Thoma Orologa (1888–1947) was an Albanian jurist, politician and a leader of the anti-communist resistance in Albania 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 opposing ...

Life

Born in 1888 in

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 ...

, in the Manastir Vilayet of the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

(present-day southern

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 ...

) he studied law in

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

and

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

. After finishing his studies he returned to Korçë, where he worked as a lawyer and supported Kostaq Kota's efforts for independence of the area from French rule. In 1927 he became a member of the law reform committee of Albania and a professor of law at the school of law of

Tiranë 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 ...

. In 1931 he became the president of the civil code reforms committee, while a year later he was elected deputy of Korçë in the Albanian parliament. During Kostaq Kota's second premiership he became minister of justice. After the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania (April 7–12, 1939) was a brief military campaign which was launched by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

and its occupation by fascist Italy in 1939, Orologa was among the few Albanian MPs who did not join the assembly that offered the Albanian crown to the Italian King, so he was detained in

Porto Palermo Castle Porto Palermo Castle ( Albanian: ''Kalaja e Porto Palermos'') is a castle near Himarë in southern Albania. It is situated in the bay of Porto Palermo, a few kilometers south of Himarë along the Albanian Riviera. Huffington Post ranked Porto ...

near Himara, and then transferred 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 ...

. In 1943, after he had been released by the Italians, he returned to Albania and joined the nationalist and anti-communist organization

Balli Kombëtar The Balli Kombëtar (literally ''National Front''), known as Balli, was an Albanian nationalist, collaborationist and anti-communist resistance movement during the Second World War. It was led by Ali Këlcyra and by Midhat Frashëri. The move ...

and was elected a member of its central committee. In 1943 he was a representative of Balli Kombëtar at the

Mukje Agreement The Mukje Conference was held on 1–3 August 1943 in Mukaj (near Krujë in Central Albania). There was signed the Mukje agreement, a treaty between the nationalist Balli Kombëtar and the National Liberation Movement representatives. The aim ...

. In 1944 he became for the second time minister of justice of Albania in the first government after the German defeat. After the consolidation of power by the

Party of Labour of Albania The Party of Labour of Albania ( sq, Partia e Punës e Shqipërisë, PPSh), sometimes referred to as the Albanian Workers' Party (AWP), was the ruling and sole legal party of Albania during the communist period (1945–1991). It was founded o ...

, he was accused because of his collaboration with axis forces and executed in September 1947.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orologa, Thoma 1888 births 1947 deaths People from Korçë People from Manastir vilayet Albanians from the Ottoman Empire Eastern Orthodox Christians from Albania Albanian politicians Balli Kombëtar Albanian people of World War II