| Document
8.
Archives of Historic Military Institute
in Belgrade
Written by the Third Military Zone
Top secret, No. 1859/38
On the occasion of the events in Checkoslovakia, the Albanian population
in the territory of III military Zone, and particularly in the territory
of the Kosova Zone division, organised an uprising and the Albanian irredentism
forced its propaganda, spreading its voice further on, that Dukagjin and
other regions inhabited by Albanians should be returned to Albania. The
convention of Munich made it more possible for the Albanians to think that
their question should also be solved soon...
I am only confirming that the situation, due to the Albanians in this
area, is different from the situation in the fist military zone, because
of the Hungarians and Germans... There are 70% Albanians in the territory
of the Kosova Zone division. The Albanians in the territory of this military
zone are mostly found in border regions, and less in centres...
This danger from the Albanians is not great for the time being and
it is possible to decline and be avoided by wisely applied measures, but
in a period of 20 years it will become unbearable, since if it remains
under the present Albanian population...it may multiply so much that it
will comprise a much larger percentage than the present one. If one bears
in mind that the number of highly educated Albanians will be larger, the
danger will also be greater...
The number of Yugoslav inhabitants is like this:
a) In the territory of the military zone in Kosova, there are:
- Albanians 401,599
- Indigenous Serbs 207,780
- Colonists 73,040
Total 612,419
The following are distinguished as uncertain zones, due to the number
of Albanians: the district of Kaçanik with 97 per cent Albanians
(the Division of Vardar), but in geographical and economical viewpoint
it is linked to the Division of Kosova.
The district of Podrimja with about 90% Albanians.
The area of Podguri 85%
of Llap 80%
of Vushtria 70%
of Gjilan 67%
.
One could see out of these figures that from the national aspect a colonisation
should be carried out as soon as possible in the territory of the Zone
of Kosova Division, parallel to the displacement of the Albaian population.
Accordingly, minister of military and marine, by his orders no. 8691 of
7/10/1938 no. 3530 of 17/10/1938, proposed new garrisons to be establish
at Rahovec, Suhareka, in Podujeva, Vushtria, Gjilan and Kaçanik,
so that the settlement of our inhabitants become more efficient by means
of these new garrisons in the zones of our border regions on Albania, in
which compact Albanian masses live...
In the region of Kaçanik, where 12,560 Albanians, and only 60
Serbs and 540 colonists live at present..., to avoid the problems that
have risen by dense settlements of non-Slavonic elements, the following
measures should be taken:
a) To expel first of all the Albanian element from the border zones
and compact places, and the Turkish element only so many as to make the
emigration of the Albanians possible.
b) To carry out colonisation of our population in the border zone.
c) To expel all the political immigrants from these zones.
d) Large settlements to be erected, in cultural and political aspect,
especially in the border zone.
e) In the clean regions of the Albanians, children should be released
from attending school, i.e., to ban them being educated, and it is important
not to hold courses of physical education for the youth in order to prevent
them getting prepared for war before time.
This headquarters does not possess sufficient evidence on the situation
of emigration and the things dealing with it. But one thing is sure, that
the Albanians and Turks do not emigrate on their own will, that is why
there are cases that those who emigrated once have come back secretly.
Commander, honoured adjutant
of the King, general of Army
Milan Jecmenic.
Published
by KIC (Kosova Information Center), ©Copyright KIC
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