Mefail Shehu
Encyclopedia
Mefail Shehu was known as Mefail i madhe and Mefail Zajazi. A Balli Kombetar
military commander and leader of the Kicevo
region. Was a close associate of Xhem Hasa
.
. He was most likely to have been born in the early 20th century, just before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
. His ideology of Albanian nationalism
was formed during his adolescence. As a child, Shehu witnessed the terror of the Serbian royalists under King Alexander
where 11 Albanian populated villages in the east of Kicevo
were razed.
and in 1939 formed his own militia
to fight against the fascists. On the 19th of April, 1941, Kicevo
was occupied by German
forces. On the 22nd of June, 1941, Kicevo
became apart of the new Albanian state under Germany. At this time, Mit’hat Frashëri published the Balli Kombetar
program around the new Albanian state. The Balli Kombetar ideology greatly appealed to Shehu. Shehu formed the Balli Kombetar
in Kicevo
and held many demonstrations to rally support. The people of Kicevo
supported the Balli Kombetar
over the communists.
The Balli Kombetar committee held a meeting in Zajas
in 1942. Representatives of the Albanian
tribes that attended the meeting elected Shehu as military commander of the region. Shehu transformed the bands of millitia into a proper army. Shehu's battalion patrolled villages around Zajas
while commander Mefail Mehmeti(Mefail i Vogel) and his battalion patrolled from Greshnica to Kicevo
. Shehu's third elected commander, Begzat Vuli operated from Kicevo
to Berikove. At that period, the Ballists successfully repelled the Yugoslav partisans. Shehu not only fought in Zajas but also in Skopje
, Gostivar
and Debar
. While fighting away from Zajas
, Shehu became associated with Xhem Hasa
.
In October 1943, a general assembly was called in Zajas
. It was decided that the chairman of the committee of the Balli Kombetar
will be Mefail Shehu, along with Mefail Mehmeti as vice chairman, Begzat Vuli as treasurer and Skender Presevo as under prefect.
As the Albanian partisans and Yugoslav partisans were on the rise and the Germans
reducing its aid to the Balli Kombetar
, Shehu was gradually losing his territory to the partisans.
"The way of communism is wrong. Those who embrace communism are fools."
In a meeting with Albanian partisans in 1939:
"You are very young and naive. Your cause doesn't help Albania. Unless you love Albania, it is better to stay home."
After The Albanian partisans allied with the Yugoslav partisans and broke the peace agreement with the Balli Kombetar
:
"In brotherhood with Slavs, we curse of innocent blood being shed. Our path is ethnic Albania, no other way"
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...
military commander and leader of the Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
region. Was a close associate of Xhem Hasa
Xhem Hasa
Xhemail Hasani , aka Xhemë "Xhemo" Hasa–Gostivari, was in charge of the Balli Kombëtar activities in western Macedonia.-Early life:...
.
History
Mefail Shehu was born in ZajasZajas
Zajas is a village located in the Republic of Macedonia. According to the census of 2002 it has 11,605 inhabitants. Zajas is a seat of the Zajas municipality. Zajas is well known as the birthplace of the National Front fighters Mefail Shehu, Mefail Mehmeti and Begzat Vuli...
. He was most likely to have been born in the early 20th century, just before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. His ideology of Albanian nationalism
Albanian nationalism
Albanian nationalism is a general grouping of nationalist ideas and concepts among ethnic Albanians that were first formed in the beginning of 19th century in what was called the Albanian National Awakening...
was formed during his adolescence. As a child, Shehu witnessed the terror of the Serbian royalists under King Alexander
Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Alexander I , also known as Alexander the Unifier was the first king of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia as well as the last king of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes .-Childhood:...
where 11 Albanian populated villages in the east of Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
were razed.
1939 and onwards
Shehu was against the Italian occupationAlbania under Italy
The Albanian Kingdom existed as a protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy. It was practically a union between Italy and Albania, officially led by Italy's King Victor Emmanuel III and its government: Albania was led by Italian governors, after being militarily occupied by Italy, from 1939 until 1943...
and in 1939 formed his own militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
to fight against the fascists. On the 19th of April, 1941, Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
was occupied by German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
forces. On the 22nd of June, 1941, Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
became apart of the new Albanian state under Germany. At this time, Mit’hat Frashëri published the Balli Kombetar
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...
program around the new Albanian state. The Balli Kombetar ideology greatly appealed to Shehu. Shehu formed the Balli Kombetar
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...
in Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
and held many demonstrations to rally support. The people of Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
supported the Balli Kombetar
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...
over the communists.
The Balli Kombetar committee held a meeting in Zajas
Zajas
Zajas is a village located in the Republic of Macedonia. According to the census of 2002 it has 11,605 inhabitants. Zajas is a seat of the Zajas municipality. Zajas is well known as the birthplace of the National Front fighters Mefail Shehu, Mefail Mehmeti and Begzat Vuli...
in 1942. Representatives of the Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
tribes that attended the meeting elected Shehu as military commander of the region. Shehu transformed the bands of millitia into a proper army. Shehu's battalion patrolled villages around Zajas
Zajas
Zajas is a village located in the Republic of Macedonia. According to the census of 2002 it has 11,605 inhabitants. Zajas is a seat of the Zajas municipality. Zajas is well known as the birthplace of the National Front fighters Mefail Shehu, Mefail Mehmeti and Begzat Vuli...
while commander Mefail Mehmeti(Mefail i Vogel) and his battalion patrolled from Greshnica to Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
. Shehu's third elected commander, Begzat Vuli operated from Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
to Berikove. At that period, the Ballists successfully repelled the Yugoslav partisans. Shehu not only fought in Zajas but also in Skopje
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, Gostivar
Gostivar
Gostivar , is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042, and the town also covers . Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as...
and Debar
Debar
Debar is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the border with Albania, on the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality.-Geography:...
. While fighting away from Zajas
Zajas
Zajas is a village located in the Republic of Macedonia. According to the census of 2002 it has 11,605 inhabitants. Zajas is a seat of the Zajas municipality. Zajas is well known as the birthplace of the National Front fighters Mefail Shehu, Mefail Mehmeti and Begzat Vuli...
, Shehu became associated with Xhem Hasa
Xhem Hasa
Xhemail Hasani , aka Xhemë "Xhemo" Hasa–Gostivari, was in charge of the Balli Kombëtar activities in western Macedonia.-Early life:...
.
In October 1943, a general assembly was called in Zajas
Zajas
Zajas is a village located in the Republic of Macedonia. According to the census of 2002 it has 11,605 inhabitants. Zajas is a seat of the Zajas municipality. Zajas is well known as the birthplace of the National Front fighters Mefail Shehu, Mefail Mehmeti and Begzat Vuli...
. It was decided that the chairman of the committee of the Balli Kombetar
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...
will be Mefail Shehu, along with Mefail Mehmeti as vice chairman, Begzat Vuli as treasurer and Skender Presevo as under prefect.
As the Albanian partisans and Yugoslav partisans were on the rise and the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
reducing its aid to the Balli Kombetar
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...
, Shehu was gradually losing his territory to the partisans.
Death
In November 1945, Mefail Shehu was killed in an ambush with his remaining soldiers by the partisans.Quotes
Shehu's view on Communism:"The way of communism is wrong. Those who embrace communism are fools."
In a meeting with Albanian partisans in 1939:
"You are very young and naive. Your cause doesn't help Albania. Unless you love Albania, it is better to stay home."
After The Albanian partisans allied with the Yugoslav partisans and broke the peace agreement with the Balli Kombetar
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...
:
"In brotherhood with Slavs, we curse of innocent blood being shed. Our path is ethnic Albania, no other way"