Mehdi Bej Frashëri
Encyclopedia
Mehdi Frashëri (1872–1963) was an Albanian
politician. He served as Prime Minister of Albania twice and was a supporter of Balli Kombëtar
. Mehdi Frasheri helped writing the Albanian Civil code. At May 17, 1914, he was the Albanian representative that signed the Protocol of Corfu
. He was the cousin of Mit’hat Frashëri.
. Mehdi Frashëri is from the notable Frashëri family. He studied in Vienna and served as governor of Jerusalem under the Ottomans, mayor of Durres
under Prince Wied, and minister of the interior in 1920. During the 1930s he held a myriad of significant posts, including prime minister from 1935 to 1936.
Frasheri was against Benito Mussolini
and disliked the his policy of invading Albania. Frasheri took it upon himself to broad cast scathing attacks against the invasion as well as address a remonstrance to Mussolini. Following the departer of the government of Tirana
, he urged
young men with revolvers to distribute themselves to preserve order. When the invading troops were at the gates he sought asylum in the Turkish Legation, continuing to refuse to sign a declaration in support of the Italians. His personal courage impressed even the German minister, who successfully appealed to Rome to allow Frasheri to return home. Despite Italian guarantees, Frasheri was soon arrested and interned in Italy.
Frasheri, Who had sympathy for the Germans partly because he had studied in Austria, worked with German minister Erich von Luckwald, in the hopes of establishing closer relations and to gain some protection for the Albanians from the Italians.
took control of the Balkans. The Germans were appraised of his significance and began to search for him immediately after the invasion. Frasheri was found and agreed, on 16 September, to return to Tirana
for talks with Hermann Neubacher
, Major Franz von Scheiger and Herr Schliep. After the end of the meeting, it was agreed that Albania would have its own sovereignty under Nazi Germany, similar to the Independent State of Croatia
.
Frasheri agreed to serve as regent as well as head the council. The leadership of the council was originally designed to rotate, but Lef Nosi
declined for heath reasons and Anton Harapi argued that as a Catholic monk he could accept no position in which he would be forced to sanction the death penalty. On November 3, 1943, Frasheri stepped down as Prime Minister and Rexhep Mitrovica
took over. The Germans insisted that Frasheri still remain the head of the regency council.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
politician. He served as Prime Minister of Albania twice and was a supporter of Balli Kombëtar
Balli Kombëtar
Balli Kombëtar was an Albanian nationalist, anti-communist and anti-monarchy organization established in October 1939. It was led by Ali Këlcyra and Mit’hat Frashëri...
. Mehdi Frasheri helped writing the Albanian Civil code. At May 17, 1914, he was the Albanian representative that signed the Protocol of Corfu
Protocol of Corfu
The Protocol of Corfu , signed on May 17, 1914, was an agreement between representatives of the Albanian Government and the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus, which officially recognized the area of Northern Epirus as an autonomous region within the Albanian state...
. He was the cousin of Mit’hat Frashëri.
Early life
Mehdi Frashëri was born on 28th of February, 1872 in GjirokastërGjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
. Mehdi Frashëri is from the notable Frashëri family. He studied in Vienna and served as governor of Jerusalem under the Ottomans, mayor of Durres
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
under Prince Wied, and minister of the interior in 1920. During the 1930s he held a myriad of significant posts, including prime minister from 1935 to 1936.
Italian occupation
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
and disliked the his policy of invading Albania. Frasheri took it upon himself to broad cast scathing attacks against the invasion as well as address a remonstrance to Mussolini. Following the departer of the government of Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
, he urged
young men with revolvers to distribute themselves to preserve order. When the invading troops were at the gates he sought asylum in the Turkish Legation, continuing to refuse to sign a declaration in support of the Italians. His personal courage impressed even the German minister, who successfully appealed to Rome to allow Frasheri to return home. Despite Italian guarantees, Frasheri was soon arrested and interned in Italy.
Frasheri, Who had sympathy for the Germans partly because he had studied in Austria, worked with German minister Erich von Luckwald, in the hopes of establishing closer relations and to gain some protection for the Albanians from the Italians.
Balli Kombëtar
After the capitulation of Italy, Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
took control of the Balkans. The Germans were appraised of his significance and began to search for him immediately after the invasion. Frasheri was found and agreed, on 16 September, to return to Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
for talks with Hermann Neubacher
Hermann Neubacher
Hermann Neubacher was an Austrian Nazi politician who held a number of diplomatic posts in the Third Reich. During the Second World War, he was appointed as the leading German official for the Balkans.-Austrian activism:...
, Major Franz von Scheiger and Herr Schliep. After the end of the meeting, it was agreed that Albania would have its own sovereignty under Nazi Germany, similar to the Independent State of Croatia
Independent State of Croatia
The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...
.
Frasheri agreed to serve as regent as well as head the council. The leadership of the council was originally designed to rotate, but Lef Nosi
Lef Nosi
Lef Nosi was an Albanian politician and collaborationist during the Second World War. He was one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence. Nosi was the first Minister of Post and Telegraphs of Albania...
declined for heath reasons and Anton Harapi argued that as a Catholic monk he could accept no position in which he would be forced to sanction the death penalty. On November 3, 1943, Frasheri stepped down as Prime Minister and Rexhep Mitrovica
Rexhep Mitrovica
Rexhep Mitrovica was an Albanian politician and land owner. He served as Prime Minister of Albania in 1943-1944 and was the longest serving Prime minister for the Balli Kombetar.-Early life:...
took over. The Germans insisted that Frasheri still remain the head of the regency council.