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Kostandin Boshnjaku

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Kostandin Boshnjaku (20 October 1888 – 22 December 1953) was an Albanian banker, politician, diplomat and in the last years of his life as a translator of books. Even though he was one of the earliest Albanian communists, he was arrested and convicted on 31 December 1947 by the Supreme Military Court with life imprisonment due to the divergences he had with the communist regime.[1] In 1949, he was released from prison by an amnesty, while unofficially it was said to have been released with the direct intervention of Soviet ambassador Dmitry Chuvakhin.[2] He spent the last years of his live in Durrës serving as a translator of books in several languages.

Kostandin Boshnjaku
Born(1888-10-20)20 October 1888
Stegopull, Ottoman Empire
(now Gjirokastër, Albania)
Died22 December 1953(1953-12-22) (aged 65)
Durrës, People's Republic of Albania
Occupation(s)Banker, politician, diplomat and translator
SpouseMargarete Schmid

Biography edit

Early life edit

Kostandin Boshnjaku was born in Stegopull, Lunxhëri region, Ottoman Albania, which is today Gjirokastër County, Albania, in 1888 to an Albanian Orthodox family.[3] His family may have been Albanian Muhaxhirs from the Sandzak region hence his surname, or have Bosniak roots, they may have converted to Orthodox Christianity once arriving to Gjirokastër. He finished his studies in the Commercial Institute of Piraeus, Greece. He was an economist, publisher, and diplomat, as well as a polyglot, knowing Greek, Old Greek, Russian, Turkish, English, French, and German. He worked for many years in Odessa and St. Peterburg in French and international banks.[3]

Early involvement in politics edit

In 1914, the government of Prince Wied put him in charge of the Treasury of the newly created Albanian state. His name appears as co-founder of the Albanian Nationalist Party, Albanian: Partia Nacionaliste Shqiptare, a short-lived party during 1913–1915.[4] All this was interrupted by the Islamic Revolt in Albania, and World War I.

Communist ideology and interbellum edit

Kostandin was in Russia during the October Revolution, probably the only Albanian intellectual to have lived the events. During this time, he kept friendship with other Albanian patriots and intellectuals as Fan Noli, Ymer Dishnica, Mirash Ivanaj, Halim Xhelo, Sejfulla Malëshova, Asdreni, Faik Konica, etc. Konica would even suggest later his name to Noli, as the best fit candidate for the role of Ambassador to Greece. He was sent as ambassador in Sofia, Bulgaria (probably with Soviet support) but was recalled back in Albania prior to presenting his letter of credence to Bulgarian authorities; all this would remain an unclear and dubious situation.[5] Boshnjaku brought in Albania the revolutionary ideas of Bolshevism, and people from Comintern were in contact with him for establishing a communist party in the country,[6] though he did not get directly involved in any local communist group.[7] During 1919-20 he widened his range of contacts with liberal and left-wing politicians within the country, and spread the pro-Soviet sentiments. He propagandized the fact that the Soviets prohibited a new partition of Albanian territories by making public the text of the Secret Treaty of London.[6] His effort did not have any big effect on the Albanian masses, which were mostly illiterate, but did influence young politicians and activists, especially the "Bashkimi" (Unity) youth society founded in 1922 and led by Avni Rustemi. By 1923, it was clear that a communist party was far from possible. Comintern sent to Albania Dimitri Pentchev in order to persuade the authorities to set up diplomatic relations with Soviet Union. Therefore, Boshnjaku stopped from his side, but re-assumed his activities on late 1923 after Pentchev left Albania. He was instrumental in passing the resolution of the Albanian National Assembly to honor Lenin, who had recently died, in February 1924.[6] Ali Këlcyra, in his memoirs of 1959, would mention that the pro-soviet and leftist positioning of Noli and many other leaders of the democratic opposition in Albania, would come mostly as a consequence of the propaganda and persuading work of Boshnjaku.[8]

After the June Revolution in 1924, Boshnjaku fled to Austria, leaving Albania together with many other democratic political personalities. According to Sejfi Vllamasi's memories, Boshnjaku served as an intermediary between the newly exiled community and Comintern. With his initiative, they reached an agreement with Comintern which then provide monetary support for Noli's and Boshnjaku's organization KONARE (Revolutionary National Committee) and even for the members of the Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo.[9] King Zog's tribunal condemned him in 1927 with life sentence, in absence. He got arrested in Wien in 1929, allegedly for implication in the failed murder attempt on Ahmet Zogu. His reputation and connections made possible for him to get released, Noli, Henri Barbusse, even Albert Einstein, were some of the names who ran in his defense.[3]

In 1932, Boshnjaku appears in an Albanian anti-Monarchist committee in Constanța, Romania, together with other Albanian emigre members settled there (see:Albanians in Romania).[10]

World War II edit

He returned in Albania in 1939, joining soon the communist side of National Liberation Movement (Albanian: Lëvizja Nacional Çlirimtare or Lëvizja Antifashiste Nacional Çlirimtare, LANÇ).[11] According to Albanian "Nacional" newspaper article of 2011, referring to some extracts from a British Intelligence report on Albanian communist leaders of early post-WWII, Kostandin was openly a pro-German before the war, changing his position only after Germany attacked Soviet Union.[5]

Aftermath in Communist Albania edit

After World War II, he was elected a representative in the new Constitutional Assembly which came out of the general elections of December 2, 1945,[12] following with being elected the General Director of the Bank of Albania.[3][13][14] During this time would come the first shuttering of relations with Hoxha and the rest of Hoxha's clan which would strongly weaken his position inside the Communist Party. In May 1945, Joseph Earle Jacobs (1893-1971) as the representative of the US Civil Mission in Albania, would meet with Hoxha who back then was presenting himself simply as General-Colonel. The discussion was upon several topics. One of them was a permission for the United States Department of the Treasury representative Gardner Patterson (1916-1998) to visit Albania as part of his Balkan tour and place contacts with the Central Bank of the country. Another topic was establishing an account at Chase Bank of New York as an intermediary of the Albanian State Bank. This would make possible to the Albanian diaspora to send remittances back home, as the US still did not recognize the government of Albania at the moment. As came out from the discussions, Boshnjaku (back then governor) and Kolë Kuqali (Boshnjaku's deputy) had previously discussed and agreed with Jacobs. Kolë Kuqali would be arrested later together with Boshnjaku, and hang himself in his cell in dubious circumstances.[15]

Another contradiction raised during the attempts to unify the Lek with Dinar, and to agree on Yugoslav requests for establishing the Albanian Central Bank under the sovereignty of the Yugoslav one. Boshnjaku opposed this idea. This time Nako Spiru (1918-1947) shared consequences with him.

Hoxha's dislike over Boshnjaku are visible through how he mentions him in his correspondence of that time. Hoxha simply mentions him as "B." or even ironically calls him "Dear Bosnian Comrade" ("I dashur shok Boshnjak" - in Albanian "Boshnjak" means Bosnian, a national of Bosnia, instead of "I dashur shoku Boshnjaku" - which would mean "Dear Comrade Boshnjaku").

On December 22, 1945, he wrote a memo to Hoxha, criticizing the strong measures of the communist government against private sector.[14] Though he was a supporter of the Agrarian Reform which had recently been completed, Boshnjaku was against any collectivization or accumulation of land as state property.[16]

Without the private sector, meaning without the work of all people, there is no production, neither reconstruction, nor construction, and no progress in our economy.

— Extract from the Memo 1945

This public stance would cost him a lot. In 1947, he was arrested by the communist government, which accused him of implications with Anglo-American intelligence, and giving another life sentence. The arrest and trial went on the same time the so-called "Group of the representatives" (Alb: Grupi i Deputetëve), several opposition members being sentenced, although Boshnjaku was not connected to them.[17] This time, the attempts of amnesty were in vain. After an amnesty in 1949, he came out of prison, still living under surveillance, deprived of any pension or economical help, in total poverty. Kostandin died in 1953.[3][14]

His name and contribution were annihilated in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, together with his memo. He was shortly as a "pro-bourgeois and opportunist element, trying to harm the communist economy".[18]

Boshnjaku was rehabilitated after fall of communism in Albania, though he remained enigmatic and unknown to most of the Albanians.

Family edit

In 1940, Boshnjaku married to Margarete Schmid, an Austrian woman he had met in Vienna. They had lived together since 1925. The couple did not have any children.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Kost; Kost, in Boshnjaku Informacione Personale Emër/Mbiemër; Gjatë, in Boshnjaku Vendlindja; vitit 1947, Lunxhëri Gjyqi Data e Arrestimit: 15/5/1947 Dënimi: I. përjetshëm Burg Vendimi: 31 dhjetor të; Ushtarake, Këshilli i Gjykatës së Lartë. "Kostandin Boshnjaku". kujto.al | Arkiva Online e Viktimave të Komunizmit në Shqipëri (in Albanian). Retrieved 2019-07-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "E vërteta mund të mos na bëjë zengjinë, por do të na bëjë të lirë". Gazeta Dita. Archived from the original on 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e Si u persekutua drejtori i parë i Bankës pas '45-s, miku i Ajnshtajnit [How the first director of the Albanian Bank, Einstein's friend, got persecuted, in 1945] (in Albanian), Gazeta Metropol, retrieved 2013-10-09
  4. ^ Heral Saraçi (2012-09-29), Kush ishin drejtuesit e Partisë Nacionaliste [Who were the leaders of the Nationalist Party] (in Albanian), Gazeta Republika, retrieved 2013-10-09
  5. ^ a b Luan Malltezi (2011-09-13), Nacional publikon për herë të parë dokumentat sekretë: Komunistët shqiptarë në arkivat angleze [Albanian communists in the English Archives - "Nacional" publishes for the first time the secret documents] (in Albanian), Gazeta Nacional, retrieved 2013-11-18, Ende mbetet e paditur si ai arriti të emërohet ministër i plotfuqishëm në Sofje, ku ai shkoi së bashku me një agjent rus. Lëvizjet e tij, sidoqoftë, u ndoqën nga afër nga agjentët e Shërbimit Informativ Britanik dhe para se të kishte kohë për të paraqitur letrat kredenciale mbretit bullgar atij i u kërkua të kthehej në Shqipëri.
    ...
    Në fillim të luftës së pranishme ai ishte shumë aktiv duke përhapur propagandën pro-gjermane përmes ligjëratave dhe bisedimeve në mes të njohurve të tij. Ai predikonte humbjen e Britanisë së Madhe dhe triumfin e ushtrive gjermane. Kur gjermanët sulmuan Rusinë, ai e ndryshoi tonin e tij menjëherë dhe u bë një pro-britanik i zjarrtë. Ai ka qenë disa herë në Moskë për të ripërtërirë lidhjet e tij me qarqet komuniste atje dhe për të marrë udhëzime të reja në lidhje me ndryshimet e politikës.
  6. ^ a b c Nicholas Pano (1968), The People's Republic of Albania, Integration and community building in Eastern Europe, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, pp. 28–30, ISBN 9780801805202, OCLC 397023
  7. ^ Luan Dode (2006), Kosova në qëndrimet e Enver Hoxhës [Kosovo by the Enver Hoxha's positionings] (in Albanian), Prishtina: Medaur, p. 16, ISBN 9789943793545, retrieved 2013-10-09
  8. ^ Ali Kelcyra (1959), Historical Reminiscences (1923-1936), Robert Elsie, archived from the original on 2013-10-12, retrieved 2013-10-10, Of course, none of us ever supposed that Noli, with his cultural and moral qualities and after his studies in America, would let himself be influenced by the intrigues of Kostandin Boshnjaku and become a follower of Soviet culture and, whether intentionally or not, become a tool of Stalinist propaganda.
  9. ^ Sejfi Vllamasi (2000), Marenglen Verli (ed.), Ballafaqime politike në Shqipëri (1897-1942): kujtime dhe vlerësime historike, Shtëpia Botuese "Neraida", ISBN 9992771313, archived from the original on 2014-02-02, Një pjesë me rëndësi e emigrantëve, me inisiativën dhe ndërmjetësinë e Koço Boshnjakut, u muarrën vesh me "Cominternin", si grup, me emër "KONARE" (Komiteti Revolucionar Kombëtar) l), për t'u ndihmuar pa kusht gjatë aktivitetit të tyre nacional, ashtu siç janë ndihmuar edhe kombet e tjerë të vegjël, që ndodheshin nën zgjedhë të imperialistëve, për liri e për pavarësi. Përveç kësaj pjese, edhe emigrantët kosovarë irredentistë, të grupuar e të organizuar nën emrin "Komiteti i Kosovës", si grup, u ndihmuan edhe ata nga "Cominterni"...
  10. ^ Baki Ymeri (2013-06-05), Negovanasit e Bukureshtit: Mihail Sotir Xoxe (in Albanian), archived from the original on 2014-12-26, retrieved 2015-01-08, ...kuptojmë se përveç Mihail S. Xoxes, pjesëbërës të këtij grupi ishin edhe inzhenier Akil Eftimiu, Dhimtër Kristo Rëmbeci, Themistokli Duro, Kostë Boshnjaku dhe avokati Jon Mihail Lehova, drejtor i gazetës Atdheu.
  11. ^ Enver Hoxha (1984), Memoires [Memoirs] (in French), Paris: Nagel, p. 49, ISBN 9782826307952, retrieved 2013-10-09
  12. ^ [1][permanent dead link] - Republika e Shqipërisë KUVEND. Tiranë 2005
  13. ^ "Albania", Political Science Quarterly, 63, Academy of Political Science: 271, 1948, ISSN 0032-3195, OCLC 1604215, Some of the defendants, like Koste Boshnjaku, general director of the National Bank, had been veterans of communism.
  14. ^ a b c Promemoria për Enverin në 45: Dhunimi i pronës private, vetëvrasje [Memo for Enver '45: Infringement of the private property, suicide] (in Albanian), Shqiperia.com, 2012-06-05, retrieved 2013-10-09
  15. ^ Thanas Mustaqi (2012-02-24), Maj 1945, Enver Hoxha donte pazare me SHBA (in Albanian), Gazeta Lajmi, archived from the original on 2014-01-22, retrieved 2014-01-21
  16. ^ Iljaz Fishta; Mihal Ziu (2004), Historia e ekonomisë së Shqipërisë (1944-1960) (in Albanian), Shtëpia Botuese "Dita", p. 87, ISBN 9789992791318, OCLC 61172650, Kostë Boshnjaku shtron idenë se pas kryerjes së reformës agrare dhe dorëzimit të tapive fshatarëve, të cilin ai e vlerëson si një masë të drejtë, nuk duhej kaluar as në shtetëzimin e tokës dhe as në kolektivizimin e bujqësisë ...
  17. ^ Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar, vol. 3, N-Zh dhe një shtojcë, Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë, 2009, p. 2573, ISBN 9789995610326, OCLC 705766082
  18. ^ Fishta, Iljaz; Toci, Veniamin (1984), Ekonomia e Shqipërisë në vitet e para të ndërtimit socialist, 1944–1948 [Economy of Albania during the first years of the Socialist Construction] (in Albanian), Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë, Instituti i Historisë, p. 114, OCLC 491242313, retrieved 2013-10-09
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