Written by: Prof. Zeqirja Idrizi. Translation Petrit Latifi

Mehmet Pasha Deralla and the Formation of the Ministry of Defense and the Declaration of Independence and the need for an army.

On November 28, 1912, Ismail Qemali declared the independence of Albania in Vlora. Immediately after this historic act, it became clear that the new state needed a provisional government and especially a Ministry of Defense (December 4), as the country was surrounded by foreign armies (Serbian, Greek and Montenegrin).

Without an army and without a state structure, Albania was defenseless. Therefore, the creation of the Ministry of Defense was a key step. Ismail Qemali, recognizing the great role of Isa Boletini in the Albanian uprisings and his powerful influence in Kosovo, wanted to appoint him Minister of Defense. However, Isa Boletini refused the position with the famous words: “Today we need educated and professional people.”

With this, he showed: his humility, the awareness that organizing the army required professional knowledge, and the thought that he could serve the nation better as a fighter, not as a minister, which today no one in the ranks of Albanian politics can do when it comes to appointing key positions, in a word, professionalism is not being valued at all. However, Isa Boletini did not withdraw from his patriotic duty: he stayed in Vlora and was at the head of the forces that guarded the new Albanian government.

The Appointment of Mehmet Pasha Deralla – First Minister of Defense
Mehmet Pasha Deralla was a career officer with long experience in the Ottoman army. He was the only Albanian figure of the time with a higher military education. He had a high rank and real experience in command.

He was known and respected in many Albanian provinces. Memet P. Deralla organized the modern army that Albania needed, thus becoming the first Minister of Defense of Albania. The first organization of Albanian defense (1912)

As minister, he initiated the creation of the first structures:
a) Albanian Gendarmerie
This was the first organized state force, which was charged with maintaining order and protecting institutions.
b) Volunteer units
Since there was no regular army, many men from all Albanian regions joined together to defend the government and the new territory.
c) Defense of Vlora
Isa Boletini and his brave men took on the task of guarding the Government of Vlora from any possible external or internal attack.

Historical significance

The Ministry of Defense in 1912 laid the foundations of the Albanian. army. Mehmet Pasha Deralla contributed with professionalism and discipline to the creation of state defense. His personality played an irreplaceable role in the beginnings of the Albanian state.