in favor of Greek politics, because they have done their best to prevent their genocide against the Albanian population in Southeastern Albania from being written and documented. Any hesitation in this regard cannot be justified, and can even be interpreted and politicized by various individuals and entities, for issues that are not only subjective.

Government silence continues

Although we are dealing with the 110th anniversary of the Greek genocide in Southeastern Albania, the Government and state institutions have not initiated the marking of this anniversary or the organization of a scientific conference, at the national level. The silence from state institutions clearly proves that there is a lack of seriousness and courage to address the topic and tragic event for the Albanian people. The unwillingness to deal with such issues proves that the governmental and institutional structures, both in monism and now in pluralism, have not been at the right level.

Such an indifferent stance proves that personal and party interests are in the first place, while national interests are left to chance and nothing more. The Cham issue, which requires a solution according to international norms, has remained in the same silence.

Historical memory does not fade

However, it should not be forgotten that the Greek massacres in the years 1913-1914 have not faded because even today the Albanian people in their areas preserve their memory from generation to generation, while the Albanian State continues to remain silent about an action that cannot be justified, because historical memory is part of the national identity.

Missing date and memorial

Thanks to the content and subject presented, I say without hesitation that this book should be read and be part of the personal library, for all those who want to know the truth of the genocide of the Greeks in Southern Albania.

Also, the Greek genocide in Southern Albania in the years 1913/14 should be a separate lesson from the history subject in primary and secondary schools in Albania, and wherever there are Albanians. While in honor of the Albanian victims, a commemorative date should be determined and a memorial dedicated to the Albanians massacred by the Greeks should be built, being a place to place flowers as a sign of respect, acting like everywhere in the democratic world.

Original article

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