page_title: Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë
section_title: Establishment
hierarchical_section_title: Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë / Establishment
caption_attribution_description: English: Themistokli Germenji
context_page_description: The Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë was an autonomous state established in 27/10 December 1916, by the local French forces, after the city of Korçë fell under their control, during World War I and lasted till 1920.
  Due to developments in the Macedonian Front of World War I the city of Korçë came under French control. During this time 14 representatives of Korçë and French Colonel Descoins signed a protocol that proclaimed the Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë under the military protection of the French army and with Themistokli Gërmenji as Prefect of Police.
  The new authorities introduced Albanian and French as the official language and replaced Greek schools with Albanian ones, which were forbidden during the Greek administration of the city. There was also a French school in Korçë and one of its many students was Enver Hoxha, who was an apprentice and then teacher there. He would later become the First Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour, serving from 1941 until his death in 1985.
context_section_description: Colonel Descoins made arrangements with the leading Albanian nationalists from Korçë. French officers had a meeting with Themistokli Gërmenji on November 24, 1916. Themistokli Gërmenji came to Korçë from Pogradec, which was occupied by the armies of Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. The French officers appointed a commission led by Gërmenji. The commission had fourteen members, seven Christians and seven Muslims. The members of this commission were: Rafail Adhami, Kostandin Nocka, Nikolla Vangjeli, Vasil Singjeli, Vasil Kondi, Llambro Mborja, Thimi Cale, Shaqir Shabani, Tefik Rushiti, Hysen Dishnica, Emin Rakipi, Qani Dishnica, Sali Babani and Haki Shemshedini.
  The commission held a meeting on December 10 at 9 am in the Saint George's School and Gërmenji held a speech to the gathered men and after the meeting led the commission to the prefecture. In the prefecture they met with Colonel Descoins and with the other French officers. Haki Shemshedini approached to Colonel Descoins on behalf of the commission. Colonel Descoins informed the commission that they should sign a protocol. On December 10, 1916 Colonel Descoins and the commission signed a protocol, according to which an autonomous province would be established on the territories of Korçë, Bilishti, Kolonja, Opar and Gora. It was also agreed that the 14 members of the commission would make up the administrative council, responsible for maintaining order.
caption: Themistokli Gërmenji, Albanian nationalist leader and prefect of the Autonomous Republic
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