Xhemal Aranitasi
Encyclopedia
Xhemal Aranitasi - (born in 1886 in Aranitas
, Mallakastër District
, Fier County
, modern Albania
, then Ottoman Empire
, died in 1961 in Turkey
) was a general
and commander in chief of the Royal Albanian Army.
He was the son of Ibrahim Aranitasi, an army colonel of the Ottoman Empire
and Esma Jahobegaj. He graduated from the military school in Monastir, Ottoman Empire (now modern Republic of Macedonia
), and then at the military academy in Istanbul
, Turkey
.
During the Balkan wars he fought in the Ottoman army, as the leader of machine guns.
During World War I
, when most of the territory of Albania was invaded by the Austro-Hungarian Army, he served in the Aranitas
municipality gendarmerie post as a commander.
In 1920 he joined the Royal Albanian Army and four years later he was a battalion commander. In 1925, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he became the general commander of the Royal Albanian Army. Although major decisions on the Army were taken by officers of foreign origin, such as Gustav von Myrdacz
and Leon Ghilardi, Aranitasi was the only native Albanian nominally on the staff. In 1929 he was promoted to general. He served as aide-de-camp
of Zog of Albania
before this task was taken by Mehmet Konica
.
In 1939, as minister of war, in the face of war with Italy, Xhemal Aranitasi forbade the press publication of popular mobilization and also prohibited the issuing of weapons to the civilian population. On April 6, 1939, on the eve of the invasion of Albania by the Italian Army, Aranitasi left the country and settled in Turkey. He lived there until the end of his life.
He was awarded the Grand Ribbon of the Order of Skanderbeg
.
Aranitas
Aranitas is a municipality in the Mallakastër District, Fier County, southwestern Albania....
, Mallakastër District
Mallakastër District
The District of Mallakastër is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, part of Fier County. It has a population of 31,356 , and an area of 393 km². It is in the south of the country, and its capital is Ballsh...
, Fier County
Fier County
The County of Fier is one of the 12 counties of Albania. It consists of the districts of Fier, Lushnjë and Mallakastër and its capital is Fier.Fier's western edge is the shoreline of the Adriatic Sea. On land, it borders the following counties:...
, modern 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...
, then 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...
, died in 1961 in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
) was a general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and commander in chief of the Royal Albanian Army.
He was the son of Ibrahim Aranitasi, an army colonel 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...
and Esma Jahobegaj. He graduated from the military school in Monastir, Ottoman Empire (now modern Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
), and then at the military academy 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...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
During the Balkan wars he fought in the Ottoman army, as the leader of machine guns.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when most of the territory of Albania was invaded by the Austro-Hungarian Army, he served in the Aranitas
Aranitas
Aranitas is a municipality in the Mallakastër District, Fier County, southwestern Albania....
municipality gendarmerie post as a commander.
In 1920 he joined the Royal Albanian Army and four years later he was a battalion commander. In 1925, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he became the general commander of the Royal Albanian Army. Although major decisions on the Army were taken by officers of foreign origin, such as Gustav von Myrdacz
Gustav von Myrdacz
Gustav von Myrdacz was an Austrian noble who was instrumental in organising the Royal Albanian Army from the early 1920s to 1945.-Life:...
and Leon Ghilardi, Aranitasi was the only native Albanian nominally on the staff. In 1929 he was promoted to general. He served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
of Zog of Albania
Zog of Albania
Zog I, Skanderbeg III of the Albanians , born Ahmet Muhtar Bey Zogolli, was King of the Albanians from 1928 to 1939. He was previously Prime Minister of Albania and President of Albania .-Background and early political career:...
before this task was taken by Mehmet Konica
Mehmet Konica
Mehmet Konica, was a twice Foreign Minister of Albania . He was the brother of the Albanian writer Faik Konica....
.
In 1939, as minister of war, in the face of war with Italy, Xhemal Aranitasi forbade the press publication of popular mobilization and also prohibited the issuing of weapons to the civilian population. On April 6, 1939, on the eve of the invasion of Albania by the Italian Army, Aranitasi left the country and settled in Turkey. He lived there until the end of his life.
He was awarded the Grand Ribbon of the Order of Skanderbeg
Order of Skanderbeg
The Order of Skanderbeg was instituted in 1925 as an Order of Merit of the Republic of Albania. It was abolished the Communist government in 1945 and replaced by a newaward of the same name. Skanderbeg is the national hero of the Albanian people....
.