Rexhep Mitrovica
Encyclopedia
Rexhep Mitrovica (1888, Mitroviça
, Ottoman Empire - 1967, Istanbul
, Turkey) was an Albanian
politician and land owner. He served as Prime Minister of Albania in 1943-1944 and was the longest serving Prime minister for the Balli Kombetar
.
. He took part in the deceleration of independence in 1919 as a representative of Peja.From 1921 to 1923, he served as Albanian minister of education.
By 1921, Kosovo
was firmly encompassed within Serbia
, though against the will of the majority of its people. Albanian resistance had been largely crushed in Drenica
in November 1920. The Belgrade government's "Decree on the Colonization of the New Southern Lands" was now facilitating the takover by Serb colonists of large Ottoman estates and of land seized from Albanian rebels. It is within this context that Rexhep Mitrovica, along with Bedri Pejani
, tried to seek help from the western powers.
After the fall of the government of Fan Noli in December 1924, he collaborated in a plot to overthrow Ahmet Zogu, but was amnestied in 1927. He returned to Albania
after the Italian invasion and joined the Balli Kombëtar
in 1942.
announced that the regents and the assembly had formed a government headed by Rexhep Mitrovica, an active member of the Balli Kombetar from Kosovo. Mitrovica's cabinet, most of whom had credentials as nationalists as well as some German or Austrian connection, included Xhafer Deva
, who had studied at the Robert College of Istanbul and in Vienna, as minister of the interior and Rrok Kolaj, a Catholic from Shkoder who had studied at the University of Graz
, as minister of Justice. Austrian educated Vehbi Frasheri was appointed as foreign minister. The Orthadox Elbasaner, Sokrat Dodbiba, the nephew of Lef Nosi
, became minister of finance.
Not blind to the challenges, in his first address to the National Assembly Mitrovica noted that four and a half years of Italian domination had left anarchy and chaos in Albania. The pre-1939 state apparatus had been completely dismantled. The Italians had destroyed the army, the gendarmerie, the police, and the Foreign Ministry; they had changed the flag, altered personal greetings, renamed cities, and even reassigned family names. To reestablish the state, Mitrovica set down an ambitious plan that included reestablishing local government on the pre-1939 basis, gaining foreign recognition, reorganizing the economy, introducing effective agrarian reform, and creating a military force. The general goal of the government, and this was repeated at every available opportunity, was to protect Albania's territorial integrity within its ethnic borders. With the land reforms for the peasants and a very effective German propaganda emphasizing the return of Kosovo, the Germans managed to extract considerable support from the regime.
After the capitulation of Italy, Rexhep Mitrovica was head of the Second League of Prizren
, which supported ethnic Albania, i.e, reunification of all Albanian territories. With control over Kosovo, Mitrovica exacted revenge on the Serb colonists, killing and expelling thousands of Serbs.
In June, Rexhep Mitrovica resigned due to illness. Hermann Neubacher
, Hitler's political expert for Balkan problems, came to Tirana
and persuaded Fiqri Dine
to form the next government During his time as prime minister, he endeavoured to maintain a stable government amidst the chaos of war and civil war.
, where he headed the Albanian community in exile. He died in Istanbul
.
"Albanians, as Aryans of Illyrian heritage, could not ignore tradition and would be saved from the hydra of communism."
Mitrovica
Mitrovica, which stems from the name "Saint Demetrius" or "Sveti Dimitrije" may refer to:- Places :* Kosovska Mitrovica, a city in the disputed region of Kosovo* Sremska Mitrovica, a city in Srem, Serbia...
, Ottoman Empire - 1967, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey) was an 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...
politician and land owner. He served as Prime Minister of Albania in 1943-1944 and was the longest serving Prime minister for 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...
.
Early life
Born to a wealthy landowning family from MitrovicaKosovska Mitrovica
Kosovska Mitrovica , is a city and municipality in northern Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous district....
. He took part in the deceleration of independence in 1919 as a representative of Peja.From 1921 to 1923, he served as Albanian minister of education.
By 1921, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
was firmly encompassed within Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, though against the will of the majority of its people. Albanian resistance had been largely crushed in Drenica
Drenica
Drenica also known as the Drenica Valley, is a hilly region in central Kosovo, covering . Located west of the capital Prishtina, its population of 110,000 is largely ethnic-Albanian....
in November 1920. The Belgrade government's "Decree on the Colonization of the New Southern Lands" was now facilitating the takover by Serb colonists of large Ottoman estates and of land seized from Albanian rebels. It is within this context that Rexhep Mitrovica, along with Bedri Pejani
Bedri bej Ipeku
Bedri bej Ipeku was an Albanian politician of the 19th and 20th century.Pejani was born in the city of Pejë October 10, 1885 and, only 27, took part and was a signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence...
, tried to seek help from the western powers.
After the fall of the government of Fan Noli in December 1924, he collaborated in a plot to overthrow Ahmet Zogu, but was amnestied in 1927. He returned to Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
after the Italian invasion and joined the 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...
in 1942.
Prime minister
On November 6, BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
announced that the regents and the assembly had formed a government headed by Rexhep Mitrovica, an active member of the Balli Kombetar from Kosovo. Mitrovica's cabinet, most of whom had credentials as nationalists as well as some German or Austrian connection, included Xhafer Deva
Xhafer Deva
Xhafer Ibrahim Deva was a World War II government Minister of Albania during the period between October 1943 and June 1944. was a leading political figure in Axis-occupied Kosovo during World War II-Early life:Xhafer Deva was born in 1904 in Kosovska Mitrovica, in the Kosovo Province of the...
, who had studied at the Robert College of Istanbul and in Vienna, as minister of the interior and Rrok Kolaj, a Catholic from Shkoder who had studied at the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
, as minister of Justice. Austrian educated Vehbi Frasheri was appointed as foreign minister. The Orthadox Elbasaner, Sokrat Dodbiba, the nephew of Lef Nosi
Lef Nosi
Lef Nosi was an Albanian politician and collaborationist during the Second World War. He was one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence. Nosi was the first Minister of Post and Telegraphs of Albania...
, became minister of finance.
Not blind to the challenges, in his first address to the National Assembly Mitrovica noted that four and a half years of Italian domination had left anarchy and chaos in Albania. The pre-1939 state apparatus had been completely dismantled. The Italians had destroyed the army, the gendarmerie, the police, and the Foreign Ministry; they had changed the flag, altered personal greetings, renamed cities, and even reassigned family names. To reestablish the state, Mitrovica set down an ambitious plan that included reestablishing local government on the pre-1939 basis, gaining foreign recognition, reorganizing the economy, introducing effective agrarian reform, and creating a military force. The general goal of the government, and this was repeated at every available opportunity, was to protect Albania's territorial integrity within its ethnic borders. With the land reforms for the peasants and a very effective German propaganda emphasizing the return of Kosovo, the Germans managed to extract considerable support from the regime.
After the capitulation of Italy, Rexhep Mitrovica was head of the Second League of Prizren
Second League of Prizren
The Second League of Prizren was an organisation founded by leading Albanian officials in Kosovo in 1943 to campaign for the ethnic unification of Albanians in Albania....
, which supported ethnic Albania, i.e, reunification of all Albanian territories. With control over Kosovo, Mitrovica exacted revenge on the Serb colonists, killing and expelling thousands of Serbs.
In June, Rexhep Mitrovica resigned due to illness. Hermann Neubacher
Hermann Neubacher
Hermann Neubacher was an Austrian Nazi politician who held a number of diplomatic posts in the Third Reich. During the Second World War, he was appointed as the leading German official for the Balkans.-Austrian activism:...
, Hitler's political expert for Balkan problems, came to Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
and persuaded Fiqri Dine
Fiqri Dine
Colonel Fiqri Dine was Prime Minister of Albania's Quisling government under Nazi Germany. He was the chieftain of the Dine clan from Debar.-Prime minister:...
to form the next government During his time as prime minister, he endeavoured to maintain a stable government amidst the chaos of war and civil war.
Later life and Death
During the communist take over, Mitrovica managed to flee to TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, where he headed the Albanian community in exile. He died in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
.
Quotes
Mitrovica identified the Albanian communists as un-Albanian since he argues that:"Albanians, as Aryans of Illyrian heritage, could not ignore tradition and would be saved from the hydra of communism."
Source
- Owen Pearson, Albania and King Zog: Independence, republic and monarchy 1908-1939, London, Tauris, 2004, ISBN 1-84511-013-7.
- Owen Pearson, Albania in occupation and war: From fascism to communism, 1940-1945, London, Tauris, 2005, ISBN 1-84511-014-5.
See also
- History of AlbaniaHistory of AlbaniaThe history of Albania emerges from the prehistoric stage from the 4th century BC, with early records of Illyria in Greco-Roman historiography. The modern territory of Albania has no counterpart in antiquity, comprising parts of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia , Macedonia , and Moesia Superior...
- List of Prime Ministers of Albania