Kadri Bistrica
| Kadri Bistrica | |
|---|---|
| Born | c.1880 Sllatine, Vilayet of Kosovo |
| 💀Died | 1941, Sllatinë, Kosovo, Kingdom of Albania)1941, |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Albanian |
| 💼 Occupation | Balli Kombetar fighter, nationalist. |
| 📆 Years active | 1939-1943 |
| Known for | Participation of the Balli Kombetar during the Kingdom Albania in World War 2. |
| Notable work | Fighting Tomash Gjurics chetnik forces and sacrificing himself. |
Kadri Bistrica (b. 1880, Vilayet of Kosovo, Ottoman Empire - d. 1941 Sllatinë, Kosovo, Kingdom of Albania) was an Albanian Balli Kombetar soldier who fought invading Chetnik forces in 1941 during World War II. Bistrica is known as a heroic figure amongst Albanians of Mitrovica as he died fighting invading Chetniks.
The Chetnik commander, Tomash Gjuric, had been launching attacks on the Shala villages in Mitrovica but was stopped by Kadri Bistrica who was selling woods in the market in Sllatine. Gjuric and his comrades Zhika Markovic and Vojsllav Llukacevic had been planning on beginning their ethnic cleansing in the village of Ceraje through massacres and the burning of homes. The Chetniks at the time had been struggling with Ahmet Selaci, an Albanian Balli Kombetar commander, together with his gender armies, who halted the Chetniks progress. However, at the same time, other Chetnik forces had been attacking Sllatine to which Kadri Bistrica, together with Rifat and Rexhep Dedia, defended. .[1][better source needed]
Kadri Bistrica fought, undermanned and with little ammunition, against a Chetnik battalion of 500 men. Despite the Chetniks superior arms and grenades, they were unable to resist Bistrica and his men who only numbered 3. Tomash Gjuric, who's troops had been suffering heavy losses, asked if Kadri Bistrica instead wanted to challenge him in a duel. Bistrica said yes to the challenge but only if Gjurica kept his word that his troops would not open fire. As they drew guns on each other, Bistrica was faster and shot and killed Gjurica. However his men, much angered by the loss of their captain, opened fire on Bistrica, wounding him severely. The other two, Rexhep and Rifat, joined in. Kari Bistrica died later as a result to his wounds and the other two left were severely injured from the hand grenades which the Chetniks had been throwing at them. Rifat and Rexhep, managed to grab the grenades being tossed at them and throwing them back. However Rexhep was unable to capture the last grenade, and it exploded next to a coal making machine which threw hot, liquid coal in his back, burning him severely. Rifati was unable to help him because he had been shot in the leg during the fight.
The Chetniks had been planning on capturing them alive and send them to Shumadia where they would be tortured to death. Eventually peasants in a near by village, hearing the gun battle, joined in and the Chetniks fled. The only one who was left alive was Rifat Dedia.
References[edit]
- ↑ Saraci, Hilmi. "Hilmi Saraçi: Në përkujtim të dy luftëtarëve të shquar të rezistencës kombëtare Ukshin Kovaqica dhe Smail Sfarça (The memory of the Balli Kombetar)". Zemrashqiptare.com. Retrieved 2011. Check date values in:
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