File of Albanian students of Thessalonica

Abstract

The book written by Lek Zezaj titled: “Çeta e studenteve shqiptarëve të Selanikut” (Thessalonica’s File of Albanian Students), published in Tirana in 1944, by “Atdheu” printing press, as the author of this writing documents is a publication of interest, which reflects the incessant and selfless efforts of the people and especially of our youth in the years long struggle for freedom and independence of the homeland against centuries long Ottoman rule.
Furthermore, this writing speaks about a military file that was run by patriot Albanian teachers, leaders and activists of the club with the same name, Sali Gjuka and Dervish Hima, who lived in that city.
It was June 1912 when all Albania was in a “cauldron boiling,” situation. From Prevexza to Tivar, from Skopje to the Adriatic, wherever people spoke Albanian, all were ready, with arms in hand, against the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Albanians sought with perseverance and determination “Freedom and self-governance!” not with prayers and in peace, but with arms in hand.
So, students could not remain calm in these conditions. They called unanimously: “Comrades, let’s go to the mountains! Let’s go where our brothers are fighting and being killed; to Kosovo, in revolt, to fight with guns in hand!”
The author shows that the Albanian students were armed and left with pride and firm decision to perform their patriotic mission.
They determined the route to be followed: Thessaloniki-Piraeus- Corfu-Tivar. At the point of arrival, people of Hasan Prishtina with whom Sali Gjuka himself had talked, would receive them. Fighters of this file of students were received onpenarmed everywhere in southern Albania. From Monastery of Cepo they went to the mountain og Çajupit. In the file were 20 people, but that rumor have been spread that 500 with guns in their hands has arised, against the Ottoman occupiers.
Under the new conditions, after th overthrow of the Cabinet of Ittihad in Turkey, as shown in the book in question, it was decided that the military file of students be temporarily dismissed.
But, they were not to quit the goal of “freedom and self-governing”. So, they went to the Monastery of Cepo and together with well-known patriots from Gjirokastra, Delvina, Kurveleshi etc. celebrated thenachieved success.