On April 12, 1944 , Dervish Hekali (1915 – 1944) fell while fighting against Nazi forces in Kuç of Kurvelesh. He was an activist of the democratic movement and participant of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, Hero of the People. He was born in Hekal of Mallakastra. As a young man, he worked as a laborer in road maintenance and in the port of Durrës. He participated in the Fier uprising (1935) and was imprisoned. He opposed the Italian occupation, developed anti-fascist activity among the workers and was imprisoned (1941). He associated with communist elements in prison and became acquainted with the program of the Albanian Communist Party. After he got out of prison, he actively worked for the establishment of national liberation councils in his province and was appointed deputy commander of the Mallakastra detachment (1942). Member of the Albanian Communist Party (1942). With the creation of the 5th Assault Brigade, was appointed as its deputy commander. (In the photo: Dervish Hekali)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 900.
Photo: © Xhoxhi L., personal archive
Graphic processing: AHCF
