German occupation of Albania

1943–1944 occupation during World War II

Albanian Kingdom

Mbretëria Shqiptare (Albanian) Albanisches Königreich (German)

1943–1944

Flag

Coat of arms

Motto: "Shqipëria Shqiptarëve, Vdekje Tradhëtarëve"
"Albania for the Albanians, Death to the Traitors"[1]
Anthem: Himni i Flamurit
Hymn of the Flag

The Albanian Kingdom 1943–1944

Status| Client state of Nazi Germany
Capital| Tirana
41°31′N 19°48′E﻿ / ﻿41.517°N 19.800°E﻿ / 41.517; 19.800
Common languages| Albanian
Demonym(s)| Albanian
Government| Regent constitutional monarchy under military occupation
Head of State|

• 1943

| Ibrahim Biçakçiu[note 1]

• 1943-1944

| Mehdi Frashëri[note 2]
Prime Minister|

• 1943-1944

| Rexhep Mitrovica

• 1944

| Fiqri Dine

• 1944

| Ibrahim Biçakçiu
Legislature| Regency Council
Historical era| World War II

• German takeover

| 8 September 1943

• Communist Takeover & Liberation

| 29 November 1944
Area
1939| 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi)
1940-1943| 52,667 km2 (20,335 sq mi)
Population

• 1939

| 1,063,893

• 1940-1943

| 1,701,463
Currency| Franga (1943-1944)

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Italian protectorate of Albania

|

| Democratic Government of Albania |

|

Democratic Federal Yugoslavia |
Today part of|

* Republic of Albania Republic of Kosovo Republic of North Macedonia Montenegro

1. ^ As Chairman of the Provisional Executive Committee
2. ^ As Chairman of the Provisional Administration Committee

Part of a series on the

History of Albania

Early History

* Origin of the Albanians
* Illyria
* Illyrians
* Macedonia
* Illyricum

Medieval

* Byzantine rule
* Bulgarian rule
* Principality of Arbanon
* Angevin Kingdom of Albania
* Principality of Albania
* Serbian rule
* Principalities
* League of Lezhë
* Venetian Albania

Early modern

* Principality of Mirdita
* Ottoman Albania
* Islamization of Albania
* Sanjak of Albania
* Sanjak of Scutari
* Sanjak of Dibra
* Scutari Vilayet
* Janina Vilayet
* Manastir Vilayet
* Kosovo Vilayet
* Pashaliks
* Massacre of the beys
* National Awakening
* Revolts of 1833-1839
* Revolt of 1843-1844
* Revolt of 1845
* Revolt of 1847
* League of Prizren
* League of Peja
* Revolt of 1910
* Malissori uprising
* Battle of Deçiq
* Revolt of 1912
* Albanian Vilayet
* Declaration of Independence

Late modern

* Independent Albania
* Provisional Government
* Congress of Trieste
* International Commission of Control
* Balkan Wars
* Principality
* Peasant Revolt
* World War I in Albania
* Republic of Central Albania
* Republic of Korçë
* Republic of Mirdita
* Italian protectorate (southern)
* Congress of Durrës
* Vlora War
* Congress of Lushnjë
* Italian protectorate
* June Revolution
* Principality (Regency)
* Albanian Republic
* Albanian Kingdom
* Albania under Italy
* German occupation of Albania
* World War II in Albania
* Second League of Prizren
* Liberation Day
* Socialist Albania

Contemporary

* Post-communism
* 1997 Albanian civil unrest
* Republic of Albania

Topics

* Art
* Constitution
* Economy
* Monarchs
* Military
* Names

Timeline

* v
* t
* e

Albania was occupied by Nazi Germany between 1943 and 1944 during World War II. Before the armistice between Italy and the Allied armed forces on 8 September 1943, Albania had been in a de jure personal union with and was de facto under the control of the Kingdom of Italy. After the armistice and the Italian exit from the Axis, German military forces entered Albania and it came under German occupation, creating the client-state, the Albanian Kingdom (Albanian: Mbretëria Shqiptare; German: Königreich Albanien).[2][3]

The Germans favoured the nationalist Balli Kombëtar over King Zog's Legalists and the occupation was marked by collaboration between them and the Germans.[4][5] Albania under German occupation retained control of the areas it had received during Italian rule, including most of Kosovo, as well as Western Macedonia, the town of Tutin in Serbia and a strip of Eastern Montenegro. It was the policy of the Balli Kombëtar to have all Albanian populated territories under one state.[6]

## History

[edit]

### German invasion and construction of a German Albania

[edit]

See also: German invasion of Albania

> The occupation of Albania was necessary. We come to Albania not as enemy but as friends, and there is no reason you should be afraid. We shall leave Albania as soon as we consider necessary. We shall leave you free in all your internal affairs and shall not interfere with them. We ask for your obedience and those who do not obey will be punished.[7]

> — Maximilian von Weichs address to Albanians on 10 September 1943

### An independent state of Albania

[edit]

Ibrahim Biçakçiu was the Chairman of the Provisional Executive Committee from September 14 to October 24, 1943, and Prime Minister of Albania from September 6 to October 26, 1944, during the Nazi occupation.[8]

German promises to preserve the 1941 borders of Albania, assurances of "non-interference" with the new Albanian administration and a general Pro-German outlook of most Albanians (dating from the years before and during the First World War where Austro-Hungarian foreign policies were supportive of an independent Albanian state),[9] ensured that the new government initially enjoyed a large amount of support from the people.[10]

In line with Neubacher's policies towards Albania, reprisals on the civilian population for attacks on the German army were uncommon and certainly not as brutal as in other occupied territories.[11]

Soon after Ante Pavelic's Ustashi regime in Croatia extended their recognition to the Albanians.[12]

### Partisan resistance and Civil War

[edit]

See also: Albanian Resistance of World War II

Enver Hoxha, leader of the Albanian partisans, at Odriçan, Gjirokastra, in 1944.

The first offensive, operation "505", started in early November 1943 to clear Partisan units from the Pezë region.[13] The Balli Kombëtar was also involved in fighting the Partisans during the Winter offensive and by late winter the NLM came perilously close to being destroyed by the German and Nationalist forces.[14] By then all prefectures of the new state, except Gjirokstra in the south, remained in the hands of the Albanian government. Enver Hoxha himself acknowledged that "the situation is difficult".[14]

### End of World War II and the beginning of Communism

[edit]

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (June 2024)

|

## Collaboration

[edit]

### Government

[edit]

See also: List of heads of state of Albania

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (June 2024)

|

Members of Regency Council – From left to right: Fuat Dibra, Mihal Zallari, Mehdi Frashëri, Father Anton Harapi, Rexhep Mitrovica and Vehbi Frashëri

### Military

[edit]

German soldiers next to an Italian tank in Tepelena, Albania in September 1943

See also: Military history of Albania during World War II

In line with the German policy of "non-interference" and a desire to save their own troops for deployment elsewhere[15] an Albanian Army commanded by General Prenk Pervizi was formed soon after the new government was set up.[16][17] The Germans added to the strength of several units of the regular Albanian army and also increased the effectiveness of the gendarmerie.[15] Many units which had collaborated with the Italians were preserved and subsequently utilised by the Germans in anti-partisan operations, with the staunchly anti-communist Balli Kombetar (National Front) also being used.[15] By early November the newly established forces were engaged in fighting Macedonian and Albanian Partisan units in the town of Kicevo. After 7 days of fierce fighting, the Partisans were defeated and forced to retreat from the city.[18] A volunteer militia known as the Vulnetari were also used as frontier guards of the re-organised Albanian state. Fighting in their own local areas (in Kosovo and Macedonia), they fought against both Partisans and Chetniks, "against whom they showed themselves skilled and determined fighters".[19] This unit often carried out cross-border raids in Nedić's Serbia against civilian and military targets.[20] The 21st Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Skanderbeg, established in April 1944,[21] was better known for murdering, raping, and looting in predominantly Serbian areas than for participating in combat operations on behalf of the German war effort.[22]

### Police

[edit]

See also: Second League of Prizren

German column in Tirana

Xhafer Deva was the Minister of the Interior and therefore the head of the police and gendarmerie in the country.[16] A native Kosovar Albanian and deemed the most "effective and reliable" by the Germans, Deva's forces were involved in targeting the internal enemies of the state.[19] On 4 February 1944, police units under his authority were implicated in the massacre of 86 residents of Tirana suspected of being anti-fascists[23] and other excesses committed by the Gestapo in collaboration with the Albanian gendarmerie.[24] Large number of Serbs were killed across Kosovo or deported to camps in Albania starting from 1942.[25] Roma (Gypsies) were also targeted by the gendarmerie and police force.

## Demographics

[edit]

Using Italian estimates from July 1941, the population of the Albanian Kingdom was estimated at 1,850,000. The total population of "old Albania" (encompassing pre 1941 borders) stood at 1,100,000, while "new Albania" (consisting of Kosovo, Debar and parts of Montenegro) was 750,000.[26] The Kingdom consisted of approximately 1,190,000 (64.3%) Muslims (Sunni and Bektashi) and 660,000 (35.6%) Christians (Catholic and Orthodox).[26] The new state had two main minority groups, the Serbs of Kosovo and recent Italian Colonists scattered across Albania.[9]

## Economy

[edit]

Albanian 20-franc note

### Influences of Nazi Germany

[edit]

In the Albanian Kingdom, which Nazi Germany formally treated as a sovereign state, much of the industrial and economic activity was either monopolised, or given a high priority for exploitation, by Germany. Almost all of the export companies operating were managed by the Germans, and mostly by the German military.[9] The chrome ore, magnesite and lignite mines and the oilfields present across Albania were under direct German control.[9]

The most important ore reserves for the Wehrmacht in Albania were chrome ore. Chrome was found both in Old Albania and in Kosovo. In the former, there were chrome ore deposits in Kukës, Klos and Pogradec. When the Germans entered the Kosovo region, there were functioning chrome mines in Gjakova and Letaj. From October 1943 to the end of August 1944 a total of 42,902 tons of chrome were extracted from these mines, of which 28,832 tons were exported to Germany. Magnesite mines in Golesh were also of significance. From mid September 1943 to the end of August 1944 an amount equalling 2,647 tons of processed and unprocessed Magnesite were exported to Germany.[9] Aside from Romania, Albania was the only country in southeastern Europe that had substantial oil reserves.[9] In Devoll roughly one million tons of crude oil were processed after the oilfields were up and running by May 1944.[9]

### Currency

[edit]

The currency that was used during the German occupation was the Albanian Gold Franga.[2]

## See also

[edit]

* 21st Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Skanderbeg (1st Albanian)
* Albanian Resistance of World War II
* National Liberation Movement (Albania)
* The Holocaust in Albania

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Pearson, Owen (2006). Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism 1940-1945. I.B.Tauris. p. 272\. ISBN 978-1-84511-104-5.
2. ^ a b Fischer, Bernd Jürgen (1999). Albania at War, 1939-1945. Purdue University Press. ISBN 978-1-55753-141-4.
3. ^ Owen Pearson (2006). Albania in the Twentieth Century, A History. Vol. III: Albania as Dictatorship and Democracy, 1945–99\. I. B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-105-2.
4. ^ Thomas, Nigel; Abbott, Peter (2010). Partisan Warfare 1941-45. Bloomsbury USA. p. 27\. ISBN 978-0-85045-513-7. "Balli Kombetar, however, preferred German rule to Italian and, believing that only the Germans would allow Kosovo to remain Albanian after the war, began to collaborate."
5. ^ Winnifrith, Tom (2002). Badlands, Borderlands: A History of Northern Epirus/Southern Albania. Duckworth. ISBN 978-0-7156-3201-7. "Balle Kombetar, strongly Albanian nationalist, Muslim and at times pro-German"
6. ^ Robert Elsie. "Balli Kombëtar: The Ten-Point Programme". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
7. ^ Pearson 2006, p. 273.
8. ^ Fischer, Bernd Jürgen (1999). Albania at war, 1939-1945. West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press. ISBN 0-585-06388-5. OCLC 42922446.
9. ^ a b c d e f g Robert Elsie. "1945 Final Report of the German Wehrmacht in Albania". Retrieved 5 January 2018.
10. ^ Vickers 2001, p. 152.
11. ^ Jürgen Fischer 1999, p. 187.
12. ^ Jürgen Fischer 1999, p. 176.
13. ^ Jürgen Fischer 1999, p. 196.
14. ^ a b Jürgen Fischer 1999, p. 198.
15. ^ a b c Tomasevich 2001, p. 153.
16. ^ a b Dorril 2002, p. 357.
17. ^ "Biography of Prenk Pervizi". Retrieved 24 November 2011. "Appointed Minister of Defence on October 1943 following resignation of Aqif Permeti"
18. ^ Bojić, Mehmedalija; Trgo, Fabijan (1982). The National Liberation War and Revolution in Yugoslavia (1941–1945): Selected Documents. Military History Institute of the Yugoslav People's Army.
19. ^ a b Tomasevich 2001, p. 152.
20. ^ Vickers, Miranda (1998). Between Serb and Albanian: a History of Kosovo. Hurst & Co. p. 134\. ISBN 9781850652786. Retrieved 21 August 2012. "the activities of numerous Albanian nationalist movements, and life consequently became increasingly difficult for Kosovo's Serb population whose homesteads were routinely sacked by the Vulnetari."
21. ^ Tomasevich 2001, p. 154.
22. ^ Mojzes, Paul (2011). Balkan Genocides: Holocaust and Ethnic Cleansing in the 20th Century. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 94–95\. ISBN 978-1-4422-0665-6.94-95&rft.pub=Rowman+&+Littlefield&rft.date=2011&rft.isbn=978-1-4422-0665-6&rft.aulast=Mojzes&rft.aufirst=Paul&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=KwW2O7v7CUcC&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:German+occupation+of+Albania" class="Z3988">
23. ^ Pearson 2006, p. 326.
24. ^ Dorril 2002, p. 358.
25. ^ Ramet, Sabrina P (2006). The Three Yugoslavias: State-building and Legitimation, 1918-2005. Indiana University Press. p. 141\. ISBN 0-253-34656-8.
26. ^ a b Rodogno, Davide (2006). Fascism's European Empire: Italian Occupation During the Second World War. Cambridge University Press. p. 426\. ISBN 9780521845151.

## Sources

[edit]

* Dorril, Stephen (2002). MI6: Inside the Covert World of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service. Simon and Schuster.
* Pearson, Owen (2006). Albania in the Twentieth Century, A History: Volume II: Albania in Occupation and War, 1939–45. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9781845111045.
* Tomasevich, Jozo (2001). War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941–1945: Occupation and Collaboration. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-3615-2.
* Vickers, Miranda (2001). The Albanians: A Modern History. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 1860645410.
* Jürgen Fischer, Bernd (1999). Albania at War, 1939–1945. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. ISBN 1850655316.

* v
* t
* e

Collaboration with Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial Japan

| Lists by Axis forces|

| German and
Italian collaborationists|

* Albanian collaborators
* Albanian Fascist Militia
* Balli Kombëtar
* Cham Albanian
* Armistice Army
* Battaglione Azad Hindoustan
* Belarusian Home Defence
* Blue Division
* Chetniks
* Croatian Armed Forces
* Finnish Defence Forces (until 1944)
* Golden Square
* Hiwi
* Kalmykian Cavalry Corps
* Latvian Auxiliary Police
* National Committee of Azerbaijan
* National Republican Army
* National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands
* Romanian Armed Forces
* Royal Hungarian Army
* Royal Iraqi Army
* Russian collaborators
* Russian Liberation Army
* Russian People's Liberation Army
* Security Battalions
* Slovak Expeditionary Army Group
* Slovene Home Guard
* Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists
* Ukrainian Insurgent Army
* Waffen-SS foreign
* Wehrmacht foreign
* Afrika Korps
* Polish Wehrmacht Army
* Ostlegionen

|

Japanese collaborationists|

* Arakan Defense Army
* Armistice Army
* Black Columns
* Burma Independence Army
* Central Asian collaborators
* East Turkestan independence movement
* Chin Defense Army
* Collaborationist Chinese Army
* Defenders of the Homeland
* Gakutotai
* Gando Special Force
* Golden Square
* Heiho
* Indian National Army
* First Indian National Army
* Inner Mongolian Army
* Korean collaborators
* Lanka Sama Samaja Party
* Makapili
* Malayan Volunteer Army
* Manchukuo Imperial Army
* Royal Thai Armed Forces
* Russian collaborators
* Asano Brigade
* Russian Fascist Party
* Taiwanese collaborators
* Taiwanese Imperial Japan Serviceman
* Takasago Volunteers
* Vietnamese collaborators
* Association for the Restoration of Great Vietnam
* Vanguard Youth

Lists by Axis countries|

* Albania
* German Albania
* Italian Albania
* Baltic states
* Estonia
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Burma
* Ceylon
* China
* East Turkestan
* Manchukuo
* Mongolia
* Croatia
* Denmark
* Finland (until 1944)
* France
* Greece
* Hungary
* India
* Indochina
* Cambodia
* Laos
* Vietnam
* Indonesia
* Iraq
* Italy
* Korea
* Luxembourg
* Madagascar
* Malaya
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Philippines
* Poland
* Romania
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Soviet Union
* Byelorussia
* Belarus
* Chechnya
* Ukraine
* Spain (limited)
* Thailand
* Taiwan

* v
* t
* e

Albania articles

History|

| Illyrians|

* Ardiaei
* Albanoi
* Amantes
* Amantini
* Balaites
* Bylliones
* Dassaretii
* Enchele
* Labeatae
* Parthini
* Taulantii

|

Middle Ages
(1190–1385)

* Principality of Arbanon
* Kingdom of Albania
* Despotate of Arta
* House of Kastrioti

Ottoman period
(1385–1912)

* Skanderbeg's rebellion
* League of Lezhë
* Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini
* Arbëni Council
* Islamization of Albania
* Albanian Pashaliks
* Massacre of the Albanian Beys
* Revolts of 1833–1839
* Uprising of Dervish Cara
* Albanian National Awakening
* League of Prizren
* Congress of Manastir
* Revolt of 1910
* Malissori uprising
* Taksim meeting
* Revolt of 1912
* Kimza Government

Independence
(1912–present)

* Declaration of Independence
* Anthem
* Provisional Government of Albania
* Albania during the Balkan Wars
* Republic of Central Albania
* Principality of Albania (1914–25)
* World War I in Albania
* Autonomous Province of Korçë
* Italian protectorate
* Vlora War
* Republic of Mirdita
* Albanian Republic (1925–1928)
* Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939)
* Union with Italian kingdom
* Italian invasion of Albania
* German Nazi occupation
* The Holocaust in Albania
* Albanian resistance during World War II
* Communist Albania (1946–91)
* Orthography Congress (1972)
* Post-Communist Albania
* 1997 Civil Unrest
* NATO membership
* EU Accession

See also|

* Origins
* Timeline
* Archives

Geography|

| Landscape|

* Mountains
* Rivers
* Lakes
* Islands

|

Environment|

* Climate
* Biodiversity
* Habitat
* Protected areas

Politics|

| Executive|

* Government (agencies)
* Head of state (list)
* Prime Minister
* Foreign relations
* Political parties
* Treaties
* Visa policy

|

Judiciary|

| Vetting Institutions|

* KPA
* IKP
* ONM
* KPK

|

* Constitution
* Corruption
* EURALIUS
* SPAK
* Prosecutor General

Subdivisions|

* NUTS
* Counties
* Municipalities
* Cities and towns
* Communes
* Villages
* Maps

Legislature|

* Elections
* Assembly (speakers)
* Members
* Opposition

Human rights|

* Abortion
* Capital punishment
* Assassinations
* LGBT
* Ombudsman

Security|

* Military
* Police
* Organized crime
* Prisons
* Border crossings

Economy|

| Finance|

* Banking
* Lek (currency)
* Taxation
* Trade unions
* State Supreme Audit

|

Retail|

* Shopping centers
* Supermarkets

Industry|

* Agriculture
* Healthcare
* Companies

Energy|

| Operators|

* KESH
* OST
* OSHEE
* ERE

|

* Hydropower plants

Natural resources|

* Oil and gas
* Mining

Infrastructure|

* Highways
* Aviation
* Ports
* Railways
* Bridges
* Tunnels
* Highrises (structures)
* Telecommunications
* Posta Shqiptare
* Squatting

Tourism|

| Monuments|

* Archaeological sites
* Castles
* Mosques
* Tekkes
* Churches
* Lighthouses

|

* Adriatic Sea Coast
* Ionian Sea Coast (riviera)
* Beaches
* Images of Albania

Society|

| People|

* Demographics
* Census
* Tribes
* Noble families
* Diaspora
* Women

|

Culture|

| Art (galleries)|

* Architecture
* Photography
* Museums
* Theatres

|

Education|

* Alphabet
* scripts
* Abetare
* Language
* Literature
* Research institutes
* Libraries
* Universities
* Publishers
* Proverbs
* Albanology

Tradition|

* Folk beliefs
* Besa
* Oda
* Secularism
* Religion
* Nevruz
* Sworn virgins

Costumes|

* Qeleshe
* Fustanella
* Xhubleta
* Brez
* Opinga
* Xhamadan

Cuisine|

* Gjellë
* Tavë kosi
* Kabuni
* Raki
* Beer
* Wine
* Cognac Skënderbeu

Sports|

| Football|

* National team
* Clubs
* Players
* Stadiums

|

Other sports|

* Weightlifting
* Athletics
* Cycling
* Basketball
* Volleyball
* Swimming
* Olympics
* Indoor arenas

Entertainment|

* Music
* Television
* Radio
* Cinema

Symbols|

* Heraldry
* Flag (list)
* Coat of arms (armorial)
* Epitaph of Gllavenica
* Sign language
* Orders, decorations and medals
* Passport
* .al

Other|

* Public holidays
* Smoking
* Copyright law

* Outline
* Index
* Bibliography

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Yugoslav factions in World War II

Allies|

| Kingdom of Yugoslavia|

* Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1941)
* Yugoslav government-in-exile (1941–1945)

Partisans|

* Yugoslav Partisans
* Croatian Partisans
* Macedonian Partisans
* Slovene Partisans

Others|

* Soviet Union (1944–1945)
* Bulgaria (1944-1945)
* National Liberation Movement (limited involvement, 1944–45)

Chetniks|

* Chetniks (nominally Allied, extensively collaborated with the Axis)
* Montenegrin Volunteer Corps (rogue faction of the Chetnik movement, 1945)

Axis|

| Croatia|

* Independent State of Croatia
* Armed Forces
* Ustaše Militia
* Black Legion
* SS Handschar Division
* Army (Home Guard)
* Air Force
* Air Force Legion
* Green cadres
* Hadžiefendić Legion

Serbia|

* Government of National Salvation
* Serbian State Guard
* Serbian Volunteer Corps
* Montenegrin Volunteer Corps
* Pećanac Chetniks
* Russian Corps

Montenegro|

* (Governorate of Montenegro (1941–43))
* Germany (German occupied Montenegro (1943–44))
* Lovćen Brigade (Greens movement, 1942–44)
* Sandžak Muslim militia
* SS Regiment Sandschak
* Montenegrin National Army

Slovenia|

* Slovene Axis supporters
* Slovene Home Guard
* Legion of Death
* Anti-Communist Volunteer Militia

Others|

* Germany
* Italy (1941–43)
* Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943) (1939–1943)
* Albanian Militia
* Skanderbeg
* Hungary (1941–44)
* German occupation of Albania (1943–44)
* Balli Kombëtar
* SS Skanderbeg Division
* Vulnetari
* Kosovo Regiment
* Bulgaria (1941–44)
* Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization

See also: World War II in Yugoslavia and People of the Yugoslav Front
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