Abstract

This study explores the anti-communist stance and nationalist resistance in Bajgora County, northeastern Kosovo, between 1941 and 1950. Following the Axis occupation and the collapse of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, local Albanians, led by figures such as Ahmet Selaci, Bislim Bajgora, and Ukshin Kovaçica, organized armed volunteer units and gendarmerie forces to defend their ethnic territories against Chetnik attacks and the communist Partisan-Chetnik coalitions. Key events include the Battles of Slatinë, Cerajë, Koloshin, and the Kozmatica Bunker siege. Despite eventual suppression, resistance networks persisted through political and youth organizations, reflecting the Shala community’s enduring commitment to national unity and the vision of an Ethnic Albania.

History

Shala and Bajgora lies in the north-eastern part of Mitrovica, namely Kosovo, in a territory of approximately 275 km². It is bordered to the east by the Kaçanollit River, to the north by the Albanik Mountains (i.e. the Argjrnta Mountains of Kopaonik), to the south by the Smrekovnica River, and to the west by the Bardhë River (Ibrin).

The Shala region consists of 36 villages (Shupkovci, Kodra (Zasella), Gurakuqi, Kutlovci, Stantërgu, Reka, Rahova, Kqiqi i Madh, Kqiqi i Vogël, Cernushë, Rashani, Mazhiqi, Terrstena, Bajgora, Bareja, Vidishiqi, Maxhera, Melenica, Zabërgja, Ofçari, Dedia, Batahiri, Lipa, Lisica, Boletini, Zhazha. Vlahia, Selaci, Trepçalit, Ziaça, Gumnishta, Vesekofci, Rozhana, Kurullova, Koshtova e Vlahija e Bistrica).

Due to its great wealth above and below ground, Shala was the object of attacks since the time of the Roman Empire, Byzantine, Ottoman Empire as well as other Slavic and Greek peoples. For this reason, part of the Shala population was forced to move to Mitrovica or other Albanian settlements to escape the massacres that the various invaders carried out against this innocent population.

However, the majority remained in their ethnic territories, protecting them and not subjecting themselves to assimilation. Since this session is dedicated to the most prominent national personalities who sacrificed themselves for Ethnic Albania and were anathematized for decades by the communist system, whether in Kosovo or Albania, I will try to give a brief description of the personalities and events of Shala e Bajgora who worked, fought and sacrificed themselves for Ethnic Albania.

The most prominent personalities from 1941 to 1950 are: Ahmet Selaci, Bislim Bajgora, Mehmet Rexhepi-Selaci, Riza Rexhep Selaci, Imer Tahir Selaci, Bajram Mehmet Selaci, Mursel Igrishta, Tafil, Pajazit, Asllan, Isuf, Faik Boletoni, Ukshin Kovaçica, Sherif Tërstena, Adem, Hetem Voca, Mulla Mustafa, Kadri Bistrica, Rexhep and Rifat Dedia Haradin Vidishiqi, Qerim, Ibrahim Shupkovci, Shaban Mujani, and many others.

While the most important events for our National History and for the people of Shala in particular are; The Battle of Slatinë and Cerajë (April 1941), The Battle of Koloshin and New Bazaar (1941-44), The Battle in Shala against the Partisan-Chetniks in late 1944 and early 1945, The Battle in Rrëzhane in October and November 1944, The Battle of Stantërg in January 1945, The Battle during February and March 1945, The Battle at Sokol’s Stone in the Vesekofci Mountains in 1946, as well as the Battle in Batahir at the Kozmatica Bunker (the assassination of Ahmet Selaci on February 19, 1947), etc.

While the most important Assemblies that were organized in Shala are: the Assembly of Bara, September 1944, the Assembly of Kovačica, October 1944, the Assembly of Vidishić, January 22, 1945. It is also interesting to mention that the representatives of Shala actively participated in all the Assemblies and Congresses that were organized by the representatives of Albanian nationalism, who aspired, worked and fought to make Albania ethnic.

To talk about the prominent political and military personalities of Shala and the wars for the defense of the north-eastern border of Kosovo and Mitrovica, Pazar of Shala, Drenica, Llap, I would need several days, but considering the limited time we have at our disposal, I mentioned them in passing, and I want to remind you that I will submit a more detailed review in writing.

After the capitulation of the Kingdom of SKS on April 16, 1941, and the surrender of the Mitrovica Garrison by the Chetnik Supreme Command and Commander Kalicanin, General Tomić and Colonel Oto Čuš, without resisting the German 60th Division led by Commander Viktor Bartky and General Friedrich Eberhart, gave them the report on the surrender of their units. Eng. Xhafer Deva received the latter (the Germans), and thanked them for the liberation from Serbian captivity.

On April 21, 1941, at the meeting held in Mitrovica at the Hotel “Jadran”, Xh. Deva asked the German general that the Albanians be allowed to take and exercise power in the districts and municipalities from finances, courts, internal affairs bodies and to open schools in the Albanian language. Even the Germans agreed that after the Serbo-Chetniks had lost the war, the Albanians were allowed to organize local government.

The above-mentioned meeting was also attended by the leadership of the Bajgora Shala, headed by the patriot Ahmet Selaci, who was also a member of Xhemjet (Union), the political organization for the Protection of Albanian Rights led by Xhafer Deva and Ferat Draga, founded in 1919 in Skopje, at the Congress of Albanians and Muslims.

On April 21, 1941, the leaders of the Albanian People’s Movement and the Albanian National Committee, Xhafer Deva, Bedri Pejani, Rexhep Mitrovica, Ferat Draga, etc. formed armed units in Shala e Bajgora and Mitrovica as well as the Albanian Gendarmerie. Ahmet Selaci, a true strategist and Mayor of the Municipality of (Stan Tërgu) Shala e Bajgora, was elected Commander of the Volunteer Forces (Fuqia Kreshnike), while Pjazit Boletini was elected Commander of the Gendarmerie, with headquarters in Mitrovica, and stations were opened in several places in Shala e Bajgora such as Bare, Bajgora, Rahovë, Boletin, Cerajë, Sllatinë, Banjskë, Çabër, etc. At these stations, Gendarmerie Commanders were appointed Bislim Bajgora, Ukshin Kovaçica, Mehmet Gradica, Shaban Polluzha, Sylejman Vuçiterna, etc.

On the front line of the Border Protection Front (Ethnic) north of Shala, and to prevent the Chetnik forces from penetrating the villages of Shala, to massacre the children, women, the elderly and to prevent the destruction and burning of the Albanian villages, Cerajë, Koshtovo e Vlahija, Bistrca, etc., was Ahmet Selaci with his volunteers.

He also led the Shalans in Koloshin, Novi Pazar, etc. Since the Chetniks were undertaking frequent actions and attacking Albanian villages and Albanian Gendarmerie stations, it was decided that the Albanian volunteers would stay on the border and avoid Chetnik attacks. Draža Mihajlović had ordered the formation of Chetnik units with the aim of mercilessly liquidating and massacring Albanians and attributing their crimes to Albanians and thus presenting Albanians as criminals before the German occupiers. The most vocal Chetniks were Žika Marković, Mašan Đuravić, Kosta Milovanović, etc. They organized continuous attacks along the border line, Llap, Shalë, Kološin and Novi Pazar.

The Battle of Cerajë and Sllatinë in 1951

The Chetniks led by Mašan Đurić, Žika Marković and Kosta Pečanci’s son, Milan, as well as the Chetnik commander Vojslav Llukačević, were committed to the ethnic cleansing of this part of Kosovo and intended to occupy other parts of Kosovo. In August 1941, they were prepared to enter the village of Cerajë and burn and destroy it and massacre its population.

However, the volunteer resistance forces led by Ahmet Selaci and the Gendarmerie of Shala and Mitrovica stopped their attacks and managed to expel the Chetniks from Cerajë in the direction of Raška. A bloody battle was fought there and there were deaths on both sides, but the Chetniks fled with very heavy losses, at the same time the Chetniks had also attacked Slatinë.

Here, at the head of the Albanian forces was the brave Kadri Bistrica with Rexhep and Rifat Dedina, who stood and fought with extraordinary bravery and resisted the Chetniks, causing them great losses and not allowing them to penetrate the Kosovo border.

Although the Chetniks were over 500 people and very well armed, even with bombs, they were never able to break the heroic resistance of the Albanian volunteers. The Chetnik Mashan Djuric, seeing that he was suffering great losses, asked Kadri Bistrica to come out to fight.

Kadri Bistrica resisted them himself, the third with Rexhep and Rifat Sadiku of Dedi, because some of his comrades (Miran Hajra- Batahiri, Shaban Ofçari, Man Beqiri- Vllahia, Feriz Maxhera, Jahir Bistrica) had been killed fighting, while Miran Hajra, who was a young man, had been ordered by Hasret to cross the Ibri and return home, because they were also running out of ammunition, while they had decided to stay fighting until the last cartridge and, isolating themselves in the train station, they constantly caused losses to the Chetniks of Žika Marković and the infamous Tomaš Gjunić. The latter had sworn before the Chetnik leader Drazha Mihajlovic that they would conquer Shala, drink the blood of the Albanians and massacre them all.

This is also testified by the popular singer Isa Sadiku-Barja, himself a participant in the wars of Ceraja and Sllatina, as follows:

 “N’kapuç t’bardhë nja kund s’kam me lanë,

  Zullum t’madhë do t’baj n’rob e n’thmi,

  Do t’ua pres nanave thmin n’gji,

  Gjak shqiptari n’vend t’ujit kam me pi.”

(Sadiku states in this quote that the Serb Chetniks wanted to drink the blood of the Albanians)

Tomash Djuriqi again challenges Kadri Bistrica to a duel. He had ordered the Chetniks to shoot him from all sides as soon as Kadri stood up. But Rexhepi had begged Kadri not to engage the Chetnik in a duel because he knew of their treachery and betrayal.

Nevertheless, Kadri Bistrica engages in a duel because he was a brave man and determined to sacrifice himself. He manages to shoot the Chetnik in the face, but is also killed by the others who had always kept him in their sights. The popular rhapsody sings of Kadri Bistrica’s sacrifice and his bravery as follows:

” Naçallnik o i biri shkinës,

   Nuk po i njeh djemët e Dedijës,

   Djemët e Bistricës,sokolat t’malit

   Qi ta plasin n’lule t’ballit,

   Ky Kadria djal drangue

   Nuk t’lshoj pa të zonue! “

The song dedicated to Kadri Bistrica and Rexhep and Rifat Dedi is quite long and very interesting. Rexhep Dedija had managed to return many bombs that the Chetniks threw at them at the train station, and they exploded and killed the Chetniks themselves. After the murder of Kadri and the serious wounding of Rifat, Rexhep continues the fight even though he is wounded.

However, upon receiving the news of the Chetnik attack on Sllatina, Ahmet Selaci leaves there with the volunteers from Shalja and rescues Rexhep and Rifat, while killing many Chetniks, some of whom flee across the border in panic. Meanwhile, the immortal Kadri Bistrica is buried in Cerajë with high military honors. On this occasion, Ahmet Selaci says among other things: “The oak tree is only seen when it is falling, how great it is”.

The Battle of Kolashin and Novi Pazar (Pazari i Ri) in 1941-1944

The Chetniks, after being well armed and mobilizing young Chetniks in the fall of 1941, intended to undertake extermination expeditions against the Albanians and prepared to attack Llapi, Shala, Drenica and Pazar i Ri. From July 1941 until the end of 1944, the volunteer forces led by Ahmet Selaci and the Albanian Gendarmerie by Bislim Bajgora, Shaban Polluxha, Islam Baruti, etc., resisted the Chetnik attacks and did not allow them to penetrate and occupy Shala, Drenica, Llapi, Pazar i Ri and other parts of Kosovo.

The people of Shala did not only fight in defense of Shala, but thanks to their wisdom and bravery, they fought in all Albanian regions with the sole goal of  “liberating and unifying the ethnic lands of Mother Albania . “

And they often fought with the brave men of Llap, Drenica, Artakoll, Istog, and other regions. This cooperation and mutual assistance made them stronger, more determined, and unbreakable in their resistance against the Chetnik-Partisans and the ugly communist ideology.

The Shala and Bajgora resistance against the Partisan Chetniks in 1944-1945

The efforts of Ali Shukria, through some elements who were involved in the Partisan-Chetnik Aradhat, and they were Qazim Bajgora, Riza Voca, Kadi Reufi, Rasim Çerkezi etc. to convince the Shala leadership, Ahmet Selaci, Bislim Bajgora, Sherif Tërstena, Adem Voca, Imer Selaci, to join them in the Communist Partisan Movement, were unsuccessful.

The Shala leadership was vigilant and consistent in their principles and positions for the definitive liberation of Kosovo from the Chetniks and Serbo-Slavic elements and its unification with the mother state of Albania. In order to avoid fratricide in Shala, Ahmet Selaci had agreed to talk to the Albanian representatives of the Communist Party and warned them very clearly that “they had chosen a wrong path, which was not in the national interest of the Albanians and posed a great risk of fratricide, which would only go in favor of the Serbo-Slav occupiers, who for centuries had been trying to exterminate the Shala and Ksovo population”.

At the Bajgora meeting, Ahmet Selaci did not go, while at the next meeting held in Vesekovc, Adem Voca, Sherif Tërstena, Ukshin Kovaqica, the representatives of the Partisan Order were presented with the following conditions:

1. Adem Voca to be elected Brigade Commander.

2. That Serbs should not be included in this brigade

3. That Serbs and Montenegrins immediately leave Shala and Kosovo.

If the partisans accept these conditions, he promised to gather 2000 men for war. After this meeting, Qazim Bajgora, Rifat Vidishiqi, Abit Dedija, etc., rejected the conditions of the Albanian National Movement of Shala as hostile and continued to propagate against Ahmet Selaci, Bislim Bjgora, Ukshin Kovaçica, Sherif Tërstene, Adem Voca, Imer Selaci, Hajredin Vidishiqi, etc.

At the next meeting in Rashan, which was held at the house of Isuf Istrefi, Riza Voca, Kadri Reufi and Milia Kovaçeviqi spoke on behalf of the partisans, while Adem Voca, Ahmet Selaci and Jusuf Shabani spoke on behalf of the Resistance Movement. Ahmet Selaci did not accept that the partisan Aradha should carry out its activities in Shala of Bajgora.

After consultations with Pajazit Bolatin and Ibrahim Lutfi, he demanded that “the partisan detachment and the KP committee of the Shala district must urgently leave Shala and Kosovo.” The leaders of the Shala Headquarters took it upon themselves to call the people of Shala to inform them of the danger they were facing from the partisans and the Communist Party that was collaborating with Drazha Mihajlovic’s Chetniks.

The Assembly of Barë

This Assembly was held in September 1944 in the Bare mosque, its imam was Mulla Mustafa of Vidishic. The attendees were addressed by Ahmet Selaci, who explained the danger posed by the Partisan-Chetniks and invited them to join the National Movement and the Resistance Committee, this call was received with full enthusiasm by those present. While Mulla Mustafa addressed the crowd with these words:

“The Chetniks, Bulgarians together with Moscow and Russia have started burning Kaqanolli, Llapashtica, they have massacred women, children and the elderly, therefore we must celebrate Eid in Picël (a mountain that lay in the high area of ​​Shala on the border with Llapi), to expel this evil spawn from our ethnic lands.”

The crowd enthusiastically supported their leaders and took up arms and joined the National Defense Committee. Riza Voca ordered the Partisan Aradha to move to the village of Brcan (inhabited by Serbs), because that was where the Chetniks were based.

In October of this year, Ahmet Selaci, at the head of the National Resistance, and the Albanian gendarmerie attacked the Partisan Aradha in Brcan and after the losses they inflicted on the Chetniks, they abandoned Brcan and headed for Kursumlija, where they established contact with the 13th Serbian Brigade. An attempt to negotiate was also made by Ali Shukriu in Pasoma. However, this time, the conditions that Adem Voca presented to him for the Partisan-Chetnik Movement and the Slavic Communists were not favorable, so this attempt was also unsuccessful.

The Assembly of Kovaqica

In October 1944, the National Assembly was held in Kovačica, at the initiative of Ibrahim Lutfi, Chairman of the Committee of the League of Prizren for the prefecture of Mitrovica, where all the decisions of the Second League of Prizren of September 16, 1943 were supported.

‘This Assembly was also attended by the leaders of the Movement for the Protection of the Ethnic Borders of Kosovo, of the Shala region: Ahemt Selaci, Bislim Bajgora, Ukshin Kovaqica, Adem Voca, Faik Boletini, Mulla Mustafa, etc. In this Assembly, a series of decisions proposed by the Central Committee of the League of Prizren were made: to form 3 volunteer brigades.

Mobilization was carried out in 3 areas:

a) Mazhić, Mitrovica, Vushtrri, which will be led and commanded by Adem Voca

b) Selac, Boletin, will be led by Ahmet Selaci

c) Bare, Vesekovc, Rrëzhan, will be led by Ukshin Kovaçica.

d) To secure weapons, as many as possible.

e) To immediately begin the registration of volunteers aged 18-50 and the formation of the Shala Brigade.

f) To establish a connection with the volunteers of Llapi, Pristina and Drenica through Adem Voca.

After the end of the Assembly, Ahmet Selaci immediately formed the Volunteer Army Brigade and clashed several times during October, November and December 1944 with the Yugoslav Army and fought heroically against the Serbo-Montenegrin chauvinists and Albanian traitors and thus protected the ethnic lands and the population of the Shala region of Bajgora.

The Assembly of Vidishiq (January 22, 1945)

Since at the beginning of January 1945, Fadil Hoxha, with Miladin Popovic, wanted to meet in Pristina and talk with the Paria of Shala.

 Adem Voca presented them with these conditions:

1. The Kosovo brigades should be commanded by Albanians;

2. Commands should be made in Albanian;

3. The Kosovo brigades should fight only under the Albanian flag;

4. In all settlements where the majority of the population is Albanian, the Chairman, Secretary and Commander shall be Albanian.

Fadil Hoxha and M. Popovic had formally accepted the demands of the Shalans and Adem Voca, but in reality this was also a betrayal like many others, and this “agreement” was not respected by their side and clearly showed the face of Fadil and his treachery. So the Shalans in Vidishic, held on January 22, 1945, the Assembly, in which important decisions were made.

1. The battalion commanded by Ahmet Selaci attacked the Partisan-Chetnik forces and liberated Mitrovica.

2. The battalion commanded by Adem Voca, to secure the Vushtërri – Mitrovica road from possible attacks that would come from that direction.

On the night of January 26-27, 1945, Ahmet Selaci with his soldiers in a lightning attack took control of Stan Tërg. In these battles, Mehmet Gradica had also arrived with 400 brave warriors and for a short time they also took control of the territories: Majdan – Stan Tërg – Lisicë. Two Battalions of Ahmet Selaci were placed on the front line: Mažić – Bare – Vidishić.

While Mehmet Gradica with his fighters was placed in the positions: Vidishić – Vllahi. The resistance forces commanded by A. Voca on the line: Vushtërri – Mitrovica. The resistance and National Defense forces had under full surveillance: Melenica, Bare, Vllahina, Dedina, Bajgore, Kovaica, Selaci, Gumnishte, Reka, Zasella, Shupkovci.

In these battles, the Yugoslav Army, the Chetniks and their mercenaries engaged the 27th Brigade of the 46th Serbian Division, the 5th Kosovo Brigade and the 25th Brigade of the aforementioned Division. Both warring sides suffered significant losses. The resistance forces fought with great heroism even though they were poorly equipped with weapons, ammunition, clothing and food.

The Shajlans were also helped by fighters from Llapi, Drenica and all ethnic areas. For strategic reasons, Ahmet Selaci, Mehmet Gradica, Shaban Polluzha and their comrades-in-arms made plans for a retreat to Drenica and vice versa. On February 18, 1945, the resistance fighters inflicted heavy losses on the enemy forces, who were aiming to recapture Shala.

The Partisan-Chetniks had at one time liquidated in their homes, without trial, in just one night over 200 Albanians who had either helped the resistance against the re-occupation with soldiers or had helped its members with food, shelter or in some other way. At this time, the Commander of the Drenica Brigade, Shaban Polluzha, was stationed in Shala with his soldiers.

Due to the harsh winter and difficult economic and material conditions, Shaban Polluzha returned to Drenica after three days to continue the resistance against the reoccupation of Drenica, while Ahmet Selaci remained in Shala and resolutely continued the fight against the partisan-Chetniks and their Albanian aides, who in the name of communism helped the centuries-old enemy to reoccupy Shala again and return it to Serb-Slavic captivity.

As mentioned above, the miserable economic and atmospheric conditions forced Ahmet Selaci and other resistance leaders to devise an appropriate strategy to continue the resistance and liberate Shala. Therefore, they decided to act in groups, so the following groups were established:

1. Ahmet Selaci’s group – numerically it was larger;

2. Ukshin Kovačica’s group;

3. Bislim Bajgora’s group;

4. Bulletin Group;

5. Osman Bunjak’s group and

6. Hazir Gjaka’s group.

These groups of fighters were in constant contact and where necessary they helped each other. In February, when the 25th Brigade had surrounded Ahmet Selaci, Ukshin Kovaçica ​​and his brave men went to their aid and caused them great losses, killing 36 partisan-Chetniks, 59 due to terror and panic fled in unknown directions, leaving behind all the weapons they had at their disposal.

This resistance continued and suitable conditions were sought to form the National Defense Army of Kosovo. In June 1946, before the Lipovica Congress, in Plebishte near Guri i Sokol, west of Kovaçica, the USHP Battalion (NDSH) was established, and Ahmet Selaci was elected commander, Ukshin Kovaçica ​​was appointed deputy, while the entire Albanian guerrilla joined it.

Unfortunately, this Battalion was infiltrated by a collaborator of the NCO, Bislim Popova, who had treacherously strangled the German radio operator who was in contact with Xhafer Deva in Vienna with a piece of wood, and had completely destroyed the equipment.

The activity of the Organization of the UMKK (Kosovo National Defense Army) was led by Albanian intellectuals, who were ready for self-sacrifice and who had founded the “Albanian National Democratic Committee”. So the people of Shaljan were in permanent contact and collaborated closely on the political-military organization with the fighters and intellectuals Prof. Ymer Berisha, Gjon Sereqin, Halim Spahina, Luan Gashi and others, at the level of Kosovo, and after achieving the main objective of liberating Kosovo, it would be annexed to the mother state, based on the Decisions of the Second League of Prizren (September 16, 1943).

Prof. Ymer Berisha, chairman of the “Besa Kombëtare” organization, in June 1946 sends a letter to Ahmet Selaci where, among other things, he writes:

Brother,  Ahmet Selaci – Kosovo

Our organization “Besa Kombëtare” has long been interested in recognizing all good Albanians here and there and has valued you as a rare and brave patriot for the wars you have waged in Shala of Bajgora against the enemies of the Albanian nation. We are connected with the English general in Tirana. Get in touch with your other collaborators and let us know in writing how many fighters, in the event of war, can come out with weapons in your district and commune, because the Party Assembly from Old Albania will know this.

Chairman of the organization

“National Trust”

Ymer Berisha

Establishment of the Ibri Division

The people of Shala, aware that they were waging a war of liberation from their Serbo-Slavic occupiers and communist ideology, this ugly Russian-Slavic epidemic, were determined to fight without sparing anything, because they were certain that with the re-occupation, the beatings, persecutions, imprisonments, deportations, ethnic cleansings, and killings without or with trials by the regime that would be established would increase.

For the above-mentioned reasons, even during the years 1946/47, the indispensable need arose for the unification of all groups and chetas operating throughout the territory of Kosovo and Albania. As other authors point out, we find representatives of Shala participating in almost all the Assemblies and meetings where decisions were made about Ethnic Albania.

At the Fifth Congress of the KNDSH in Lipovica in July 1946, the initiative was taken to establish the “Ibar Division” of the Kosovo National Defense Army. Ahmet Selaci was appointed in charge. This initiative was unanimously supported by all the people of Shala. As a result, on August 11, 1946, in the free mountains of Kosovo, at a meeting with all the superiors and military leaders of the districts of Mitrovica, Vushtrri, Llapi, Drenica and Pazar i Ri, a decision was made to form a Division in the terrain of the above-mentioned places.

Therefore, the superiors-military-war leaders of this Division had to be appointed. Based on the documents found in the Fund: Qakut Trial in Prishtina, Criminal Case P. 66/47, we are publishing in the original without corrections, the document received at that time from the group of prisoners of the “Albanian National Democratic Committee”:

IBR DIVISION

Division Commander: Mr.  Ahmet Selaci,  his assistant Mr. Jusuf Boletini.

                     Group I

Commander of the First Group  Faik Boletini , Deputy and Adjutant Mr. Bislim Bajgora.

                     Group II

Commander of the 2nd Group, Mr.  Osman Bunjaku , Deputy Adjutant Hashim Basholli.

                     Grupi i III

Commander of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Mr.  Ukshin Kovaica , Deputy Adjutant Smajl Svarqa.

                     Group VI

Commander of the fifth group  Avdi Tashevci , his deputy Adjutant Musli Dumoshi.

                     Group V

Group Commander  Ilmi Zariqi , his deputy Jetullah Rezalla.

                    Group I

1. Commander of the 1st Battalion, Mr. Ali Smajli

2. ” ” of the II- th, Mr. Arif Selja(n)ci

3. ” ” of the III-th, Mr. Zijadin Avdyli- Ceraja

4. ” ” of the IV-th, Mr. Vehbi Zasella

                    Group II

1. Commander of the 1st Battalion, Mr. Ljah Rama-Cecelija

2. ” ” of the II- th, Mr. Aziz Zhilivoda

3. ” ” of the IIIrd, Mr. Çerkin Shabani

4. ” ” of the IV, Mr. Bajram Studimja

                   Grupi i III

1. Commander of the 1st Battalion, Mr. Imer Seljaci

2. ” ” of the II-th, Mr. Sherif Tërstena

3. ” ” of the III-th Mr. Mehmet Seljaci

4. ” ” of the IV-th Mr. Rrahman Seljaci

                   Group V

1. Commander of the 1st Battalion, Mr. Ukë Mavriqi

2. ” ” of the II- th, Mr. Abit Pakastica

3. ” ” of the IIIrd, Mr. Feriz Dobërdoli

4. ” ” of the IV-th, Mr. Rrahim ( Isa ) Majanci

                   Group V

1. Commander of the 1st Battalion, Mr. Imer Gashi-Radisheva

2. ” ” of the II- th, Mr. Brahim Luta

3. ” ” of the IIIrd, Mr. Hysen Lutani

4. ” ” of the IV, Mr. Ymer Bajraktari.

This document has great scientific value, for the very fact that it clearly proves that the leadership of the Second Zone Headquarters, supported by the people of Shala, Llapjan, Drenica, etc., were determined to continue their armed struggle, fighting in Kosovo, for freedom and national unity, even though some representatives of the organizations and Çetas had left Kosovo, based on the request of the First Zone Headquarters, which, among other things, stated: “… due to the conditions and circumstances created, to move to Greece to continue restructuring, activities and resistance…” (request submitted at the Fifth Congress of the KNDSH-LNDSH, in Lipovica – June 1946).

Despite the savage violence that the ethnic Albanian partisans and their assistants exerted on the civilian population, the resistance forces continued to defend Shala e Bajgora with all the means and possibilities they had.

The Battle of Guri i Sokolit – December 28, 1946

Even though the Second World War was officially declared over (May 8, 1945, Capitulation of Germany), Albanians had to continue the fight for liberation and national unification, a right that was denied not only by their centuries-old enemies, but also by the mother state which unfortunately, even militarily, came to the aid of the Serbs-Slavs in the name of the ideology of the international proletariat.

Even in Shala of Bajgora, this evil spawn had penetrated, convinced that after the war there would be equality for all the peoples of this old and ugly part of Europe. The most famous Albanians were Ali Shukriu, Riza Voca, Abit Dedija, Kadri Reufi, Rasim Çerkezi, etc.

They not only helped find the resistance fighters in Shala, but also directly participated in their capture and killings, as well as in the mistreatment, imprisonment, and liquidation of members of the resistance families who fought for freedom and national unity.

Part of the Albanian National Defense Army forces, namely the First Brigade of the Ibar Division, led by Ahmet Selaci and Ukshin Kovaçica, were stationed in the Veskovc mountains at Guri i Sokolit, west of Kovaçica. The OZN organs, after having severely mistreated Ukshin Kovaçica’s sister’s son and Sherif Revuqi, Nazif Revuqi’s brother, the latter being a loyal and inseparable comrade-in-arms of Ahmet Selaci, had forced them to tell them where the Albanian National Defense Army of Kosovo was.

After they (OZN) were assured of the location of the UMKSH, they had requested reinforcements from the Serb-Slavic army of Mitrovica and Podujeva. After the encirclement, they attacked them by surprise at “Kroi i Hajrullahut”, where a bloody battle took place.

The soldiers of the Albanian Homeland Defense led by strategist Ahmet Selaci, thanks to their bravery, wisdom and knowledge of the terrain, manage to inflict heavy losses on the forces of the OZN and the Serb-Slav army, killing 8 policemen and their commander. In this battle, Nazif Revuqi fell heroically, while Ahmet Selaci, Ukshin Kovaçica ​​and his son Hashim were wounded.

After the arrival of the Serbian-Montenegrin military forces from Mitrovica, the war took place in Plebishtë. Here, the resistance forces (UMKSH) killed 7 soldiers, wounded three who died in the evening. Ahmet Selaci had ordered the attack on the police and enemy army forces, which after losing a large number of soldiers and policemen were forced to retreat, leaving behind a large amount of weapons.

Bajram Revuqi fell heroically in this war. This war took place on December 28 at Guri i Sokolit, where Ahmet Selaci and his comrades emerged victorious. The fighters of the Resistance against the Slavic-communist re-occupation, the numerous and very well-armed forces, caused great damage in people who were forced to retreat, leaving behind many killed and large amounts of weapons.

The Siege and Battle of the “Kozmatica” Bunker in Batahir

Even during 1947, the fighters from Šalja continued their resistance against the Yugoslav People’s Army, which recruited forces from various Chetnik-partisan, traitorous Albanian coalitions, etc., with the sole purpose of extinguishing the fight for freedom and national unity. The inhuman torture of the families of the resistance fighters increased day by day.

Family members were imprisoned, threatened, and even liquidated without trial, because they refused to reveal their whereabouts, numbers, weapons, and who was helping them. Thus, the conditions for the brave fighters to act became increasingly difficult every day. Therefore, they were forced to retreat towards Wallachia, to the triangle of Batahir-Vlahi and Koshtovë e Vlahihëse. In Batahir, at a place called “Kozmatica”, the brave fighters had built a Bunker.

Since it was the middle of the month and the winter was harsh, the conditions with supplies and weapons were extremely difficult, without being dictated by the numerous agents and spies who had been placed by the OZN and the military system installed in Mirtovica but also in Shala of Bajgora.

On February 19, 1947, large forces of the OZN and the alarmed army, led by Vojo Jankovic, Çedo Topallovic and Rasim Çerkezi, a sworn pro-Yugoslav, had set out to liquidate the resistance fighters led by the Commander of the Ibar Division, Ahmet Selaci, who had treacherously surrounded their location and asked them to surrender. Since the negotiations were based on treachery, they did not bring any success, because the OZN treacherously killed Bajram Selaci, while the resistance fighters killed Hysen Sedllari, a servant of the OZN.

Then the unequal war begins, but the brave resistance fighters also kill seven policemen and soldiers and their Commander Vojo Jnaković, a rabid anti-Albanian.

On this day, after a bloody battle, Ahmet Selaci – Commander of the Ibar Division, a strategist and brave warrior of Ethnic Albania, is killed, and with him in the field of honor also fall Faik and Isuf Boletini, Mehmet, Bajram, Hetem, Hajrullah Selaci, while the wounded Imer Selaci manages to break the siege and in Koshtovë t Vlahija is captured by the infamous OZN forces, and later shot in Prishtina.

The same fate had also happened to Feriz Gashi, who also wounded had managed to escape the siege and when he reached Bajgora, he was captured by the OZN and then shot in Prishtina. Ukshin Kovaçica ​​with his son Hashim and the loyal warrior Smajl Sfarçën also manage to break the siege and take refuge in a cave in Vlahija, but unfortunately on February 20, 1947, are investigated by the forces of the National Liberation Army and after an iron siege by many police forces and the Serbian-Slavic army, the traitorous Albanians in a fierce fight fall on the field of honor of the three.

On the same day, Riza Rexhep Selaci and Xhemësmajl Zhazha were also captured and executed without trial by the criminal Desimir Jovanoviqi.
This is unfortunately also the end of the armed resistance in Shala of Bajgora, led by Ahmet Selaci and his comrades, who sacrificed themselves for the creation of Ethnic Albania.

Efforts to continue the activity for Ethnic Albania

Since armed resistance was impossible, in Shala of Bajgora, the activity did not cease until 1950, when the members of the “Committee of Shala and Mitrovica with the district” were discovered and imprisoned: Bejtullah Sahiti, Hajrullah Halili, Sinan Alija, Imer Ajti, Avdyl Halili, Shefqet Kamberi, Zejnullah Mehmeti, Zejnel Shabani, Hajzer Ferizi, Zeqir Rashidi, Bislim Fazliu. They were sentenced from 3 to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment. They served their imprisonment in “Bella kuça- Shtëpia e bardhë” in Niš.

However, efforts to achieve this sacred goal continued in other forms and ways by the people of Shala and will continue in the future. On August 6, 1952, in the vicinity of Mitrovica and Shala i Bajgora, the Albanian National Youth Organization (nationalist) was founded with a symbolic but very meaningful name: “Votra Kosovare Nacional Demokratike Shqiptare”.

This Organization was first founded in the Mitrovica Gymnasium, expanding the “network” to the eight-year school in Stantërg, and within a short time its activity expanded to the Normal School of Prishtina, in Podjevo, Gjilan, Prizeren, Tetovo, Peja, Istog and Rakosh. In Shala i Bajgora, the founder was Mr. Emin Fazlia – Emil Kastrioti with his like-minded people.

The Istog branch was founded by the young people of this area, in Bellopoja on 22.5. 1956, one of them is Mr. Ibrahim Metaj. I mentioned these two men in order to thank them from the bottom of my heart, who, even after the many hardships and tortures they have experienced in the infamous Yugoslav prisons, are still active and since the Hamburg Academy are participating and giving their very valuable contribution to bringing to light the great work of all those who tried and are trying for a Free, Independent, Democratic and United Albania.

This Youth Organization was a worthy heir to LpLTSH-NDSH. For a relatively short time in the countries where the Branches were established, (“Votra Kosovare NDSH”) it had united around 387 loyal activists ready for any kind of sacrifice. After the discovery by the Yugoslav UDB in the summer of 1960, 47 people were arrested, four of whom in Zagreb, who were in compulsory military service.

Mr. Emin Fazlia was sentenced to 8 years of rigorous imprisonment, while Baki Dullovi was sentenced to 2.5 years, Mehmet Trepça to 18 months, and Hilmi Ajvazi to 9 months. The sentences of the last three convicts were shorter because Mr. Emin Fazlia had consciously taken the blame in order for his collaborators to be released as soon as possible to continue their patriotic activity in Kosovo and beyond until the final objective of the Unification of all Albanian Ethnic Territories into a common state was achieved. These efforts continue even today and will continue in the future.