Terenc Toçi

Terenc Toçi
Chairperson of Parliament
In office
1940–1943
Preceded by Pandeli Evangjeli
Succeeded by Lef Nosi
Personal details
Born (1880-03-09)9 March 1880
San Cosmo Albanese, Calabria, Kingdom of Italy
Died 18 March 1945(1945-03-18) (aged 65)
Tirana, Albania
Religion Roman Catholicism

Terenc Toçi (Italian: Terenzio Tocci, Arbërisht: Terenc Toçi, Terenc Toqi; 1880–1945) was an Albanian politician of Arbëresh origins. Distinguished for patriotic activities before the Albanian independence he went on to serve during World War II as Chairman of the Superior Fascist Corporative Council (Albanian: Këshilli i Epërm Korporativ Fashist) from 1940 to 1943.[1] In 1945 Tocci was condemned in communist Albania for high treason and collaboration with fascism and sentenced to death.

Biography

Terenc Toçi was born Terenzio Tocci on 9 March 1880 in San Cosmo Albanese, Calabria, Kingdom of Italy, so he was Italian by birth . He received a degree in law. In 1908-09 he went to the United States and conducted a campaign of sensibilization for the Albanian-Americans on the necessity of Albania's independence.[2]

Later on Toçi went to Albania and participated in the Albanian Revolt of 1910 and that of 1911. On April 26, 1911 he gathered the Mirdite chieftains in Orosh and proclaimed the independence of Albania and a provisory government.[3]

He was one of the participants of the Albanian Congress of Trieste in 1913.[4]

Toçi served in Albanian governments of King Zog prior to the Italian Invasion as Minister of National Economy.[5]

During the Italian presence in Albania in World War II Toçi served at the Superior Fascist Corporative Council (Albanian: Këshilli i Epërm Korporativ Fashist) as a member of the parliament, most notably as its Chairman from 1940 to 1943.[1]

After World War II Toçi was accused in Communist Albania for high treason and collaboration with Nazi Germany. The trial started on March 1, 1945, and was headed by Koçi Xoxe, then head of the political police. It is not known if Toçi was given the chance to defend himself in trial. The verdict was given on March 13, 1945. Toçi, along with 16 other people, were condemned to death. The execution occurred one day later, on March 14, 1945. Toçi and the others were all thrown in a common grave.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 - Republika e Shqipërisë KUVEND. Tiranë 2005
  2. ↑ Marchianò, Francesco. "Terenzio Tocci: una vita per l'Albania". Nga Gajdhuret.
  3. ↑ Elsie, Robert (2004), Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, p. 444, ISBN 978-0-8108-4872-6, OCLC 52347600, Tocci Torenzio....On 26 April 1911 he gathered the chieftains of Mirdita near Orosh and proclaimed independence of Albania, hoisting the Albanian flag for the first time after the death of Skanderbeg
  4. ↑ Elsie, Robert (2004), Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, p. 445, ISBN 978-0-8108-4872-6, OCLC 52347600, Tocci Torenzio....he took part in the Congress of Trieste
  5. ↑ Shqiperia me 1937, pg. 41
  6. ↑ Caccamo, Francesco (April 1, 2014). "Gjyqi special i Terenc Tocit, arbereshit te pushkatuar me 1945". Panorama.
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