My Life With Enver Hoha

8/12/2019 My Life With Enver Hoha

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1. Authors Preface

I de!ided to rite these "e"oirs about "y li$e ith Enver hen I $elt a stron* need tosuppress the torturin* loneliness o$ "y prison !ell& I started ith "e"ories $ro" ouryouth# our li$e to*ether# the $irst "eetin* and love 4 that had !onne!ted the t o o$ us so"u!h& I had never even tal'ed to "y !hildren about these "atters# and I have 'ept these"e"ories to "ysel$# throu*hout "y li$e&

With the passin* o$ ti"e# our ideal li$e to*ether as e"bellished and trans$or"ed into asour!e o$ endless happiness# and into a "oral stren*th that 'ept "e alive in verydi$$i!ult situations and !ir!u"stan!es&

2enten!ed to 88 years o$ i"prison"ent# under absurd !har*es# it had been alreadydeter"ined that I ould not be released until I as over 96 years old& It is $or thatreason that I de!ided to rite these "e"oirs# so that they are le$t to "y !hildren# $orthe" to learn about the li$e experien!es o$ their parents# be$ore they ere born# andhen they ere little& /nd# even later# hen e had not been able to $ind the ti"e# total' to the" about these thin*s&2o# "y !hildren !a"e to learn o$ the" *radually# by readin* notes that I had se!retlyritten in prison& They ere brave enou*h to be!o"e "y "uses to*ether ith their$a"ilies 4 they helped "e to $ul$ill the pro"ise that I had "ade to their $ather# "yEnver&

/t the su**estion o$ "any !o"rades and $riends# I de!ided to publish these "e"oirs#hopin* that I ould be able to satis$y the ishes o$ "any veterans# the !o0$i*hters o$Enver as ell as to ans er the !uriosity o$ the ne *enerations ho ould not 'noEnver as the leader o$ our !ountry and people $or nearly 76 years&

;urin* the < years o$ so!ial and politi!al !ollapse in our !ountry# "u!h as said andritten about Enver and his or'# in!ludin* "u!h hi!h as absurd# banal and even

"onstrous& In these "e"oirs I do not ant to d ell on the "any de!eits and obs!enitiesthro n into the /lbanian politi!al arena& I only re"inis!e and des!ribe Enver %ust as he
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as# durin* his li$e# the ar# or'# politi!al a!tivities# and ith $a"ily and $riends& Fi$tyyears is a rather lon* period and the "e"ories re$le!ted in this boo' are not s!ienti$i!analyses o$ the history o$ that period and the role o$ Enver Hoxha& Even as "e"oriesthey !annot !o"pletely !over that ti"e span&

(ut bein* !on$ined to a prison !ell# it as these "e"ories that 'ept "e *oin*# and itas in su!h a situation that I be*an to rite the" do n 4 hen allo ed to do so andhen I had the !han!e&Ea!h "e"ory brou*ht ba!' others until they be!a"e too "any to be in!luded in a sin*levolu"e and I there$ore de!ided to divide the" into t o boo's&

(oo' I# is the one you have in your hands# =My Li$e With Enver>&

It in!ludes $irst a!?uaintan!e# our love# our "eetin*s durin* the ti"e o$ the NationalLiberation War# our li$e in the $a"ily a$ter liberation the daily routine o$ li$e and or'o$ Enver# en!ounters ith "issions sent by the Yu*oslavian )o""unist @arty# and theira*ents in our @arty + hose ai" as to in!lude /lbania as a seventh republi! o$ theYu*oslav $ederation. the !lose $riendship ith the 2, +2oviet ,nion. durin* 2talin3sti"e and# later# the betrayal o$ the sti*"atiAed revisionist N& 2 -hrush!hev and the ones$ollo in* hi"& /s !hronolo*i!ally ordered# these "e"oirs rea!h the year 8B


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to read $ro" "any politi!ians# riters and intelle!tuals3 various invented anddeni*ratin* !har*es# hi!h are !o"pletely untrue&

With re*ards to his relation ith the people 4 the strai*ht0$or ard people 4 Enver asal ays a popular leader ith his !ollaborators he behaved as a $riend and respe!ted

tea!her# as he did ith the revolutionaries and Marxist Leninists o$ other !ountries heas a diplo"at ith politi!ians and $orei*n $riends and ith his $a"ily and $riends heas a H,M/N&

I apolo*iAe to the readers in the !ase o$ any "inor in!onsisten!ies# ho should ta'e into!onsideration that these "e"oirs ere ritten do n hen I as i"prisoned ithoutany do!u"entation available& There I as not even allo ed to use "y husband3s boo's#ith hi!h I !ould !he!' and re$resh "y "e"ories& I !ould not do this even a$ter I asout o$ prison& The $irst six "onths o$ 8BB< are ell 'no n $or the politi!al tur"oilithin /lbania& It as a politi!al0e!ono"i!al and so!io0psy!holo*i!al !rises# and in the"idst o$ this# I as not able to a!!ess "y $a"ily ar!hives +housed in the eneral;ire!torate $or /r!hives to*ether ith the )entral /r!hive o$ the /lbanian Labor @arty+@@2H..& The latter as not available to "e even in the se!ond hal$ o$ 8BB


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atte"pts ere "ade to unite these youth *roups# I had had the !han!e only to "eet so"e*irls and boys $ro" the Youth *roup# but none $ro" -or!a&

It is a ell0'no n $a!t that Enver led and or*aniAed the de"onstration o$ G!tober 9th8BD8# as a %oint a!tion o$ !o""unist *roups# at the eve o$ the @arty3s $oundation& Here#

it as $or "e the $irst ti"e to be in the $ront line ith Enver& (ut e still had not "et&

I thin' that i$ the de"onstration had not been su!!ess$ul# the )o""unist @arty ouldnever have been $ounded on Nove"ber the 9th& There ere so"e !o""unists# su!h asthe heads o$ youth *roups# ho did not a*ree to the $oundation o$ the @arty& They triedalso to sabota*e the de"onstration& We !o""unists# ere a are that# on G!tober 59thin the "ornin* +as a protest a*ainst the !ere"onies or*aniAed by the $as!ist invaders to!o""e"orate the $as!ist "ar!h to ard Ro"e as ell as the Italian atta!' a*ainstree!e.# e ould have to ait at the appointed bases $or the ne s as to hether thede"onstration ould ta'e pla!e or not&

It is a 'no n $a!t that Enver# e"al 2ta$a# Vasil 2hanto and other !o""unist!o"panions# ere to !arry out this a!tion# a baptis" o$ $ire $or the uni$i!ation o$ the*roups and the $oundation o$ the @arty& /$ter subse?uent debates# so"eti"e in the"ornin*# the !o"rades in $avor $or a!tion ere vi!torious# and they set o$$ to or*aniAethe de"onstration& I as aitin* at a $riend3s house in (a"i 2treet# hi!h# today is!alled e"al 2ta$a 2treet& 2uddenly 2adi' @re"t%a appeared sayin*: =the de"onstrationon3t ta'e pla!e>& I started to return ho"e ith !old $eet and a pain in "y heart& (uthen I rea!hed the !rossroad o$ e"al 2ta$a 2treet# @aAari I ri and 2ara!i 2treet# today!alled 2hinasi ;ishni!a# I heard the voi!es o$ the de"onstrators and the patrioti! son*=)o"e# oin over hereJ> Then I started runnin* and %oined the de"onstrators in2!anderbe* 2?uare# here !lashes had already started& There I noti!ed a bi* "an# hosehead !ould be seen sin!e he as "u!h taller than the other people around hi"& He astryin* to snat!h a youn* de"onstrator $ro" the hands o$ a poli!e"an& Who !ould hehave been Next to "e happened to be Meli ;ishni!a# the sister o$ Esat ;ishni!a# hoould parti!ipate in as "any de"onstrations as possible& I as'ed her: Who is he 2hetold "e he as a pro$essor $ro" -or!a# and that havin* been $ired $ro" his %ob# he had!o"e to Tirana# sellin* !i*arettes in a bar# nearby& What is his na"e I in?uired& Hisna"e is Enver Hoxha she replied&

In su!h !lashes there is no ti"e to stay and observe& Ri*ht beside "e I noti!ed a poli!e"an ho had !aptured youn* Ke?o /*olli# hose $a"ily I 'ne very ell&

In$luen!ed also by hat Enver as doin*# I %u"ped and !la"bered a"on* the"# inorder to separate the"& The poli!e"an see"ed surprised# as a hi*hlander he probablydidn3t $eel li'e pushin* and thro in* "e do n to the *round# so he $reed Ke?i& /llaround one !ould see the *un butts o$ Italian and /lbanian poli!e ra*in* over the headso$ the de"onstrators& Nevertheless the de"onstrators 'ept stru**lin* ith $ists andu"brellas# hi!h they had ta'en ith the" sin!e it as rather !loudy eather# or even#

possibly to prote!t the"selves&

In a "o"ent the order as passed: =Everyone to ards the overn"ent (uildin*# to$ind our arrested !o"panions>& With the $la* in $ront# hi!h as usually held by the*irls# e headed to ards the overn"ent (uildin* +later it be!a"e Ministry o$

Industry.& In this !ase I ould li'e to explain so"ethin*: as a rule# the !o"panionor*aniAers o$ *reat responsibilities# ere never sent to the $ront o$ the de"onstrators& I#


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$or exa"ple# ould be situated on the se!ond ro # behind the $la*& I$ one loo's at the photo o$ that de"onstration# the head o$ Enver is visible# and so is his tall# ell built body& When the poli!e dashed throu*h to arrest Enver# the de"onstrators i""ediately$or"ed a barrier# hi!h prevented the" $ro" arrestin* hi"& Gbviously later# the $as!istsloo'ed $or Enver in his shop Flora# so Enver had to *o under*round&

/$ter the !hants in $ront o$ the overn"ent buildin* = e ant our $riends># = lory to/lbania> =Lon* Live Liberty> =;o n ith Fas!is"> et!# the pri"e "inister# 2he$?etVerla!i# appeared on the stairs and "u"bled so"ethin*& Who ould listen to hi"2!ared by the ild !hantin*# he ent inside and# a$ter so"e "o"ents# our t o $riendsere set $ree# bleedin*& I re"ained spee!hless hen I noti!ed that one o$ the" as "y

brother Feh"i +a hi*h s!hool student# $riend o$ @irro -ondi and others# t o yearsyoun*er than "e# i&e& 89 years old.& )o"panions held hi" on their shoulders& Theyanted hi" to say so"ethin*# but he asn3t able to& Gne o$ his eyes as s ollen#!losed and bleedin*& I as orried that his eye had been da"a*ed# but blood as!o"in* $ro" a ound over his eyebro and probably he had been hit there and on the!hin too& (eatin* his ton*ue "ade it di$$i!ult $or hi" to spea'& I ent to hi" andseparated hi" $ro" the !ro d& /$ter e had le$t the !ro d o$ de"onstrators# e *otinto a !art and ent ho"e& I a" not *oin* to stop here to des!ribe the sho!' that "y"other ent throu*h# and her !ries hen e ere !leanin* the ounds& 2he 'eptsayin*: =@oor "e# I only have t o sons +si!J. and both o$ you are involved in thestru**le J>

Less than t o ee's passed and e ere sent the ne s that = the /lbanian )o""unist@arty had been $ounded>& The @arty that e had drea"ed o$ and ished $or as at last areality $or us true !o""unistsJ

T o ee's a$ter the $oundation o$ the )o""unist @arty o$ /lbania# a "eetin* as!onvened to lay the $oundations o$ the )o""unist Youth Move"ent& Fro" all youth*roups 85 dele*ates ere sele!ted to ta'e part# I as the only $e"ale& The "eetin* too'

pla!e in the house o$ 2abri%e +(i%e. Vo'shi# the aunt o$ /si" Vo'shi# the hero ho *avehis li$e in the /nti0$as!ist stru**le in 2pain& (i%a as a brave and ise o"an& 2he asused to su!h ille*al "eetin*s# startin* $ro" our renaissan!e $i*hter des!endants andno # anti0$as!ist "eetin*s&

The house o$ (i%e as very suitable $or su!h "eetin*s due to its lo!ation in o!!upiedTirana# here the $as!ist terror as be!o"in* "ore and "ore o$ a burden& The house

as lo!ated at the end o$ the lar*e (oulevard# !lose to the here the train station sitstoday& It as set a"on* s"all houses# individual shops# and typi!al Tirana houses# builto$ "ud bri!'s& Her house as also suitable $or our "eetin*s be!ause it had t oentran!es& Gne as deep in the alley# and the other had an exit on another road that!onne!ted the end o$ the boulevard ith the street na"ed a$ter to the "artyr 2iri -odra&The latter# is no part o$ the peripheral rin*0road that ta'es you to the hospitals&

@arti!ipants o$ these "eetin*s ere assi*ned a ti"e to sho up# and a =!ode> +a parti!ular 'no!' on the door. so that the landlady ouldn3t open the door to anyoneelse# even to her $riends and relatives ho "i*ht visit at the ti"e the "etin* as aboutto ta'e pla!e& /t the end o$ the "eetin* in !ase o$ dan*er# one !ould leave by %u"pin*

$ro" the lo !ourtyard all# to yard to yard o$ the nearby houses& e"al had es!apedli'e this "any ti"es& (i%e3s house as an i"portant base $or hi"& (i%e3s nei*hbors ere


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very 'ind and patrioti!# anti0$as!ist people# ho behaved as i$ they didn3t noti!e the!o"in*s and *oin*s o$ the youn*sters in the old lady3s house&

Gn Nove"ber 55nd in the a$ternoon# the invited !o"rades started to !o"e in one a$teranother& I re"e"ber that it as dus' hen I arrived at (i%e3s house& I ent in# and

everybody sounded %oy$ul& They stopped $or a "o"ent# probably they sa a *irl!o"rade# and they "i*ht have been tellin* ra$$ish %o'es& We *reeted ea!h other ith theslo*an =do n ith $as!is" and liberty to the people>& We shoo' hands ar"ly# eventhou*h at the ti"e e didn3t 'no "u!h o$ ea!h other# sin!e e belon*ed to di$$erentyouth *roups&

The roo" in hi!h e had *athered# had !o"$ortable stra "attresses& / bla!'0sheetediron !oal ran*e ru"bled "errily ith a po er$ul $ire that had reddened it in pla!es& Theroo" had be!o"e di" ith s"o'e& It asn3t !i*arette s"o'e# the !o"rades "ostlydidn3t s"o'e# as they ere very youn*& The s"o'e !a"e $ro" the bread sli!es# hi!here on the ran*e bein* toasted& Gn a s?uare table# next to the indo # lay the !aps o$the !o"rades# on hi!h they had pla!ed the bo"bs# hi!h see"ed li'e red apples in$ruit bo els& G$ !ourse the indo as !overed ith a thi!' blan'et# so that the li*ht!ouldn3t be seen $ro" outside&

The o ner o$ the house !ould only o$$er tea $ro" =tilia!aea># hi!h yielded a very ni!earo"a& 2he had to $ill up the teapot "any ti"es& There ere no !hina *lasses# onlyalu"inu" ones# li'e those used in the "ilitary# hi!h ere not very suitable to drin'$ro" sin!e they *ot hot and !ould burn your lips& The !o"rades !ouldn3t ait $or it !ooldo n& Further"ore there ere not enou*h *lasses $or all o$ us# so e had to ta'e turns&The i"patient ones ould ta'e sips& /nythin* ould "a'e the" lau*h and %o'e& It asthere that I $irst *ot to learn o$ Italian hu"or& Gne !ould distin*uish Ndo! MaAi# ho*ot %o'es started# and e"al ould 'eep on the sa"e line& Ndo! !ould lau*h and die inthe sa"e ay he died li'e a hero# to*ether ith the other heroes $ro" Vi*&

/ll o$ us lau*hed at their hu"or& This is ho Enver $ound us hen he entered the roo"&He had entered $ro" outside into the 'it!hen here he had le$t his over!oat# !ap# andeverythin* else he possessed& /t $irst# hen he entered the roo"# hat as "ostnoti!eable as his ell0built body# the tallest o$ all !o"rades in the roo"& His dar'!o"plexion# his very vivid eyes# his bla!'# rather avy hair& He as earin* a=doppiopetto> %a!'et o$ li*ht !olors# bei*e ith bro n stripes& ,nderneath he asearin* a hand"ade oollen bei*e pullover ith a hi*h ne!'band# out o$ hi!h

appeared the shirt !ollar& His trousers ere sporty and $ashionable $or the ti"e#so"e hat ide# !overin* lon* bro n boots up to the 'nees&

I hadn3t noti!ed e"al leavin* the roo"& When Enver entered he as ith e"al & Heintrodu!ed Enver sayin*: =This is !o"rade Taras # a "e"ber o$ the provisionary )entral)o""ittee o$ the )o""unist @arty# $ounded t o ee's a*o# on Nove"ber 9th& He has

been dele*ated to parti!ipate in this "eetin* in order to help set up the )o""unistYouth Move"ent&>

Most o$ the people present# ere a are o$ the $a!t that he as a!tually @ro$essor EnverHoxha& I "ysel$ had only seen hi" $ro" a distan!e and had heard another na"e# a non0

/lbanian one# Taras& What as this other na"e about I presu"ed that as a ni!'na"eand# as I heard later on# he as *iven that na"e $ro" his $riends be!ause o$ his body# to


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an extent li'e a ell 'no n !hara!ter $ro" Russian literature# Taras (ulba# a $a"ous popular $i*hter&

Enver !a"e around sha'in* hands ith everyone# hilst e"al did the introdu!tions&Enver ould stop at everyone# s"ilin* and !hattin* ith all o$ the"# onderin* here

he had "et one and then the other& When he stopped at "e# e"al said# this is !o"rade Nexh"i%e hu*lini# about ho" I have been tal'in* to you& Then he "entioned so"eother thin*s about "e# hi!h "ade "e blush& I interrupted and said please e"al let3sstop this and drop the sub%e!t &&When Enver neared the ran*e# he stret!hed his hands $or ard to *et ar"er and noti!edthe bread toastin*# sayin* =/hhh this is deli!ious> one o$ his $riends as'ed hi"hether he anted to have so"e tea and he replied =Why not# ith *reat pleasure>& Hehad his tea and than added >What i$ e start the "eetin* >

It as around B o3!lo!'& /$ter the "iddle o$ the roo" had been !leared t o or threedes's ere pla!ed there& The "eetin* started& Representin* the )entral )o""ittee o$the @arty as Enver Hoxha on his ri*ht there as e"al 2ta$a# on his le$t Na'o 2piru#then "ysel$# and on both sides sat all the dele*ate !o"rades&

Enver !haired the "eetin* he introdu!ed e"al 2ta$a as the one ho had beenassi*ned by the )entral )o""ittee o$ the )o""unist @arty to or' ith the Youthroups& Then he read the *reetin* spee!h o$ the @rovisionary )entral )o""ittee o$ the/lbanian )o""unist party + ritten by hi"sel$# and hose ori*inal is no in the)entral ar!hives o$ the @arty.&Enver presented a report about the i"portan!e o$ the $oundation o$ the )o""unist@arty and the de!isions "ade there to unite the people on a national liberation $ront# to$i*ht a*ainst $as!ist invaders# the traitors o$ /lbania and to a*e the anti0$as!ist orldar&

/s e sa then as later# at every "eetin* and in every spee!h about and $or the youth#even at the be*innin*# Enver Hoxha spo'e ith passion& It as still Nove"ber o$ 8BD8&This is hy it is understandable that his ords about liberty and the $uture a aitin* us#lit up a $ire in our youn* hearts& It *ave in*s to our thou*hts and aspirations $or the$uture& Gur drea"s see"ed "ore attainable no # "ore !on!rete&

When Enver Hoxha *ot to the end o$ his spee!h# the roo" as $illed ith silen!e&)ertainly# there as no applause# not only be!ause o$ se!re!y# but also be!ause applause

as not yet part o$ our "eetin* style sin!e e hadn3t on any vi!tory yet& What eished $or as %ust a beauti$ul vision# hi!h one day# !ertainly ould be trans$or"edinto reality throu*h our stru**les# our blood# our li$e and youth&

In the "idst o$ this silen!e# Enver proposed to have a brea'& Not be!ause e ere tired# but it see"ed e all needed to be released $ro" e"otional tensions& We all "ovedaround& Enver "oved to the other roo" to s"o'e a !i*arette& We also $ollo ed hi"& Wesurrounded hi" despite the $a!t that e ere supposed to be on a brea' and# be!ausee $elt "u!h $reer# e started to as' ?uestions and !hat&

When e ent ba!' to the "eetin* roo"# hi!h# durin* the brea' had been $reshened

up# e"al 2ta$a too' the $loor& In the be*innin* he spo'e about the i"portan!e o$ the


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aspe!t o$ this institute# hi!h provided the hole !ountry ith the tea!hers it trainedthere&

Enver had "et ith $a!tionist Trots'yites su!h as /nastas 2ulo and 2adi' @re"te#durin* the "eetin* $or the $oundation o$ the @arty& In our "eetin* also# as a "e"ber o$

the youth *roup# Isu$ -e!i# tried to !ontradi!t the party dire!tion on various issues# su!has the /n*lo02oviet0/"eri!an allian!e# on the external $ra"e or'# $or the !ountry andthe role o$ peasantry# on the internal $ra"e or'# and other issues&

/ll parti!ipants ere dis!ussin* vi*orously# in support o$ the dire!tion o$ our ne @arty&Enver in his "e"oirs# !o""ented positively about "y spee!h# and "y a!tive

parti!ipation in the debates on the in!orre!t perspe!tives o$ the dele*ate o$ the Youth*roup& ;urin* the lun!h brea'# Enver approa!hed and !on*ratulated "e on this& /t theti"e I too' this as an en!oura*e"ent $or a !o"rade ho as parti!ipatin* $or the $irstti"e in a "eetin* o$ this sort& /t this point# I ould li'e to stress that I vi*orously

parti!ipated in those ideolo*i!al0politi!al debates# only be!ause e had already had su!hdebates about these issues at the $irst "eetin* o$ the o"en3s !o"rade !ells#i""ediately a$ter the $oundation o$ the )o""unist @arty& @robably our o"en3s!o"rade !ell as the $irst !ell# as it as !onvened on a ee'day# bet een Nove"ber87th and the 55nd 4 a$ter the end o$ the party3s $oundation "eetin*# hen the$oundation "eetin* o$ )o""unist Youth started&

Finally# a$ter all the issues had been presented# and ere addressed# e passed onto theele!tion o$ )o""unist Youth )entral )o""ittee& It as de!ided that it ould be!o"posed o$ $ive people& )andida!ies ere presented in a ay# hi!h today# "i*htsee" stran*e& Nu"bers# not na"es ere presented and ea!h o$ the nu"bers listed the!hara!teristi!s o$ a person& I believe the !andida!ies ere proposed in prin!iple by the@rovisionary )entral )o""ittee o$ the @arty# and supervised by Enver Hoxha ande"al 2ta$a based also on the dis!ussions ta'in* pla!e in that "eetin*& The!hara!teristi!s listed in!luded: duration o$ involve"ent in !o""unist *roups# hat asthe a!tivity in hi!h the person had been involved# edu!ation# ori*in# so!ial

ba!'*round# pro$ession et!& all in all# these ere *eneral !hara!teristi!s on hi!h thedele*ates ould base their vote&

The !andida!ies presented ere approved by everyone& The na"es o$ the !o"radesele!ted are ell 'no n& Ele!ted as politi!al se!retary as e"al 2ta$a Na'o 2piro asele!ted or*aniAational se!retary and Nexh"i%e hu*lini# Tasi Mitrushi and Y"er @ula

ere ele!ted as "e"bers& The latter as $ro" -osova and hen he as sent to or*aniAethe )o""unist Youth# he as repla!ed by the distin*uished# brave and a!tive or'er#Misto Ma"e& Later !han*es o!!urred# sin!e e"al 2ta$a as 'illed less than six "onthsa$ter the "eetin*& Na'o 2piro repla!ed hi" as se!retary *eneral# and Misto Ma"e asappointed as or*aniAational se!retary&

2in!e "y ele!tion to the )entral )o""ittee o$ )o""unist Youth I as assi*ned toor' ith the Tirana Youth# and I as ele!ted as its politi!al se!retary& I as alsoassi*ned to or' ith the or*aniAation o$ the )o""unist Youth in ;urres and Elbasan#to here travelled several ti"es& /$ter the ele!tions ere $inaliAed# the FoundationMeetin* o$ the )o""unist Youth# hi!h be!a"e a nu!leus $or the broad or*aniAation

o$ anti$as!ist youth# as !losed enthusiasti!ally& )allin* it an un!ontained enthusias"ould not be $air# as e !ouldn3t s!rea" or shout or !lap hands there& (ut in a lo voi!e


11/24

e san* the =International> and our revolutionary son*s learnt in our under*rounda!tivities& I !an say that it as our hearts sin*in* rather than our "ouths& (ut e !losedthe "eetin* at this point and $ollo ed (i%e ea*erly into the 'it!hen be!ause# bein*youn*# and a$ter su!h a beauti$ul %ob# e $elt hun*ryJ

What I !all a 'it!hen as a lar*e area# !hara!teristi! o$ Tirana houses# so"eti"es !alledhouse o$ $ire& It as extended ith !o"pressed soil and la!'ed a !eilin* and a $irepla!e&/ thi!' !hain hun* $ro" the bla!'ened trun's !aused by s"o'e# and as used to han*!opper %u*s or "ess tins& When "eetin*s su!h as ours ere or*aniAed ith "any

parti!ipants# bi* 'ettles ere pla!ed on the *rills here pasta ould be boiled or even polenta& (ut e ;ibra @eople !all the polenta 1(a'erdan3& That very day# hen the"eetin* as over# so"e o$ the "ost a!tive dele*ates# led by e"al# as'ed (i%e to

prepare halva: =The $as!is" halva# (i%e# at the "eetin*# e de!ided to bury itJ This is a!losed ?uestionJ>

/nd everyone ould lau*h their hearts out as i$ this =%ob> as a eddin*& J

These are very beauti$ul un$or*ettable "e"ories& /nd they are "e"ories that are a"ixture o$ %oy$ul "o"ents and sad $eelin*s# su!h as those $or the $riends that you have$ou*ht and lau*hed ith# and have sin!e =le$t>&

3. The day in a new course of my life.

Gn /pril =For the"otherlandJ> et!&.# until they !lashed ith the Fas!ists ho ould i""ediately atta!'the"&

This ti"e it as di$$erent& Thin'in* that the de"onstration ould be or*aniAed as usual#in the "ornin*# the Fas!ist invaders and their "er!enaries ere alert $ro" the early"ornin* hours& (ehind the Muni!ipality +no the National Histori!al Museu".# a!avalry unit stood prepared& They had been aitin* in vain all day lon*&

The de"onstration# as planned# bro'e out in the a$ternoon and# instead o$ it bein*dire!ted to ards 2!anderbe* 2?uare# it too' o$$ in the opposite dire!tion& It entto ards the end o$ the boulevard and entered the rin* road in the dire!tion that ta'esyou to 2iri -odra 2treet: the destination bein* the house here the @arty had been$ounded& (ut at the !rossroads o$ 2iri -odra and Hospital road# in $ront o$ thede"onstrators ere "any Fas!ist poli!e# /lbanians re!ruited to serve the invaders&


12/24


13/24

(e!ause I as a anted person it as not possible $or "e to leave the house and al'up to the end o$ the street be!ause I "i*ht have run into a patrol& I there$ore headedto ards e"al 2ta$a Road "ovin* $ro" !ourtyard to !ourtyard and $ro" door to dooro$ the various nei*hbor3s houses& /$ter rea!hin* the end o$ the street# I relaxed andstarted to thin' about here I "i*ht *et so"e lun!h be$ore *oin* on to attend the

"eetin* o$ the First )onsultation o$ @arty3s /!tivities to hi!h I had been invited& Ide!ided to *o and pay a visit to so"e relatives o$ "y $ather& It as seldo" that I and "y"other ent to visit this $a"ily# so ?uestions su!h as =What "i*ht have happened toher What "i*ht have brou*ht her here> ere unavoidable& /ny ay# it as notne!essary to *ive explanations& I stayed there until D p&" then I set o$$ $or the house o$(i%e Vo'shi here the "eetin* ould be held&

(y dus'# all the dele*ates o$ the distri!ts had arrived& This as an a!tivity "eetin* tohi!h all

politi!al and or*aniAational se!retaries# ele!ted in the !on$eren!es o$ the distri!ts ereinvited# to "a'e reports and re!eive !onsultations&

These !on$eren!es ere be*un a$ter the $oundation o$ the @arty and the establish"ent o$the basi! or*aniAations o$ the @arty& /lso invited ere "e"bers o$ the )entral

provisionary )o""ittee +< people.# and the )entral )o""ittee o$ )o""unist Youth+o$ hi!h I as "e"ber.&

The tables ere arran*ed di$$erently $ro" the "eetin* $or the Foundation o$ the)o""unist Youth# sin!e the nu"ber o$ parti!ipants as "u!h bi**er& The tablessurrounded the $our an*les o$ the roo"# !reatin* a spa!e in the "iddle& Thou*h not allere true tables# on t o an*les ere trun's supported by boxes& The stools to sit ere!onstru!ted "ore or less in the sa"e ay# sin!e it as i"possible to $ind enou*h !hairs$or all the parti!ipants& The !hair0person o$ the "eetin* sat in bet een t o doors# nextto the all that separated this roo" $ro" the por!h& I happened to sit on a !orner o$ thetable atta!hed to the !hair0person3s table& In so"e o$ the plenary "eetin*s

Enver ould !o"e and sit on the !orner o$ the sa"e table and ould !onverse ith "e&Gn!e he told "e: You have a ni!e pen# it see"s to rite beauti$ully& Would you *ive itto "e 33 =You !an ta'e it i$ you really ant it> 4 I replied s"ilin*# =but as you !an seeit is a lady3s pen>&

It as as thin as a $in*er and had a red sil' threaded plu"e& I as $ond o$ that bla!' andred pen hi!h I had had $or a lon* ti"e# ever sin!e the ti"e hen I used to see it in theindo o$ the boo'shop o$ Lu"o 2'endo +Mithat Frasheri.&

This shop as situated on Royal Road hi!h# a$ter the liberation as !alled the 2treeto$ the (arri!ades& In this boo'shop# I and "any $riends# ould pay a visit everyday a$ters!hool# to loo' $or any interestin* boo's& We ould *o there everyday and ould be$ull o$ a e# hen the son o$ the *reat renaissan!e "an# /bdul Frasheri# Mithat# pri" inhis ele*ant suit# ith an over!oat and sti$$# hite as sno # shirt !ollar# 'eepin* his headup and his pin!e0neA spe!ta!les on the nose# ould !o"e and serve us& 2o"e hat$urther up# on the other side o$ the road# there as this other boo'shop# =/r*us># that

as e?uipped ith !opyboo's# pen!ils and other s!hool e?uip"ent& (ut at Lu"o2'endo3s you !ould $ind "ore serious boo's# in $orei*n lan*ua*es too& There I had


14/24

bou*ht a little boo'# the siAe o$ a pa!'et o$ !i*arettes# ith )ardu!!i3s poe"s# andanother $ro" Leopardi# hose poe"s I ad"ired durin* the period o$ "y youth& Ire"e"ber so"e verses even today

G natura # G natura#

@er!h non rendi poiuel !he pro"etti/i $i*li tuoiOnature# oh nature# hy !an3t you o$$er your sons hat you pro"ise&

Italian in the ori*inalP

When I told Enver that the pen had been pur!hased ith "y $irst salary as a tea!her andthat I had done so"e tea!hin* only $or three or $our "onths in 8BD5# until the day I as$or!ed to leave ho"e and s!hool he as'ed "e: =Is it only this pen you !ould buy ithyour $irst a*es > 4 =No># I replied# =I bou*ht also a !oat $or "ysel$# be!ause I didn3thave one& I also be*an *ivin* a lu"p su" to "y "aternal *rand"other +a ?uarter o$ anapoleon hi!h as about 8 dollar and e?ual to 57 le' at that ti"e.# so she ould haveso"e po!'et "oney& The re"ainin* part o$ "y a*es# I *ave to "y "other# $or thehousehold expenditures&>

When I "entioned the "oney $or "y *rand"other# Enver started lau*hin* and as'ed"e:

=What about your *rand"other What ould she need the "oney $or >

I replied: =2he needed the "oney to buy !i*arettes# sin!e she as not the 'ind to as' $or"oney $ro" everyone& ==I$ I had 'no n> 4 said Enver 4 =That your *rand"other s"o'ed# I ould have sent hera pa!'et o$ !i*arettes $ro" 1Flora3 ;o you 'no here Flora is >>I 'no > 4 I told hi" 4 =We pass by that road very o$ten>&>Why haven3t you visited then > 4 he as'ed "e# hilst his s"ilin* eyes ere shinin*"ore and "ore as he *lan!ed at "e&>Why should I !o"e> 4 I replied in a devilish ay 4 =I don3t s"o'e and I don3t drin'either>&>Well# I 'no # but i$ you had !o"e# e !ould have "et ea!h other earlier> 4 he!ontinued on this tra!'&

These ords and %o'es o$ Enver# later too' on a "eanin*# hi!h I hadn3t sensed at theti"e&

,sually# durin* arti"e# these types o$ "eetin*s ere ?uite intensive and !overed aide ran*e o$ topi!s o$ national i"portan!e and# $or se!urity reasons e or'ed bothday and ni*ht& The !onsultation started at around 9 p&"& +/pril 85th 8BD5. and!ontinued on until C or D o3!lo!' a&"&

There ere so "any dele*ates that there as so"e di$$i!ulty in "a'in* the sleepin*arran*e"ents& 2o"e o$ the !o"rades ould lay do n herever they thou*ht possible#or sit on stools& 2o"e layin* their heads on another3s shoulders or even on the "eetin*

tables& I# bein* the only $e"ale# as as usual# "ore =privile*ed> in su!h !ases& I ould


15/24

use (i%e3s bed the only bed in the house# and I ould sleep ith "y !lothes on and ta'e"y shoes o$$& /s soon as I lay do n I $ell asleep&

I don3t 'no hat the ti"e "i*ht have been hen I heard a sli*ht noise& The da n as brea'in*& /t $irst I thou*ht I as drea"in* I heard so"e steps that passed by "y bed

and so"eone stopped# pulled up the blan'et and !overed "y shoulders and ba!'# eventhou*h# as previously "entioned# I as sleepin* ith "y !lothes on& The $irst thou*htthat !rossed "y "ind as that it as "y dear "other& (ut hen this so"eone re"oveda lo!' o$ hair $ro" "y $a!e# I o'e up !o"pletely# but didn3t open "y eyes until Iheard the steps "ove a ay&

When I opened "y eyes I sa Enver3s ba!' as he entered the 'it!hen& I a" not surehether he had slept or not# be!ause hen I ent to bed I had le$t hi" s"o'in* on the

por!h o$ the house&What did I $eel in those "o"ents What did I thin' I !an truly say that at the ti"e Ididn3t thin' that this a!t o$ his as an expression o$ love& I as pleased that a"on* theleaders o$ the party e had su!h !o"rades& I as *ettin* to 'no Enver durin* the"eetin*s and !ould see that they ould ta'e !are and behave ar"ly ith us# %ust asEnver had a!ted at that "o"ent ith "e& I as espe!ially deli*hted that a $riendapproa!hed "e and too' !are o$ "e# even ith the si"ple a!t o$ pullin* the blan'et over"e hile I slept# be!ause# it as on that sa"e day that I as nearly arrested and I hadle$t "y ho"e and parents& He as a $riend ho# ith his %o'es and his ar" handtou!hin* "y $orehead# anted to !reate a ho"ey environ"ent $or "e# tryin* to relieve"e o$ the sadness o$ bein* separated $ro" "y beloved parents# ho" "y brother and Ihad le$t alone at ho"e&

This is all I thou*ht at that "o"ent sin!e I didn3t 'no Enver very ell: I didn3t 'nohis a*e# or hether he as "arried or not& I as 58 at the ti"e# but he loo'ed "u!holder due to his ell0built body# and I ouldn3t have thou*ht o$ anythin* else durin*those days&

It as arti"e& War is ar and not a eddin* !ere"ony& It doesn3t leave you ti"e tohave $un and love& It as nearly "idday# hen into the house o$ (i%e Vo'shi !a"e oneo$ our *uards# ho# to*ether ith t o other $riends# had been 'eepin* at!h around thehouse $or suspi!ious "ove"ents& They let us 'no that there as a patrol anderin*about& The !o"rades o$ the )entral )o""ittee de!ided to ta'e so"e preli"inary"easures in order to be prepared& They ordered the *uards to 'eep their eyes open and

$ollo the "ove"ents o$ that patrol on the road& In the "eanti"e lun!h as prepared&

/$ter lun!h e thou*ht that e ould !ontinue ith the "eetin*# hile al ays 'eepin*a loo'out $or any suspi!ious "ove"ents& (ut e re!eived so"e bad ne s& N%aAi ;e"ihad been arrestedJ He o ned a house that as a base $or our under!over !o"rades& Thehouse as !alled =the house o$ the $ro*s>& It as next to the oldest brid*e in Tirana# andas !lassi$ied as a !ultural "onu"ent# and as !lose to the buildin* here the Italianhead?uarters as situated durin* the ar +a$ter the ar this buildin* as o!!upied bythe )entral )o""ittee o$ the )o""unist Youth.& Later the sa"e buildin* as *iven tothe )o""ittee o$ the /nti0$as!ist National liberation War Veterans&

This $riend# no arrested# presented us a *reat ris'# even $or the "eetin* to ta'e pla!e&This as be!ause N%aAi ;e"i had !lose !onta!ts ith (i%e# and under torture# !ould be


16/24

$or!ed to expose us& It as i""ediately de!ided there$ore that the "eetin* be postponedto the next day and all the dele*ates le$t& They ere noti$ied that the "eetin* ould!ontinue# not in the sa"e pla!e# but in the house o$ Misto Ma"e&

(e$ore e le$t# Enver *ave so"e dire!tives the t o tables ere to be pla!ed in the t o

di$$erent roo"s# hereas the other t o here to be "oved to the 'it!hen& The lon*stools ithout ba!'rests +there ere "any o$ the".# ere ta'en to the por!h# and pla!edaround the alls& 2o"e o$ the" ere ta'en to the 'it!hen as ell& 2o the roo" herethe "eetin* as ta'in* pla!e as e"pty no # thou*h not at all !lean sin!e the !o"radeshad "oved around ith their dirty shoes& There ere !i*arette0butts on the $loor as ell&I had to roll up "y sleeves and start ashin* everythin*& (i%e ould *o outside at theell and $ill in the bu!'ets ith ater and brin* it to "e& Mean hile Enver had de$inedthe interval o$ ti"e $or the !o"rades to leave $ro" both the doors# so that they ouldn3t

be noti!ed by the nei*hbors or by any spies that "i*ht happen to be around&

When all the $riends had le$t# Enver havin* been the last in the house# !a"e and leanedon the door !ase& He as loo'in* at "e as I as s!rubbin* the ooden $loor ith a

brush& I as on "y 'nees on the et $loor&>2o you !an ash per$e!tly ell# !an you not > 4 he said lau*hin*>;id you thin' that I !ouldn3t I a" $ro" a ;ibra ba!'*round>&0 =Those ho have a %iro'astra ba!'*round are ?uite the sa"e> 4 he said&0 =I don3t 'no # I haven3t seen %iro'astra Houses# but I do 'no so"ethin* else& In!o""unis" o"en and "en ill be e?ual so0 I !ontinued s"ilin*0 "en ill have toor' %ust li'e the o"en do# that is to say that you have to ta'e those !arpets that (i%e

brou*ht and dust the" outside &&J =0 =Ri*ht# !o"rade# ith *reat pleasure># he said and ithout ta'in* lon*# ent outside#dusted the" and brou*ht the" inside&

To*ether ith the o ner o$ the house e put the !arpets in pla!e# e set the ru*s on t o!orners o$ the alls# put do n the pillo s $or the *uests# !overed the table next to theindo # put an ashtray on it and a $lo er pot& The house no see"ed ready $or even avisit by any =severe *uests> ith pistols and !hevrons& Enver arned (i%e to !he!' tosee i$ any o$ the !o"rades had possibly le$t any bo"bs or pistols under the ru*s or

pillo s then he as'ed "e:>Where are you *oin* toni*ht > He 'ne I had le$t ho"e and !ouldn3t *o ba!' there&= I don3t 'no ># I replied =I don3t 'no here to *oJ ==What do you "ean by that ;on3t you have an aunt or an un!le here in Tirana >

>No# I have no one in Tirana other than so"e relatives o$ "y $ather& I have never beento their house $or dinner or lun!h& I$ I visit the" it "eans I ill have to let the" 'nohat the situation is# and I don3t really 'no i$ they !an shelter "e a$ter that&>

Let us bear in "ind that it as the end o$ /pril 8BD5# a $e "onths a$ter the )o""unist@arty as $ounded# and a $e days a$ter the po er$ul de"onstrations& Those ere thedays o$ $as!ist terror# days hen people ere arrested and 'illed&

Then Enver said:>You ill %oin "e herever I *o then&>

I !ouldn3t do other ise& I didn3t even have the ti"e to thin'& I put on "y !lothes very?ui!'ly& In that period o$ stru**le e tried to dis*uise ourselves in every ay possible&


17/24

We "ostly used ele*ant dressin*s# ore hats in order to !over parts o$ our $a!e# or oresil' s!arves on our heads# hi!h as very $ashionable at the ti"e& Gur real saviors erethe dar' sun*lasses& You "i*ht as' here e !ould $ind these expensive ele*ant !lothesthat helped avoided the suspi!ions o$ the $as!ists and their spies& Friends# supporters# the

people helped us& Gn so"e o!!asions I have also used a bla!' yash"a'# hi!h I didn3t

li'e "u!h be!ause the $anati! ;ibran Musli"s anted very youn* *irls to ear it& Ihated the idea and !ouldn3t al' ith it on& We had to "ove $ast# the *irls earin* theyash"a' daily had to al' slo ly and ere al ays a!!o"panied on the road& Lo erin*the yash"a' as not only $orbidden# it as also un ise&

When Enver sa "e ith a bro n s!ar$ and the dar' sun*lasses# he !ouldn3t help"a'in* !o"pli"ents on the trans$or"ation I had *one throu*h& We started lau*hin*&Then e said *oodbye to the o ner o$ the house and le$t& Enver arran*ed his hat on his$orehead# too' the bi!y!le and hen e rea!hed the outside door# told "e:

=You ill sit here in the $ront& Wat!h your le*s# they shouldn3t tou!h the !hain =

I as surprised& I had never been on the bi!y!le ith a boy& Then all the ay I ould$eel so un!o"$ortable& I be*an to resist: 1No I !an3t = and in the sa"e ti"e I $elt $unny&

Then I told hi">It3s a sha"e# people ill see us# they ill say ho does it happen that su!h a si*norina*ets on a bi!y!le J =>There3s no ti"e $or dis!ussions#> he said# =it is *ettin* dar' and the house e are *oin*to is on the other side o$ the !ity&>

/s a "atter o$ $a!t it as *ettin* late# and the ti"e o$ the =!opri$uo!o> O!ur$e # Italianin the ori*inalP as near& /ll the people had to *o into their houses at a !ertain ti"e#dependin* on the season# as soon as it started to *et dar'& It as orse to al' ithEnver& It as very ris'y had the "ilitia stopped us on the road& He as ell e?uippedith bo"bs and a revolver& Enver as also senten!ed to death and as one o$ the "ostanted by the $as!ists and their huntin* do*s&I didn3t resist $or lon* and *ot on the $ront side o$ the bi!y!le& /t that ti"e I didn3tei*ht "ore than 76 '*&

My $irst adventurous trip on a bi!y!le as not asso!iated ith any in!ident& 2o"e yearsa$ter the liberation o$ the !ountry# hen e "et $orei*n $riends# 2oviets# (ul*arians et!&

and ex!han*ed ideas about our traditions& They ould also as' us about the ay e had'no n ea!h other and be!o"e "arried& Enver ould al ays say %o'in*: =I 'idnapped Nexh"i%e# a!!ordin* to the /lbanian tradition# but I didn3t use a horse& I used a bi!y!le> =We ould lau*h endlessly& This "e"ory is "arvelous $or "e even today hen I thin'o$ it&

The house here Enver too' "e that ni*ht as a one0story house# near the Ele!tri!@o er @lant# in $ront o$ = e"al 2ta$a> s!hool# in ;urres 2treet& There as no !ourtyardand you !ould enter dire!tly onto the s"all por!h# here there ere so"e ru*s and atable $or $our people& There ere t o roo"s and a s"all 'it!hen inside& It as inhabited

by t o sisters# one o$ ho as the $ian!Q o$ a $riend o$ Enver3s# 2yr%a 2el$o# atrades"an and s orn anti0$as!ist& He had rented the house# hi!h served as a spare base


18/24


19/24

Thus# due to this di$$i!ult situation it as de!ided to return to (i%e Vo'shi3s house andthere e !ontinued ith the "eetin*# ith hi!h I *o into details& It has been des!ribedin the published do!u"ents o$ the @arty&

/$ter the !onsultation "eetin*# I didn3t see Enver until the 7th o$ May# the day hen

e"al 2ta$a as shot dead&

Cha ter !. "hen #emal $tafa was %illed

I as at %i'e -u?ali3s house hen I heard this bad ne s& We ere holdin* a "eetin*there ith so"e youn*sters& The sho!' as so stron* and the ne s so unexpe!ted that itas i"possible to !ontinue the "eetin*& 2o"e burst into tears# hile others ere!o"pletely spee!hless& 2o"eone as sent to learn "ore o$ hat had happened&

With a deep an*uish in "y heart# I $elt %ittery and thou*ht o$ Enver& What as he doin*at that "o"ent e"al as both Enver3s and "y best $riend& I had 'no n hi" eversin!e the ti"e o$ the early !o""unist *roups# he as "y $irst tea!her& Whereas $orEnver# he as his !losest !ollaborator sin!e the $irst steps o$ the $oundation o$ the/lbanian )o""unist @arty and throu*h the revolutionary and patrioti! stru**le toliberate the !ountry $ro" the $as!ist invaders&Where !ould I $ind Enver at this ti"e I de!ided to *o to the house here he had ta'en"e by bi'e that stran*e ni*ht# and it as there that I $ound hi"& /$ter "y =!oded>'no!'s# he hi"sel$ opened the door& Gur sad $a!es sho ed that e both ere a are o$hat had happened and both 'ne o$ the tra*i! endin* o$ our !o"rade# e"al& Enver!losed the door# turned to "e# put his ar" on "y shoulder and sat next to "e on the!ou!h in the hall# hi!h I des!ribed in the notes !on!ernin* the $irst ti"e I had visitedthis house&

I don3t 'no ho "u!h ti"e passed ithout us sayin* a ord& We ere sho!'ed& I asabout to start !ryin* and !ould hardly sti$le "y hinin*# hi!h had blo!'ed "y throat& Ididn3t ant to see" ea' either& He lit a !i*arette a*ain he ould inhale deeply +theashtray on the table see"ed a "ountain o$ !i*arette ends.&

Finally he bro'e the silen!e& = e"al le$t us# e lost hi"& We lost a very dear $riend# arevolutionary intelle!tual ith a *reat perspe!tive $or the @arty and /lbania =& He as"u!h "oved and had tears in his eyes at sayin* those ords&

/$ter a hile I as'ed: =What do e 'no Ho did it happen >

Enver started tellin* "e that !o"rade o*o +Nushi. as the only one $ro" the Tirana@arty !o""ittee ho 'ne about the se!ret base here Enver ould shelter us& He hadalso brou*ht 2hule +-risto The"el'o. ho had been to*ether ith e"al but hadsurvived the atta!' and bro'en the sie*e& He had explained also that there had beenthree $e"ale !o"rades& ;rita -osturi# e"al3s $ian!eQ Maria# the $ian!QQ o$ Ludovi'

Ni'a% and %ystina# a !ousin o$ Maria# "arried to Ke$ Ndo%a& I as thin'in* that it asnor"al $or ;rita to be there# be!ause she as seein* o$$ her boy$riend# e"al& He as*oin* to leave either that day or the next $or Vlora& (ut hat about the other t o *irlsWhat ere they doin* there They only 'no e"al sli*htly and didn3t have any or'

relations ith hi"# or ith ;rita& Later it as dis!overed that Ludovi'# the $ian!QQ o$Maria# as a spy $or I22# Italian se!ret servi!e& Ludovi'# had obviously $ollo ed the


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"ove"ents o$ the t o# so"e hat $eatherbrained ladies# and had !onse?uentlydis!overed e"al3s (ase& For "e this is the "ost !onvin!in* explanation& The other

possibility as that one o$ our !o"rades# ho had rented the base# had been arrested&@ossibly the house rental do!u"ent as $ound in his po!'et& It "i*ht have been due tothis# so that the base had be!o"e suspi!ious and later !a"e under sie*e&

Fro" hat 2hule had said# Ludovi' had been the $irst to es!ape $ro" the ba!' o$ thehouse# in order to !over the es!ape o$ the $e"ale !o"rades& Whereas e"al had stayeduntil he "ade sure that they had le$t& e"al headed to ards the river# but obviously# thesie*e had be!o"e "ore narro ed do n and the $as!ist troops !on!entrated on hi"&e"al had tried to ithdra # $i*htin* until he $ell under the hail o$ bullets o$ the Italian$as!ist "ilitia and the lo!al "er!enaries&

I thin' that the attitude o$ ;rita -osturi as poor and inde!ent# havin* been in$luen!ed by ele"ents o$ so"e se!ret plan to "as' the $i*ure o$ e"al 2ta$a& 2he has presented"any options durin* "edia intervie s re*ardin* his death& 2u!h as the !ase re!entlyhen she absurdly su**ested that e"al had !o""itted sui!ide this $i$ty years a$ter hisdeathJ e"al not only sho ed that he as brave# but also that his disposition as oneo$ spiritual nobility& He sa!ri$i!ed his youn* li$e in order to prote!t his !o"rades0in0ar"s# hoever they ere&

Enver told "e he had severely !riti!iAed 2hule $or thin'in* only o$ hi"sel$ and his$riends# and $or leavin* e"al alone ithout any prote!tion& His $a!e as $ull o$ *loo"and "ade "ore so by his "ousta!he nevertheless "any hours had passed sin!e his"eetin* ith -risto The"el'o& It started to *et dar'# but e didn3t even thin' o$ eatin*&I *ot up and "ade so"e !o$$ee $or both o$ us& We sat on the table# in the "iddle o$ theroo"# here e stayed and tal'ed about e"al until very late about ho e both !a"eto 'no hi"& I spo'e about "y $irst "eetin* ith e"al so"e here in the su""er o$8BC


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relations# et!& Evidently he anted to 'no hether I !ould !o""it "ysel$ to theor*aniAed !o""unist revolutionary "ove"ent& Fro" the very start o$ our !onversation#he see"ed to "e a very serious and "ature !o"rade& I as astonished hen I later$ound out that he as only 8< years old and there$ore only one year older than "ysel$& Ilearned a lot $ro" that !onversation ith hi"& e"al too' a lon* ti"e to explain the

or' e had to do as !o""unists and espe!ially re*ardin* the or' to be done ith the!o""unist *irls# at the students3 *roup o$ the irls3 @eda*o*i! Institute $ro" Tirana& /tthat ti"e# this institute as the only hi*h s!hool $or *irls open to all /lbaniansespe!ially those $ro" the 2outh# here $anati!is" as s!ar!e and s!hoolin* as "u!hvalued& The *irls ould %oin the institute ai"in* at be!o"in* tea!hers in order tosupport the"selves and their $a"ilies& (ut e"al underlined the $a!t that a lot o$ or'should be done ith those youn* *irls ho re"ained at ho"e and hose li$e as "ore!losed# !on$ined and so"e hat piti$ul&

I !an say that it as ith this "eetin* that I started "y !o""it"ent to the 2h'odraYouth )o""unist *roup& For so"e ti"e I as una are both that the *roup I as a"e"ber o$# as na"ed the 2h'odra roup# and the basis $or its3 na"e& I thou*ht thatthe !enter o$ our a!tivists as Tirana and the leaders o$ our *roup ere Vasil 2hantoand e"al 2ta$a& With the trial o$ "any !o""unists in 8BCB# e !a"e to 'no aboutthe existen!e o$ several other *roups&

I told Enver# that I thou*ht that e"al didn3t *et a very *ood i"pression about "yrevolutionary spirit# be!ause# not only did I not say "u!h# but I as also verye"barrassed& Gn that day# there as an in!ident hi!h# hen I loo' ba!' on it# "a'es"e lau*h# but at the ti"e !aused "e "u!h e"barrass"ent& ;urin* our "eetin*# a

beauti$ul !at entered the roo" and as obviously "issin* the tenants o$ the house hohad le$t it by itsel$& It !a"e around "y le*s and then %u"ped onto "y lap& I have al aysloved !ats and ithout divertin* "y attention $ro" hat e"al as sayin*# I started to!aress the !at& ,nexpe!tedly I heard hi" say "ee'ly: =Leave the !atJ> /nd he then enton ith his !onversation# about dire!tives related to our or'& He let it *o# but I!ouldn3t help thin'in* about this in!ident $or days&

/$ter this "eetin*# e"al or*aniAed and then be!a"e leader o$ the *irls3 !ells& This !ellhad "e"bers su!h as: Liri e*a# Fi?ret 2anxha'tari# ;rita -osturi as ell as "ysel$&We had so"e "eetin*s ith e"al# here e learned about !o""unist theories andthe tas's e had to underta'e& We also "ade reports on the or' done& (ut these"eetin*s ith e"al didn3t last lon* sin!e he had to leave $or Floren!e# Italy in order to

attend university studies& ;rita -osturi le$t# too& 2he also le$t to attend studies inFloren!e& 2he said she had lived in the sa"e house ith e"al& /nother $riend thatent to Italy to study had told "e that she +;rita. !lun* so !lose to e"al that in theend he had to *et en*a*ed to her&

Was e"al one o$ those youn*sters that ould *et en*a*ed ithout $irst $allin* in loveI !an say no& /bove all# e"al as honest and it "i*ht be that in !ertain !ir!u"stan!eshe !ould have $elt pressured to *et en*a*ed& I 'ne ;rita -osturi very ell# and in spiteo$ her bein* older than "e by t o or three !lasses# e *ot on ell ith ea!h other# sin!ee ere part o$ the sa"e !ell&

I $reely visited her house and *ot to 'no her $a"ily "e"bers& 2he had been raisedithout her "other in a patrioti! liberal $a"ily& 2he as a 'ind o$ anar!hi!


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revolutionary& 2he as open "inded# but not that balan!ed# and so"e hat "essy in herli$e and in her or'# and didn3t nor"ally dress ell& /lthou*h she didn3t 'no hat!onspira!y as# she didn3t la!' !oura*e&

I told Enver about the a!tivities o$ our *roup durin* the May ;ay !elebrations hen

;rita ould ear a red ribbon in her hair and ould *o to the pastry shop on Royal2treet here all the !o""unist students ould "eet# in!ludin* e"al and his $riends&=You probably 'no that shop don3t you ># I as'ed Enver& =It is opposite the store o$the bi* business"an# 2haho& 2o the net or' o$ se!ret a*ents ere very ell a are that;rita as a !o""unist# and !ertainly 'ne o$ the relationship that she had ithe"al&>

;urin* our dis!ussion# I re"e"bered hat (i%e Vo'shi had on!e told "e about ;rita&2he didn3t really li'e ;rita bein* so disor*aniAed and $li*hty& (i%e# lovin* e"al very"u!h# had as'ed hi" on!e: > 2on# ho !o"e you are "ixed up ith that *irl > He hadans ered: =Eh# dear (i%e# this is the ay it is I !an3t help it any"ore# and she already'no s all about the bases and all our !o"rades>&

e"al as an e"an!ipated person# edu!ated and $ree o$ pre%udi!es# but one never'no s& @erhaps he asn3t !o"pletely $ree $ro" the prevailin*# albeit in!orre!t "entalityo$ the !o""unist "ilitants ho# $or the sa'e o$ the *roup3s interests# $or our under!over!o""unist or'# and# to !reate bases# believed that "arria*es had to be arran*ed& It asdue to this "entality that Kyl$i%e To"ini "arried he"al )ani and# as a !onse?uen!e#the house here the party as $ounded# as established& They also arran*ed the"arria*e bet een Ke$ Ndo%a and %ystina# in order to establish the house on 2hebe'eRoad# hi!h be!a"e the base $or the se!ond @rovisionary )entral )o""ittee and herethe experts o$ the )entral /r!hive )o""ittee ere setup& /$ter the betrayal o$ Ludovi'

Ndo%a# this house $ell into the hands o$ our ene"ies& The "arria*e o$ 2el$ixhe )iu tohe"al (ro%a as arran*ed in the very sa"e ay and they ere sent to 2h'odra&

When I told Enver that a !o""unist !o"rade had been $ound $or "e to "arry but that Ididn3t ant to *o throu*h ith it be!ause I had never "et hi" he lau*hed and said:=Well done Nexh"i%eJ> For hi" this rea!tion had another "eanin*# but I understood itonly to be an approval o$ "y reasonable attitude& I told hi" that this is hy the$oundation o$ the party is so"ethin* "ore $or us youn* o"en !o""unists# be!ausee had been saved $ro" !ertain "arria*e allian!es dyed in red and $ro" !ertainalle*edly *olden plated !hains& In $a!t e had had enou*h o$ the !hains o$ our

!onservative $a"ilies# ho lived in a!!ordan!e ith !onte"porary traditions&

Follo in* this !onversation# about the "entalities and "ista'es o$ the !o""unist*roups o$ the ti"e# Enver spo'e at len*th to "e about the load o$ or' the party and the!o""unist youth had to $a!e& Not only had they to or' on or*aniAin* the ar a*ainstthe $as!ist invaders and the unleashed propa*anda o$ their !ollaborators and lo!altraitors# but also on the enli*htenin* o$ the "inds and a areness o$ the !o""on people#so that the *irls and o"en ould be vie ed under a di$$erent li*ht& They ere to betreated li'e hu"an bein*s and hen the party and the people on the ar# they ould

be entitled to e?ual ri*hts ith "en&

e"al as a very $unny youn*ster# and e re"inis!ed about his %o'es& Enver told "eabout his e$$orts to tea!h e"al ho to sin* Vlora son*s# and ho he had to %oin in&


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e"al as never able to do this be!ause he ould start lau*hin*J =Let3s sin* so"ethin*$ro" 2h'odra>0 he ould say#0 and ould ta'e the ban%o and play# sin*in* "errily&Thou*h deep in thou*ht hen e ould sit do n to or'# there ere "o"ents hene too' brea's and he ould su**est playin* ith !olor$ul *lass "arbles hi!h heal ays 'eep in po!'et&

He as still youn* and these "arbles apparently re"inded hi" o$ the *a"es o$ early!hildhood&

I also told Enver ho ell I re"e"bered the po er that e"al3s lau*hter had# as ellas Vasil3s +Vasil 2hanto.& When I used to visit Vasil3s ho"e I ould o$ten be ?uitesho!'ed a$ter "y "eetin*s ith representatives o$ various *roups be!ause o$ the use o$

bad lan*ua*e& Gn!e# hen I as to have a "eetin* ith a *irl $ro" the youth *roup# I!ouldn3t believe "y ears at the vul*ar lan*ua*e that I heard her use lan*ua*e that Iouldn3t expe!t even a "an to useJ Voi!in* "y displeasure# I said to e"al and Vasil:=I ill never ever attend "eetin*s ith people su!h as this&> e"al and Vasil burst outlau*hin* be!ause they ere a are o$ hat I had heard# but that I as unable to repeat itto the"&

;id you 'no # I as'ed Enver# that the ni!'na"e =;eli!ate> had been *iven to "e bye"al /nd do you 'no hy It as not be!ause o$ "y out ard appearan!e but

be!ause o$ "y intoleran!e re*ardin* bad lan*ua*e& /nd# even hen e"al said that hethou*ht that there should be "ore re$ined "anners and stri!ter attitudes +I as not surei$ he as serious about this or not.# he ould lau*h and "a'e $un& ;espite this and hisyouth# e"al as the per$e!t edu!ator $or the youn*sters and as a onder$ul!o""uni!ator and a*itator ith people o$ every a*e&

I also re"e"ber that anyti"e he as *iven the o!!asion# he ould have ar" !hatsith "y "other& Gn!e# be$ore I had *one under*round# a "eetin* o$ the )entral Youth)o""ittee too' pla!e in "y ho"e at hi!h# Ni''o and Misto Ma"e also parti!ipated&e"al sat and tal'ed at len*th ith "y "other& 2he ould spea' $reely ith hi" and itas obvious to everyone hat an open and !har"in* "an he as& /t this "eetin*# hesaid to her: =Mother# e have to $a!e *reat di$$i!ulties and# in order to over!o"e the"#it ill re?uire "u!h e$$ort and "any sa!ri$i!es be$ore e obtain our liberty&>

I also spo'e to Enver about "y last "eetin* ith e"al# t o days be$ore he as shotand 'illed& He !a"e to the ho"e o$ Hysen ;ashi to parti!ipate in a "eetin* o$ the Youth

)ir!uit )o""ittee $or Tirana& We used to !all the house =February S> and Enverould *o there ?uite o$ten& The "eetin* as interrupted several ti"es be!ause the ni*htas $ull o$ tension due to the !onstant bar'in* o$ the nei*hborhood do*s and it as'no n that there ere patrols every here& In order to help relax the youn* people at the"etin*# e"al expressed a ish +that un$ortunately# he ould never be able to realiAe.

4 $ull o$ %oy and opti"is" he said 4 1Gur day ill !o"e a day o$ liberty# hen all o$ usill be able to al' alon* the boulevards sin*in* and !hantin* and e on3t "ind hatothers ill say o$ us >&

While Enver and I ere tal'in* at the table on that day o$ !ala"ity# the o ners o$ thehouse returned $ro" havin* lun!h in the !ity& We ere una are that it as so late and

hadn3t thou*ht about eatin*& The o ners o$$ered to prepare so"ethin* ar" $or us tohave# but e told the" e ere not hun*ry and that so"e bread and !heese ould


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su$$i!e& Enver also as'ed $or so"e tea be!ause his throat as dry $ro" his !ontinuouss"o'in*& He as'ed the" about hat as happenin* in the !ity& They said that peopleere orried and ere onderin* ho had been 'illed +those ho didn3t 'no e"al.&They also ondered ho else had been there ith hi"# and i$ anyone else been arrestedor 'illed There as a *eneral alert and the poli!e and $as!ist "ilitia ere in a very

a*itated state& Many patrols ere to be seen on the streets&

We started to tal' a*ain about e"al o$ his !oura*e and !ulture& Enver told the o nerso$ the house that# the next day e"al as to have le$t $or Vlora to ta'e !are o$ so"eor'& They had "et on the previous day and said their *oodbyes& =Ho !ould I have'no n#0 said Enver ith tears in his eyes0 that it as a $are ell and not a *oodbye J> Ithad been only < "onths sin!e the @arty had been $ounded and e needed to do "u!hor'& We $a!ed a bi* battle and the @arty and the @eople needed as "any individuals o$e"al3s !apabilities and stature&

/$ter dinner e s it!hed on the radio to listen to the daily ne s& It as di$$i!ult tolisten to Radio Tirana durin* the ar# be!ause it as di$$i!ult to put up ith the

propa*anda o$ our ene"ies& We listened to the Mos!o ne s in Fren!h and also $ro"the (() in London# and# as e usually did durin* the ar# e !o""ented on these

pro*ra"s& Then e split to *o to sleep& (ut sleepin* as i"possible sin!e e still hadthe noise in our ears o$ the bullets enterin* the body o$ our $riend&

In order to honor the "e"ory o$ e"al 2ta$a this patrioti! !o""unist# one o$ the "ainleaders o$ the /lbanian )o""unist Youth# Enver purposed that the $i$th o$ May +theday on hi!h he as barbarously 'illed.# should be !o""e"orated as Martyrs3 day o$the /nti$as!ist National Liberation War# a*ainst the NaAi $as!ist invaders& This day

be!a"e a sy"bol o$ honor and a national holiday&

2G,R)E: http: espressostalinist&!o" 5685 68 57 "y0li$e0 ith0enver0nexh"i%e0hoxhas0"e"oirs0part08

Documents

My Life With Enver Hoha