|
| Valiant highlanders and
fugitive
soldiers of Albania were the first in the Balkans to launch the
struggle
against Italian invaders and domestic collaborators in the summer of
1940. |
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On 28 November 1939, in the capital of occupied
Albania
- Tirana - was carried out the first anti-fascist street demonstration,
supported by the strike of workers of local factories and transport.
They rose anti-occupation slogans, demanding that Italians leave the
country and the government of Shefqet bej Vërlaci resign. In autumn in
mountainous regions of southern, eastern and northern parts of the
country small resistance groups were arising. They undertook actions
against government's collectors of agricultural levies and occasionally
against the Italians. Those groups had no major effect on development
of
events. Situation changed only in the summer 1940, when in result of
preparations for the war with
Greece the services of the Albanian
population: conscription, and requisition of grain and cattle, had
increased. Young men fled from conscription to the mountains, mobilized
recruits deserted from the army and reinforced partisan groups. In the
end of August, the number of partisan groups had grown to such a
degree,
that the Italians already used to talk about "expanding uprising of
Albanian highlanders". The most active were the groups commanded by
Myslim Peza and Haxhi Lleshi. Italian governor, Gen. Francesco Jacomoni
di San Savino had to apply to Mussolini with a request of sending to
Albania special military and police troops to fight partisans. It came
to regular fights between partisans and Italian military troops. Among
others in the end of August insurgents from Shkodra area liquidated a
100-men military unit. In towns and villages began their activities
diversion and combat groups. One of the leading collaborators, an
active
member of the fascist party - Asllan Ganiu - was shot. The Italians had
sharpened the terror, undertook pacificatory actions against Albanian
partisans and highlanders, and within repressive measures had shot a
member of king Zogu's family - Alush Kryeziu.
The resistance in Albania became active after the defeats of the
Italian forces in the war with Greece, which started on 28
October 1940. Originally the slogan of building the "Greater Albania",
to which the Italians promised to incorporate a substantial part of
Greek Epirus (Cameria), let collaborationist authorities to mobilize
some thousand volunteers for the army (besides regular troops). The
collapse of the
Italian offensive in Greece caused a crisis in regular
troops, which refused to take part in further fights, as well as in
volunteer units, which dispersed; some soldiers made for the mountains.
Eventually, the number of combat groups and partisan detachments,
reinforced by deserters from the army, had grown to dozens and over
3,000
men. In November mutinous soldiers, who refused further service in
Italian units, had fought in town of Lezha, close by port Shengjin on
Adriatic coast, a battle with an enemy's punitive expedition, killing
19
and badly wounding 30 Italians, then had retreated to the mountains. In
the same month a partisan detachment had laid an ambush for the enemy's
transport column in the way to Gjirokastra. Several Italians were
killed. On 17 May 1941 in Tirana a young man called Vasil Laçi
attempted
to assassinate king Victor Emmanuel III by shooting at him.
In 1939-1940 in towns and major settlements
anti-fascist
and anti-occupation underground groups were coming into being,
organized
by various political and social circles of Albania, both adherents and
opponents of the former monarchist Zoguist régime, officers of the
Albanian
army, clergy, representatives of pre-war political parties and
communists. Among others operated the groups of Baba Faja Martaneshi,
former gendarmerie officer Gani bej Kryeziu, a communist Mustafa
Gjinishi, and a rightist politician Muharrem Bajraktari. An attempt to
unite those groups in one organization was undertaken by a democratic
politician Major Abaz Kupi, who created an underground organization
called the Unity Front. This front, which increased in numbers within
several months, was crushed in April 1941 after the defeat of
Yugoslavia
and Greece. Some of its
members passed over to the collaborationist
camp, some were arrested, and some others fled to the mountains. The
warfare ceased for a while.
The turning point took place in the second half of
1941.
It was determined by both external and internal circumstances such as:
aggression of
the Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union (22 June
1941), creation of the Albanian Communist Party (ACP), and with time
the
collapse of the Italian fascism. By the the autumn 1941 some separate
communist groups acted in Albania. Among the strongest ones were: Korca
group, Shkoder group, Të Rintjë (Youth) and Zjarri
(Fire).
During the conference in Tirana (8 November 1941) those groups created
the Albanian Communist Party (Partia Komuniste Shqiptare). They
elected a 32 years old teacher, active member of the Korca group, Enver
Hoxha, to the leader of the party's provisional committee. The
conference drew up the political programme pointing out, that the most
urgent task was the unification of all the forces of the Albanian
nation
for the fight for national independence of the Albanian people, and
for a people's democratic government in fascism-free Albania. [Pollo
S., & Puto A. (1981).] The
party called to armed uprising. It also
outlined tasks for future: to instill the idea of general uprising for
liberation of the country through common actions and to prepare the
nation politically and militarily for the general armed uprising. The
appeal became popularized in clandestine press, particularly in the
newspaper Zëri i Popullit (People's Voice). In the end
of
November had been created the Communist Youth Movement led by a member
of the CC of APC - Qemal Stafa.
The unification of the leftist groups acting so far
separately was also accomplished. Several months after the offensive
against invaders and their supporters was launched. Among others at
night from 24 to 25 July 1942 combat groups had carried out a massive
attack on the communication system. Preparing that action, the CC of
APC
wrote in Zëri i Popullit (No. 4/1942) among others: The
night
of 24 July should become to all the party's organizations a night of a
general attack on the enemy. Cut the wires, throw down telegraph and
telephone poles within whole your district. Beat the enemy everywhere
and inflict him big losses!
On 25 July
worked no telephone or telegraph line. The series of combat actions had
been carried out as well, among others in Tirana, Berati and Shkodra.
The programme of fight proclaimed by the CC of APC had
fit in with interests and goals of most resistance organizations. On 16
September 1942 in village Peza, in central Albania, the CC APC-inspired
conference was convened, contributed by representatives of anti-fascist
organizations and their armed groups. The major leaders of resistance
organizations, such as Peza, Martaneshi, Haxhi Lleshi and Major Kupi
took part in it. The conference had resolved to create an executive
resistance centre called National Liberation Movement (Lëvizja
Nacionalçlirimtare), later renamed the National Liberation Front (Fronti
Nacionalçlirimtar) of Albania, and worked out a programme of fight.
An executive organ was created - the Supreme National Liberation
Council
(Këshilli i Përgjithshëm Nacionalçlirimtar) of seven persons.
Hoxha had become its member. Soon started the creation of local
national
liberation councils. They organized a political and military struggle
against the invaders and mobilized inhabitants and material resources
for armed fight. Those councils had become the embryo of further
authorities of independent Albania.
By the end of 1942 over 10,000 people filled the ranks
of underground organizations and partisan detachments of the National
Liberation Front. Partisans had gained new victories, among them they
had liberated several spots in Korca, Peza, Tomorrica and Gorrica e
Eperme (Gorna Gora) areas. In the beginning of 1943 as many as 29
partisan detachments and several dozens of combat groups acted in
liberated areas carrying out self-defence and auxiliary tasks. In the
first quarter of that year partisans had carried out many other combat
actions, among others in towns of Dhermiu, Voskopoja, and Libohova.
They
destroyed oil pits in Patosi, and mines in Selenica. In March and April
1943 they temporarily seized some towns in southern part of country,
such as: Konispoli, Zagoria, Mesapliku, and Mallakastra. In the spring
1943 British special groups developed anti-Italian diversion,
intelligence and propaganda operations, and commandos dropped in the
mountains.
On 17 - 22 February 1943 in Labinot village took place
the first nationwide conference of ACP. The estimation of the political
and military situation in the country pointed to necessity of creation
of a homogeneous national liberation army. The decision concerning
warfare tactics also was taken; it recommended commanders of units to
conduct the actions with bigger forces. On 17 May 12 partisan
detachments under the homogeneous command had carried out an attack on
the Italian garrison in Leskoviku, which protected this important road
junction. Partisans encircled the town in a tight ring and undertook
the
offensive. Over 1000 Italians held the town. The fights lasted three
days. The commander of the garrison had demanded an air support. But
before the support arrived, partisans seized the town. The Italians
lost
several hundred killed and wounded, and considerable quantities of the
weapon and equipment. In the end of June the Italians got up a punitive
expedition against partisans in the region of Mallakastra - Tepelena.
Two thousand partisans took up defensive positions on mountain passes.
In the first clash the Italians were forced back. Yet they renewed the
action on 14 July, reinforcing considerable forces including artillery,
tanks and aviation into fights. After four-days' fights partisans,
suffering from heavy losses, retreated to upward parts of the
mountains.
In general since May to July the Italians lost over thousand killed and
wounded, missing designed goals.
Beside the popular resistance, assembled in the
National
Liberation Front, existed a rightist stream of resistance, which in
October 1942 united in the National Leadership (Balli Kombëtar)
with Mit'hat Frashëri appointed to its leader. It represented
nationalist middle class, circles of clerical intellectuals, and former
state and military officers. The National Leadership's programme
announced creation of the republican democratic state, called to
creation of armed partisan groups and local councils. The programme
also
contained nationalist and anti-Communist slogans. This organization,
officially proclaiming the programme of struggle against the invaders,
within half a year signed a secret agreement with the commander of the
Italian occupation forces, Gen. Renzo Dalmazzo, concerning not
undertaking hostilities between detachments of Balli Kombëtar
(called ballists) and Italian troops. The National Liberation Front had
undertaken an attempt to agree with ballists about unification of
forces
for liberation struggle. On 1 - 2 August 1943 in Mukja on the National
Liberation Front's own initiative took place a meeting with leaders of Balli
Kombëtar. There was signed an agreement, by terms of which the
common formation called the Committee for the Salvation of Albania had
been brought into being. However due to the ballists' violation of the
terms of the agreement and an openly hostile attitude the National
Liberation Front had broken the agreement.
Occupation authorities tried to suppress at any price
the development of the partisan movement. They used to change the
puppet
governments, which disappointed the hopes set on them. Thus the
prime-minister Vërlaci was originally replaced by a fascist Mustafa
Merlika, in January 1943 - by Eqrem bej Libohova, and soon after - by
Maliq bej Bushati. The Italian governor also had been changed -
Jacomoni
di San Savino had been replaced by Gen. Alberto Pariani. Simultaneously
Italian authorities made some concessions. Among others they agreed to
restore the national flag, and wider autonomy of offices. However the
Albanian society did not compromise. After Italy's capitulation
proclaimed on 8 September 1943, Albania became occupied by German
troops. German paratroopers disarmed Italian divisions quartered in
Albania, seized ports, garrisons, and communication routes. The XXI
Highland Corps had been sent to the mountainous regions. The Germans
had
proclaimed creation of so-called Independent Albania. They appointed
originally so-called Regency Council, acting as a collaborationist
government, with Ibrahim bej Biçoku, and in November a "government",
with Rexhep bej Mitrovica. Actually they remained the executive organs
of German authorities.
By that time Albanian independence movement had become
a
serious power. The popular resistance movement constituted its core.
Yet
during the Italian occupation, on 10 July 1943 the National Liberation
Front brought into being the National Liberation Army (Ushtria
Nacionalçlirimtare - UNC). In van of its General Staff were: a
former officer of the royal army Spiro Moisiu - as the commander, and
the general secretary of ACP Hoxha - as the political commissar. In
August 1943 had been formed the 1st Assault Brigade of UNC (commander -
a former officer of international brigades in Spain and active member
of
APC Mehmet Shehu, political commissar - a Yugoslav Dušan Mugoša). About
20 thousand partisans had already filled the ranks of UNC and
controlled
wide regions of the country. After Italy's capitulation a considerable
number of Italian soldiers with their weapon and equipment had joined
units of the National Liberation Army. They acted dispersed in several
units as well as formed their own independent partisan battalion Antonio
Gramsci. Immediately after the German occupation of Albania it came
to the first bigger battle of UNC's detachments with German troops near
Drashovica. After three-days' fights the Germans retreated, losing over
300 killed and twice as much wounded as well as a big quantity of the
weapon, equipment and ammunition. A month after, while the German
control was limited to a part of the country, hitlerites sent a
considerable own and Albanian puppet government's forces against
partisans. During November and December they carried out the first
stage
of conceived on a wide scale offensive operations. On 6 November the
Germans started the advance in Peza area, where the 3rd Brigade of UNC
was deployed. After three-days' stout fights the brigade broke
through the enemy's encirclement ring. On 19 December the Germans
undertook the advance against partisans in central and southern
Albania.
The heavy fights had been carried out there by 1st and 4th Brigades in
Zagoria and Permeti areas. The Germans also tried - without a success -
to crush partisans in the areas east to the town of Vlora as well.
Those
activities put a part of the country into Germans' hands, but still the
substantial regions were controlled by partisans.
The Supreme Command of Wehrmacht demanded from
the commander of the occupation forces in Balkans, Field Marshal
Maximilian von Weichs, the liquidation of the partisan movement at any
price. On 7 January 1944 the Germans undertook a new advance in
southern
part of the country from Elbasani to the Greek border. Alongside German
troops the detachments of gendarmerie and ballists took part in it.
During the fights in Germenji, in February 1944 some partisan
detachments with UNC's General Staff were encircled. In the end of
February three battalions of the 1st Assault Brigade hastened to
relieve
the encircled partisans. Partisans, fighting the heavy fights with
prevailing enemy's forces, were retreating to the mountains: some
detachments - in the Greek territory. Simultaneously in the whole
Albania the Germans had employed the reprisals against civil
population.
Among others on 4 February they had committed bloody massacres
throughout the country and especially in Tirana. After that event the
pro-government newspaper Bashkimi i Kombit wrote: the
bloodletting is a radical remedy. The blood ought to run in the streets
of Tirana if we want to restore the order.
The balance of the massacre in Tirana - tens of killed, hundreds of
wounded and arrested. The executioners reported the crush of the
resistance movement.
In the beginning of March partisan forces in southern
part of Albania had undertaken an offensive against German troops and
collaborationist detachments. The situation was favourable - at that
time the German command transferred considerable number of troops from
Albania to the Germano-Soviet front. In effect of the partisan spring
offensive almost the whole southern and substantial central part of
Albania (but communication routes) found themselves under partisans'
control. However the internal situation of Albania was still very
complicated. Some Albanian organizations openly collaborated with
invaders and constituted a part of a main striking force, Albanian
10,000-men strong 21st Division of Waffen-SS, which fought
partisan movement in northern Albania and Kosovo (Serbia). To attract
Albanian volunteers into the ranks of the collaborationist division
they
hypocritically named it Skanderbeg - after Gjergj Kastrioti
Skënderbeu (1405-1468), an Albanian national hero, fighter for the
freedom of the country, uprising leader, and founder of the Albanian
statehood. A part of those organizations grouped in central and
northern
Albania and created in November 1943 an organization called Legality
(Legaliteti), intending to restore the monarchist system and
proclaiming the necessity of struggle against the communist danger.
This
organization, led by Major Kupi and constituted by representatives of
tribal chieftains (bajraktars), harboured a mission of English advisers
of 20 officers.
On 24 - 28 May 1944 in Permeti was convened the 1st
Anti-Fascist Congress of National Liberation. The Anti-Fascist Council
of National Liberation, headed by Dr. Omer Nishani, had been brought
into being. The council had appointed its executive organ - the
Anti-Fascist Committee of National Liberation with Gen. Hoxha as the
chairman, who simultaneously became the supreme commander of the
Albanian National Liberation Army. According to a recommendation of the
Congress the General Headquarters of UNC sent its envoys to
headquarters
of the National Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (NOVJ) and the Greek
Popular Liberation Army (ELAS). The creation of new UNC's units
started.
The Albanian National Liberation Army in September 1944 was composed of
2 divisions and 7 brigades. It controlled 75% of the territory of the
country. Its General Headquarters harboured military missions of the
Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States of America and the
General Headquarters of NOVJ. A representative of the General
Headquarters of UNC was sent to the British General Headquarters Middle
East located in Bari (Italy). The conference in Permeti had not
finished
yet when the commander of the occupation forces in Albania undertook a
new anti-partisan operation in southern and central Albania. It started
on 28 May and enveloped zones of Korca, Elbasani, Berati and Permeti.
Beside the troops deployed there permanently some troops reinforced
from
Greece and Yugoslavia as well as local quisling formations, 47 thousand
soldiers altogether, took part in the action. Partisans opposed with 35
thousand men. A stout battle was fought on 9 June in regions of Vlora
and Gjirokastra. By 25 June the Germans occupied for a while a
substantial part of territories controlled so far by partisans. It was
the invaders' last success. On 14 June 1944 the UNC's command issued to
all subordinated detachments an order to launch an offensive with all
strengths against German positions. The first units to undertake the
liberation operations on 24 July were those of the 1st Assault
Division,
which overcame Shkumbin river in Elbasani and started the liberation of
central Albania. On 1 August the 1st Division and the newly formed 2nd
Division created the 1st Corps of UNC. In autumn began the retreat of
German forces from Albania accelerated by UNC's activities. On 28
October popular forces had tightly blocked a 100,000-strong German
garrison in Tirana. On 17 November the capital of the country was free,
twelve days after - Shkodra. The enemy was retreating to the north - to
the Yugoslav territory. By 29 November UNC had liberated the whole
Albanian territory. This day has become a national holiday of the
Albanians.
During the final period of fights the Albanian National
Liberation Army was composed of 8 divisions (26 brigades) organized in
3
corps of 70 thousand men altogether. It contained in fights 15 German
and Italian divisions, eliminating them from active operations
elsewhere. After the liberation of the country two divisions of UNC
supported the fights in Bosnia and Montenegro on Yugoslav request. In
summer and autumn 1944 the British command in East Mediterranean with
Air Vice-Marshal William Elliot demanded permission for landing of
their
forces in Albania. However the General Staff of UNC rejected the
demand.
Twice British and American commandos undertook landing operations: on 8
October against German garrison in Saranda and on 28 November in
Himara.
The first attempt succeeded, because partisans liberated the town a day
before. In the second attempt the commandos were defeated in effect of
Germans' counter-attack. Only thanks to the UNC brigade's interference,
which attacked the garrison from the mainland and liberated Himara, the
commandos avoided annihilation.
During the final fights the 2nd Congress of the Anti-Fascist Council of
National Liberation of Albania was convened in Berati on 20 - 23
October, and the Anti-Fascist Committee of National Liberation of
Albania was transformed into the Provisional Democratic Government.
Col.-Gen. Hoxha (soon appointed to Marshal) became the prime minister
and the national defence minister. To the making of the government
went:
Col. Peza, one of the first partisan commanders, as the deputy prime
minister, as well as other leaders of partisan movement. On 29 November
they triumphantly marched in Tirana together with their troops and
later
attended a solemn thanksgiving religious service devoted to the final
country's liberation of invaders. The leaders of the Legality
and Balli
Kombëtar fled the country or committed suicide. The governments of
Great Britain and the United States did not recognize the Provisional
Democratic Government, because due to their interests in Balkans they
did not intend to accept the creation of an independent and communist
state there. The Albanian nation, smallish in numbers (about 1,200
thousand inhabitants) had suffered relatively big losses - about 28
thousand killed, over 12 thousand wounded. |
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