Resume: 75 years ago, on March 14 and
16, 1941, "Çeta Peza", the first partisan unit guerilla freedom
fighters in Albania, Balkans and Europe, was commanded by Civilian Myslim Peza.
This unit headed her first action and battle against Italian fascist invaders,
in Peza e Vogël [Minor Peza] and Peza e Madhe [Great Peza], 10-16 km. away from
the capital of Albania, Tirana. Anti-Fascist armed unit "Çeta Peza"
successfully survived the 100-days operation of 700 Italian fascist troops,
maneuvering with ingenuity and bravery by Myslim Peza, in their area in Central
Albania. The unit "Çeta Peza" was initially enlarged on "Partisan
Battalion Peza" [March 1943], after "Partisan Peza Group" [July
1943].
Keywords: Myslim Peza, Çeta [Unit]
Peza, Peza e Vogel [Minor Peza], Peza e Madhe [Great Peza], Italian fashist,
Victor Emmanuel III, Mussolini, Tirana, Albania.
1. Italian Fascist
Invasion
On
April 7, 1939, Mussolini's troops, led by General Alfredo Guzzoni,
invaded Albania, attacking all Albanian ports simultaneously. The original
Italian plans for the invasion called for up to 50,000 men supported by 137
naval units and 400 airplanes. Ultimately the invasion force grew to 100,000
men supported by 600 airplanes. Virginio Gayda, the editor of the daily
newspaper "Il Giornale d'Italia, informed the Italian people that
their troops had invaded Albania: "Italy has landed her troops in Albania
because she was called there by Albanian patriots who could no longer tolerate
the misgovernment of the King [Zog I], and because she felt compelled to defend
the lives and property of Italian citizens who were threatened and attacked by
armed bands. A number of prominent Albanians several months ago signed an
appeal to the Italian Fascist Government [Benito Mussolini] in the name of the
Albanian people, asking for Italian intervention." 1)