Shkelzën Haradinaj

Shkëlzen "Hilmi" Haradinaj (March 25, 1970 – April 16, 1999) was an Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Soldier and Commander who fell during the battle against Serbian forces in the Maznik Mountains near Dečani.[1]

Shkëlzen Haradinaj
Other name(s)Shkëlzen Hilmi Haradinaj
BornMarch 25, 1970
Deçan, Kosovo
DiedApril 16, 1999(1999-04-16) (aged 29)
Maznik Mountains, Deçan, Kosovo
Allegiance Albania
Years of service1995–1999
RankSoldier
Battles/wars

Early life

Luan was born on 17 November 1973 in the village of Glođane, near Dečani (Albanian: Deçan), in Kosovo, then part of Yugoslavia. His paternal descent is from Berishë in northern Albania, around the city of Pukë.[2]

Military career

Upon learning of the attack by Serbian forces on Adem Jashari and his family in Prekaz killing over 20 family members while they sat in their house, in March 1998, Shkelzen Haradinaj, with friends operating in the Dukagjin sub-zone, carried out over 22 armed actions against Serbian police bases overnight of the Serbian paramilitary in the Dukagjin region. Shkelzen Haradinaj was a devout fighter who actively worked at all stages of the KLA's development, staying at the forefront of the war at all times. He rode to war, reaching the highest peaks of the fighting organization, which excelled in all encounters with Serbian occupation forces.

Shkelzen Haradinaj fought at the Heroic Battle of March 24, '98, held in Glogjan near Deçan, and will stand out as an excellent organizer and fighter alongside brothers Ramush Haradinaj and Daut Haradinaj, first cousin Bujar and other fighters, such as Gazmend Mehmetaj, Agron Mehmetaj and Hima Haradinaj , who had the great fortune to be the first fallen in frontal war in the Dukagjin Zone. Its noted that in this glorious Battle in which other members of Shkelzen's close family, Father Hilmiu, the brothers Enveri and Frashëri, Sister Mejremja and other comrades, participated, caused great damage to the Serbian forces in men and artillery.[3][4]

Death

On April 16, 1999, in the Maznik Mountains near Dečani, the Serbian forces planned to enter sheltered towns with Albanian civilians and to later massacre them. After hearing the plans of the Serbian Forces, Shkelzen Haradinaj and his Sepcial Unit of the KLA marched to the Maznik Mountains in order to rescue the Albanian civilians from the Serbian forces. During a fierce, battle against Serbian forces, and in defence of the civilian population sheltered in the Maznik Mountains, Shkelzen Haradinaj falls alongside fellow soldiers and comrades Fatmir Nimanaj, Hasim Halilaj and Luan Nimanaj. The fighting was extremely fierce and in close proximity, where 15 Serbian Soldiers were also killed . Sparked by the rock's hardness, the majesty of the hills and the immense fortitude, the bullet that he took to his chest did not drop him. He wounded an enemy with a bullet in the face as his last action in battle.[5][6]

Legacy

Due the Intervention of the Special Unit of the KLA with the commander Shkëlzen Haradinaj, the Albanian civilians in the Maznik Mountains survived and could flee from the region.[7][8]

Personal life

Shkëlzen Haradinaj was married and had two sons Shqipdon and Luan Haradinaj (named after his dead brother Luan Haradinaj). Shqipdon died in 2007 after an car accident, aged only 11. His other son, Luan Haradinaj, is today a soldier of Kosovo Security Force.[9][10][11]

gollark: And apiophilohazards, which are friendly.
gollark: Oh, maybe apiomachohazards, which fight you.
gollark: But the apiopistohazards could work similarly, but with apiotheohazard-granted powers.
gollark: Apiothaumohazard?
gollark: Apiopistohazards, which can pray to the apiotheohazards in the sky for magical powers.

References
  1. "shkelzen-hilmi-haradinaj". radiokosovaelire (in Albanian). Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "shkelzen-haradinaj-ra-ne-altarin-e-lirise-per-te-mos-vdekur-kurre/". kosovarja-ks (in Albanian). Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  4. "shkelzen-hilmi-haradinaj". radiokosovaelire (in Albanian). Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  5. "shkelzen-hilmi-haradinaj". radiokosovaelire (in Albanian). Retrieved 2014-01-02.
  6. "18-vjet-nga-renia-e-shkelzen-haradinajt". radiokosovaelire (in Albanian). Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  7. "18-vjet-nga-renia-e-shkelzen-haradinajt". radiokosovaelire (in Albanian). Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  8. "16-vjet-nga-renia-e-shkelzen-haradinajt-homazhe-te-busti-i-tij". zeri (in Albanian). Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  9. "jali-i-shkelzen-haradinajt-nderin-dhe-krenarine-tende-do-ta-coj-ne-vend/". zeri (in Albanian). Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  10. "luani-djali-i-deshmorit-shkelzen-haradinaj-ne-uniforme-te-ushtrise". fishmedia (in Albanian). Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  11. "djali-i-shkelzen-haradinajt-me-mesazh-prekes-ne-19-vjetorin-e-renies-se-babait/". fmimages (in Albanian). Retrieved 2017-01-04.
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