This biographical list dates between 1950-1952 and is among the documents of the personal library of Kapidan Ndue Gjon Gjomarkaj.

The references to “Tele Nik” are referring to telegrams which were sent to Italy from Kol Cuni “Nik“, who played one of the most important roles in the fight against the communists as a member of the BKI.

(English translation follows)

CARA (MARK CARA): 50 years old from the Bajrak of Selita. Very active, capable and courageous. Fell in the mountains in 1948 fighting with the resistance against the communists. Tele Nik¹ 16.1.50.

COKA (OMAN COKA): Around 50 years old from Arn (Luma). Married with children, landowner, from a good family, trustworthy and enjoying great influence. Went into hiding to fight with the resistance against the communists.

CURANI (LUIGI CURANI of GJON): Around 35 years old from Shkodra, Albania. He completed the Guardia di Finanza school in Rome successfully, reaching the grade of Captain of Finance, distinguishing himself for his capability, breeding as well as trustworthiness and valor. Very useful individual who also enjoys a lot of influence. Was dismissed from service because he was considered anti-communist. Tele Nik 9.9.50.

CURRI (PAL NIK CURRI): 57 years old from Curraj Epor (Nikaj). Landowner and well known (Vojvode)². Belongs to a large family and is uncle to the mother of the brothers Mirakaj.

COBA (KARL COBA of NDOC): Around 45 years old from Shkodra. Married to a first cousin of Prof. Koliqi. Has a law degree and during the Union was Vice-Director General of P.S. Albania. Is the son of the great patriot Ndoc Coba from Shkodra. The Coba family, whose origins go back to the Venetian era (XV Century) is one of the primaries of the Catholic part of Shkodra. In 1943 he had a period of spiritual disbandment, but now after the father died while suffering in a gloomy red prison he considers himself a decisive anti-communist, which, with the prestige of the family name can be very useful to the national cause. Tele Nik July 1951, in fact reports him as a member of the Committee of the “League of the Mountains”, a national clandestine organization working for the reversal of the current red regime.

COKU (MARKA PRENG COKU): Around 35 years old from Mashterkore (Orosh), married with children. Ex-Sargeant Major of the Albanian Gendarmerie, took part in the fight against the communists in Mirdita in 1944. Very able and good, indeed liked by everyone. He is well known and appreciated in Luma and Dibra for his good word. He is a friend of Ymer Doda and related to him. He contributed his services on the ground to the mission of Gjon Gjinaj.

CUPI (GJOK CUPI): Around 40 years old from Bisake of the Bajrak of Fandi (Mirdita), married with children. Comes from a wealthy family. Was very persecuted by the current government, arrested and tortured. Two of his cousins were killed as well as his property confiscated due to his friendship with the Gjomarkajs. Very useful individual for his loyalty and activity as well as for his influence.

DEDA (DED SHAN DEDA): Married with children, born in Shkodra in 1885, from the well known family of Dedaj, merchant. He had two brothers who were killed by the communists. One of those was Pjeter, who with his wife sheltered in the mountains so as not to suffer the hateful red tyranny and surrounded by huge opposing forces, he fought until the last cartridges. In order not to surrender himself alive to the hands of the communists, he killed first his wife, who had fought heroically by his side and then committed suicide himself. His memory and that of his wife are surrounded by a halo of a legend after this act. Other members of this family: cousins and relatives, have been suppressed by the communists. Many of the survivors languish in prison. Ded Shan Deda, faithful friend of Prince Gjomarkaj, is a strong pillar of anti-communism in the city of Shkodra and represents, for the future, a precious and safe starting point for any possible insurrectionist activity. Nik, with one of his telegrams, mentions him for his anti-communism.

DEDA (NDUE DEDA): 40 years old from Aprripe, married with three children. Landowner and well known. He is the uncle of Kol Bib Mirakaj.

DEDA (NDUE LLESH DEDA): 40 years old from Gziq of the Bajrak Kushne, married with children. Belongs to a well known family, able, good and influential. Is well liked by everyone and known in the area for his ability. He fought in Mirdita in 1944 against the communists. He rendered service to the group of Gjon Gjinaj’s mission.

DEDA (PRENG GJOK DEDA): Around 50 years old from Qafe Kishe of the Bajrak Selite. Is very good and influential. Very well known for his qualities even in other Bajraks. He rendered service to the group of the Gjon Gjinaj’s misison.

DEJA (PRENG GJOK DEJA): 50 years old from Rreshen, Kethella, married with four children. Before 1947 he was at home but later went into hiding and because his abilities were known he was hired by Gjon Gjinaj’s group where he lent the services requested of him.

DERVISHI (RAM DERVISHI): From Mareneshi (Elbasan). At the advent of communism he fought valiantly against the communists leading 200 men. His house was burned and his family interned. Trusted by Verlaci he worked under the orders of Alush Leshanaku. He’s currently in hiding.

DOBRA (ISLAM DOBRA): From Martaneshi (Elbasan). Is a courageous fighter and very close to Ram Dervishi and Ram Hoxha, with whom he fought against the communists. He’s trusted by Verlaci and worked on the orders of Alush Leshanaku.

DODA (FRROK NIKOLL DODA): 49 years old from Skuraj (Kurbini), married. For his capabilities he was hired in the services of Gjon Gjinaj’s mission group, where during one of his assignments was killed by the communists. Tele Nik July 1951.

DODA (SHKURT NIKOLL DODA): 50 years old from Skuraj (Kurbini), married. While remaining in his own house he rendered precious services to Gjon Gjinaj’s mission group.

DODANI (GJON PREND DODANI): Native of Narac (Zadrima), however with origins from Mnale of the Bajrak of Spac (Mirdita). Belongs to a well known and influential family even in Zadrima, where he transferred more than 40 years ago. While leading a group of valiant fighters under the orders of Llesh Gjomarkaj, son of Prince Gjon Marka Gjoni, in the course of the fight and precisely on 24.12.1946, he was killed along with his son. Gjon Dodani was the personal guard of the Prince from 1932.

DODANI (NDUE PREND DODANI): 40 year old brother of the aforementioned Gjon Prend Dodani, therefore the same generalities. Is married with children. Landowner and very well known in all of Mirdita and Zadrima, as well as the outskirts of Shkodra, Albania, although not having the qualities as his brother who died while fighting. Ndue Dodani rendered services to Gjon Gjinaj’s mission group.

DUKELI (KOL PJETER DUKELI): Around 35 years old from Shkodra, Albania. Ex-Lieutenant of the Albanian Gendarmerie, expelled from service for being anti-communist. Tele Nik 9.9.50. He successfully completed military school in Modena as well as that of the police in Florence. Well educated officer and very capable of his duties. Very trustworthy with a solid character, as well as very active. Extremely useful individual.

GERA (MARK GERA): 45 years old from Shkodra, Albania, married with children. Ex-Captain expelled from service for being anti-communist. Tele Nik 9.9.50. Very well thought of, of solid character and friend to the Gjomarkaj. Very useful.

GERA (FRROK GERA of ZEF): Around 50 years old from Shkodra, Albania, married with children. Doctor of Commercial Sciences graduating with honors in Vienna and considered one of the best economists in Albania, ex-Minister of Finance and Economy during Zog era. Was imprisoned for a long time from 1945 forward. Courageous, trustworthy, well balanced individual. Friend of Prince Gjomarkaj. All his properties were sequestered by the communists. Nik, in one of his messages, qualifies him as a fervent anti-communist as confirmed from information gathered from ex-officer Hil Shllaku.

GJETA (NIKOLL GJETA): 48 years old from Orosh, married. Was an officer in the Gendarmerie, with great influence. Good and courageous as known among the highlanders. Belonging to a family of under-captains was killed by the communist as retaliation to the murder of Bardhok Biba. Tele Nik 16.1.50.

GJETA (PRENG FRROK GJETA): 40 years old from Perlat of the Bajrak in Kethelle (Mirdita), married with children. Landowner, well known and of great influence. Rendered important services to the group of Gjon Gjinaj’s mission.

GJINAJ (NDOC GJINAJ of KOL:) 60 years old from Shkodra, Albania, married with children. Successfully completed the Military Academy in Italy achieving the grade of Colonel in the Albanian army lending his service in higher commands. Very active, trustworthy and courageous. Brother-in-law of the deceased Preng Bib Doda Pasha, who was married to his sister, who did not remarry even though was widowed at a young age. Gjinaj maintains a solid friendship with Prince Gjon Markagjoni who succeeded Prince Preng Bib Doda. Gjinaj belongs to one of the first families of Shkodra who enjoys influence and is a very useful individual. He was expelled from the Army for being anti-communist. Tele Nik 9.9.50.

GJOKA (BARDHOK GJOKA): 50 years old from Mashterkore of the Orosh Bajrak, married with children. Ex-Sargeant Major of the Albanian Gendarmerie who fought against the communists in 1944 in Mirdita. Is well known, good and extremely able as well as enjoying great influence. Before 1949 he was in prison and after the tortures sustained was acquitted. Nevertheless, he never missed the opportunity to continue his activity against communism lending his precious service to the group of Gjon Gjinaj’s mission.

GJOKA (GJON MARKA GJOKA): 55 years old from Rreshen, Mirdita, married with children. He was available to the group in Gjon Gjinaj’s mission lending precious services.

GJOKA (ZEF MARKA GJOKA): 26 years olf from Fand, Mirdita, married. A fierce anti-communist went into hiding but from 1947 fought against the communists.

GJOKA (ZEF NDUE GJOKA): 50 years old from Blinishti, Mirdita, married. Fierce anti-communist, lent precious services – while remaining in his own house – to the group in Gjon Gjinaj’s mission.

GJOKELALA (NDUE GJOKELALA): 38 years old from Kurbin, married. Went into hiding to fight the communists.

GJONI (BARDHOK GJONI): 32 years old from Kethella, married. While remaining in his house he collaborated with the group of Gjon Gjinaj’s mission.

GJYLBEGAJ (HAMID GJYLBEGAJ): Around 60 years old from Shkodra, Albania, from the noble family of Gjylbegaj, anti-Zoghist, ex-Officer and ex-Deputy, left military service with the grade of Major at the advent of the Zog regime renouncing a brilliant career which would have led him to the height of a military hierarchy. Represented Shkodra in Parliament before 1924. Has a lot of contacts in the Shkodra region. He also published a number of verses. Nik, in one of his messages, from information received from Hil Shllaku, qualifies him as a fierce anti-communist.

GRUDA (PALE GRUDA): Around 40 years old originally from the Gruda tribe (Grand Malessia) but resident from a long time in the city where he runs a restaurant. Very courageous individual who can be trusted even for daring missions. Very good friend of the exponents of the National Independent Bloc. Nik, in one of his messages, referring to the known Hil Shllaku, qualifies him as a fierce anti-communist.

HALILI (SHPEND HALILI (MUSA) aka SHPENDI HALILI MUSA: 60 years old from Srroj, Bjarak of Ketej Drinit. Notable, very good and enjoys great influence. Ex-Captain of the Albanian Gendarmerie, also nephew of Muharram Bajraktari but not in good relations since 1934. His tendencies are more Zoghist.

HASANI (NDUE GJERGJ of HASANI): Around 35 years old, married from Skuraj of Kurbini, from the best catholic family in the region of Kruja, nephew of General Prenk Pervizi, currently a refugee in Athens. Along with his brothers he exercised a stable influence in the area. Went into hiding to fight the communists and made himself available to the group of Gjon Gjinaj’s mission, where when under orders for his mission was killed by the communists. Tele Nik July 1951.

HASDOCI (GANI HASDOCI): Around 30 years old from Arn (Luma), married with children. Notable. Very well known, having great influence as a family, even in Dibra, Mirdita, Lura, etc. Personal friend of Prince Gjon Marka Gjoni and Ymer Doda. Went into hiding to fight the communists.

HAXHI (HAXHI SELMANI): 55 years old from Qerreti, married. Landowner, notable but in the second category. Is the brother of Kamber Laci who died in prison under torture from the communists.

HOTI (RIZA HOTI): Around 55 years old from Shkodra, Albania. Mohammedan, businessman who owned a major cigarette factory which was confiscated and nationalized by the communist authorities. A trustworthy individual with many contacts in the Mohammedan community in the city of Shkodra. Nik, in one of his telegrams, based on information from the known Hil Shllaku, describes him as a fierce anti-communits.

HOXHA (TAHIR HOXHA): 45 years old from Tropoja, ex-Captain of the Albanian Gendarmerie, enemy of Kryezi. Now out of necessities of contingencies is forced to collaborate with Gani. Tahir has some time ago crossed into Jugoslavia where he organizes groups to infiltrate within the Albanian territory, facilitated in this by the vast and numerous knowledge and adhesion that he has between the villages along the Albanian-Yugoslavian border. The Hoxha family in the Malessia of Gjakova (which Tropoja belongs to) is very influential. Mujo Hoxha and Tahir are cousins. Tahir has been in hiding since the end of 1944 and fiercly fights the government of Enver Hoxha (which has nothing to do with him, Enver Hoxha being from Gjorkastra – Hoxha is the name by which the Mohammedans call their priests). Tahir was sub-prefect, Vojvode of Gashi, Captain of the Guards of Finance and Commander of a Gendarmerie outfit of Tropoja. He is a person who enjoys influence, is good and faithful. Friend of Engineer Xhaver Deva.

HOXHA (TAHIR HOXHA aka TAHIR HOXHA HAVERIQ): Around 70 years old from Shkodra, Albania, married with children. Mohameddan who managed a currency exchange, very religious, and at one time traveled to Mecca; decisive adversary of communism and ready to take on any action against the regime of Enver Hoxha. Nik, in one of his telegrams, from information passed on by the notable Hil Shllaku, confirms everything that was reported about him.

1Refers to telegrams from Nik “Kol” Cuni