# Dibran Wars (1912–1921)

The Dibran Wars (Albanian: Luftërat Dibrane) were a series of armed uprisings and military attacks by Albanian Dibrans on Yugoslav and Serbian forces in a 9-year period between 1912 and 1921 in modern-day North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.

## Background
### Dibra

Debar is a city in the western part of North Macedonia, near the border with Albania, off the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality. Debar has an ethnic Albanian majority of 74% and is North Macedonia's only city where ethnic Macedonians do not rank first or second demographically. The official languages are Macedonian and Albanian.
Debar was significantly involved in the national Albanian movement and on 1 November 1878 the Albanian leaders of the city participated in founding the League of Prizren. In 1907 the Congress of Dibra was held in the town, which made Albanian an official language within the Ottoman Empire. The congress allowed that Albanian be taught in schools legally for the first time within the Empire.

### Serbian invasion of Albania

At the end of 1912, after the Ottoman Porte recognised the autonomy of Albanian Vilayet, neighboring Balkan states Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greece jointly attacked the Ottoman Empire and during the next few months partitioned nearly all Ottoman territories in Europe, including those inhabited by the Albanians. In 1912, with the outbreak of the First Balkan War, the Albanians rose up and declared the creation of an independent Albania, which included today's Albania and the Vilayet of Kosovo.
The Kingdom of Serbia occupied most of the Albanian–claimed lands. Serbian general Božidar Janković was the Commander of the Serbian Third Army during the military campaign in the region. The Serbian army met strong Albanian guerrilla resistance, led by Isa Boletini, Azem Galica and others. During the campaign, General Janković forced notables and local tribal leaders to sign a declaration of gratitude to King Petar I Karađorđević admitting to "Liberation by the Serbian army".

## Events

During the years of 1912-21 around 5 uprisings of the Dibran forces happened against the Serbian and eventually Yugoslav forces. Chronologically the uprisings were:

### Uprising in Lumë

The Uprising of Luma was the first war involving the armed Dibran forces. The armed uprising lasted between 30 October to 6 December 1912 and took place in the Luma region of Northern Albania.Given the geo-strategic position, the Albanian troops were deployed fronting: Gjakova highland (Qafë Morinë - Qafë Prush); Has (Planejë - Gorozhup); Qafë Zhur; Vërri (Billushë - Jeshkovë - Lybeqevë - Lez); Sharr (Gur i Zi); and Opojë (Llapushnik gorge). To prevent the Serbian troops from crossing to the other side of White Drin, the Albanians organized an ambush in the villages of Shalqin, Domaj, and Gjinaj. The Lumë forces numbered approximately 4,000 people, while the Dibra forces totaled about 600. The Lumë Albanians captured the Tower of Lumë, earning the victory of this battle. Albanian forces in the evening 17 November, attacked the carriages of the Serbian convoy attempting to withdraw in the direction of Prizren. During these fights, the Serbians lost many soldiers and materials. The fighting in the mountains was described in the memoirs of Kosta Novaković, a Serbian soldier who participated in the battle. According to Ottoman reports, 6 Serbian battalions were killed, while according to a British report 9 battalions were killed.

### War in Dibra (1913)

The Conference of London gave most Albanian land to Serbia, leaving the Albanian population unhappy. The Serbian army would pass through Dibra regularly and repressed the local population. Due to this and the recent placing of thousands of Serbian soldiers on the border with Albania, the Albanian Dibrans would revolt against the Kingdom of Serbia. Dibran forces liberated the largest parts of Upper and Lower Dibra and lands in the western parts of the Black Drin river on 20 September 1913 and then liberated Peshkopi, completely destroying an entire Serbian battalion. Fighting continued from the Castle of Doda all the way to Trebisht. On 21 September a group of 6000 Albanian Dibrans surrounded a group of 5000 Serbian soldiers and liberated Greater Dibra. Fighting continued on 22 September in Mavrovl, Gostivar, and Kërçovë, with the latter being liberated and then the entire city of Dibra was captured by Albanian forces. On the 26th of September Dibran forces captured Mavrovl, Gostivar, and Lapushnik and began to march to Struga. By October 1913 Serbian forces had informed the Great Powers that they had removed their forces from the Albanian border.

### War in Dibra (1915)

During the Great Retreat of the first World War, Serbian soldiers retreating through Macedonia began to march to Peshkopia, despite them allegedly guaranteeing to not attack Albanian populated land. They were attacked by Albanian Dibrans and were swiftly defeated in the Battle of Kaush.

### Lura Massacre

The Lura Massacre was a massacre perpetrated by Austrian soldiers between July 10 and 28, 1916. During the massacre Austrian forces killed 44 Albanian men and women in the areas of Reç, Dardhë, and Lurë. The massacre had vengeful intentions according to the Austrian soldiers as Albanian Dibrans attacked a group of 10 Austrian soldiers near Gjurrë-Reç on 10 July of the same year.

### War in Dibra (1920)

During the time of the Koplik War high ranking Albanians formed the Assembly of Arras, where it would be decided that a military force would be created led by Elez Isufi, Jashar Erebara, Ramiz Daci, and many other Albanian warriors. This army sent an ultimatum to the Yugoslav army in Llasen telling them to withdraw from the region of Dibra in 24 hours or they were going to declare war. The Yugoslav army amassed to 10 battalions and outnumbered the Albanian fighters. After the ultimatum not being accepted the Albanian fighters began their attack on Yugoslav forces on 13 August 1920 attacking strategic points. Dibran forces defeated the Yugoslav army in Luzni and again while being led by Jusuf Xhelili (Elez Isufi's grandson) in the Hills of Shumbat leading to 100 Yugoslav soldiers being killed and more than 600 captured as prisoners of war. Albanian Dibrans also started attacking Yugoslav forces and checkpoints near Peshkopi forcing the Yugoslav forces to withdraw from their "strategic line". On 17 August Dibran forces liberated the city of Dibra and the Radika Gorge. Afterwards they were also able to liberate Peshkopi. The war ended in September of the same year, with Yugoslav forces momentarily retreating from Ohrid and the Dibra region to Gostivar. 1000 were killed and another 2000 were captured, while Albanian casualties were around 200-300.

### Battle of Gëlqere Pass (1921)

During the Albanian-Yugoslav border war (1921) the Yugoslav army was attempting to capture the strategic mountain passes of Buall and Murrë together with Lanë-Lura as this would give them an "easier" passageway to Durrës. They would position 5400 soldiers in this region and began their march before they were met by a group of 400 Albanian soldiers commanded by Ali Riza together with 700 Dibran volunteers commanded by Elez Isufi. The armies met in Gëlqere Pass on 26 October and the Battle lasted until 29 October. In the end the Albanian forces would emerge victorious pushing the Yugoslav forces outside of the region. By the end of the battle there would be many Yugoslav casualties, while 34 Albanian soldiers would be killed. The battle is also known as the Battle of Lanë-Lura.

## Aftermath
### End of the Albanian-Yugoslav border War

The League of Nations confirmed with special resolution the decision of the Conference of Ambassadors from 9 November between 17 November and 19 November 1921. Albania was asked to submit a report to the League about the retreat of Yugoslav, Greek and Albanian troops from the demarcation line and "take necessary security measures" against local movements that endangered the internal peace of Albania. Great Britain's prime minister Lloyd George had recognized the Albanian government that same month and also made multiple heated diplomatic protests against the Yugoslav government, demanding its withdrawal from disputed areas. Due to Britain's intervention and the possibilities of sanctions against their country, Yugoslavia ended support for Gjoni and withdrew its troops from all Albanian territories as stated in the 1913 Treaty of London, albeit under protest.
With the withdrawal of the Yugoslav troops, the Mirdita Republic became quickly overrun by Albanian government troops and irregular forces under the command of Ahmet Zog. The rebellion ended by 20 November 1921 following negotiations with local Mirditor elders who agreed to surrender to Zog if no reprisals would occur. Gjoni fled to Yugoslavia, while Mirdita was placed under siege with Gjoni's followers being proclaimed as traitors. Other rebels were sentenced in a government political court, though no real persecution fell on the main leaders. As a result of the rebellion, Mirditan autonomy was abolished by the Albanian government.
In the meantime, a new Delimitation Commission was formed which would finalize and confirm the official Albanian border, while the United Kingdom insisted on slight adaptations in the region of Debar, Prizren and Kastrati in the interest of Yugoslavia. In an effort to gain the favor of the Border Demarcation Commission, Albania and Yugoslavia established formal diplomatic relations in March 1922, thereby also accepting the League's decision on the matter of Albania's frontiers. By this act, Yugoslavia also recognised the independence and sovereignty of the Albanian state which meant that Yugoslav policy of military engagement in Albania had resulted in defeat. Gjoni later returned to Albania and remained active as a political leader in Mirdita until his death in 1925.