Shote Galica

Azem Galica and Shota Galica

Shote Galica (1895 - 1927), born as Qerime Halil Radisheva was a Kackak of the Albanian insurgent national liberation with the goal of unification of all Albanian territories, and supporting a democratic national government in Albania. She has been declared a People's Heroine of Albania.^[1]

She was born in Radisheve village of Drenica region, today's Kosovo. She was the sister of 6 brothers. She married Azem Galica in 1915.^[2]

Despite the culture traditionally disapproving of female fighters, she fought for 12 years against the Serbian, Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian states.

Shote Galica took part in more than 40 important military actions against enemies. She opposed Serbian rule, and wished to instill an Albanian power. In 1919 took part in the Uprising of Dukagjini against Serbian rule, while 1922-1923 fought to protect Junik Neutral Zone, which served as a basis for Kosovo uprising of Malesia.^[1]

In July 1924 she took part in the struggle for Drenica (Arbania e Vogël, Little Albania). In July 1924 after the death of her husband Azem Galica, she continued to fight and lead Kosovar-Albanian warriors. Along with hundreds of fighters from the former Kosovo Province in December 1924, interventionist armies fought against Royal Yugoslav forces. She lost 22 of her family members in combat at the hands of the national security forces.

By the end of 1926 Shote Galica moved to Albania and settled in the village of Shullaz near Fushe-Kruje, together with a very few men. She had also with her 4 orphans, all children of fallen co-fighters.^[3] All her requests towards the Albanian government were ignored. She died abandoned in poverty in 1927.

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