Skënder Muço
Encyclopedia
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. In 1944 he was ambushed by German troops
near Vlorë
and executed three days later.
, Ottoman Empire
, in 1904. His father, Daut was an activist of the Albanian National Awakening, while his uncle, Alem Tragjasi had fought in the Vlora War
. Muço initially studied in San Demetrio Corone
, Calabria
and later graduated from the faculty of law of the University of Bologna
. In 1932 he was arrested and sentenced to death because of his participation in the nationalist and anti-monarchist organization Lëvizja e Vlorës (Vlora Movement), but his sentence was eventually reduced after public pressure to the government. When Albania was occupied by Italy he took part in the protests of Vlorë on April 7, 1939.
Skënder Muço joined the ranks of Balli Kombëtar
, one of the most important resistance organizations in Albania. At the end of November, 1942 along with Hysni Lepenica, a former gendarmerie officer from Gjirokastër
he founded the first battalion of Balli Kombëtar in Vlorë named Shqiponja (Eagle). Muço also became head of Balli Kombëtar in Vlorë region and a member of the of organization's council. As commanders of Shqiponja Muço and Lepenica confronted many times the Italian and later the Germans troops. One of the most important of those battles was the battle of Gjorm
, in which Balli Kombëtar inflicted heavy losses to the Italian army.
In 1943 he was one of the representatives of Balli Kombëtar in the Mukje Agreement
, a treaty of collaboration signed by Balli Kombëtar and the National Liberation Movement Along with Musine Kokalari
Muço founded the first social democratic party of Albania in 1943-4 as a faction of Balli Kombëtar. On November 21, 1943 he wrote and published a pamphlet labeling the German troops and their Albanian collaborators as the barbaric enemy. On August 7, 1944 he was ambushed and captured by German troops while going to Vlorë with two other Ballists Yzeir Ismaili and Zako Mezi. He was executed three days later in Bubullimë
, Lushnjë
, western Albania.
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...
lawyer and leader of 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...
, one of the most important resistance organizations in 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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Along with Musine Kokalari
Musine Kokalari
Musine Kokalari of Gjirokastër, Albania was an Albanian prose writer and politician in Albania's pre-communist period. Kokalari was the first female writer of Albania. After a short involvement in politics during World War II, she was persecuted by the communist regime in Albania, and not allowed...
Muço founded the first social democratic party of Albania in 1943. In 1944 he was ambushed by German troops
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
near Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
and executed three days later.
Early life
Skënder Muço was born in TragjasTragjas
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....
, 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...
, in 1904. His father, Daut was an activist of the Albanian National Awakening, while his uncle, Alem Tragjasi had fought in the Vlora War
Vlora War
The Vlora War or the War of 1920 was a series of battles between an Italian forces garrisoned throughout Vlorë region and Albanian patriots divided in small groups of fighters. The war lasted three months and had great impact in the struggle of Albania for the safeguard of its territories at a...
. Muço initially studied in San Demetrio Corone
San Demetrio Corone
San Demetrio Corone is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is notable for the Collegio of Sant'Adriano, a boarding school which produced many patriots and theorists/revolutionaries in the Italian Independence wars-Geography:The village is...
, Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
and later graduated from the faculty of law of the University of Bologna
University of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
. In 1932 he was arrested and sentenced to death because of his participation in the nationalist and anti-monarchist organization Lëvizja e Vlorës (Vlora Movement), but his sentence was eventually reduced after public pressure to the government. When Albania was occupied by Italy he took part in the protests of Vlorë on April 7, 1939.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Skënder Muço joined the ranks of 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...
, one of the most important resistance organizations in Albania. At the end of November, 1942 along with Hysni Lepenica, a former gendarmerie officer from Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
he founded the first battalion of Balli Kombëtar in Vlorë named Shqiponja (Eagle). Muço also became head of Balli Kombëtar in Vlorë region and a member of the of organization's council. As commanders of Shqiponja Muço and Lepenica confronted many times the Italian and later the Germans troops. One of the most important of those battles was the battle of Gjorm
Battle of Gjorm
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.- Prelude :After the occupation of...
, in which Balli Kombëtar inflicted heavy losses to the Italian army.
In 1943 he was one of the representatives of Balli Kombëtar in the Mukje Agreement
Mukje Agreement
The Mukje Agreement was a treaty signed on August 2, 1943 in the Albanian village of Mukje between the nationalist Balli Kombëtar and the communist National Liberation Movement on how to regulate the Albanian resistance in World War II and how to prepare for the future of Ethnic Albania.The...
, a treaty of collaboration signed by Balli Kombëtar and the National Liberation Movement Along with Musine Kokalari
Musine Kokalari
Musine Kokalari of Gjirokastër, Albania was an Albanian prose writer and politician in Albania's pre-communist period. Kokalari was the first female writer of Albania. After a short involvement in politics during World War II, she was persecuted by the communist regime in Albania, and not allowed...
Muço founded the first social democratic party of Albania in 1943-4 as a faction of Balli Kombëtar. On November 21, 1943 he wrote and published a pamphlet labeling the German troops and their Albanian collaborators as the barbaric enemy. On August 7, 1944 he was ambushed and captured by German troops while going to Vlorë with two other Ballists Yzeir Ismaili and Zako Mezi. He was executed three days later in Bubullimë
Bubullimë
Bubullimë is a municipality in the Lushnjë District, Fier County, western Albania.- Notable people :Methodius , Berat's archbishop, who in 1743 started renovations of the Ardenica Monastery....
, Lushnjë
Lushnjë
Lushnjë or Lushnje is a city in Central-West Albania located at 40.95°N, 19.71°E. It is the center of the District of Lushnje in the County of Fier and has a population of about 54,813. The town was founded in late medieval times by a Turkish widow called Salushe. She built a rest stop on the...
, western Albania.