Veli Dedi
Veli Dedi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Veli Musa Dedi |
| Born | 5 April 1912 Medveđa, Kingdom of Serbia |
| Died | 3 February 1995 (aged 82) Tirana, Albania |
| Allegiance |  Albania Spanish Republic |
| Service |  LANÇ International Brigades Albanian People's Army |
| Rank | General, Commander |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |  Hero of the People |
Veli Musa Dedi (5 April 1912 – 3 February 1995)[1] was an Albanian general, notable for serving as the Technical Director of the Albanian People's Army and commanding the garrison of Tirana. He played a significant role in the Spanish Civil War[2][3] and served in France during World War II, notably participating in the Battle of Marseille in 1944.[4][5][6]
Life
[edit]Veli Dedi was an ethnic Albanian, born in the village Dediq which belongs to the district of Medveđa that is located in the region of Gollak.[7] He attended primary school in Medveđa and Gazdare, secondary school in Leskoc and Faculty of Engineering in Belgrade. In 1932, at the age of 20, he came to Albania and graduated from the Royal Military School in Tirana.[8][9]
Participation in the Spanish and French War
[edit]
During the Spanish Civil War he carried out the duty of operational chief of pioneers of Brigade XV. Later on he fled to France where he joined the French resistance forces by fighting in the Battle of Marseille, and in August 1944, he was promoted to Major and Veli Dedi, thanks to his ability, surrendered to 37 thousand fascists, who were fighting to destroy the whole of Marseilles. He managed to persuade them to surrender thanks to the recognition of all international conventions in a professional and detailed manner and with the security guaranteed by the French units. Veli Dedi was also a member of the French Communist Party.[10]
Death
[edit]On February 3, 1995. Mayor General Veli Dedi died in Tirana. The funeral of Major General Veli Dedi, as an experienced combatant of Spain and as commander of the liberation operations of the Department of Marseille, as a loyal soldier of the Albanian nation, as a long-time deputy of the Bajram Curri district, was held with state honors. The telegrams from the President, the Ministry of Defense and Albania's veterans were read at the funeral service. Veli Dedi also received an award as Hero of the People[11]
References
[edit]- ^ P. Titani, Gjergj (1997). Personalitete ushtarake shqiptare në vite (in Albanian). Albania: Botimet Toena. p. 85.
- ^ Frashëri, Kristo (2006). Historia e lëvizjes së majtë në Shqipëri dhe e themelimit të PKSH-së 1878-1941 : vështrim historik me një shtojcë dokumentare. Tiranë: Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë. ISBN 99943-909-3-7. OCLC 425855803.
- ^ Acciai, Enrico (2020). "Albanian Transnational Fighters: From the Spanish Civil War to the European Resistance Movements (1936–1945)". War in History. 27 (3): 346–367. doi:10.1177/0968344519829777. ISSN 0968-3445. S2CID 198684284.
- ^ "Spanish War General Veli Dedi". sot.com.al. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ Kadriu, Ramiz (2014). "Generalmajor Veli Dedi". medvegja.net. Archived from the original on 2017-09-12.
- ^ "Generals Veli Dedi, Nexhip Vinçani, Sadik Bekteshi and Vehbi Hoxha contributed to the partisan war and the rise of the Albanian army". sot.com.al. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ Shqiptare, Qendra Mbarekombetare e Koleksionisteve (2018-04-04). "5 April 1912, was born the military officer Veli Dedi "Fighter of the International Brigades"". Qendra Mbarekombetare e Koleksionisteve Shqiptare. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ "Medvegja e vogël e Veli Dedit ndodhet në Stublinë". www.bujanoci.net. 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-02-21.
- ^ Mucaj, Diana (2022). VELI DEDI Biografia e një njeriu që ia dedikoi jetën luftës për liri. Albania: Henrietta Leavitt. ISBN 978-9928-4543-8-6.
- ^ Nathanaili, Valbona (2022-11-07). "Veli Dedi Alias FRANÇOIS REDON (5 prill 1912 - 3 shkurt 1995)". Fondacioni Henrietta Leavitt (in Albanian). Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ "Gjenerali Veli Dedi- heroi i popullit dhe luftëtarë i brigadave ndërkombëtare ..." Bota Sot. Retrieved 2023-01-16.