Kaçak Insurgency in Kosovo (1918–1921)

The Kaçak Insurgency in Kosovo (1918–1921) was a low-intensity armed resistance movement conducted by Albanian Kaçak guerrillas against the authority of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in Kosovo following the end of World War I. The insurgency emerged in response to the incorporation of Kosovo into the new South Slavic state and was characterized by guerrilla warfare, ambushes, and attacks on state institutions.

Background

After World War I, Kosovo was incorporated into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Many Albanians opposed the new administration due to political repression, land disputes, and colonization policies. This led to the revival of the Kaçak movement, armed Albanian bands resisting state authority.

The Insurgency

From 1918 to 1921, Kaçak fighters operated mainly in Drenica, Dukagjin, and central Kosovo. They used guerrilla tactics, attacking military patrols, gendarmerie units, and government offices. Azem Galica emerged as the movement’s main leader, coordinating operations and establishing areas of local control.

Yugoslav Response

The Yugoslav authorities deployed troops and gendarmerie forces to suppress the insurgency, conducting village searches and arrests. Despite superior numbers, they struggled to fully eliminate the Kaçak bands.

Outcome

By 1921, the insurgency largely ended due to increased military pressure and internal divisions among the Kaçaks. While the Yugoslav state retained control over Kosovo, the movement maintained resistance for several years and became a symbol of Albanian opposition

Sources

• Elsie, Robert. Historical Dictionary of Kosovo. Scarecrow Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0810870939.
• Malcolm, Noel. Kosovo: A Short History. Macmillan, 1998. ISBN 978-0333650000.
• Banac, Ivo. The National Question in Yugoslavia. Cornell University Press, 1984. ISBN 978-0801490993.
• Judah, Tim. Kosovo: War and Revenge. Yale University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0300085623.

The Kaçak insurgency operated mainly in Drenica and Dukagjin between 1918 and 1921. Azem Galica was a key leader coordinating operations.