Roland Qafoku
If Serbia held Kosovo for almost 100 years, during this century that land has been washed with the blood of men and women who fought with weapons in hand against reprisals and genocide. That's what happened on that hot Tuesday, July 22, 1924, when a bullet from a Serb's rifle seriously wounded Azem Galica, causing his death four days later.
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER
After midnight on July 21, 1924, about two thousand soldiers accompanied by 12 cannons of the Yugoslav army entered Kosovo by attacking the villages of Galicë, Mikushnicë and Lybavec. The objective was the mass annihilation of Albanians who had resisted Serbian rule.
Among them, the main objective was to kill Azem Galica and his braves, therefore the siege of his tower was the most important part of the plan of this attack. But, although unprepared, the resistance of Azem Galica and all his troops, supported by the entire population of the area, was heroic. During the fighting, a bullet hit him in the right shoulder, but the wound was not serious and he continued fighting, even though he was wounded.
After eight hours of fighting with 84 brave men killed against 94 Serbs killed, Azem Galica with his wife Shota, and the brave men, manage to find a path to avoid the encirclement. It was 16:00 on July 22, 1924 when two gendarmes were following him from behind, shooting at him.
Another bullet hit the necklace of spare cartridges he wore in his belt and this caused the gunpowder of several cartridges to explode, causing severe damage to his spine. From this moment Azem Galica was paralyzed.
Found in this condition, his friends transported him by placing him on a stretcher prepared with circumstantial means. After three days of travel with several stops, Azem Galica died in the hands of his fellow soldiers and his wife Shota. It was 06:00 a.m., July 25, when he died while giving his last rites.
AZEMI AND SERBIA
In order to better understand who Azem Galica was and how important he was, it is enough to bring a statement by the deputy of Kosovo, Jovan Magovčevičqi, in the Parliament of Belgrade, on October 11, 1923, irritated by his activity: "Gentlemen, I have two votes, one as a regular deputy of the People's Assembly and one as a foreign deputy of the state of Azem Galica".
The great political and diplomatic circles of Europe spoke about the war in Little Arberia. The press of that time had this battle as raw material: "In the desperate war that took place, 150 Albanians were wounded. Some of these have come to Kruma for rescue... Of course Azemi is not known where he is".
It is worth mentioning that at these moments, the call that seems to ring out even today came out as a dedication: "Wait for Azem Galican"!
TOMB FROM THE CAVE IN A MEMORIAL COMPLEX
It was one of Azem Galica's bequests to bury him in a safe, secret and deep place, so that the Serbs would not find his body.
His wife and friends buried him in a place where he would stay for 47 years. In the 73-meter-deep cave "Chuku ce trjet" of Mount Perceva, his tomb is more like those of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
In 1974, the remains were exhumed from there and buried in the family cemetery in Galicia.
It took 96 years for the remains and grave of Azem Galica to receive the honor it deserved. On August 19, 2016, the state of Kosovo paid official tribute to its hero.
As the remains of Azem Galica were buried for the second time, the participants of the ceremony saw with their own eyes a hero who believed that Kosovo would one day be independent and freed from Serbian chains.
ISA BOLETINI, AZEM GALICA, ADEM JASHARI
The three symbolic heroes of Kosovo have a strange connection between them. In 1909, as the Kosovar insurgents marched on horseback to Drenica to fight against the Serbs, Isa Boletini was impressed by a 20-year-old boy leading his brave men many times his age.
After asking who he was and the companions told him that he was the son of Bejta Galica, Isa Boletini approached him and said: "Good morning, brave boy. You decided to carry on the legacy of your father, his way of war. My heart became a mountain, because Bejta is not dead".
On July 25, 1990, while bowing respectfully at the grave of Azem Galica, Adem Jashari swore that he would continue the path of freedom in his name.
Isa Boletini, Azem Galica and Adem Jashari, were killed by the Serbs, becoming a symbol of the fight for freedom.
Shote Galica was at every moment during Azem's fights, when he was injured until he passed away. In 1926 Shote Galica moved to live in Shullaz in Fushë-Kruja and died there a year later, on July 3, 1927, in misery and neglected by the state of Ahmet Zogut, president at that time. /Taken from the book "The 100 most sensational murders in the history of the Albanian state 1912-2017"/
Promo
Advertise herePrigozhin - Putin war
More
104.5m² comfort - Luxurious apartment with an attractive view for your offices

Invest in your future - buy a flat in 'Arbëri' now! ID-140

Apartment for sale in Fushë Kosovë in a perfect location - 80.5m², price 62,000 Euro! ID-254

Ideal for office - apartment for rent ID-253 in the center of Pristina

Buy the house of your dreams in Pristina - DISCOUNT, grab the opportunity now! ID-123
Most read

"Stay strong and don't stop smiling" - Getinjo's message of support for Gjesti

Ismajli to Newborn: I saved it from our parties – I did not leave a message of Vetevendosje on the monument

Two Rayo Vallecano players agree: We don't know why the goal against Barcelona was disallowed

Munich Security Conference chairman could not hold back tears during farewell speech

Sejdiu: Thaçi has read the declaration of independence, he has not proclaimed it

Elections, five key issues facing Germany's next chancellor