Safet Butka, a professor, nationalist, and opponent of communism, was born in Butka, Kolonjë, as the son of the patriot Sali Butka. He completed his secondary and university studies in Linz and Graz, Austria, graduating in philosophy in 1928. It was during this time that he published his first study, “Naim Frashëri, jeta dhe veprat” (“Naim Frashëri, Life and Works”) in 1925. After returning to his homeland, he was appointed a professor at the High School of Korça, worked at the Commercial School of Vlora, served as the director of the “Normale” school in Gjirokastra, and held positions as an inspector at the Ministry of Education and director of the State High School of Tirana from 1929 to 1939. He was actively involved in leading the first anti-fascist demonstrations by students and citizens in Tirana from April 3 to 6, 1939. As the director of the Lyceum, he inspired both teachers and students to resist honoring the invaders. Imprisoned and exiled by the Italians to the island of Ventotene from 1939 to 1942, Butka remained a committed nationalist and fighter for freedom. He later became the commander of National Front detachments in the Korça district from 1942 to 1943. He fought several battles against the Italian invaders, including in Floq in January 1943 and Poceste in September 1943, as well as against the Germans in Barmash in August 1943, in cooperation with the British Mission in Albania. Safet Butka was an initiator and advocate for the unity of all Albanians in the struggle for a free, ethnic, and democratic Albania. Following the collapse of the Mukje Agreement in 1943, he was surrounded by communist forces in Melçan after completing a battle against the Italians in Poceste. To prevent a fratricidal war and avoid capture, he sacrificed himself in 1943. He was posthumously decorated with the medal “Martyr of Democracy” and awarded the highest title, the “Order of the National Flag.” (In the photo: Safet Butka)
Text: Encyclopedic dictionary of victims of communist terror – Vol. II , “West Print”, Institute for the Study of Crimes and Consequences of Communism, Tirana, 2012, page 217-218.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safet_Butka
Graphic processing: AHCF
