by Ismet Azizi Kokaj. Translation Petrit Latifi

The Assembly of Dobërdol was a gathering Albanian freedom fighters seeking to unite Albanian lands from Serbo-Montengrin communist and partisan invasions in 1945. The photo shows Biko Dreshević (Bilal Dreshaj) (b. 1910-d. 1987) who had also brought with him four fugitives from the Sanxhak), who was the representative from the Sanxhak.

In conversation with Ukë Sadiku, Prof. Ymer Berisha had scheduled the meeting between the leaders of the illegal movement for August 1945, in the village of Dobërdol, in the mountains of Martin Pjetri. On August 24, the large gathering of the illegal movement began. 19 groups with their followers participated in it, including representatives from Rožaje and Pazar i Ri, a total of 158 people.

Page from Sabile Kecmezi-Bashas book

Translation:

“In these created circumstances, the historical moment laid the indispensable need for holding an Assembly of the Albanian underground, where all these groups-movements would be united, with a leading military-political center for national actions-the unification of the Albanian lands.

From a preliminary meeting of the leading units, the place was determined – the village of Dobërdol, and the date of the meeting was 4-5 August 1945. According to the assessments coming from the field, the situation for holding the Assembly of Dobërdol was favorable. In conversation with Ukë Sadiku, prof. Ymer Berisha had scheduled the meeting between the leaders of the underground for August 1945, in the village of Dobërdol, in the mountains of Martin Pjetri.

On August 24, the great gathering of the underground began. 19 groups with their followers participated in it, among which were also representatives from Roxhaje and Pazar i Ri, a total of 158 people95.

There, leaders such as: Ukë Sadiku, Demë Ali Pozhari, Ndue Përlleshi, Zef Gjin Doda, Zeqë Sokoli, Qazim Bajraktari, Shaban Sadik-Rama, Sadik Lutani, Alush Smajli, Ferat Kotorri, Adem Shala, Njazi Alishani, Zhukë Haxhia, Islam Tabaku, Rexhë Xhela, Mulla Ilazi, Biko Dresheviq (who had also brought four fugitives from the Sandzak) and many others met.

Representatives from the districts of Vushtrri, Podujevo, Mitrovica did not participate due to the difficult situation, but the professor had informed them in time about the tasks and organization of the work of the gathering.

Representatives from Ferizaj, Gjilan, and Kaçanik for objective reasons, and they were objective, had not presented themselves at the meeting. The Dobërdol Assembly, according to the testimonies we have, lasted two days. During the entire work of the assembly, on the hill above Lluga near Dardha e Madhe as they called it […]

Footnotes:

95 Branisllav Bozhoviq, Milorad Vaviq, Harsh Times in Kosovo and Metohija, Belgrade 1991, p. 539

96 Imbid, p. 540.”

Source

Sabile Keçmezi – Basha “Assembly of Dobërdol”.