Shkëlzen "Hilmi" Haradinaj was an Kosovo Liberation Army Soldier and Commander who fell during the battle against Serbian forces in the Maznik Mountains near Dečani.
Upon learning of the attack by Serbian forces on Adem Jashari and his family in Prekaz killing over 20 family members while they sat in their house, in March 1998, Shkelzen Haradinaj, with friends operating in the Dukagjin sub-zone, carried out over 22 armed actions against Serbian police bases overnight of the Serbian paramilitary in the Dukagjin region. Shkelzen Haradinaj was a devout fighter who actively worked at all stages of the KLA's development, staying at the forefront of the war at all times. He rode to war, reaching the highest peaks of the fighting organization, which excelled in all encounters with Serbian occupation forces. Shkelzen Haradinaj fought at the Heroic Battle of March 24, '98, held in Glogjan near Deçan, and will stand out as an excellent organizer and fighter alongside brothers Ramush Haradinaj and Daut Haradinaj, first cousin Bujar and other fighters, such as Gazmend Mehmetaj, Agron Mehmetaj and Hima Haradinaj, who had the great fortune to be the first fallen in frontal war in the Dukagjin Zone. Its noted that in this glorious Battle in which other members of Shkelzen's close family, Father Hilmiu, the brothers Enveri and Frashëri, Sister Mejremja and other comrades, participated, caused great damage to the Serbian forces in men and artillery.
Death
On April 16, 1999, in the Maznik Mountains near Dečani, the Serbian forces planned to enter sheltered towns with Albanian civilians and to later massacre them. After hearing the plans of the Serbian Forces, Shkelzen Haradinaj and his Sepcial Unit of the KLA marched to the Maznik Mountains in order to rescue the Albanian civilians from the Serbian forces. During a fierce, battle against Serbian forces, and in defence of the civilian population sheltered in the Maznik Mountains, Shkelzen Haradinaj falls alongside fellow soldiers and comrades Fatmir Nimanaj, Hasim Halilaj and Luan Nimanaj. The fighting was extremely fierce and in close proximity, where 15 Serbian Soldiers were also killed. Sparked by the rock's hardness, the majesty of the hills and the immense fortitude, the bullet that he took to his chest did not drop him. He wounded an enemy with a bullet in the face as his last action in battle.
Legacy
Due the Intervention of the Special Unit of the KLA with the commander Shkëlzen Haradinaj, the Albanian civilians in the Maznik Mountains survived and could flee from the region.
Personal life
Shkëlzen Haradinaj was married and had two sons Shqipdon and Luan Haradinaj. Shqipdon died in 2007 after an car accident, aged only 11. His other son, Luan Haradinaj, is today a soldier of Kosovo Security Force.
