Written by: Bedri TAHIRI
Vesel Rexhep Haxha-Galica, patriot, warrior and prominent intellectual (2).
The bravery of the soldiers depends on the wisdom of the leader.
The years passed like a needle’s eye and the Albanian Ethnic Territories languished and suffered under the heavy weight of slavery. The weapons of freedom did not stop yawning. Every day there were wars and battles, heroism and sacrifice, endurance and survival.
The Kingdom of the Albanians, no longer able to cope with force, returned to the habits of their ancestors, deceit, deceit, cunning, treachery. Through negotiations, they also reached an agreement with the commander-in-chief Azem Bejte Galica. The formation of the Free Zone in Drenica, named Arbëria e Vogël, with its center in Galica, served as a time-buying opportunity for the white-bearded Pashiq to better prepare for a new and more powerful attack. This “trust” would be broken very soon.
On the day of Eid al-Fitr, Azem was warned that things were not going well, so he should not go to the Polac mosque. However, three of his friends: Shak Radisheva, Ramadan Dërvari and Isa Kushutani of Qubreli decide to go to celebrate Eid. Just then, on the way, rifles crack from a tower of the khans and they kill Shaku (in Azem’s clothes) and Ramadan. That day, Eid was not celebrated at all.
According to Vesel Galica’s notes, that night Azem Galica was very upset. He had invited the fighters of the three villages: Galicë, Lubovec and Mikushnicë to his tower and had told them: “Friends and brothers, our brothers have been killed. The trust we had made has been broken. I know that this is how it is. And now what are we doing?! Are we going out to Albania, or are we staying where we are?
Azem rested a little and waited for the words and thoughts of his comrades. The first to speak was Halit Bajrami and gave his opinion that we should stay here. The others agreed with him and it was decided that we should stay in our lands.
Three weeks before the siege of Arbëria e Vogël , Vesel Galica had twice contacted Shaqë Abrashi-Gjakova, a well-known tailor in Mitrovica, who had connections with both the government and the fighters. He had sent word to Azem Galica to leave Galica as soon as possible, because major preparations were being made for its siege. Veli Ashlani had also brought him the same news.
Even Commander Stanku himself, of the station in Prelloc, had indirectly warned him, mentioning some military exercises, but in vain. The fearless captain had made up his mind to stay in the Tower of Resistance, the heroic Tower, which the people had voluntarily erected for him for three weeks.
And, on July 15, 1924, the Hatay took place. Before dawn, the first rifles were fired. Large military and gendarmerie forces; over 1200 people, with 7 large cannons and various weapons, had surrounded Arbërija e Vogël. The first bullets were fired in the direction of Hasan Lahu, who had been sleeping in the threshing floor, guarding the pile of harvested barley. Immediately, the war broke out.
As the rifles were fired, Veseli grabbed his weapons and, together with Zymer, stormed the corn fields. He left Baba Rexhep and Mixha Hazir with their families. There, they had met two Serbian soldiers and exchanged bullets, one after the other. One of them fell heartless and the other fled. Zymer was also wounded and could not take the Serbian soldier’s rifle nor could he continue further. He was left alone.
Fortunately, that year the summer was quite fertile. The corn, beans and pumpkins had turned into grapes and presented a great obstacle for the heartless villains. The screams of women, children and old men shot at Ftojte e Tahiri , right in the center of Galica, left deep scars in his soul.
Thus, slowly, he had approached the commander’s tower. A Serbian officer, in white clothes and black boots, commanded with a whip in his hand. The courtyard of the tower was full of soldiers. Azem Galica had flown towards Mount Gamna. A little later, some of the captured prisoners were brought there. He had recognized and recognized Sadri Mikushnica, who seized the rifle from a soldier, but the others rushed at him and stabbed him to death.
The Serbian criminal commander, extremely angry that they failed to capture Azem Galica, gave the order to enter the village and raze everything to the ground.
After a while, Veseli also took the same route as everyone else, towards Qyqavica. Before crossing Baltaku, he encountered a group of gendarmes, who fired a volley of bullets at him, but none of them caught him. Upon entering the mountain, he came across the lifeless body of Qerim, the son of Shaban Tahiri.
Upon leaving Mikushnica, he encountered other soldiers who, fortunately, out of fear and panic, had become confused with their comrades, who had scattered across the mountain and who almost killed each other. He remained there until evening, when he heard the Serbian scoundrel calling for a retreat.
Once, when nothing was heard, he came out of the mountain and headed towards Galica, which was on fire. The main road was blocked by burnt fences. In the center of the village he met Zymer, Brahim and his father, Rexhepi. Aunt Hamide was also there, seriously wounded, a cannonball had severed her leg. They had laid her down and covered her with a blanket. Her son Sherif had been killed before her eyes, and she had even been injured herself while trying to save him. He knew nothing about his other son, Mehmet.
– Oh Vesel, you fool, do you know anything about my sons? – he had replied.
– Yes, they killed Sherif and took Mehmet to prison, – he replied, just as the elders had taught him before.
Then his father, Rexhepi, told him that in Galica almost no one had escaped alive. About forty corpses had been gathered at the tower of the commander and some kind of government or state commission was expected to register them as traitors and comrades-in-arms of Azem Bey Galica.
Aunt Hamide was sent to the Velija prison and died a little later. She had also gone there from the tower and had seen most of the killed, who later, the men of the surrounding villages, mostly from Prekazi, buried them in four common graves.
At Kroni i Hajdukut he had met Azem Galica, who was lying on a cot made of hazelnut birch. He had spread two quilts and covered himself with one. In his lap he had his shirt, bloody and pierced in two places. Two large holes, one as deep as the pleats. He did not feel the first wound on his chest very much, because they were pulling out wicks of waxed rags.
The other wound in the middle was as deep as his fist and unbearable. Next to his head stood the heroine Shota. There were also the other two women, Zoja (pregnant) and Hata, they were his wounded comrades, there were also many women, old people and children who had fled and were terrified by the flames of war.
“Azem, when he goes to Qafë i Mikushnica, is wounded for the second time. The bullet hits him in the right breast and goes behind his arm. The brave man forgot himself when he saw his best fighter, Bajram Tërnafci, killed. This boy’s longing was so painful that, when someone asked him where we were taking Azem, he replied: We are going where there are the most enemies so that we can kill as many as possible!
“Come on Vesel,” Azem once told me, he later recalled, “and tell me in order who was killed and who was tortured!
” Nisa was telling him one by one, name by name. My mouth was watering and I could barely speak from that barbarity. When I got halfway through, he burst into tears and let out a sigh that touched all of us to the heart: “Ah, poor me, my brothers! For the first time in his entire life, we saw tears on his face. However, after a while, he came to his senses and laughed out loud, which surprised us all and made us laugh: “Don’t worry, I’ve killed a lot of Serbs too and I’ve taken revenge on them all!”
That night, after he regained consciousness, he sent me to Krasmirofc to beg a doctor to remove the bullet casings that were still in his body. However, he could not bear the pain any longer. “Let us say that when we get to Albania, there will be a doctor there and maybe they will cure me.”
After seven days, there were about thirty healthy warriors, Mehmet Konjuhi* , whom he considered the bravest of the brave, arrived, and they set off for Albania. They reached Gjurgjevik i Madh, at the tower of Sadik Rama.
He and his wars were immortalized by the renowned singer and lute player Dervish Goxhuli.
So, as can be seen, the assessments and comments were different. Numerous manipulations were made, especially with the number of those killed. Serbian organs from Mitrovica sent alarming figures. They said that that day in Galicë and in two other villages, 190 Kaçaks were killed. Ferat Draga reacted to them, writing that that day 19 Kaçaks were killed, while the rest were unprotected civilians.
Interested in learning the truth, we went out into the field and from conversations with living witnesses we drew these conclusions: On July 15, 1924, 100 houses were burned in the territory of Lesser Arbëria , 28 were seriously injured, and 82 people were killed. The news of those days, published in the newspaper “Hak”, is also similar to this .
So, the epilogue of those killed and wounded that day is as follows:
In Galicia: those killed:
1. Bahtir Beka,
2. Hasan Lahu,
3. Ismail Lahu,
4. Mursel Ferizi,
5. Sylë Sahiti,
6. Selman Ademi,
7. Sadri Ahmeti,
8. Sinan Ahmeti,
9. Ferat Hyseni,
10. Sherif Rrahmani,
11. Mehmet Rrahmani,
12. Hamide Rrahmani,
13. Osman Mehmeti,
14. Hajdin Osmani,
15. Rrustem Behrami,
16. Jashar Behrami,
17. Veli Halili,
18. Avdi Halili, 19.
Shaban Tahiri,
20. Qerim Shabani,
21. Kamer Xhema,
22. Sylë Idrizi,
23. Hazir Fetahu,
24. Sinan Ujkani,
25. Nezir Beqiri,
26. Zahide Beqiri,
27. Beqir Beqiri,
28. Hys Popova- Popovë,
29. Bajram Delia- Tërnavc,
30. Sinan Açareva-guest,
31. Isa Shabani- Rashan,
32. Abaz Bajrami- rom,
33. Shak Basjrami- rom,
34. Ibrahim Bajrami- rom and
35. Man Bajrami- rom.
The injured:
1. Rexhep Dauti,
2. Xhemail Lahu,
3. Ahmet Hajra,
4. Abdulla Zena,
5. Hamzë Zena,
6. Hashim Bahtiri,
7. Halit Syla,
8. Rushit Syla,
9. Riza Valia,
10. Murat Velia,
11. Zymber Salihu,
12. Rrustem Hamza-Hodiqi from Klina,
13. Brahim Ferizi and
14. Hajrush Ahmeti.
In Lubovec: those killed:
1. Halit Bajrami,
2. Murat Bajrami,
3. Asllan Bajrami,
4. Bajrush Bajrami,
5. Salih Xhemaili,
6. Sadik Rama,
7. Qerim Shashi,
8. Zyhr Miftari,
9. Behram Delia,
10. Cek Ismaili,
11. Xheladin Veliu,
12. Tafil Jetullahu,
13. Zenun Sherifi,
14. Maksut Islami,
15. Tahir Islami,
16. Islam Neziri,
17. Demë Beqiri,
18. Zeqë Beqiri,
19. Idriz Isufi,
20. Shaban Ademi,
21. Kurt Osmani,
22. Mustafa Abazi,
23. Selman Beqiri,
24. Bajram Koshtova – guest.
The injured:
1. Bahtir Osmani,
2. Istref Kadriu,
3. Emin Hasani and
4. Avdulla Kadriu.
In Mikushnica: those killed:
1. Ismail Manxholli,
2. Ahmet Manxholli,
3. Mehmet Manxholli,
4. Jashar Behrami,
5. Ali Behrami,
6. Halil Behrami,
7. Sadik Behrami,
8. Hafie Avdiu (5 years old),
9. Bahtie Avdiu,
10. Rexhep Hyseni,
11. Cenë Muharremi,
12. Sadik Salihu.
13. Ujkan Mehmeti,
14. Mehmet Alia,
15. Munish Ademi,
16. Bajram Sahiti- grandson from Baica,
17. Ajete Sadriu,
18. Hasime Musliu,
19. Bajram Barja,
20. Hajzer Barja,
21. Sadik Rrahmani,
22. Sadri Zeneli,
23. Salih Fazliu.
The injured:
1. Bajrma Avdiu,
2. Milazim Sejdiu,
3. Shaqir Oamani,
4. Ukë Ramadani,
5. Hanife Avdiu,
6. Shesivar Ademi,
7. Ahmet Salihu and
8. Istref Avdiu.
Again with a gun in hand
Great courage replaces great knowledge.
(Grasian)
During the years 1941-44, numerous Chetnik bands operated around Kosovo. The Chetnik Ibri division operated near Mitrovica, under the command of Žika Marković. On November 15, 1941, they tried to penetrate Albanian lands. However, our people had already formed large groups of volunteer fighters and opposed the evil. They, led by the tribune Shaban Palluzha, managed to drive the wild hordes all the way to Rashka.
In fact, three days after Germany and Italy attacked monarchist Yugoslavia, on April 9, 1941, the Paria and the well-known intellectuals of Drenica and other Albanian regions, sensing the danger that these rampant bands threatened them, called the Pallužha Assembly, which was held in the three-story tower of Shaban Palluzha. The Assembly was attended by 112 delegates, who made important decisions. There, the Combat Headquarters was also formed, headed by Shaban Palluzha, which had the following composition:
1. Miftar Bajrakatari from Llausha,
2. Azem Aruçi from Makërmali,
3. Ferat Draga from Mitrovica (in absence),
4. Sadik Lutani from Turiqvci,
5. Halil Haxhia from Tërnavci,
6. Zukë Xani from Polac,
7. Jetullah Rezalla from Rezalla,
8. Isë Zymeri from Prekazi,
9. Mulla Iliazi from Vitak,
10. Mulla Ibrahimi from Polac,
11. Sadik Zeneli from Abria,
12. Bajram Dërguti from Drenas,
13. Rexhep Vojvoda from Llausha,
14. Qazim Bajraktari from Astrazubi,
15. Colë Bajraktari from Burimi,
16. Hysen Bajraktari from Plluzhina,
17. Ahmet Selaci from Selaci,
18. Hazir Gjaka from Ashlani,
19. Fejzullah Saraçi from Bivolak,
20. Feriz Boja from Kërnina,
21. Shaban Gashi from Mitrovica and
22. Bajram Zuka from Likoshani.
To make things go even better, Regional Headquarters were also formed. Thus, Headquarters number 5, for Galica, Ashlan and Dubovc had this command structure: Ahmat Galica, Hazir Gjaka, Sefer Dubovci, under the leadership of Rifat Galica,
Shaban Palluzhë’s speech in Duga-Pollana, near the New Bazaar, was passionate and courageous: “Brothers, we have gathered to carry out a sacred mission, to protect families endangered by the wild Chetnik beasts, who are wreaking severe terror on the innocent population of Sanjak.
Therefore, we must not even spare lives, but we must fight with honor as befits an ancient people who knew how to fight whenever they found themselves in danger and defenseless. So, let’s protect children and women, in the name of humanity.”
Even in this period, Galica was the leader. Its men, among the first, took up the weapons of freedom and became masters of the homeland. They, under the leadership of Ahmat and Rifat Galica, showed true heroism in the first battle, when they went to the aid of the Artakolls to repel the Chetniks.
Let us not forget that Artakoll had been saved by Mehmet Gradica* and Shaban Palluzha with the brave men of Drenica. When the warriors of Artakoll, led by Fejzullah Saraçi and Sadri Klinaku, asked for help in Drenica, the first to go there were the brave men of the “SHQIPONJA” military unit, under the command of Zukë Xani and Rifat Galica…
“Within the framework of the “SHQIPONJA” military unit, which numbers 1,000 fighters, 5 elite units-battalions are currently being formed:
1. Battalion I- commander Halil Bajraktari from Llausha,
2. Battalion II- commander Isa Zymberi from Prekazi,
3. Battalion III- commander Zukë Xani from Palaci,
4. Battalion IV- commander Rifat Galica from Galica and
5. Battalion V- commander Istref Tema from Dobrasheci.
On that day, April 10, 1941, the two Galica brothers had fought so hard that the Chetniks were terrified and most of them were drowned in Silnica. Their uncle, the brave Mehmet Gradica, could not bear it without saying in front of all his nephews: Good luck with the rifle, oh Ahmat and Rifat Galica.
As soon as the Germans entered Kosovo, the Albanians organized themselves and began to establish their own ruling administration. Thus, this work first began in Drenica, on April 15, 1941, when the gendarmerie station in Prellofc, led by Krsta Qollakoviqi, was attacked. “Before the attack began, the Drenica Combat Headquarters, headed by Shaban Palluzha, had drawn up a detailed operational plan for the war as follows:
a) military units, under the command of Rifat Galica, Sefer Shaban and Ahmat Galica, to line up on the front north of the gendarmerie station in Prellovc;
b) military units, under the command of Zukë Xani and Ajet Rexhepi, to position themselves on the right flank of Rifat Galica’s military forces;
c) combat units, under the command of Nurë Mehmeti, Ramadan Sejdije, Rexhep Shaban and Riza Krasaliqi, to line up in front of the gendarmerie station and other facilities where the enemy forces were fortified and to attack from this position. The attack was successful, killing twenty-three Serbian gendarmes and several armed settlers. From our side, Dan Prellofci (Ramadan Sejdiu) was killed and Ahmat was wounded. Galicia
The Galicas continued even further. Groups went to the wars of Kolashin, Sanjak, New Bazaar and even to Rashka. For a long time they stayed in the village of Çifllak. There they distinguished themselves as fighters:
1. Ahmat Galica,
2. Rifat Galica,
3. Vesel Haxha-Galica,
4. Halit Syla,
5. Hasan Sinani,
6. Zenel Neziri,
7. Tahir Shabani,
8. Hajrullah Haziri,
9. Jahush Haxha,
10. Zenel Haxha,
11. Milazim Osmani,
12. Tafil Islami,
13. Vesel Ferizi,
14. Vesel Ujkani,
15. Sahit Syla,
16. Hashim Bahtiri,
17. Ukshin Halili,
18. Halil Alia,
19. Hajriz Syla,
20. Brahim Ferizi,
21. Murat Velia,
22. Hamzë Zena,
23. Ajet Kamberi, etc.
Among them, Halit Syla fell a martyr there.
The bloodiest, but also the most important battle was fought by the Galicas to take the monastery of Gjorgevi Stube. Ah, what a war that was! No one thought of advancing towards that cursed hill, which was defended with head and soul. The fate of the New Bazaar depended on it, so it was guarded and reinforced. The brave men of Galica, with few bullets, but with granite hearts, and led by the fearless and brave strategist, Ahmat Galica, succeeded.
– Long live the brave men of Galica, for you are always a hero and you will always be a hero! – Shaban Palluzha had told them, when they agreed to take that front line.
Indeed, it was difficult. Before crossing the hill, where the barbarians were positioned, they had to cross a field, which was plowed by the shells of the Chetniks. When Ahmat reached the hill, in a stone-encircled area, there was still a Chetnik leader standing, who had carved the sentence on the machine gun mount: I give my life and I will not surrender! Ahmat jumped on him and cut off his head (he brought it to the city and everyone was terrified), but he himself was wounded. The locals cried with joy and hugged the rescuers longingly.
“Among the fighters of Drenica, Ahmat and Rifat Galica showed great heroism. The moment when the ammunition was distributed is never forgotten. Rifat Galica was told that you do not have ammunition, you must ask for it through the Bajraktar of Shtutica. He got nervous and took it without asking, saying: “I am not a bajraktar, but I am the nephew of Azem Galica and no one can step on my foot. And so it happened, with his brave men he took the monastery of St. George Stuben, the most important point.
In all these successful actions, which, if the German forces had not prevented them, would have reached Raška, the fighter Vesel Haxha-Galica also participated and distinguished himself. In fact, the leadership of the Chetnik gangs, when they were narrowed by the severe attacks of the Albanian volunteers and could not hold the New Bazaar, deceived the Germans, telling them that the partisans had penetrated there.
However, this did not last long, because the truth was soon understood.
“The resistance and the fight for the defense of the New Bazaar under the command of Aqif Blyta, assisted by the Kosovo volunteer forces and units of the Albanian Army, lasted about five weeks and ended with the defeat of the Chetnik forces. Thus, the New Bazaar and most of Sanjak remained within the framework of the Albanian state. “
Vesel Haxha’s heroism was unparalleled. As a skilled advisor and strategist, he shone in assemblies and on battlefields. It was late autumn 1941. The battles on the hills of Tregu i Ri against Drazha Mihajlovic’s Chetniks had become very fierce. The enemies had been reinforced so much that the Albanians, who were holding on to their souls with only plums, had to be shaken from their positions. Everyone had left in time, except for Ahmet Selaci and his brave men, who had remained uninformed. Vesel Galica had investigated this.
And, as persistent as he was, together with his loyal Galicas, he turned back and, risking his life, managed to penetrate and get the men from Šalja out of the area. Later, Ahmet Selaci, even publicly, had thanked the Galicas, especially Vesel Galica, several times for this unparalleled act of heroism.
Article
https://www.epokaere.com/2020/05/03/pjesemarres-ne-betejen-e-galices-1924/
