In Mashkullorë of Gjirokastra, the “War of Mashkullorë” took place. This was the first action that echoed not only in Gjirokastër but also beyond the borders of the Ottoman Empire, after the murder of Bimbash in February 1908 by the Çerçiz Topulli’s detachment. Bimbash Halil Musa Bey, was the gendarmerie commander in Gjirokastër. On March 18, 1908, the Turkish forces launched an attack against the Çerçiz Topulli’s detachment. Despite the many times greater number of Ottoman soldiers, Çerçiz Topulli’s detachment was able to break through the siege. This battle is known as the “Lufta e Mashkullorës” and marked another step in the Albanian National Movement, which also saw the armed struggle as a means to achieve its political goals. (In the photo: Çerçiz Topulli with soldiers in Mashkullorë.)
Text: National Historical Museum
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mashkullor%C3%AB
Graphic processing: AHCF
