Memorie.al publishes some documents issued by the Central State Archive in Tirana and that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which shed light on Jewish activity in Albania during World War II, 1939-1944. How they were taken to the defense and provided with relevant documents by senior government officials at the time, such as Mehdi Bey Frashëri, Ibrahim Bey Bicaku, Qazim Mulleti, Javer Hurshiti, Engjel Çoba, Mihal Zallari, Mehmet Gani, etc. occasionally with the high German authorities who were then in Albania, such as the German General Hauzding in the city of Shkodra, who released the Jews in exchange for bribes that amounted to several thousand gold francs!
It is now well known that during the period of World War II, from 1939 to 1945, none of the approximately 1800 different nationals of Jewish origin present in Albania surrendered to the occupying German authorities, as it did, unfortunately, in some other Nazi-occupied Eastern European states, such as the Soviet Union and Poland, where some 4 million Jews ended up in crematoriums. But what is more important is that the Jews who were in Albania were not only protected by simple Albanian families, who sheltered them in their homes but in the first place they were also protected. all the Albanian governments of that time, both during the Italian occupation and during the German occupation from September 1943 until November 1944 when they withdrew from Albania. This has even been the case since the Monarchy when on the initiative of King Zog himself, hundreds of citizens of Jewish origin were not only accepted into Albania, but they were well received with the necessary documents and living conditions. as much as they felt as if they were at home. And this continued during the occupation of the country, where many politicians, officials and high officials of that period, such as Mehdi Bey Frashëri, Ibrahim Bey Biçaku, Fiqeri Dine, Mihal Zallari, Engjëll Çoba, Javer Bey Hurshiti, Kol Tromara, Qazim Mulleti, Mehmet Gani and others ministers, members of the regency, deputies, prefects, mayors, or other senior officials of the Albanian state administration of that time, not only protected the Jews by equipping them with false documents as Albanian nationals, but they often went into deep conflict even with the German authorities demanding their arrest and physical elimination at all costs. In addition, many of the archival documents that were made public only after the years speak of the activity of the Jews in Albania during the years of the War (1939-1944) and the protection afforded to them by the high governors of that time. 90th. So by some historian scholars, journalists, etc., such as Apostol Kotani, Dr. Prof. Dr. Shaban Sinani, Dr. Monika Stafa has done special studies on herbicides in Albania and several books have been published, including the book “Jews in Albania” by renowned journalist and researcher, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Monika Stafa, a book she holds foreword by renowned writer, Ismail Kadare. In addition to the above, many unique individuals and other well-known personalities of public life, such as Tanush Mulleti, (nephew of Mathematics), nephew of the famous former mayor of Tirana, Qazim, have been taken into account for the history of the Jews in Albania. Mulleti, who, also based on the links the Mulleti family has had since the Monarchy and herbicides in Albania, individually researched the archives of the Albanian state by extracting a considerable number of completely unknown archival documents, where He has even referred to some of them in scientific seminars and conferences organized on different anniversaries of the Holocaust Day. Likewise, given the same motives, so has Besim Ndregjoni, the current head of the Union of Former Persecuted and Political Prisoners of Albania, after his father, Imer Ndregjoni, former captain of the Zog Monarchy. , by order of Major Xhemal Herri, came from Dibra to Tirana and took over some Jews who were wanted by the German forces and sheltered them for several months in the well-known Tower of Ndregjones and his relatives in the village of Lukan. Four Gorges in the district of Peshkopia. And in honor of that noble gesture, one of the streets of Tirana long bears the name of Imer Ndregjon. Like Tanush Mulleti, Nrdregjoni has been invited to many seminars and conferences to commemorate the Holocaust Day, not only in Albania but also in France, the USA and others. While these are already known, today, in commemoration of January 27, the day of the Holocaust, we have selected some archival documents made available to us by the General Directorate of the Albanian State Archives in Tirana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc., where some of them are published in this article exclusively for Memorie.al.
The deputy mayor of Kavaja provides the Jews with documents
Who were some of the Jews who hid and took refuge in Albania during World War II, where did they come from in our country, where they were educated, and what activity did they take in the major cities of their country of origin? This is stated in a document of the General Directorate of Police of the Prefecture of Tirana, dated 15 May 1944, signed by the Director of the Center Police, Shaqir Preza and the Prefect of Tirana, Qazim Mullet (AQSH F.252 V. 1944 D. 225. p. 57).
This document, detailing all the details and activities of some Jews who were arrested by German command on April 16, 1944, is addressed to the Political Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tirana. Concerning the activity of those citizens of Jewish nationality and their political attitudes, the document states, inter alia:
“In the foregoing, we have the honor to inform you that the Jews have arrested us on April 16th of this year. by the German Police in cooperation with the authorities of this Office, by the German Police, accompanied, were sent by Struga and Bitolje (Bitola) towards the ignorant. From the fine investigations conducted by this Commissioner, we find the following:
The Jew Salomon Saltiel, of the dead Isaac and Matilda, born in 1915 in Skopje, a resident of Skopje, a native of the former Yugoslavia, came to Albania on 10 February 1943 in tin, crossing the Bulgarian-Albanian border in Ferizaj abusively, since he was not provided with a regular passport or another travel document. In Ferizaj / Uroheevac, the master stayed for two months but was arrested and interned by the authorities in Kavaja, where he remained until the capitulation of Italy. The Deputy Prefect of Kavaja, Mr. Mehmet Gani (Qani), dated 17.12.1943 with no. Extra has issued an ID in the false name, SALI ISA SALTIEL. This letter of identity also contains Solomon’s photograph as well as the official stamp of the N / Prefecture in question. In addition, the Municipality of Tirana-Health Office, on 12.VI.1943, with No. 2021 issued a letter of identity, also in the fake name, Sali Isa Saltiel, which reads: “Here in Tirana, Solomon is involved in small trades. In addition, he was involved in the sale of Italian coins (Lireta), which was sent by a certain Dervish Jahi, a trader from Shkodra, with a Shkodra driver named Qamil Gali, serving at the Çurçija automobile transport company in Shkodra. Banknotes in Italian coins by Dervish Jahi were bought by people coming from Montenegro, and according to an agreement with Salomon Salitel, he sent the money to the driver in Tirana. Solomon sold these Italian coins to the Italians, who were returning to Italy. On the political line, it has not been possible to ascertain anything, though Solomon is suspicious. “Following the data on Salomon Saltiell, who was assisted by the mayor of Kavaja and the Municipality of Tirana, being provided with false documents by them, the same document also provides data on some other Jews, such as Samiko Salltiell, James Gatenjo, Haim Matallon, Matilda Matallon and Esther Matallon, who were reportedly arrested by the German police and sent to indictment.
Police Director: Girl from Durrësi K. S., spied on Jews for the Communist boyfriend
But in what circumstances were the Jews mentioned in the document of the General Directorate of the Police of the Prefecture of Tirana, dated 12 May 1944, and who spied them on the Germans? In this regard, the same document of the General Directorate of State Archives states, inter alia:
“The arrest of the above mentioned happened in this way: A girl from the city of KS, from Durres, now resident in Tirana, on April 15, came to this Office and told you that the nalt-mentioned Jews are engaged in espionage, that they have a lot of money in foreign currencies, pounds and compromising documents. This Office also took note of this girl’s remarks, which, dated 16th, the next day, the authorities of this Office should conduct a thorough inspection of their apartment and in the event of a positive action to arrest them. When the organs of this office went to the aforementioned Jewish residence, they found the German SS Police in operation. With the arrival of the Albanian Police, the German Police not only did not oppose the action of the Albanian Police but also begged them to continue their cooperation in cooperation. The organs of this office, since the German Police had earlier initiated the nalt-mentioning Jews by the Germans, had been banned and assembled in a corner of the courthouse, the proposed cooperation was accepted, and subsequent actions took place jointly. In the search of the done, except for letters in the Montenegrin language of a commercial character, nothing was found. A lot of money was found in the personal definition of Saltomon Saltiel: a total of 10,300 Albanian francs and 11,000 Italian liras. For this money, Solomon explained that they were from Dervish Jahi, a trader from Shkodra… The money in question was seized by the German Police after the action was initiated by them. From subsequent investigations, I conclude that daughter K.S. in addition to the news that had been made to this Office, at the same time it had also reported the command of the German SS Police, the Command of the “Kosovo” Gendarmerie Regiment and the Command of the Inner Circle of the Gendarmerie, and thus the girl in question had caused confusion. K.S. she did so with the intention of hoping for the rescue of her Communist lover J.K. was arrested as a participant in the killing of an NCO and a Police Agent. The girl in question is also communist and immoral, but for the time being it is not clear whether she is engaged in any communist activity. Above all, I have submitted to you the notice of the above”.
Center Police Director
So, as can be seen from the document cited above, the reason for the arrest of six Jewish nationals has become a new communist venture from the city of Durres, which has spied on them in German Command, hoping that they will be arrested. released her Communist boyfriend, who had been arrested for participating in an assassination attempt against a police agent.
Qazim Mullet’s Order: Release the Jews
But what was the further fate of the Jews who were arrested by the Germans after they were spied on by a young Communist girl originally from the city of Durres and residing in Tirana? The archive documents available do not disclose this, but it does mention two other citizens of Jewish origin who were released from prison by the decision of a special commission headed by the Prefect of Tirana, Qazim Mulleti. That archival document, dated 9.6.1944, states:
Albanian State, Prefecture of Tirana
To the Prison Office for notification:
Command District Genie. Tirana Police Commissioner
You are informed that the special commission meets the day before 7 p.m. under the Presidency of the Prefect of this Prefecture, he decided that the resigned Sallomon Tashi and Mina Roshi of Durres should be released on bail since they had no facts to refer to the Court and because they were boarding that they were not dangerous persons left behind. their free to harm public peace. We, therefore pray that, after providing as a guarantor any honest person who is well-acquainted with good moral and political conduct, they shall be escorted to this Prefecture, where, after the guarantee is edited, they shall be released.
Prefect of the First Class
Qazim Mulleti d.v.
Deputy Ministers Engjëll Coba and Kol Tromara: release the Jews
Other documents in the General Directorate of State Archives in Tirana referring to the activity and activity of foreign nationals of Jewish origin who were in Albania during World War II (1939-1944). a long correspondence made between the Prefect of Shkodra, Javer Bey Hurshiti, and the then Deputy Minister of Interior of the Albanian government of that time, Angel Choba. Those documents refer to the arrest by the Germans of four foreign nationals of Jewish origin in the city of Shkodra, by the Germans, and the intervention of the Albanian authorities to release them. Thus, on May 2, 1944 (11.55 am) the Prefect of Shkodra, Javer Hurshti, informs the Ministry of Interior in Tirana by a telegram, writing:
“We were informed that Command H.S. Hausding has arrested four Jews from Pristina and residing in the city. It is said that they were asked a thousand Napoles of gold for release. ” After receiving this telegram, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Angel Choba, has sent a telegram to the Prefecture of Shkodra, where he wants to know that the amount of gold napoleon was received by the Prefecture of Shkodra or German command. And after it was announced by Prefect Hurshiti that she had received much from the German command, Deputy Minister Çoba immediately informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, which had the appropriate legal authority to contact the German General Command in Albania.
Deputy Minister Çoba: German authorities should not interfere in our affairs
The announcement of Deputy Minister Çoba, addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, after the prefect of Hurshiti was verbally informed about the arrest of the four Jews and the amount required to release them from prison, reads as follows: “ So please be kind to the mediator where the German military authorities should not interfere in our internal affairs, only in cases that are directly related to the German army. ”
Following this announcement by Deputy Minister Çoba, it appears that the Foreign Ministry in Tirana reacted immediately to the General Command of the Germans in Tirana, which led to the four arrested Jews being released. This was also revealed by the telegram of Prefect Hurshiti, who, on May 4, 1944, informed the Ministry of the Interior, saying that the German Command in Shkodra released four Jews after paying a fine of 60,000 Albanian francs. But even after this announcement, the Ministry of the Interior appears to be dissatisfied with the fact that Jews have been released after paying money, and by another telegram, dated May 6, 1944, it has responded again to the Ministry of Works external. The telegram states:
“We have the honor to inform you that the Prefecture of Shkodra by wire no. 191/2 res. d.5 the successor reports that the German Commandant S.D. Hausding. On the 2nd of k. m. has arrested 4 Jews from Pristina and hundreds in Shkodra. On the 4th of k. m. after receiving a sum of sixty thousand (60,000) fr. has released them. So above all, please be kind to the mediators whereby the German military authorities should not interfere in our internal affairs, only in cases where they may be justly and directly involved with the German army. “