Mustafa Aranitasi (12 April 1872 – 26 April 1961) was an Albanian military commander and politician who served as

Minister of War A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...

on two separate terms during the 1920s. A Zog loyalist, he played an important role in the reformation of the Albanian Army during this time period.

Biography

Mustafa Aranitasi was born on April 12, 1872, in the village of

Aranitas Aranitas is a village and a former Municipalities of Albania, municipality in Fier County, Albania. During the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality of Mallakastër. The population at the 2011 census was 2,714. Th ...

Mallakastër Mallakastër ( sq-definite, Mallakastra) is a region and a municipality in Fier County, southwestern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the present municipalities Aranitas, Ballsh, Fratar, Greshicë, Hekal, Kutë, Ngraçan, Qendër Du ...

region. He attended the Military Academy in

Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...

. In July 1913, having been promoted to the rank of Major, he was selected as one of 4 commanders of the country's detachments formed by Dutch officers during the ministry of Mehmet Deralla. Together with Major Ismail Haki Tatzati, he was appointed head of the

Korçë Korçë (; sq-definite, Korça) is the eighth most populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Korçë County and Korçë Municipality. The total population is 75,994 (2011 census), in a total area of . It stands on a plateau som ...

and

Gjirokastër Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in the Republic of Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë mountains and th ...

battalions. In 1915, Aranitasi served as commander of the gendarmerie in

Mirditë Mirditë ( sq-definite, Mirdita) is a municipality in Lezhë County, northwestern Albania. It was created in 2015 by the merger of the former municipalities Fan, Kaçinar, Kthellë, Orosh, Rrëshen, Rubik and Selitë. The seat of the municipa ...

and in the following three years, he joined the Austro-Hungarian forces as battalion commander. From 1920–1922 he served as commander of the second regiment based in

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 ...

. Later he was appointed president of the Military Court with the rank of colonel. On August 19, 1923, Aranitasi took the position of Minister of War in the Zogu I Government. On June 1, 1924, he was appointed commander of the anti-uprising operation for the south where he unsuccessfully ran for parliament on behalf of the National-Democratic group 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 ...

. After the triumph of the June Revolution, he emigrated to

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

fearing repercussions from the Noli Government. On December 12, 1924, the Political Court sentenced him in absentia to life imprisonment on charges of facilitating the distribution of weapons to Zog's forces and complicity in fratricide. He returned to Albania after the Triumph of Legality on December 24, 1924, where he resumed his role as president of the Military Court until March 30, 1927, when he retired to private life. In 1946, Aranitasi and his family were expelled from the capital Tirana by the communist regime and interned to Çermë,

Lushnjë Lushnjë (; in Lushnje's own dialect: ''Lushnje'' ; sq-definite, Lushnja) is a city and Municipalities of Albania, municipality in west-central Albania. It is located in the County of Fier. The total population is 83,659 (2011 census), in a to ...

. He passed away after a brief illness at a hospital in Tirana on April 26, 1961.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aranitasi, Mustafa Government ministers of Albania Defence ministers of Albania 1872 births 1961 deaths Albanians from the Ottoman Empire