Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
How Muslims in Albania Saved Jews From the Holocaust
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
January 29, 2019

Share

Most anywhere else in Nazi-occupied Europe, a run-in with authorities by a Jewish family probably would have resulted in severe malnutrition, eventual starvation, or execution. Not so in Albania.
Following the German occupation in 1943, the Albanian population, the majority of whom were Muslims, refused to comply with the occupier’s orders to turn over lists of Jews living there.
In addition, the government gave many Jewish families fake documents so that they could move about freely in the country.

Watch Besa: The Promise


The Albanians not only protected their Jewish citizens, but also provided sanctuary to Jewish refugees who had arrived in Albania, when it was still under Italian rule, and now found themselves faced with the danger of deportation to concentration camps.
In fact, there were more Jews in Albania at the end of the war than beforehand.

Photo of Albanian resistance during World War II
One of the first pictures to reach the outside world from Albania showing how thousands of hardy mountaineers led by Dervish abbots, lawyers, gendarmes, and peasants gave the Nazi invaders no rest. February 1, 1944. (AP Photo)

Additional Reading

To learn more, read “Besa: A Code of Honor” at this link or “What made Muslim Albanians risk their lives to save Jews from the Holocaust?” from The Times of Israel.
 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Qatar Signs $200 Billion Deal to Buy Jets From Boeing During Trump Visit

DON'T MISS

Is the Answer to Expensive Cars a Pickup Truck Without Power Windows?

DON'T MISS

California Released 15,000 Prisoners Early During COVID. New Data Reveals What Happened to Many of Them

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher Arrested in Online Child Exploitation Case

DON'T MISS

Investors Buy Fig Garden Village. How Much Did It Sell For?

DON'T MISS

Fresno County DA Wants Teens Tried as Adults in Caleb Quick Murder

DON'T MISS

State Farm Wins First-Ever Emergency Rate Hike in California

DON'T MISS

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

DON'T MISS

Tatum to Miss Remainder of Playoffs After Achilles Tendon Surgery

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Shooting Suspect

UP NEXT

Is the Answer to Expensive Cars a Pickup Truck Without Power Windows?

UP NEXT

California Released 15,000 Prisoners Early During COVID. New Data Reveals What Happened to Many of Them

UP NEXT

Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher Arrested in Online Child Exploitation Case

UP NEXT

Investors Buy Fig Garden Village. How Much Did It Sell For?

UP NEXT

Fresno County DA Wants Teens Tried as Adults in Caleb Quick Murder

UP NEXT

State Farm Wins First-Ever Emergency Rate Hike in California

UP NEXT

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

UP NEXT

Tatum to Miss Remainder of Playoffs After Achilles Tendon Surgery

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Shooting Suspect

UP NEXT

MLB Reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, Making Them Hall of Fame Eligible

Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher Arrested in Online Child Exploitation Case

12 hours ago

Investors Buy Fig Garden Village. How Much Did It Sell For?

15 hours ago

Fresno County DA Wants Teens Tried as Adults in Caleb Quick Murder

16 hours ago

State Farm Wins First-Ever Emergency Rate Hike in California

16 hours ago

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

17 hours ago

Tatum to Miss Remainder of Playoffs After Achilles Tendon Surgery

17 hours ago

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help Identifying Shooting Suspect

17 hours ago

MLB Reinstates Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson, Making Them Hall of Fame Eligible

17 hours ago

Karbassi Running for Fresno County Elections Clerk, Says He Can ‘Do Better’

17 hours ago

Global Eggs Completes Acquisition in US, Closes New Deal in Europe

19 hours ago

Qatar Signs $200 Billion Deal to Buy Jets From Boeing During Trump Visit

DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar signed a deal on Wednesday to purchase jets from U.S. manufacturer Boeing for Qatar Airways during President Do...

1 minute ago

https://www.communitymedical.org/thecause?utm_source=Misfit+Digital&utm_medium=GVWire+Banner+Ads&utm_campaign=Branding+2025&utm_content=thecause
U.S. President Donald Trump, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg attend a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, May 14, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
1 minute ago

Qatar Signs $200 Billion Deal to Buy Jets From Boeing During Trump Visit

A model truck at Slate Auto’s design center in Troy, Mich., on April 30, 2025. The company is backed by venture capital firms and Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder. (Emily Elconin/The New York Times)
8 minutes ago

Is the Answer to Expensive Cars a Pickup Truck Without Power Windows?

55 minutes ago

California Released 15,000 Prisoners Early During COVID. New Data Reveals What Happened to Many of Them

Carlos Gonzalez, 43, of Fresno, a substitute teacher at Fresno Unified School District has been arrested for allegedly attempting to meet a minor for sex after contacting the child through a messaging app, prompting authorities to urge potential victims to come forward. (Fresno County SO)
12 hours ago

Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher Arrested in Online Child Exploitation Case

15 hours ago

Investors Buy Fig Garden Village. How Much Did It Sell For?

Fresno clovis caleb quick
16 hours ago

Fresno County DA Wants Teens Tried as Adults in Caleb Quick Murder

16 hours ago

State Farm Wins First-Ever Emergency Rate Hike in California

17 hours ago

Work Permits Reinstated for UC Merced International Students, Anxiety Persists

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend