On April 7, 1939 , the day of the Italian fascist aggression against Albania, Mujo (Cakuli) Ulqinaku (1896-1939), martyr of the armed resistance against the fascist aggression, Hero of the People, heroically fought alongside other sailors in the port of Durrës and fell in defense of the homeland. He was born in Ulcinj, in the family of a poor sailor. From a young age he started working as a sailor. In 1925, Mujo Ulqinaku’s family settled in Shkodër for economic reasons. In 1930, he served in Durrës as a non-commissioned officer on the patrol ship “Tirana”; in 1931, after bringing his family as well, he joined the Royal Guard of Finance. In 1933, he was released. Forced by economic circumstances, he served two years in the port of Vlora. Later, he served again as a non-commissioned officer in a naval subunit (flotilla) in Durrës. He is the first martyr of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War. Near the place where he was martyred, at the tower of the castle of Durrës, the bust of Mujo Ulqinaku has been placed and the Freedom Memorial has been erected. Ships, schools, roads, etc. bear the name of Mujo Ulqinaku. (In the photo: Mujo Ulqinaku)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2797-2798.
Photo: © Ulqinaku Family
Graphic processing: AHCF
