Gajur Deralla
Encyclopedia
Gajur Deralla was captain of the Luboten Battalion. The Luboten Battalion was a military division of the Balli Kombëtar
which operated in Vardar Macedonia
.
(present day Tetovo
, Macedonia
) in the early 20th century. Deralla studied at the Yugoslav military academy. During his years at the military academy, Deralla came into contact with Italian intelligence agency, OVRA
. Deralla left Yugoslavia
and fled to Albania
. In Albania, Deralla enlisted as a regular soldier in the Royal Albanian Army. On April 12, 1939, Italy
occupied Albania
. After the Italian occupation of Albania
, Deralla became an Officer in the Royal Italian Army
.
. Deralla returned to Tetovo
, where he joined the Luboten Battalion as a Captain. The Battalion was responsible for securing the region from resistance groups, i.e. Yugoslav partisans. With the capitulation of Italy
in 1942, Nazi Germany
took control of the region.
did not disban the battalion. Instead, the Luboten Battalion was incorporated into the Balli Kombëtar
, strengthening its forces. The troops under Deralla successfully repelled the Yugoslav partisans in Tetovo
. Tetovo had the largest Balli Kombëtar
base in Macedonia.
to help the Ballist (Balli Kombëtar) forces of Mefail Shehu
against the Yugoslav partisans. On route to Kicevo
, partisan forces organised an ambush at Bukovici. When Deralla and his forces went through Bukovici, the partisans successfully ambushed the battalion resulting in the death of Deralla and his troops.
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...
which operated in Vardar Macedonia
Vardar Macedonia
Vardar Macedonia is an area in the north of the Macedonia . The borders of the area are those of the Republic of Macedonia. It covers an area of...
.
Early life
Deralla was born in Kalkandelen, Ottoman EmpireOttoman 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...
(present day Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
, 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...
) in the early 20th century. Deralla studied at the Yugoslav military academy. During his years at the military academy, Deralla came into contact with Italian intelligence agency, OVRA
OVRA
The Organizzazione per la Vigilanza e la Repressione dell'Antifascismo was the secret police of the Kingdom of Italy, founded in 1927 under the regime of Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and during the reign of King Victor Emmanuel III. The German Gestapo were the equivalent of the OVRA...
. Deralla left Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
and fled 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...
. In Albania, Deralla enlisted as a regular soldier in the Royal Albanian Army. On April 12, 1939, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
occupied 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 occupation of Albania
Italian invasion of Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini...
, Deralla became an Officer in the Royal Italian Army
Royal Italian Army
The Regio Esercito was the army of the Kingdom of Italy from the unification of Italy in 1861 to the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946...
.
Return to Tetovo
In 1941, Italian forces occupied western MacedoniaRepublic 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...
. Deralla returned to Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
, where he joined the Luboten Battalion as a Captain. The Battalion was responsible for securing the region from resistance groups, i.e. Yugoslav partisans. With the capitulation of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1942, Nazi Germany
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...
took control of the region.
Balli Kombëtar
Despite the Luboten Battalion being formed by the Italian forces, The GermansGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
did not disban the battalion. Instead, the Luboten Battalion was incorporated into 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...
, strengthening its forces. The troops under Deralla successfully repelled the Yugoslav partisans in Tetovo
Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...
. Tetovo had the largest 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...
base in Macedonia.
Death
At the end of 1943, the Luboten division was sent to KicevoKicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
to help the Ballist (Balli Kombëtar) forces of Mefail Shehu
Mefail Shehu
Mefail Shehu was known as Mefail i madhe and Mefail Zajazi. A Balli Kombetar military commander and leader of the Kicevo region. Was a close associate of Xhem Hasa.-History:...
against the Yugoslav partisans. On route to Kicevo
Kicevo
Kičevo is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, located in a valley in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Bistra, between the cities of Ohrid and Gostivar. The capital Skopje is 112 km away. The city of Kičevo is the seat of Kičevo Municipality.-Population:The municipality...
, partisan forces organised an ambush at Bukovici. When Deralla and his forces went through Bukovici, the partisans successfully ambushed the battalion resulting in the death of Deralla and his troops.