Abaz Kupi

Abaz Kupi ( born February 6, 1892 in Kruja, † January 9, 1976 in New York) was an Albanian politician and resistance fighter during the Second World War.

Since 1912, supported Kupi Essad Pasha Toptani, who had opposed the first government of the newly independent Albania Ismail Qemali and later also operated against the Wilhelm used as Prince of Albania zu Wied. The early 1920s was Kupi first in the camp of the Liberals and against Ahmet Zogu. After Zog takeover of the year in 1924/25 Kupi changed but the sides and was appointed police chief of Kruja.

As a police officer he did in 1939 in Durres more symbolic protest against the Italian invasion forces, but which earned him the respect of many Albanians. Then he had to flee to the Turkish exile. 1941 Kupi returned back to Albania and began the resistance group Legaliteti build by King Zog fought for the liberation of Albania and the reinstatement. In 1942, he played a key role at the Conference of Peza, which aimed to unite all Albanian guerrilla groups against the Axis powers. The end of 1943, the Legaliteti turned under Kupi against the ever-increasing communists because they wanted to prevent their seizure of power after the war. This Kupi worked to some extent with the puppet government set up by the German occupiers together. After the Communist victory in November 1944 Kupi fled with some of his officers in boats across the Adriatic Sea. After many days of wandering, they were picked up by a Canadian navy ship and taken to Brindisi.

In exile Kupi tried to organize resistance against the Albanian communists. He was involved in the 1949 founding of the Free Albania Committee. In 1968 he moved his residence from Italy to the United States.