Abaz Kupi

Abaz Kupi
Abaz Kupi
Founder of the Legaliteti movement
Personal details
Born August 6, 1892
Akçahisar, Ottoman Empire, now Albania
Died 17 January 1976 (aged 83)
New York, USA
Nationality Albania Albanian
Political party Legaliteti
Occupation Politician

Abaz Kupi (1892–1976) or Abas Kupi also known as Bazi i Canës, was an Albanian officier commander of the gendarmerie of the town of Kruja, and later of the town of Durres (Durazzo). He is also known for his role during World War II. As a royalist, he created the Legality Movement in Albania, which promoted the return to the throne of Zog of Albania. During the Cold War Kupi is member of the Albanian Free Committee, which intended to overthrow the communist regime in Albania and to return the monarchy.

He was also honored by the Military Order of Bravery.[1]

Early life

Abaz Kupi was born in 6 August 1892, in the Varosh neighborhood of Akçahisar (now Krujë). Through his activity in World War I, he entered the service of Essad Pasha Toptani. In 1922 he took part in the coup d'état of Elez Isufi that attacked Tirana to overthrow the government, but the rebels were defeated by the courage of Captain Prenk Pervizi and their soldiers come to the aid of Ahmet Zog, back then Minister of Interior. British Ambassador Hayres persuaded Elez Isufi to return to Dibra.
During the revolution of 1924, Abaz Kupi remained neutral and, when Ahmet Zogu returned, his friend Prenk Pervizi brought him close to Zogu, who made him head of the gendarme of Kruja with the rank of captain. The Italian invasion of Albania found Kupi with the rank of major in Durrës, but he was not capable of organizing the defense and had to flee before he was taken by the Italians. With the Italian invasion complete, Kupi moved to Turkey, where he remained until there was a new opportunity to fight the Italians. His family deported in south Italia.[2]

World War II activity

When the United Kingdom entered World War II the British forces were looking into possibilities of creating an antifascist resistance in Albania. The best fit figures were Muharrem Bajraktari, Prenk Pervizil Hysni Dema, Fiqri Dine, Gjon Markagjoni, Myslym Peza, and Mustafa Gjinishi (a communist). Abaz Kupi went from Turkey to Yugoslavia to meet with Colonel Stirling, a British officer, with the intention of leading the resistance.[3] The Yugoslav government was against such action, but when a German attack on Yugoslavia was imminent it gave the green light. On 7 April 1941, a small group led by Abaz Kupi, Xhemal Herri, Gani Kryeziu, and Mustafa Gjinishi with the support of Muharrem Bajraktari entered Albania from the Yugoslav frontier. Because of poor supplies and lack of coordination, the expedition was trapped in the mountainous regions of northern Albania and failed. Captain Xhemal Herri, chief of secret services of King Zog and his faithful man, was treacherously killed by Abaz Kupi in Kruja in 1943 in obscure circumstances. This crime was a great shame and indelible stain for Kupi.[4]

Abaz Kupi collaborated with the communists and was elected a member of the General Council of the National Liberation Movement known as LANÇ, although he was not a communist. Kupi participated in the Mukje Agreement organized by the Balli Kombëtar (National Front) and LANÇ as part of LANÇ. He is one of the signatories of the agreement. Soon after the event, he was forced to leave the National Liberation Front and created the Legality Movement, which aimed for the return of King Zog to Albania. Apart from some sporadic fighting in September 1943 in Krujë (while he was still part of the National Liberation Front of the communists) and in June 1944, his forces did not attack German troops, although pressed to do so by the British mission, which was established with them. The British mission was protected by General Prenk Pervizi, one of the most important nationalist personalities and head of the Albanian army. When the Albanian communists First Storm Division attacked in northern Albania from August to October 1944, the British mission left Albania. Anti-communist leaders fled to the mountains in agreement with the Allies. Instead, Kupi fled by boat and was taken by the Italians and put in prison in Ancona, and then liberated by Allied troops.[5]

Postwar activities

After his arrival in Italy (having been rescued by an Italian military ship but presumed lost at sea with his companions), Kupi was liberated by Allied troops from Ancona prison and then kept in a refugee camp. Menwhile, the communists had taken over in Albania, pushing several important nationalist, Zogist, and anti-communist personalities to exile, including Muharrem Bajraktari, Fiqri Dine, Prenk Pervizi, Abaz Kupi, Abaz Ermenji, and others.[6] In 1949, the Albanians formed in Paris the Free Albania Committee with President Midhat Frasheri. As part of the Committee, Kupi met with U.S. State Department representatives.[7] Kupi continued his anti-communist activity until he died in New York in January 1976.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Albanian Royal Family - Royal Decorations and Warrents". Albanianroyalcourt.al. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  2. ↑ Undercover, the Men and Women of the Special Operations Executive Author Patrick Howarth Edition illustrated Publisher Routledge, 1980 ISBN 0-7100-0573-3, ISBN 978-0-7100-0573-1 p. 60
  3. ↑ Pearson 2006, p.5
  4. ↑ Nikoll Melyshi, Ngjarje Historike (Historical Facts), Detroit, 1976.
  5. ↑ Undercover, the Men and Women of the Special Operations Executive Author Patrick Howarth Edition illustrated Publisher Routledge, 1980 ISBN 0-7100-0573-3, ISBN 978-0-7100-0573-1 p. 67-68
  6. ↑ Pearson 2007 p.349
  7. ↑ "FRUS: Foreign relations of the United States, 1949. Eastern Europe; the Soviet Union: Albania". Digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  8. ↑ Pearson 2007 p.633

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