Elez Isuf Ndreu | |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Elez Isuf Ndreu 1861 |
| Died | 30 December 1924(1924-12-30) (aged 62–63) |
| Cause of death | Killed in Action |
| Awards |  Military Merit Cross |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | Albanian revolt of 1912 Kachak Movement Ohrid-Debar Uprising Dibran Wars (1912-1921) |
Elez Isufi born in 1861 is anAlbanian patriot,Kachak and military leader known for his prominent role in the Albanian resistance against theKingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) in the early 20th century as part of theKachak Movement, as well as the democratic uprisings against the regime ofAhmet Zogu in the 1920s.
Elez Isuf Ndreu was born in the village ofSllove,Dibra in 1861.[1] His family came from the village of Soricë inZall-Dardhë, but they moved due to economic hardships. Although he himself was uneducated, Isufi advocated for the education of Albanian children and financially sponsored the opening of a school in the local area alongside the teacher Hoxhë Kalla.[2]
Elez Isufi is active against the Ottoman forces during the Albanian uprisings against theOttoman Empire. In one clash on 4 May 1912, 11 Ottoman soldiers were left dead or wounded by Isufi's unit of fighters.[3] Isufi and his band of guerrilla fighters resisted the advances ofSerbian troops in 1912,[1] and he led reinforcements of Albanian fighters from Dibër at theBattle of Luma.[4][5] After theAlbanian Declaration of Independence, Isufi supported the new Albanian government that was headed byIsmail Qemali, aligning himself with figures such asHasan Prishtina,Isa Boletini andBajram Curri. Isufi and a number of fellow chieftains from Dibra did not join forces withEssad Pasha Toptani out of their loyalty to the Albanian government.[2] Due to the fact that many Albanian-inhabited territories remained under the control of occupying forces, a general uprising was planned in 1913, spear-headed by figures that included Elez Isufi.[4]
Aside from his leading role in the uprising against the Serbian occupation of the years 1912-1913, Isufi also took part in the organisation and leadership of a subsequent uprising in 1915. During theFirst World War, Isufi supported theAustro-Hungarians alongside many other Albanians, but he distanced himself from theBulgarians due to their expansionist ambitions on Albanian-inhabited territories. To strengthen the Austro-Hungarian ties with the Albanians, the Austro-Hungarian emperorFranz Joseph awarded Isufi with theOrder of Franz Joseph[4] in recognition for his exceptional fighting against the Serbs.[2]
After the conclusion of World War I, the Serbs attempted to annex Dibër, where they were met with an Albanian resistance led by Elez Isufi and Hazis Kotarja.[2]
Elez Isufi was a leader of theCommittee for the National Defence of Kosovo, which sought to liberateKosovo and other Albanian-inhabited regions from Serbian occupation. This committee organised and supported a series of Albanian uprisings in Albanian-populated territories in Kosovo, Macedonia and Sanxhak from 1919 to 1927 as part of theKachak Movement.[6][2][7]
After the conclusion of World War I, the Serbs attempted to annex Dibër, where they were met with Albanian resistance led by Elez Isufi and Hazis Kotarja.[2] The uprising in Dibër, which lasted from August/September 1920 until December 1921, was organised during a meeting of the Dibran leaders in the village of Arras nearPëshkopi under the guidance of Elez Isufi. In the middle of August, the resistance fighters began their campaign by liberating Pëshkopi.[4] As a close ally of fellow leaderBajram Curri, Isufi led yet another armed uprising inDibra on 15 August 1921 to free the region from Serbian occupation, and the fighting continued up until December 1921.[1]
When the so-called "Republic of Mirdita" began its uprising with the aid of Serb forces in 1921, Elez Isufi mobilised 1,000 fighters from Reçi, Dardha, Çidhnë and Lurë to fight against the pro-Serb forces and forced a unit of mercenaries to retreat to Arras, leaving them with around 100 dead troops.[4]
Elez Isufi took part in the uprising against the regime ofAhmet Zogu on 1 March 1922, in which Isufi's Dibran fighters were able to occupyTirana.[1] Isufi supported the Albanian patriot and political activistFan Noli during theJune Revolution of 1924, in which Ahmet Zogu was briefly overthrown by a democratic government before returning from exile with the aid of theYugoslavs. Isufi was killed whilst fighting against pro-Zogist Yugoslav troops in the end of 1924.[1][4]
Elez Isufi was the father ofCen Elezi, a prominent Albanian resistance fighter of World War II.[1] Due to the constant trouble he posed to Serbian occupation, hisKulla was burnt down three times by Serb forces.[4]
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