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The story of the Agalliu brothers, one came back alive

Beqir and Mehmet Sulo Agalliu were active in the liberation movements. They participated in the Leading Committee of the War for the liberation of Vlora from the Italians in 1920, and with the start of the Italian occupation they were the first to disagree. Likewise, their revolt against the German occupation continued. The enemy noticed them and unfortunately both Beqir and Mehmet were arrested by the Germans in 1943. They were interned together in the concentration camp in Mauthausen. Beqir was burned in the crematorium, while his brother was thrown from the train while being transported to another camp. Mehmet managed to escape, almost at the end of the war, when the Germans were stunned by their losses in war. Mehmet managed to return home alive, and tell the stories of horror in Mauthausen.

One of the most interesting and completely real stories is this: The Germans set up an Albanian and a man from Poland to fight each other. The winner would live and whoever lost would die. They had put a plank with nails showing upwards in a pit, where the loser would be thrown into. As they approached each other, the Albanian said to the Polish man in German: Are you married? I am – he said. Do you have children? I have two – he said – and they are waiting for me. – Then, you win! – said the Albanian. In reality, the Albanian could very well have beaten him because he was younger and physically stronger. Everyone was surprised when the Albanian laid down and gave up, so the Polish man could win the fight. The German guards took him by the legs and hands, and threw him on that plank full of nails. It made a big impression on everyone. The Albanian ambassador in Vienna pays a courtesy visit to the memorial of the Albanians in the Mauthausen camp, created by the sculptor Odhise Paskali, every 9th of May, the day of the victory over fascism. Every time our ambassador went, he saw a single Dianthus flower at the top of the rifle. One time he found a man and asked: “Excuse me, did you put this flower here? Where are you from? – From Poland. – What connects you with the Albanians?! – I am strongly connected with them. Until a few years ago, my father came here, and he brought a bunch of flowers, after traveling 800 kilometers by train every 9th of May to pay respect to the Albanians. Albanians saved his life”. He told the same story that Mehmet told. The stories matched, but the Albanian name never came to light. Mehmet Agalliu passed away on June 6th, 1955.

Mehmet Agalliu

Narrated by Shpend Topallaj

Leading Committee of the War for the liberation of Vlora1920Year of arrest1943Date of DeathJune 6th, 1955Share

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