The Battle of Gjorm occurred, one of the largest battles in the Vlorë region during the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War. On December 30, 1942, the Italian command launched a major operation aimed at destroying anti-fascist forces, dispersing, and terrorizing the population of the Mesaplik region. They deployed two regiments of fascist militias and carabinieri, along with more than 1000 collaborators, reinforced with artillery and armored vehicles, and supported by aviation, under the command of Consul Franco Clementi (Colonel). According to an agreement, nationalist forces also participated in the fighting alongside the partisans. About 1500 villagers from Vlorë, Kurvelesh, and Mallakastra, as well as hundreds of others, rose up in arms alongside them. The fiercest fighting took place near the village of Gjorm. On January 2, the anti-fascist forces led by Hysni Kapo and Hysni Lepenica launched an attack against the enemy forces surrounding the village of Gjorm. The fascists suffered defeat, leaving more than 60 dead, including the operation commander, Klementi. Among the rebel forces, 7 were killed and several wounded. (In the illustrative photo: Moment from the fighting of the partisan forces.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1548.
Photo: © https://telegraf.al/dosier/lufta-e-gjormit-permes-fakteve-dokumenteve-e-kengeve-te-popullit/
Graphic processing: AHCF
