Margarita Tutulani (1925 – 6 July, 1943) was an

anti-fascist Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were ...

and hero of

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. Her brutal death inspired many to join the resistance against fascism in Albania.

Biography

Tutulani was born in

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and east of Fier. Berat is located in th ...

, to a family the Gorica neighborhood. Her grandfather, Dhimiter Tutulani, was a notable lawyer and one of the signers of the

Albanian Declaration of Independence The Albanian Declaration of Independence ( Albanian: ''Deklarata e Pavarësisë'') was the declaration of independence of Albania from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912. Six days later the Assem ...

in 1912 and her father was a member of the

Albanian Parliament The Parliament of Albania ( sq, Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to a ...

. She attended the

Queen Mother Pedagogical Institute The Queen Mother Pedagogical Institute ( sq, Instituti Femnuer "Nana Mbretneshë"), was a women's pedagogy, pedagogical high school, created in 1933 in Tirana, Albania. The Institute, approved by Government Decree nr. 666 on October 2, 1933, ope ...

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

. When Italy invaded Albania in April 1939, Tutulani moved back to Berat, where she and her family protested and demonstrated against Italian rule of their country. In 1942, she joined the

Communist Party A communist party is a political party that seeks to realize the socio-economic goals of communism. The term ''communist party'' was popularized by the title of ''The Manifesto of the Communist Party'' (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. A ...

. She was also a leading figure in the November 28, 1942 demonstration in Berat, which was an anti-fascist protest that drew thousands of people. After November, she was wanted by the fascist government. Tutulani and her brother, Kristaq Tutulani, were eventually arrested in Berat on July 4, 1943. After their arrest, they were then subjected to

torture Torture is the deliberate infliction of severe pain or suffering on a person for reasons such as punishment, extracting a confession, interrogation for information, or intimidating third parties. Some definitions are restricted to acts c ...

while in prison. They were later moved out of the prison and shot in Gosa, near Kavaja, on July 6, 1943. The city of Berat was shocked at the death of both brother and sister. A "photo of her mangled body" circulated and eventually the brutality of her death inspired people to join the resistance against the fascist government. A statue of Tutulani is at the

National Martyrs Cemetery of Albania The National Martyrs Cemetery of Albania ( sq, Varrezat e Dëshmorëve të Kombit) is the largest cemetery in Albania, located on a hill overlooking Tirana. The Mother Albania statue is located at the Cemetery. It figuratively represents the co ...

. Tutulani left behind writing which is now part of the Tutulani family archives, which included poetry, memoirs and essays. The Albanian linguist Vehxhi Buharaja wrote a poem in her honor, "Margarita," ten days after she was killed.

References

1925 births 1943 deaths People from Berat 20th-century Albanian women politicians Albanian resistance members Female resistance members of World War II Albanian communists Executed Albanian people People executed by Italy by firearm Heroes of Albania Albanian people of Aromanian descent Albanian torture victims {{Authority control

Biography

See also

References