Muzeu i Armëve Gjirokaster

The national museum... ... (Area)

The National Museum of Armaments is located inside the Gjirokastra castle. The museum opened in 1971, as the first in Europe to be fully dedicated to the evolution of weapons. Over 300 selected original objects transported by a group of soldiers witness different historical periods in Albania.The weapons are exhibited in chronological order, from Antiquity to the Middle Ages, the National Renaissance, the period of Independence and the Anti-Fascist National-Liberation War. The museum also exhibits trophy weapons, as well as works of art such as sculptures, paintings or photographs.

The prison (Area)

Opened in the 70s, the National Museum of Armaments is located in the "re-education" area of ​​the former prison. In the 1930s, King Zog built the prison designed by the Italians, which looked quite different from the rest of the castle. The stones taken from the Ali Pasha’s aqueduct were used for its construction. During World War II, the prison was used by the Italian and German occupation forces. After the war, the communists expanded the prison and used it to isolate opponents of the new regime. It is said that the yard was used as an execution space, especially during the first years of the regime, when Enver Hoxha's political opponents were brought here from labour camps around Albania. The prison was closed in 1968, when work began on the National Museum of Armaments. In the early 70s, some of the cells were converted into museum spaces. The writings on the walls are from the newspapers and letters of communists and anti-Zogists who were imprisoned here during the reign of King Zog and the Italian-German occupation, during World War II. Those who were imprisoned here by the communist regime are not mentioned.

Guerrilla units (Point)

“Meanwhile, guerrilla units in the cities and the occupied provinces developed various combat actions diversion against enemies. After the establishment of the general staff of the National-Liberation Albanian Army, guerrilla units of occupied areas not only didn’t liquidate but they were strengthened even more. In Tirana, in October 1943 operated 47 guerrilla units with 530 armed warriors – with rifles, automatic, revolver pistol, and weapons seized by the enemy.”

After war (Area)

The exhibition immediately after the liberation with Italian and German trophy weapons Partisans of the 20th brigade after war German captives

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"Krahu" society started from the construction of the general prison that will be built in the castle. "Democracy" 27.04.1929

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The guard says to the prisoner Jaho Gjolik: - You will stay there! Lipe Bogai (prisoner) - I’ll give him clothes and food; he will not stay in the straw.

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A few days ago, the inauguration of the beginning of construction in the general prison. Speech by the prefect, head of the Municipality. As the ceremony ended, the guests were treated with liqueurs and various sweets. "Democracy" January 1, 1930

New prison (Point)

This week all the prisoners, who were staying in private buildings, were drilled in the new prison that was built in the city fortress. "There are approximately 200 prisoners. It is said that others will be sent from different parts of Albania. "Today they are standing on a mat laid with cement. "Soon, the prisoners will be given food and soup every day...

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Saturday, April 15, 1944: This morning four women woke up, a mother with her two maids and another woman. Two more in the afternoon, mother and daughter. It seems that the enemies have decided not only to close the houses, but also to transfer the city to the fortress of Argjiro. Sunday, April 16, 1944: In the morning we heard that they brought two more prisoners, a mother and a daughter. Friday, April 21, 1944: The only day we had no "guests". We also spend time with "General Tomato". There is a ballist who guards every day and takes it seriously... He speaks in big words, which many times I don't know the meaning, and we call him "General Tomato". Sunday, April 23, 1944: Today is the most desperate day in the prison, we learned that they had executed four prisoners: Asim Mero, Reiz Selimi, Laze Selimi and Reshat Vejseli. Wednesday April 26, 1944: A noise is heard outside the hall. They brought twenty-three people from Derviçan, among them a friend.

Klambi nika and his... ... (Point)

The Bailers had imprisoned him here. He was familiar with the communists; he had learned the path that led to real life. One day the wife comes and this dialogue took place between her and the prisoner: - Let's sell the rifle. I know where you hid it. - What do you mean? The rifle? - We are suffering for bread; it doesn't serve you. -Sell everything, dishes, layers and covers, but not the rifle. - I will come out here and throw the rifle to my arms. If I don't go out of prison, you will take the rifle.

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"The doors of the University were closed to us at that time...I, for one reason or another, did not even forget to enroll in any faculty...But what I would not find in any university, I learned in the prisons of Tirana and Gjirokastra, which are really my universities... Lefter...

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"The party has turned on a strong searchlight that illuminates our path of life. Only those who are blind do not see this powerful and saving light. Except for the enemies, of course, whose eyes are blinded by this great light.'' (Beginning of 1942)

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..Lefter Talua, even when he was in prison, was very determined to implement the Party's orders, which he carried out meticulously. This made him to be accepted as a party member from prison...Lefteri was distinguished among his comrades by his revolutionary temperament, by his love and care for his comrades...''

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Occupiers and traitors roam the city like executioners. They arrest Albanian mothers and sisters, lock them in prisons, beat them... and if the desperate savages react, they hang them. Some time ago they took a girl from Qeparoi and hanged her barbarically. Later, another girl from Gjirokastra, Bule Naipin, was hanged like the first... The people eagerly await the bright day of revenge on the fascist barbarian and on the country's criminals.                                                                                                                  NCL War Bulletin.

June 22, 1933 (Point)

Occupiers and traitors roam the city like executioners. They arrest Albanian mothers and sisters, lock them in prisons, beat them... and if the desperate savages react, they hang them. Some time ago they took a girl from Qeparoi and hanged her barbarically. Later, another girl from Gjirokastra, Bule Naipin, was hanged like the first... The people eagerly await the bright day of revenge on the fascist barbarian and on the country's criminals.                                                                  NCL War Bulletin.

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"We cut the window bars within 10 days, painted them with charcoal powder and prepared 20-25 meters of rope, which we wet within 20 minutes.... We went down... A woman in front of the Coçoli house helped us to go out towards the wide mountain. The alarm was given in the prison. I run up the mountain...A shepherd on the mountain treated us with buttermilk and mountain snow. Morning caught us high, in the middle of the wide mountain...

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Be as silly as you want. The party will live as long as our mountains and the enemies will disappear. P.Kokedhima

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Dear mother!"...Love and protect every partisan girl, as you loved me! Long live the party! Liberation Day is near! The partisans will take our hack.''

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Bule Naipi before the trial. "The Albanian girl is not afraid of either the bullet or the rope. You should be scared and not me, because you are the ones who are living the last hours.''

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