Northern Epirus Liberation Front
Encyclopedia
The Northern Epirus Liberation Front (MAVI: Metopo Apeleftherosis Voriou Ipirou) also called Northern Epirote Liberation Organization (EAOVI: Ethniki Apeleftherotiki Organosi Vorioipiroton), was an ethnic Greek
resistance group that operated in areas of southern Albania
(Northern Epirus
) during the Italian
and German
occupation of Albania (1942–44). The group operated after the withdrawal of the Greek forces from the area (April 1941), against the invading Italians, Germans and both against the Albanian communist and collaborationist organizations.
, Lunxhëri
, Zagorie, Riza, Himara, Vlorë
, Përmet
, Leskovik
and Korce
. In June 1942 these groups were organized under one leadership and the MAVI (also called EAOVI) was formed. The leading spirit was Vasilios Sahinis
, a native from Douvian (Dropull
).
The organization was a branch of the right-wing EDES that operated in Greece and its headquarters moved from place to place in southern Albania.
, Sarande
(Vourkos) and Rhize sectors guerilla activity by MAVI was increasing. That period the leaders of the organization received a British mission in the village of Polican.
As a result of that activity Italian occupation forces took action, operating with units of the Albanian fascist militia. In March 1943, 160 inhabitants of Korce were sent to concentration camps for suspected underground activities with the Northern Epirote resistance. Moreover, with the help of Balli Kompetar bands, occupation forces outlined plans against villages and towns of Epirote sympathies, in order to demoralize them.
The British Mission proposed that MAVI and the Albanian communist party, LNC, should collaborate to form a stronger force against the Axis and Albanian collaborationists (Balli Kombetar
), and arranged several meetings near Gyrokaster in August–September 1943.
On August 8, representatives of the Northern Epirote resistance, decided to join the communist party only in specific attacks against the Axis, provided that the latter will recognize the autonomy of the region in the post-war period. Although the Albanian communist leaders agreed and assurances of the British allied mission were given, they secretly marked Vasilis Sahinis for liquidation.
troops. Epirote groups were able to take the initiative for a short-time period.
During the period before Italy's surrender until the communist party prevailed (1943–1944) vicious fighting occurred between MAVI and combined armed groups of Germans and Albanian nationalists of Balli Kombetar
(Ballists) The results were devastating, many Ballist's bands looted and burned villages in their paths, shooting the inhabitants by firing squads, despite gender or age, burning the houses, some of which were locked with their occupants inside and hanging the village priests. In some occasions the operations were observed by German officers. In Moscopole
the historic monastery of Saint John Baptist was destroyed as a result of these actions as well as in Bilisht
and Leskovik the Balist bands of Safet Butka
(an upper rank Ballist) resulted in heavy destruction and executions.
Vasilios Sahinis, became targeted by the Albanian police. He was assassinated on November 17, 1943, when the Albanian communist party raided Gjirokastër
In February 1944 the regions that were under the control of the Northern Epirote resistance were taken over by the Partisans of FNC. The last recorded action was during October 1944 when an Epirote band ambushed German troops and captured their officers. However, due to diplomatic failure of the British mission and unprovoked actions of the communist resistance (of Enver Hoxha
), MAVI was doomed.
, and on 10 April 1994, when 2 Albanian officers were killed in a border post on the Greek-Albanian border,
responsibility was claimed by a far-right paramilitary
organization which had the same name.
However, there is no clear link between the two organizations. According to press reports the World War II resistance organization, probably disbanded during the 1940s.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
resistance group that operated in areas of southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
(Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus is a term used to refer to those parts of the historical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans, that are part of the modern Albania. The term is used mostly by Greeks and is associated with the existence of a substantial ethnic Greek population in the region...
) during the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation of Albania (1942–44). The group operated after the withdrawal of the Greek forces from the area (April 1941), against the invading Italians, Germans and both against the Albanian communist and collaborationist organizations.
History
In May 1942, the first Northern Epirote resistance groups appeared in the area of Delvina led by two locals and former officers of the Greek army: Spyridon Lytos and Ioannis Videlis. Soon several resistance groups were formed by the local Greek population all over southern Albania. They were operating in the regions: PogonPogon, Albania
Pogon is a municipality in the Gjirokastër District, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. It consists of seven villages: Poliçan, Skore, Hllomo, Sopik, Mavrojer, Çatistë and Selckë, of which Poliçan is the administrative center. Greek is widely spoken in the villages.Historically each village of...
, Lunxhëri
Lunxhëri
Lunxhëri is a municipality in the district of Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër County, Albania. The municipality consists of the villages Qestorat, Dhoksat, Këllëz, Mingul, Nokovë, Erind, Gjat, Kakoz, Karjan and Valare....
, Zagorie, Riza, Himara, Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
, Përmet
Përmet
Përmet is a town in Albania, capital of Përmet District. The population is 7,717. It is flanked by the Vjosë river, which runs along the Trebeshinë-Dhëmbel-Nemërçkë mountain chain, between Trebeshinë and Dhëmbel mountains, and through the Këlcyra gorge....
, Leskovik
Leskovik
Leskovik is a municipality in the Kolonjë District, Korçë County, southeastern Albania. Leskovik came under Ottoman rule in 15th century and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina.-Notable people:*Ibrahim Sirri Leskoviku, Albanian politician....
and Korce
Korçë
Korçë is a city in southeastern Albania and the capital of the Korçë District. It has a population of around 105,000 people , making it the sixth largest city in Albania...
. In June 1942 these groups were organized under one leadership and the MAVI (also called EAOVI) was formed. The leading spirit was Vasilios Sahinis
Vasilios Sahinis
Vasilios Sachinis , was the leader of the Northern Epirote Liberation Front .Sachinis was born at the villages of Dhovjan in Dropull area and became a prosperous businessman in Gjirokastër...
, a native from Douvian (Dropull
Dropull
Dropull is a predominantly Greek-inhabited region in Gjirokastër District, in southern Albania. The region stretches from south of the city of Gjirokastër to the Greek-Albanian border, along the Drinos river. The region's villages are part of the Greek "minority zone" recognized by the Albanian...
).
The organization was a branch of the right-wing EDES that operated in Greece and its headquarters moved from place to place in southern Albania.
Italian occupation
Widespread action was taken by the Northern Epirote resistance in December 1942, when attacks on Italian controlled frontier posts and gendarmerie stations increased. In the regions of Zagorie, Pogon, DelvineDelvinë
Delvinë is a small town in Vlorë County in southern Albania, 16 km northeast of Saranda. Delvinë is the seat of the Delvinë District. Delvinë has lost over a third of its citizens since 1990, having a population of 4,200 .The city is built on a mountain slope...
, Sarande
Sarandë District
The District of Sarandë is one of the thirty-six districts of Albania, found in southern Albania, in the County of Vlorë.The area of the district is 749 square kilometers. The population of the district was 48,474 . According to the census of January 1993, it was 53,700.The centre of the district...
(Vourkos) and Rhize sectors guerilla activity by MAVI was increasing. That period the leaders of the organization received a British mission in the village of Polican.
As a result of that activity Italian occupation forces took action, operating with units of the Albanian fascist militia. In March 1943, 160 inhabitants of Korce were sent to concentration camps for suspected underground activities with the Northern Epirote resistance. Moreover, with the help of Balli Kompetar bands, occupation forces outlined plans against villages and towns of Epirote sympathies, in order to demoralize them.
The British Mission proposed that MAVI and the Albanian communist party, LNC, should collaborate to form a stronger force against the Axis and Albanian collaborationists (Balli Kombetar
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...
), and arranged several meetings near Gyrokaster in August–September 1943.
On August 8, representatives of the Northern Epirote resistance, decided to join the communist party only in specific attacks against the Axis, provided that the latter will recognize the autonomy of the region in the post-war period. Although the Albanian communist leaders agreed and assurances of the British allied mission were given, they secretly marked Vasilis Sahinis for liquidation.
German occupation
In September 1943 Italy surrendered to the Allies and her place in Albania was taken by GermanNazi 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...
troops. Epirote groups were able to take the initiative for a short-time period.
During the period before Italy's surrender until the communist party prevailed (1943–1944) vicious fighting occurred between MAVI and combined armed groups of Germans and Albanian nationalists of Balli Kombetar
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...
(Ballists) The results were devastating, many Ballist's bands looted and burned villages in their paths, shooting the inhabitants by firing squads, despite gender or age, burning the houses, some of which were locked with their occupants inside and hanging the village priests. In some occasions the operations were observed by German officers. In Moscopole
Moscopole
Moscopole was a cultural and commercial center of the Aromanians, and now a small municipality in Korçë District, modern southeastern Albania. At its peak, in the mid 18th century, it hosted the first printing press in the Balkans outside Istanbul, educational institutions and numerous churches...
the historic monastery of Saint John Baptist was destroyed as a result of these actions as well as in Bilisht
Bilisht
Bilisht is a city of about 12,000 people. It is the local capital of Devoll District, south-eastern Albania. The city is 9 km from the border with Greece at Kapshticë. The closest Greek town across the border is Krystallopigi in the Florina Prefecture. Bilisht is at about 800–850 meters above...
and Leskovik the Balist bands of Safet Butka
Safet Butka
Safet Butka was an Albanian professor, politician and nationalist. Son of famous patriot Sali Butka, he organized the student demonstrations in April 1939 during the Italian invasion and was interned in Ventotene. Upon his return he organized antifascist movements in his native region and was one...
(an upper rank Ballist) resulted in heavy destruction and executions.
Vasilios Sahinis, became targeted by the Albanian police. He was assassinated on November 17, 1943, when the Albanian communist party raided Gjirokastër
In February 1944 the regions that were under the control of the Northern Epirote resistance were taken over by the Partisans of FNC. The last recorded action was during October 1944 when an Epirote band ambushed German troops and captured their officers. However, due to diplomatic failure of the British mission and unprovoked actions of the communist resistance (of Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
), MAVI was doomed.
Aftermath
In Axis-supported Balli Kombëtar attacks and crimes against villages and towns, over 2,000 Northern Epirotes were killed, 5,000 imprisoned, and 2,000 taken hostages to concentration camps. Moreover 15,000 homes, schools and church were destroyed.Attacks in 80s and 90s
In 1984, when a car bomb killed the Albanian ambassador in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and on 10 April 1994, when 2 Albanian officers were killed in a border post on the Greek-Albanian border,
responsibility was claimed by a far-right paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization which had the same name.
However, there is no clear link between the two organizations. According to press reports the World War II resistance organization, probably disbanded during the 1940s.