Themistokli Gërmenji
Encyclopedia
Themistokli Gërmenji was one of the activists of the Albanian National Awakening, the leader of the Albanian irregulars from 1909 to 1914, and the prefect of police
of Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
from 1916 to 1917.
he left for Bucharest
when he was 21. There he fell under the influence of Albanian nationalistic societies. He moved from Bucharest
to Bitolj where he and his brother established a hotel
named Liria (Freedom). That hotel was a centre of Albanian activists of the Albanian National Awakening for planning the Congress of Monastir and Albanian revolts in the period 1909—1912
. Gërmenji was a supporter of the cooperation with Bulgarians
. In 1911 he was declared persona non grata
in Greece because he refused to accept not to carry on nationalistic
propaganda south of Vlora as a condition for cooperation with the Greek authorities against the Ottoman Empire
. While operating between Saranda and Gjirokastra, attempting to capture the military supplies of Ottoman army, he was seized and imprisoned in Ioannina
. He led one of two groups of Albanian irregulars the region of Korçë, when Albania
was fragmented during the First World War (the other was led by Sali Butka
).
, which was occupied by the armies of Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria
during Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian occupation of Albania
. The French officers appointed a commission led by Gërmenji.
The commission held a meeting on December 10 at 9 a.m. in the Saint George's School and Gërmenji gave a speech to the gathered men; after the meeting he led the commission to the prefecture. In the prefecture they met with Colonel Descoins and other French officers. Haki Shemshedini approached Colonel Descoins on behalf of the commission. Colonel Descoins informed the commission that they should sign a protocol, which they did: the protocol stipulated that an autonomous province would be established on the territories of Korçë, Bilishti, Kolonja, Opar
and Gora. It was also agreed that the 14 members of the commission would make up the administrative council, responsible for maintaining the order.
On December 10, 1916, Henry Descoin, the commander of the French garrison of Korçë
, after the approval from Maurice Sarrail
, declared the Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
, and appointed Gërmenji as prefect
. The new authorities in Korçë organized the police force and gendarmerie
, a post office
system and issued the postage stamps.
Gërmenji was awarded with the Croix de guerre
on November 18, 1917, because he participated in the French capture of Pogradec with the battalion from Korçë. At the end of 1917, however, Gërmenji was accused of collaboration with the Central Powers
and executed in Thesaloniki after being sentenced to death by a French military court. It later became clear that members of the tribunal had been led astray by Greek informers who wished Germenji removed, since he was a powerful Albanian leader.
Prefecture of Police
The Prefecture of Police , headed by the Prefect of Police , is an agency of the Government of France which provides the police force for the city of Paris and the surrounding three suburban départements of Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, and Val-de-Marne...
of Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
The Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë was an autonomous state established in 1916, by the local French forces, after the city of Korçë fell under their control, during World War I and lasted till 1920....
from 1916 to 1917.
Biography
Gërmenji was born in Korçë in 1871. After he received his first education in KorçëKorçë
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...
he left for Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
when he was 21. There he fell under the influence of Albanian nationalistic societies. He moved from Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
to Bitolj where he and his brother established a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
named Liria (Freedom). That hotel was a centre of Albanian activists of the Albanian National Awakening for planning the Congress of Monastir and Albanian revolts in the period 1909—1912
Albanian Revolt of 1912
The Albanian Revolt of 1912 was one of many Albanian revolts in the Ottoman Empire and lasted from January until August 1912. After a series of successes, Albanian revolutionaries managed to capture the city of Skopje, the administrative centre of Kosovo vilayet within the Ottoman rule...
. Gërmenji was a supporter of the cooperation with Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
. In 1911 he was declared persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
in Greece because he refused to accept not to carry on nationalistic
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
propaganda south of Vlora as a condition for cooperation with the Greek authorities against the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. While operating between Saranda and Gjirokastra, attempting to capture the military supplies of Ottoman army, he was seized and imprisoned in Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
. He led one of two groups of Albanian irregulars the region of Korçë, when Albania
Albania (toponym)
The toponym Albania may indicate several different geographical regions: a country in the Balkans; an ancient land in the Caucasus; as well as Scotland, Albania being a Latinization of a Gaelic name for Scotland, Alba...
was fragmented during the First World War (the other was led by Sali Butka
Sali Butka
Sali Butka was an Albanian nationalist figure, kachak, poet, and one of the delegates of the city of Korçë to the Albanian National Congress of Lushnjë.Butka was born in village Butkë of Kolonjë District...
).
Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
French officers had a meeting with Gërmenji on November 24, 1916, before the French army occupied Korçë on November 29. Themistokli Gërmenji came to Korçë from PogradecPogradec
Pogradec is a city in southeastern Albania, situated on the shores of Ohrid lake. It is the capital of the District of Pogradec, in the County of Korçë, located at 40.87°N and 20.70°E with a population of around 30,000 . The total area of the district is 725 km². Pogradec alone occupies about...
, which was occupied by the armies of Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria
Bulgarian occupation of Albania
Bulgarian occupation of Albania refers to the occupation of Albania by the Kingdom of Bulgaria's army during World War I. It lasted between December 10, 1915, when Bulgarian army crossed the Drin river and entered the Albania, and lasted until September 9, 1917, when French troops captured...
during Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian occupation of Albania
Bulgarian occupation of Albania
Bulgarian occupation of Albania refers to the occupation of Albania by the Kingdom of Bulgaria's army during World War I. It lasted between December 10, 1915, when Bulgarian army crossed the Drin river and entered the Albania, and lasted until September 9, 1917, when French troops captured...
. The French officers appointed a commission led by Gërmenji.
The commission held a meeting on December 10 at 9 a.m. in the Saint George's School and Gërmenji gave a speech to the gathered men; after the meeting he led the commission to the prefecture. In the prefecture they met with Colonel Descoins and other French officers. Haki Shemshedini approached Colonel Descoins on behalf of the commission. Colonel Descoins informed the commission that they should sign a protocol, which they did: the protocol stipulated that an autonomous province would be established on the territories of Korçë, Bilishti, Kolonja, Opar
Opar, Albania
Opar is a community in the in the Korçë District, Korçë County, Albania.The origin of the noble Albanian family Muzaka, who would later rule in the Muzaka Principality of Berat is from Opar. The masons of the area speak a unique sociolect known as Purishte....
and Gora. It was also agreed that the 14 members of the commission would make up the administrative council, responsible for maintaining the order.
On December 10, 1916, Henry Descoin, the commander of the French garrison of Korçë
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...
, after the approval from Maurice Sarrail
Maurice Sarrail
Maurice-Paul-Emmanuel Sarrail was a French general of the First World War. Sarrail endeared himself to the political elite of the Third Republic through his openly socialist views, all the more conspicuous in contrast to the Catholics, conservatives and monarchists who dominated the French Army...
, declared the Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
The Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë was an autonomous state established in 1916, by the local French forces, after the city of Korçë fell under their control, during World War I and lasted till 1920....
, and appointed Gërmenji as prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
. The new authorities in Korçë organized the police force and gendarmerie
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
, a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
system and issued the postage stamps.
Gërmenji was awarded with the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
on November 18, 1917, because he participated in the French capture of Pogradec with the battalion from Korçë. At the end of 1917, however, Gërmenji was accused of collaboration with the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
and executed in Thesaloniki after being sentenced to death by a French military court. It later became clear that members of the tribunal had been led astray by Greek informers who wished Germenji removed, since he was a powerful Albanian leader.