August 30-31, 1943
The “Battle of Reçi” was a fierce armed resistance against the Italian occupying forces in the district of Shkodra. To eliminate the growing influence of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War in the upper Shkodra area, the Italian fascists launched a military operation involving approximately 1,200 soldiers, reinforced with artillery and supported by aviation. The enemy attack began in the morning of August 30. Facing them were the forces of the first detachment (of Reçi) from the “Perlat Rexhepi” partisan battalion, which had established a commanding position and formed a well-camouflaged “pocket” of defense. Intense fighting erupted across the front, particularly at the Zhbatri pass, where the odds were significantly in favor of the Italians. However, with the arrival of a second platoon from Grizha, the partisans initiated a powerful counterattack from two directions, inflicting considerable damage on the Italian forces, who retreated to the field of Postopojë. The following day, after reorganizing and with support from nationalist forces in Shkodra, numerous peasant volunteers, and the partisan detachment from Mirdita, the partisans launched a surprise attack against the enemy from the front, flanks, and rear, ultimately breaking their lines and forcing them to withdraw to Shkodër. The enemy suffered around 114 casualties, both killed and wounded, along with substantial loss of military equipment left on the battlefield. From the liberation forces, 2 martyrs fell, and 2 fighters were wounded. The defeat of the Italian forces in Reçi bolstered the resolve of the local population and the entire northern region in their fight against fascism, significantly influencing the expansion of this struggle in those areas. (In the photo: Memorial dedicated to the Battle of Rec, Malësia e Madhe.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1552.
Photo: © https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=727842151392483&set=pcb.
Graphic processing: AHCF
