Did King Zog really steal Albanian gold? The documents show that...

One of the most brutal campaigns that this regime launched was the gold - collection campaign, their robbery, and then the firing of the richest.

But what is surprising is that for 50 years he was dressed in the clothing of the great Albanian thief King Zog. But did King Zog really steal the Albanian gold?

According to renowned journalist Katriot Dervishi in a full dosier on the Albanian gold issue, it is said that King Zog was dictated by international circumstances and by the Albanian Parliament's decision to leave Albania on April 7th 1939. The Albanian state treasury was not in Tirana, but in Rome.

According to documents and data provided by Josephine Dedet in her book “Geraldina, the queen of Albanians” reportedly took only military salaries. According to data access to the State Archives, Finance Minister Kole Thaci withdrew under all state regulations with authorisations 2031/65 and 2031/79 (March 31st and April 3, 1939), the total of 448,535 gold francs, which were in the hands of King Zog. In this regard, Treasury Director Kel Naraci, at the June 6, 1939, account for June 6, 1939, says:“I sign Kel Naraci and General cashier Ramadan Berberoli were expected at the office under the former prime minister's call (Kostak Kotta). Soon a palace automobile arrived at the bank, accompanied by two soldiers from a guard's lieutenant named Selim Djoci, who ... invited to sign (K.N) and the general cashier to accompany him to King Zog with all the gold coins that were brought out of the chest under the supervision of Lieutenant Selim Joci, who puts in the market supply of above (448.35 gold francs), which according to former Minister Thaci's claims would be taken into the process of handing over the letter to members of the council who were gathered at the house of Mr. Costaq Kotta, where we found King Zog, among ministers Musa Juka, Ekrem Libohova, Faik Shatcu and Abdurrahman Mattit, Jaferr Ypit, Sotir Martin, Allaman Cupi, Ndoc Kurti, Jani Dallamanga, Milto Nocka, etc...

In the presence of theirs, I left them to the side where there was a 13th Bird King holding gold coins in the kinds of markets in co-connected confirmations......

At home, there were phone calls, orders, nervousness and fighting attitudes in a fit of constant tension... . While the planes were flying over, King Zog, with members of the Council on his side, quickly went to the home of his brother Jelal, and the gold that was on his side. In this case, cashier Ramadan Berberol was told to go back to the office of Lieutenant Selim Joci to give another location in the ark such as currency, banknotes, gold, etc., in surrender to King Zog and to take him to the house of Jelali. Mr. Ramadan Berberol delivered to Mr. Jalal Zoll 118,195 francs of gold and stayed at the home of Mr. Jelal's master for taking a report from King Zog for the entire amount of gold that reached 566,975 gold francs. Only after counting on it and leaving after much effort was Major Allaman Cupp, the king's favorite adjutan, signed for it, a report (hand) as the attachment copy”.

In all, it should be said that King Zog drew from the Albanian state chest in the presence and with the approval of the Council of Ministers, the estimated 567 thousand gold francs that made up 183kg of gold. It must be remembered that King Zog's annual salary was 500 thousand francs. We should also remember that in his favor the amount benefited from the sale of a forest in Matt. As the King Zog is seen to have brought with him just over a year's wages.

This monetary amount has been used to a large extent to pay the salaries of those who accompanied the King and diplomats like Faik Konica, etc. The latter has been among the paid men (on July 13, 1942, for example, received a thousand dollars). As proof of this, we have also been able to find part of the payment records used back then. In these fees, payments are also found among the most popular names Miras Ivanaj, Mehmet Konica, Abbas Cup, Delvina, Kemal Butka, Peter Kolonja, Nikola Prifti etc.

To remember, too, is the fact that the new power imposed after April 7, 1939, also seized the amount of 20 thousand gold francs of Queen Geraldine, which was located in the Bank of Albania and had not been withdrawn by the owner. The decree of Secretary of State for Justice was issued on September 16, 1939, and was published in “Official Foundation” on December 5, 1939, after being held as “Secret” for several weeks.

This official and letter version confirms in her memories and Queen Geraldine. Since in those difficult days for the Albanian people she had just brought her son Leka back to life, she describes this situation as chaotic and very difficult. Her condition had deteriorated. She claims that King Zog took only that much gold with which he paid the Albanian Army for six months. The facts showed that their financial situation was very difficult, and they long lived by the goodness of various kingdoms that offered them hospitality. /Conica.al