Mefail Shehu

Mefail Shehu, also known as Mefail i madh or Mefail Zajazi was a Balli Kombetar military commander and leader of the Kicevo region during WWII. He was a close associate of Xhem Hasa.

Early life
Mefail Shehu was born in Zajas. He was most likely to have been born in the early 20th century, just before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. His ideology of Albanian nationalism was formed during his adolescence. As a child, Shehu witnessed the terror of the Serbian royalists under King Alexander where 11 Albanian populated villages in the east of Kicevo were razed.

1939 and onwards
Shehu was against the Italian occupation and in 1939 formed his own militia to fight against the fascists. On 19 April 1941, Kicevo was occupied by German forces. On 22 June 1941, Kicevo became a part of the new Albanian state under Germany. At this time, Mit’hat Frashëri published the Balli Kombetar program around the new Albanian state. The Balli Kombetar ideology greatly appealed to Shehu. Shehu formed the Balli Kombetar in Kicevo and held many demonstrations to rally support. The people of Kicevo supported the Balli Kombetar over the communists.

The Balli Kombetar committee held a meeting in Zajas in 1942. Representatives of the Albanian tribes that attended the meeting elected Shehu as military commander of the region. Shehu transformed the bands of millitia into a proper army. Shehu's battalion patrolled villages around Zajas while commander Mefail Mehmeti(Mefail i Vogel) and his battalion patrolled from Greshnica to Kicevo. Shehu's third elected commander, Begzat Vuli operated from Kicevo to Berikove. At that period, the Ballists successfully repelled the Yugoslav partisans. Shehu not only fought in Zajas but also in Skopje, Gostivar and Debar. While fighting away from Zajas, Shehu became associated with Xhem Hasa.

In October 1943, a general assembly was called in Zajas. It was decided that the chairman of the committee of the Balli Kombetar will be Mefail Shehu, along with Mefail Mehmeti as vice chairman, Begzat Vuli as treasurer and Skender Presevo as under prefect.

As the Albanian partisans and Yugoslav partisans were on the rise and the Germans reducing its aid to the Balli Kombetar, Shehu was gradually losing his territory to the partisans.

Death
In November 1945, Mefail Shehu was killed in an ambush with his remaining soldiers by the partisans.

Quotes
Shehu's view on Communism:

"The way of communism is wrong. Those who embrace communism are fools."

In a meeting with Albanian partisans in 1939:

"You are very young and naive. Your cause doesn't help Albania. Unless you love Albania, it is better to stay home."

After The Albanian partisans allied with the Yugoslav partisans and broke the peace agreement with the Balli Kombetar:

"In brotherhood with Slavs, we curse of innocent blood being shed. Our path is ethnic Albania, no other way"