Kosta Boshnjaku
| Kostandin Boshnjaku | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1888 Stegopull, Janina Vilayet, Ottoman Empire |
| Died | 1953 |
| Nationality | Albanian |
| Other names | Kostë Boshnjaku |
| Occupation | Banker, economist |
| Known for | One of the earliest Albanian communists KONARE WWII National Liberation Movement in Albania |
| Spouse(s) | Margarete Schmid |
Kostandin Boshnjaku (1888–1953) was an Albanian banker, and politician. He was one of the earliest Albanian communists.
Kostandin Boshnjaku was born in Stegopull, Lunxhëri region, Ottoman Albania, today Gjirokastër District, Albania, in 1888. His surname is derived from boshnjak, meaning "from Bosnia". He finished his studies in the Commercial Institute of Piraeus, Greece. He was an economist, publisher, and diplomat, as well as a polyglot, knowing Greek, Old Greek, Russian, Turkish, English, French, and German. He worked for many years in Odessa and St. Peterburg in French and international banks.
In 1914, the government of Prince Wied put him in charge of the Treasury of the newly created Albanian state. His name appears as co-founder of the Albanian Nationalist Party, Albanian: Partia Nacionaliste Shqiptare, a short-lived party during 1913–1915. All this was interrupted by the Islamic Revolt in Albania, and World War I.
Kostandin was in Russia during the October revolution, probably the only Albanian intellectual to have lived the events. During this time, he kept friendship with other Albanian patriots and intellectuals as Fan Noli, Ymer Dishnica, Mirash Ivanaj, Halim Xhelo, Sejfulla Malëshova, Asdreni, Faik Konica, etc. Konica would even suggest later his name to Noli, as the best fit candidate for the role of Ambassador to Greece. He was sent as ambassador in Sofia, Bulgaria (probably with Soviet support) but was recalled back in Albania prior to presenting his letter of credence to Bulgarian authorities; all this would remain an unclear and dubious situation. Boshnjaku brought in Albania the revolutionary ideas of Bolshevism, and people from Comintern were in contact with him for establishing a communist party in the country, though he did not get directly involved in any local communist group. During 1919-20 he widened his range of contacts with liberal and left-wing politicians within the country, and spread the pro-Soviet sentiments. He propagandized the fact that the Soviets prohibited a new partition of Albanian territories by making public the text of the Secret Treaty of London. His effort did not have any big effect on the Albanian masses, which were mostly illiterate, but did influence young politicians and activists, especially the "Bashkimi" (Unity) youth society founded in 1922 and led by Avni Rustemi. By 1923, it was clear that a communist party was far from possible. Comintern sent to Albania Dimitri Pentchev in order to persuade the authorities to set up diplomatic relations with Soviet Union. Therefore, Boshnjaku stopped from his side, but re-assumed his activities on late 1923 after Pentchev left Albania. He was instrumental in passing the resolution of the Albanian National Assembly to honor Lenin, who had recently died, in February 1924.Ali Këlcyra, in his memoirs of 1959, would mention that the pro-soviet and leftist positioning of Noli and many other leaders of the democratic opposition in Albania, would come mostly as a consequence of the propaganda and persuading work of Boshnjaku.
...
Wikipedia