Xhemail Hasani aka Xhemë "Xhemo" Hasa–Gostivari, was in charge of the 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...

 activities in western Macedonia

Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

.

Early life

Xhem Hasa grew up in a poor family with many children. During his childhood, up until his early stages of adulthood, Xhem worked as a farmer on his family's farm. The Hasa family experienced at first hand the cruelty of the Serbian regime. It was through this experience which led to Xhem leaving the life of a farmer and becoming a soldier.

Royal Albanian Army

Xhem left his home in Simnica and went to Albania to join the Albanian army. In the Albanian Army, Xhem was sent to the south of Albania to fight in the front line. His involvement helped Albania retain its borders and stop the advancement of the Greeks. For his success and brilliance in the army, King Zog promoted him to Army Officer of Albania.

World War II

With the onset of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, Xhem returned to Gostivar in 1941. In Gostivar, Xhem gathered Albanians from around to form a group of fighters. With his army, Xhem Hasa liberated Gostivar. In the autumn of 1943, Germany occupied all of Albania after Italy was defeated. The 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...

 made a deal with the Germans and formed a ‘neutral government’ in 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...

 which continued its war with the LNC and Yugoslav Partisans.. Xhem Hasa and his battalion was incorporated into the Balli Kombëtar. Hasa's victories in battles led him to being the Commander of the Balli Kombëtar in Macedonia. Xhem's Ballists, as well as the other Balli Kombëtar units from other Albanians, liberated the rest of the Albanian-populated lands. This resulted in the unification of the Albanians and forming a greater Albanian state.

However, both Yugoslav and Albanian partisans casually harassed the ballist forces. When Maqellarë

Maqellarë

Maqellarë is a municipality in the Dibër District, Dibër County, northeastern Albania.-Demographics:Maqellare is inhabited by both Albanians and Macedonians, the latter whom are not officially recognised by the Albanian government....

, midway between Debar

Debar

Debar is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the border with Albania, on the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality.-Geography:...

 and Peshkopi

Peshkopi

Peshkopi is a city in Dibër District, Dibër County, northeastern Albania.It is located away from Tirana, the capital of Albania, and from the Macedonian border. It is situated at 41°40'N and 20°25'. It sits above sea level. In the 2004 census, there were approximately 14,100 residents. It is...

, was recaptured by the Fifth Partisan Brigade, the Germans with the assistance of the Ballist forces of Xhem Hasa launched an attack from Debar, defeating the partisans. Fiqri Dine

Fiqri Dine

Colonel Fiqri Dine was Prime Minister of Albania's Quisling government under Nazi Germany. He was the chieftain of the Dine clan from Debar.-Prime minister:...

, Xhem Hasa and Hysni Dema as well as three German Majors directed Millitary campaigns against the Albanian and Yugoslav partisans. Hasa was a close acquaintance of Mefail Shehu

Mefail Shehu

Mefail Shehu was known as Mefail i madhe and Mefail Zajazi. A Balli Kombetar military commander and leader of the Kicevo region. Was a close associate of Xhem Hasa.-History:...

 and would often send troops from Gostivar

Gostivar

Gostivar , is a city in the Republic of Macedonia, located in the upper Polog valley region. It is one of the largest municipalities in the country with a population of 81,042, and the town also covers . Gostivar has good road and railway connections with the other cities in the region, such as...

 and Tetovo

Tetovo

Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River.The city covers an area of at above sea level, with a population of 86,580 citizens in the municipality. Tetovo is home to the State University of Tetovo and South East...

 to aid him.

Death

The Yugoslav partisans faced difficulty when fighting with Xhem Hasa. This resulted in the Yugoslav partisans in bribing a close associate of Xhems to assassinate him. On May 6, 1945, Xhem Hasa was killed by a close associate. It has been rumored that the associate was his brother in-law.

Legacy

Xhem Hasa was one of the most well known Ballists in World War II. 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...

, Communist leader of Albania, had a great dislike of Xhem Hasa and the Ballists of Gostivar and Tetovo. After the break up of Yugoslavia, a statue of Xhem Hasa was erected in Gostivar.