Shaban Polluzha
| Shaban Polluzha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1871 Drenica, Ottoman Empire (modern day Kosovo) |
| Died | 21 February 1945 Trstenik, SFR Yugoslavia (modern day Kosovo) |
| Buried at | Trstenik |
| Allegiance |
|
| Unit | Vulnetari from Drenica region |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Hero of Kosovo |
Shaban Mustafë Kastrati (1871–21 February 1945), known as Shaban Polluzha (Serbian: Šaban Poluža), was a Kosovo Albanian military leader active during World War II, as a commander of the Drenica unit of the Vulnetari allegiant to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.
Shaban was born in Poluža (Albanian: Polluzha), in the Drenica region (now central Kosovo). During World War I he fought with the Entente against Bulgaria and Austria. In 1921 he was elected a deputy of Drenica.
In 1941 Shaban Polluzha was interned by the Italians.
Thousands of Vulnetari together with gendarmerie commanded by Bislim Bajgora and Shaban Polluzha attacked Ibarski Kolašin on 30 September 1941, killing 150 Serb civilians. This region was attacked by Vulnetari from Drenica and Methohija Podgor, and their brutal attacks on the villages of Ibarski Kolašin lasted until 10 October 1941. This attack on Ibarski Kolašin was so violent that the Germans referred to it as the "bloody wave".
Polluzha later joined the Yugoslav Partisans because of promises of self-determination in Kosovo, and fought to expel the Germans, believing Kosovo would reunite with Albania afterwards. Once realizing he had been deceived, he refused orders to send his men to Syrmia to drive out the retreating Germans, instead, staying in Drenica. The Yugoslav Partisans then attacked him encountering strong resistance for two to three months. He was eventually killed during battle in the village of Tërstenik in 1945.
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