This Sunday, the 82nd anniversary of the Borovë Massacre was solemnly commemorated in the southern Albanian region of Kolonjë. The tragic event, which occurred on July 6, 1943, saw one of the German divisions of the Nazi army burn the village of Borovë to the ground and brutally murder 107 civilians—many of whom were women and children.
This year’s ceremony was marked by a heartfelt moment when a German citizen, Ulrich Chilian, took part in the memorial and expressed a sincere apology on behalf of the German people.
“I come from Germany. This is my third or fourth time visiting Borovë. What happened here was the fault of the Germans, and I am here to honor the memory of the victims. I try to apologize in the name of the German people, even though it is difficult. But now, we are friends, and we will be friends forever,” said Chilian, visibly moved.
The pain of the massacre remains vivid for the survivors and descendants of the victims. Two elderly attendees, with tears in their eyes, recounted the horrors that befell their families on that fateful day.
“I lost my mother, father, two sisters, and two brothers. The oldest was 19 years old, the youngest just 5. I was 7 years old. I was injured, but the bullet didn’t fully hit me. I saw them all lying dead.”
“I lost my uncle, he was only 16 years old. He was one of the smartest and brightest people. As he tried to jump over a wall, they shot him.”
The mayor of Kolonjë, Erion Isai, drew a parallel between the massacre and contemporary conflicts, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of historical memory.
“Time has shown that the cyclical pattern of such events repeats—with new forms, new mindsets, but the same philosophies. Europe is facing an identity crisis,” said Mayor Isai during the commemoration.
The victims of the Borovë Massacre have been officially recognized as “Martyrs of the Homeland” by the Albanian state. Every year on July 6, families, local residents, and government officials gather to remember their sacrifice and reflect on the importance of peace and historical justice.