Draft:Drenica Uprising (1945)

The Drenica Uprising (1945) was an armed revolt by Albanian insurgents in the Drenica region of Kosovo against the newly established communist government of Yugoslavia. The uprising, which took place in February 1945, was primarily driven by opposition to Yugoslav centralization policies, forced collectivization, and suppression of ethnic Albanian identity.

Drenica Uprising (1945)
Part of Aftermath of Kosovo during World War II
Date January- February 1945 Location Drenica, Kosovo (then part of Yugoslavia) Result Yugoslav victory
Belligerents
Albanian insurgents	Yugoslav Partisans
Commanders and leaders
Shaban Polluzha † Miftar Bajraktari † Mehmet Gradica † Gani Llaushi †	Fadil Hoxha
Strength
6,000 men	36,000-50,000 men
Casualties and losses
430 killed	2,550 killed 6,000 wounded 850 captured

Background

During World War II, Drenica was among the many regions of Kosovo where Serb settlers were subjected to persecution by Albanian paramilitaries, including expulsions and murders. The Drenica Uprising of 1945, in which the Albanians of Drenica resisted Yugoslav control after the Yugoslav partisans committed many atrocities against the locals.

The Uprising

The Uprising on 22 January and ended on 18 February. This began when 75 well-known Drenica Albanians were killed by having their heads bashed in by sledgehammers, and were then thrown into a large ditch - the whole Drenica region, at this time numbering around 35,000 inhabitants, rose in revolt as a result of these actions in a bid for freedom. The Drenica uprising was sustained by over 6,000 men. The Drenica region was surrounded by 12-15 partisan brigades, which comprised 36,000-50,000 Serbs, Montenegrins, Bulgarians and Albanians. The fighting lasted for 28 days, and 430 Drenica fighters were subsequently killed or wounded. Over 150 homes were looted or burnt down, and around 6,000 inhabitants of Drenica, Vushtrri and Mitrovica were deprived of food and all of their belongings. Partisan casualties numbered to 2,550 dead, 6,000 wounded and 850 prisoners captured. On the 18th of February, on the final day of fighting, the main commanders of the uprising fell in battle - they were Shaban Polluzha, Miftar Bajraktari, Mehmet Gradica and Gani Llaushi. Due to the death of these important commanders, and the lack of ammunition, the Drenica uprising crumbled.

Aftermath

The suppression of the Drenica Uprising marked the beginning of a broader crackdown on Albanian dissent in Kosovo. Many rebels and their families faced imprisonment or execution. The region remained under heavy surveillance, and tensions persisted throughout the Yugoslav period, contributing to later conflicts in Kosovo during the 1990s.

Legacy

There is a Song about the Uprising called "Kangë për Shaban Polluzhën" by Shaqir Cërvadiku.

See Also

• Kosovo
• Albania-Yugoslavia relations
• Kosovo Liberation Army
• Shaban Polluzha