Trepca?s Mine in the Region of Stan-Terg during WWII

• Author: Mustafë Haziri
• Pages: 237-239

Vol. 3 No. 2

July 2017

ISSN 2410-3918

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

237

Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

Trepca‘s Mine in the Region of Stan-Terg during WWII

Mustafë Haziri

Abstract

In this study I have explained the economical importance of Trepca Mine in the region

of Stan-Terg which is considered as one of the most important mines in Europe and

which today is the biggest economical source of Kosovo.

Based on some historical and economical developments it is noticed that this mine

was so a ractive for the weapon industries, and about 40 % of all products were

sent by Trepca to the German factories. In general Trepca was an important factor of

international, economical and political relationship, as an important strategic source.

Keywords: Kosovo, Trepça’s mine, history- politics, economy, Balkan.

Introduction

Between the two World Wars, Germany was interested about the Mines of Kosovo,

specially for “Trepca” in Stan Terg. It is important to mention that the leadership

of Trepca was ready to close the Mine in order to save the status of the employees.

Germany was informed about this and immediately wanted to put its authority in

these Mine in order to serve the German Military Industries.

While Germany was making plans for the Balkan occupation, it was also planning to

use Trepca for its military needs (Denic, 1972, 2086).

The failures of Italy in Africa in Albania, made it not a valid partner for Germany, so the

big interest of Germans was shown to Trepca (Avdyli, 1978, 53). The correspondence

between the Britain o ce in Belgrade and the Foreign O ce in London documented

that there was an earlier deal between Trepca and the National Bank of Yugoslvia

which was made on the 13th of July 1938, and the agreement which was reached in

1940 was not di erent from it.

By the company memorandum which was set by the British team a er the end of

War, we can clearly see the history and the conditions of Trepca from 1927 until 1948.

The exploitation of Trepça during the German invasion 1941-1944

As we mentioned above, Germany was interested to use Trepca Mines between the

two World Wars. The chance for Germany to realize this aim came during the Miners

strike which was organized by miners with the aim of raising the salaries and ge ing

be er working conditions.

In this case Germany stared the action to take the Mine under its control, but this plan

failed even though it was strategic. This was not a lost chance for Germany because

they succeeded to get the biggest part of Leaden by Yugoslavia, based on the illegal

protocol which was signed on the 5-th of October 1939 (Dukic, 1954, 50). According to

this protocol, Germany was obliged to send military airplanes and artillery weapons