Today marks the 98th anniversary of the death of Qerime Galica, known as Shote Galica. She was a  Hero of the People  and a symbol of Albanian resistance and the fight for freedom.

Shote Galica fought for 12 years. She took part in over 40 important battles. During this time, she lost 22 members of her family. She fought for the liberation of Kosovo from Serbian, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Yugoslav forces.

She was born in the village of Radishevë in Drenica. Between 1909 and 1912, she joined uprisings against the Ottomans. From 1912 to 1915, she resisted the Serbian occupation. In autumn 1915, she joined the Drenica rebel group alongside her husband, Azem Galica.

She fought in the autumn battles of 1918 to liberate Drenica, Podgorie, and Peja. After World War I, she continued to resist the violent policies of Serb domination in Kosovo. Between April and June 1919, she joined Azem in the uprisings of Dukagjin and Drenica.

From 1921 to 1923, she defended the Neutral Zone of Junik. Later, in 1923–1924, she protected the free zone of Drenica in Little Albania.

During Albania’s political struggles from 1921 to 1924, she supported the democratic opposition and Fan Noli’s government. In December 1924, she joined Bajram Curri’s fighters and defended the border against Ceno Kryeziu’s forces.

Later, she returned to Kosovo. There, she helped keep the spirit of resistance alive among the people.

In 1926, injured and ill, she moved to Albania. First, she lived in Shullaz near Milot, then in Derven, near Fushë-Krujë. Despite her poor health and lack of income, she cared for three orphaned children of fallen comrades.

She died in Fushë-Krujë, where she is still buried today.

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