For sixty three years since Libya’s first independence and until now, the city of Derna has been marginalized. This is so unfortunate since the city had given a lot of sacrifices for the sake of Libya. No matter how much I write to express my admiration for the city and praise it, I won’t be able to do it justice. But I am sure that no matter how long it takes, one day it will take its rightful place and Derna will emerge on top and its shimmering jewel will shine on everyone.
Derna is the city of peace and tranquility, the city of knowledge, the city of unity and cooperation. It’s the land that has brought together all kinds of people from the homeland including foreigners, all in one spot. They lived together like one happy family. Those who were born in Derna or lived in it for a while and breathed its air will always have beautiful memories that cannot be forgotten for a lifetime. No matter how many setbacks and obstacles the city had endured, it has always remained patiently in silence like a loving mother who cared for her children. But, when provoked, it becomes a fierce tiger ready to pounce and destroy its aggressor. All the uprisings against the rule of the colonial and foreign military are clear evidence.
Many great leaders have passed through this city, beginning with the Turkish leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He worked and resided in Derna during the second Ottoman Sultanate era. At that time, a coup was being planned to overcome the Ottoman rule.
The great battle of "Gargaf" under the banner of Sidi Ahmed Al-Shariff against the Italians on the mountain of the first area of Al_fataeh on the outskirts of Derna, was a disgrace to the Italian colonial. More than three thousand, one hundred and eighty soldiers were killed and wounded among Ethiopian mercenaries, of whom thirty-eight Italian officers were killed in the field as reported by the Italian ministry of war at that time.
It was a battle for honor for the Libyan revolutionary troops, who lost eight hundred and forty martyrs, as well as several other hundreds of wounded men! The wounded were murdered by the Italians out of vengeance for their loss at the battle which is obviously considered as a war crime. Those brave men died defending the honor of the homeland! My father, Mabruk, and my uncle Abdeljalil were among the volunteers who fought in that battle but they came out safe and they lived long years after years, until they passed away from natural causes! May Allah bless their souls! Derna was visited by the Italian Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, during his tour around Libya, to check on his troops and brag about his army.
Also, the famous German commander, The field Marshal Erwin Rommel (A.K.A “The desert fox”) passed by the city, in the forties, many times in complete secrecy and stayed for a short time each time. It was during the fierce battles of the World War II.
Also, in the war for Palestine in 1948, the courageous young men of Derna were among the first volunteers from North Africa. They fiercely defended the Arab lands and they offered their blood for that. The first martyr from Derna was called Ali, the son of Al-Omda (the mayor) Jibril, who was in the first line of fire, next to my older brother, Haj Saleh, as he told us the story! I can add many names to the freedom fighters list: The mujahid Abdurrahim Benkhayal, who told us many heroic stories about the acts of the war. He also told us about the contributions of his fellow warriors, like Haj Driss Bouchiha, Haj Abdelmonem Kaddour, Haj Ali Mwela Sultan, as well as many other names from the city, that I cannot recall at the moment whom I have personally known but one day their families will honor them and their memory will be always remembered!
Derna was visited, in the late 50’s by the Turkish Prime minister Adnan Menderes and I was, at that time, one of the boy scouts standing in line to greet him. We were chanting the national anthem and greeting the king Idris and his honorable guest, in front of the royal palace.
The former President and founder of the Republic of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, have resided in Derna for a certain period of time, when he was chased by the French occupiers. When he succeeded to obtain the independence and became the first Tunisian President, he did not forget the city that offered the refuge for him, neither the camarades who helped him when he was in need, fighting the French occupiers. President Bourguiba never forgot friends like Idris Al-Hneid and he visited Derna, at the edge of his glory, as President of the Republic of Tunisia, in a memorable act of gratitude for the city!
The hero, Fathallah Lashgar Al-Dernawi, who was a brother and a friend and with whom we used to spend long summer evenings on the beach, among our other friends (currently where the electric plant is located). We used to organize weekend excursions and Eid feasts, in the area of Ras Al-Hilal, in the green mountain, with a group of good friends. He was twenty years older than me. He had a tremendous logistic contribution in the war of Algeria, against the French occupation, as a guide for the convoy of heavy (Mercedes) trucks, through the desert.
The convoy was, at that time, a gift from the Prince Abdullah Abed Al-Sanoussi ( whom I’ve met and became friends in Egypt, in 1980, where he was a refugee). Tens of times, Fathallah used to serve as a night time guide for the convoy while they were crossing the desert without lights! At that time, they had neither GPS systems, nor maps and they were guided by the stars in the silent Libyan desert nights! They used to stop, during the daytime and use a camouflage desert cover to avoid being discovered by the airplanes, until they reached their destination, the Algerian rebels headquarters, in the Aures mountains! They were loaded with the weapons and ammunition, sent as a gift from President Nasser of Egypt, as well as food and medicine, donations from their brothers in Libya. All this was done in secrecy and without alerting the French occupiers and their agents, while the Libyan heroes were taking a tremendous risk, for the liberation of Algeria, the Arab muslim neighbor, and its full independence and dignity!
God bless!
Ragab Mabrouk Zatout
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