Ndok Gjeloshi

Ndok Gjeloshi
Born15 November 1893
Mekshaj, Shala, Sanjak of Scutari, Ottoman Empire (modern day Albania)
Died11 April 1943(1943-04-11) (aged 49)
Tirana, Albanian Kingdom
Cause of deathAssassination by Myslim Keta, an Albanian partisan
AllegiancePrincipality of Albania
Battles / warsJune Revolution
World War II

Ndok Gjeloshi (15 November 1893 – 11 April 1943)[1] was an Albanian army officer and Militia commander during World War II.

Life

Gjeloshi was born in Mekshaj, Shalë municipality of Dukagjin region in North Albania, on the 15th of November 1893, then it was the Sanjak of Scutari, Ottoman Empire, today modern Albania. His family were a part of the Shala tribe. He studied in the Franciscan College in Shkodër, and after that finished the Military Academy of Modena.

Gjeloshi supported Prince Wied during his short reign of the Principality of Albania, and like many other pro-Wied nationalists he was a member of the short-lived "Albanian Nationalist Party" (Albanian: Partia Nacionaliste Shqiptare).

Supporter of Fan Noli's political ideas, he was an active participant of the June Revolution, and was promoted "Captain" of the border guard. After Ahmet Zogu's return from Yugoslavia, he fled the country and went in exile.

In 1926, together with Loro Caka, a Catholic priest, Gjeloshi organized a rebellion in Dukagjin. The rebellion could not spread in nearby regions; it remained isolated and was quelled by Zogist forces. Gjeoloshi fled again. He joined the Albanian political émigré in Vienna, Austria and became member of the "National Union" (Albanian: Bashkimi Kombëtar), an organization of anti-Zog activists in exile, which was formed in 1925 in Vienna with the initiative of Ali Kelcyra, Angjelin Suma, Xhemal Bushati, and Sejfi Vllamasi.[2]

Zog's assassination attempt

Further information: Zog I of Albania § Assassination attempts

In 1931, he was arrested along with Aziz Çami for an assassination attempt against King Zog I. According to Gjeloshi's memories, he studied the scene very carefully before the assassination attempt.[3] His memories contrast with the official version which stated that Zog fired back and Llesh Topallaj (killed by Gjeloshi) hurried to cover Zog with his body.

He was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months by the court, together with Çami (2 years and 6 months). Other organizers, including Qazim Mulleti, Mustafa Merlika-Kruja, Rexhep Mitrovica, Angjelin Suma, Sejfi Vllamasi, etc., were released soon after their arrest. They were expelled from Austria and most subsequently moved to Paris. Gjeloshi would remain in Prague after his release.[2]

Return to Albania

Further information: Albanian Kingdom (1939–43)

Gjeloshi returned to Albania after King Zog's exile during the Italian invasion of Albania. Because of his nationalistic ideas, considering that Kosovo and other regions joined the new Albanian state, he joined the local militia with the rank of Major. He was assassinated in Spring 1943 by a communist activist, Myslym Keta, in one of the main streets of Tirana.

References

  1. ^ Elsie, Robert (2013). Robert Elsie. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 170. ISBN 9781780764313.
  2. ^ a b Sejfi Vllamasi (2000), "IX", in Marenglen Verli (ed.), Ballafaqime politike në Shqipëri (1897-1942): kujtime dhe vlerësime historike, Shtëpia Botuese "Neraida", ISBN 9992771313, archived from the original on 2014-02-20, Një kryengritje e papregatitur dhe e paorganizuar, që u bë në Malësitë e Dukagjinit më 1926, me udhëheqjen e dom Loro Cakës e të toger Ndok Gjeloshit, e cila dështoi, e hodhi Zogun përfundimisht në prehër të Italisë. Me Traktatin e 1926-ës e më vonë me atë të 1927, Italisë iu dha e drejta e ndërhyrjes së armatosur në rast të një revolucioni kundër regjimit të Zogut.
    Me gjithë këto fakte, hetuesia më 28 prill 1931 vendosi për ndalim gjyqi dhe na liroi, kurse në muajin korrik, liroi me po atë mënyrë Angjelin Sumën dhe Qazim Mulletin. Por, ndërkohë, policia na dëboi nga Vjena, me kusht që të mos kemi të drejtë edhe një herë të hyjmë në Austri.
    Për atë arësye, qeveria e Vjenës, për t'i bërë një kompliment Italisë, vendosi ta bëjë gjyqin në një vend të vogël, ku populli ka qënë katolik fetar, pasues i Partisë Popullore; nga ana tjetër, për t'u bërë qejfin emigrantëve politikë, neve na liroi, me ndalim gjyqi, Gjyqi Ndok Gjeloshin e dënoi me tre vjet e gjysmë privim lirie dhe Azis Çamin me dy vjet e gjysmë.
    Në Paris erdhi edhe Hasan Prishtina, Nikoll Ivanaj, Qazim Mulleti, Frano Karma dhe më vonë, pas lirimit të tyre, erdhi edhe Azis Çami. Ndok Gjeloshi me don Loro Cakën, mbetën në Pragë.
  3. ^ Milani, Prelë. "Ja atentatet kundër Mbretit Zog". Fjala e Lire (in Albanian). Retrieved 2 September 2010.