Battle of Gjorm
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Gjorm was a battle of the Albanian Resistance of World War II against the Kingdom of Italy. The battle took place on January 1–2, 1943, in the areas of Gjorm
, Vranisht, Dukat
, Tragjas
and Tërbaç
in south-western Albania in the region of Mallakastër
.
by the Kingdom of Italy
in 1939, several resistance groups were formed. The most important of these groups were Balli Kombëtar
, a nationalist organization formed by Mit'hat Frashëri and Ali Këlcyra
and the Albanian National Liberation Front
, which later became a communist group led by Mehmet Shehu
and Enver Hoxha
.
Dukat
and Gjorm
became two of the centers of Balli Kombëtar, whose forces in the region were led by Hysni Lepenica, a military commander, and Skënder Muço
, a prominent lawyer from Tragjas
. Mehmet Shehu, a commander of the Albanian National Liberation Front, created a partisan unit in the wider region of Mallakastër.
Beginning in mid-1942, there were frequent minor attacks against the Italian troops located in the area. In November 1942, these attacks intensified. The commander of the heavily armed Italian troops in the area, which initially numbered 2,000, was Colonel Franco Clementi.
s as well as field guns and many machine guns.
The battle ended with the decisive defeat of the Italians, who were completely routed from the battlefield, which came under Albanian control. A total of 186 Italian soldiers and officers were killed, including the commander of the Italian troops, Colonel Clementi, while hundreds were wounded and 80 were taken prisoner. Two Italian tanks were destroyed, while military equipment captured by the Albanians included three field guns, twenty-nine machine guns, large quantities of ammunition, and hundreds of rifles.
, Gjorm was also mortared until it was completely ruined.
A 1981 painting by Fatmir Haxhiu
, entitled Gjorm War , commemorates the Battle of Gjorm. The painting is on display in the National Historical Museum of Albania
.
Gjorm
Gjorm is a village in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. It is part of the municipality Brataj.- World War II :During World War II Gjorm was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy....
, Vranisht, Dukat
Dukat, Albania
Dukat is a community of the Vlorë District Vlorë County, southern Albania.- World War II :During World War II Dukat was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy....
, Tragjas
Tragjas
Tragjas is a community in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania.-World War II:During World War II Tragjas was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy....
and Tërbaç
Tërbaç
-World War II:During World War II Tërbaç was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy.Tërbaç is a community in the Vlorë District, southwestern Albania....
in south-western Albania in the region of Mallakastër
Mallakastër
Mallakastër is a massive hilly complex in the Mallakastër District, southwestern Albania. Its highest point is the hill Shëndëlli . is The people from this region are called Mallakastriotë. They do not speak a different dialect from other regions in southern Albania, but they do have some small...
.
Prelude
After the occupation of the Kingdom of AlbaniaKingdom of Albania
The Kingdom of Albania, or Regnum Albaniae, was established by Charles of Anjou in the Albanian territory he conquered from the Despotate of Epirus in 1271. He took the title of "King of Albania" in February 1272. The kingdom extended from the region of Durrës south along the coast to Butrint...
by the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
in 1939, several resistance groups were formed. The most important of these groups were Balli Kombëtar
Balli Kombëtar
Balli Kombëtar was an Albanian nationalist, anti-communist and anti-monarchy organization established in October 1939. It was led by Ali Këlcyra and Mit’hat Frashëri...
, a nationalist organization formed by Mit'hat Frashëri and Ali Këlcyra
Ali Këlcyra
Ali Këlcyra was an Albanian lord , a member of the Albanian parliament in the '20s co-founder with Mit’hat Frashëri of the Balli Kombëtar organization in 1942, and the cosigner of the Dalmazzo-Këlcyra agreement.-Early life:...
and the Albanian National Liberation Front
Albanian National Liberation Front
The National Liberation Movement , also translated as National Liberation Front, was an Albanian resistance organization that fought in World War II. It was created in 16 September 1942, in a conference held in Pezë, a village near Tirana...
, which later became a communist group led by Mehmet Shehu
Mehmet Shehu
Mehmet Ismail Shehu was an Albanian communist politician who served as premier of Albania from 1954 to 1981...
and Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
.
Dukat
Dukat, Albania
Dukat is a community of the Vlorë District Vlorë County, southern Albania.- World War II :During World War II Dukat was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy....
and Gjorm
Gjorm
Gjorm is a village in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania. It is part of the municipality Brataj.- World War II :During World War II Gjorm was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy....
became two of the centers of Balli Kombëtar, whose forces in the region were led by Hysni Lepenica, a military commander, and Skënder Muço
Skënder Muço
Skënder Muço was an Albanian lawyer and leader of Balli Kombëtar, one of the most important resistance organizations in Albania during World War II. Along with Musine Kokalari Muço founded the first social democratic party of Albania in 1943...
, a prominent lawyer from Tragjas
Tragjas
Tragjas is a community in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania.-World War II:During World War II Tragjas was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy....
. Mehmet Shehu, a commander of the Albanian National Liberation Front, created a partisan unit in the wider region of Mallakastër.
Beginning in mid-1942, there were frequent minor attacks against the Italian troops located in the area. In November 1942, these attacks intensified. The commander of the heavily armed Italian troops in the area, which initially numbered 2,000, was Colonel Franco Clementi.
Battle
The main battle, which lasted thirty-six hours, took place on January 1–2, 1943. The Albanian units were supported during the battle by 300 local volunteers. During the battle, the Italian army used tankTank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s as well as field guns and many machine guns.
The battle ended with the decisive defeat of the Italians, who were completely routed from the battlefield, which came under Albanian control. A total of 186 Italian soldiers and officers were killed, including the commander of the Italian troops, Colonel Clementi, while hundreds were wounded and 80 were taken prisoner. Two Italian tanks were destroyed, while military equipment captured by the Albanians included three field guns, twenty-nine machine guns, large quantities of ammunition, and hundreds of rifles.
Aftermath
After being defeated and routed from the battlefield, the Italian army engaged in reprisals against the civilians of the five villages of Dukat, Gjorm, Trëbaç, Tragjas, and Vranisht. The Italian air force bombed the villages. During these attacks, there were many civilian victims including the mayor of Dukat, Shukri Cane. As a consequence of another punitive expeditionPunitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
, Gjorm was also mortared until it was completely ruined.
A 1981 painting by Fatmir Haxhiu
Fatmir Haxhiu
Fatmir Haxhiu was an Albanian painter of the 20th century. Recipient of the People's Painter of Albania award, he belonged to the realist art stream.-References:...
, entitled Gjorm War , commemorates the Battle of Gjorm. The painting is on display in the National Historical Museum of Albania
National Historical Museum (Albania)
The National Historical Museum in Tirana, Albania, is the country's largest museum. It was opened on 28 October 1981 and is 27,000 square metres in size, while 18,000 square metres are available for expositions. The museum was designed by Albanian architect, Enver Faja.The construction of the...
.