Muharrem Nezir Bajraktari | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Lord of Lumë[1] |
Born | Ujëmisht, Ottoman Empire (modern Albania) | 15 May 1896
Died | 21 January 1989 Brussels, Belgium | (aged 92)
Rank | Colonel |
Battles / wars | World War II |
Relations | Nezir Bajraktari (Father), Bajram Bajraktari (Brother) |
Muharrem Bajraktari (15 May 1896 – 21 January 1989) was an Albanian Muslim guerrilla fighter from Lumë in northern Albania, and a political figure during World War II.[2]
His father was Nezir Bajraktari, and he had a brother, Bajram Bajraktari. He emigrated to Yugoslavia. His surname means “Flag holder” in the Turkish language, presumably his ancestor was the flag bearer of their region. He and his family were Albanians whom spoke Albanian in the Gheg dialect and were Muslims.
In December 1924, when Ahmed Zog returned to Albania, he divided the country in four zones, as per the four best military captains: Muharrem Bajraktari of the north-east (Krumë), Fiqri Dine of the north-west (Shkodër), Prenk Pervizi of the centre (Tirana), and Hysni Dema of the south (Vlorë). Bajraktari was dismissed from his commanding position in the gendarmerie because he refused to cooperate with the British-Inspector General.[3]: 194 In 1936, Bajraktari had a disagreement with Zog, left Albania and went to Yugoslavia where he met with Draža Mihailović in the summer of 1936.[4]
At the beginning of the war Bajraktar was one of the leaders of the first Axis resistance actions in Albania.[3]: 232 [5] Until the end of 1941 Bajraktari led large bands whose number and membership continually grew.[6]
Following the British strategy of establishing a Balkan Union, Draža Mihailović, a leader of the Yugoslav royalist resistance movement, established cooperation with Bajraktari and his forces in Albania.[7][8] Mihailović already knew Bajraktari from the period when he lived in Yugoslavia for several years before World War II as a political emigrant.[9][10] It is possible that the British S.O.E. worked through him.[11] According to one report he was opposed to the Kosovo Defense Committee and their methods and had good relations with Prek Cali.[12] Frequent meetings between Bajraktari's and Mihailovic's men were organized at the beginning of January.[13]
Together with other elements of Balli Kombetar, Bajraktari controlled the area south of the Pukë-Kukes line at the end of World War II and secured the retreat of the German army in autumn 1944.[14]
After the war, Bajraktari, together with Fiqri Dine, worked for the Albanian Committee in Paris.[15] He was an executive member of the NCFA (National Committee for a Free Albania).[16]
The quadrumvirate consisted of Muharrem Bajraktar, Lord of Lume (see Amery, 1948, pp. 37, 142–144, 307–308); Fikri Dine, one of the more influential chiefs of Diber (ibid., pp. 13, 162, 296, 321); Xhemal Herri, whose patrimony was Zali i
Bajraktari, Muharrem (15 May 1896–21 January 1989). Political figure and guerrilla fighter. Colonel Muharrem Bajraktari, a tribal leader from Ujëmisht in the northeastern district of Kukës
Among the earlier leaders were Muharrem Bajraktari, former Commandant of Gendarmerie, recently in co-operation with the Yugoslav bands of General Mihailovic
... That Muharrem Bajraktar, after quarreling with Zog had gone to Yugoslavia in 1936 it is not true, a pure falsification. There were reports during the summer that he had joined Mihajlovic (1943) and in Djonovic, the Yugoslav government
...large guerrilla bands were led by Colonel Muharrem Bayraktari, a former gendarmerie officer, who had established relations with the Serbian Chetniks.
By the beginning of 1942 there existed large bands led by Colonel Muharrem Bayraktari, a former gendarmerie officer, who was reported to have established relations with the Serbian Chetniks. The bands grew in number and membership
У вези стварања Балканске уније, Д. Михаиловић је настојао да се преко Радослава Ђурића повеже и са „националистима албанске државе које води пуковник Мухарем Барјактари", обећавајући да ће му „пружити сву .
When Draza Mihailovic's movement was included in British strategy, he was told to establish links with Albanian Col. Muharem Bajraktar
Мухарем Бајрактари је, пре рата, неколико година живео у Југославији као политички емигрант. Зато се Дража Михаиловић, у намери да услостави везе са албанским формацијама, оријентисао према њему
...leaders believed active, among them Muharrem Bajraktar, a northern Albanian chieftain reputed to be in occasional touch with General Draca Mihailovic, the Chetnik leader in southern Serbia; six hundred gold sovereigns were also sent.
...S.O.E. therefore had good reason to try to build up its contacts. One idea at this time seems to be to work through Col. Muharrem Bajraktar,...
Po tom izvještaju Barjaktari se suprotstavlja KOMITETU KOSOVA i njegovim metodima rada, a slaže se sa Prenk Caljom
Početkom januara dolazi do sastanaka Dražinih i Muharemovih ljudi...
Fikri Dine and Muharrem Bajraktari were also mentioned as other members of this 'group of spies'. It appears, however, that the latter two were in fact not working for the Yugoslavs but for the Albanian Committee (formed by exiled BK and ...
List of Delegates NATIONAL DELEGATIONS Albania Muharem Bajraktari, Colonel, executive member of National Committee for a Free Albania.