Unknown
(Can you name this man?)

Sherafadin Doshishti (King Zog's nephew)

Zejnel Shehu (c1906-1952)

The bodyguards included in the royal entourage were faithful high ranking lieutenants from the Albanian army. They had worked within Zogu's own army in his political days in Albania. Most of them originated from the Mati region where Zogu himself reigned the lands as chieftan, as had many generations of his family before him. He knew their families and trusted they would lay down their lives for him, as is the tradition of Albanian 'fis' (clan) culture.

To become a personal guard to Zogu they had to swear their life duty to him. They had a background of rural upbringing, living in the vast, rural countryside of the Mati region, northern Albania. They had all become involved in the army whilst fighting against the Serbs in the North of Albania, whose main aim was to control this part of the country. They were skilled marksmen, trained in survival techniques and served the King with intelligence. At the time of entry into the UK, the Aliens office described them as peasants - yet many of the guards spoke several languages!

Their daily routine in Albania was to protect the Prime Minister Zogu and his family. This service was heightened when Zogu was declared King. They rarely saw their own families as the King required 24 hour protection and as he travelled to his villas, and it was necessary for them to accompany him.

When the Italian invasion was imminent, the family had only hours to leave the royal residence in Tirana and the guards had to escort them out under high protection through many countries and finally residing in France. The bodyguards had all left family behind not knowing when they would ever see them again. Arriving in London, the Aliens office granted them all unconditional leave, allowing them to stay in the country. King Zog rented out suites in the Ritz hotel. It became quite an issue between Scotland Yard and The Aliens Office that the bodyguards would walk around London with sawn off shotguns!

Their main priority was to protect the Royal Family and themselves - after all there were already death threats coming from the Communist party in Albania. By 1943 the Communists had put a price on King Zog's head. It is credit to the bodyguards that although King Zog had reputedly over 55 assassination attempts on his life he was never killed.
Muharrem Gjoka took at least 2 bullets meant for the King and carried at least one bullet in his body all his life - all meant for the King.

Captains Halil Sufa and Zejnel Shehu were dropped into Albania in an undercover mission to overthrow communism. They were caught and executed by the communists in 1952.

The bodyguards continued their duty to the king until his death in 1961. Some returned to the UK, others stayed on in France. They all feared for their lives as royalists and most had small hand guns at all times. One thing is for sure, they all dreamed of returning to their homeland, Albania. They continued to correspond with other exiled Albanians all over the world, in the hope of freeing Albania. Some are buried at the plot bought by the King in Thiasis Cemetiere, Suresnes, Paris in France.

Background

Duties

Wartime Exile