Historical Collections

National Liberation Anti-Fascist War

On April 7, 1939, the Italian Army with 22,000 troops landed on the shores of Albania in Saranda, Vlorë, Durrës, and Shëngjin. Disorganized Albanian military units offered little resistance.

Following the establishment of fascist occupation, patriotic resistance formations began to emerge. During the period from 1941 to 1944, three political forces were formed in Albania: the Communist Party, the Legalite Party, and the National Front Party. Among these, the Communist Party with the National Liberation Movement was the most organized in the fight against the Nazi-Fascist occupiers.

On July 10, 1943, in Labinot, the General Staff of the National Liberation Army (NLA) was established, with Spiro Moisiu as commander and Enver Hoxha as political commissar. Subsequently, combat formations with full physiognomy and considerable operational strength were created, including partisan groups, assault brigades, divisions, and corps.

The establishment of the NLA was also assisted by the British mission through the supply of weapons, clothing, logistics, and support for military organization. In the spring of 1944, the NLA had grown and counted 35,000 partisans, organized into 9 assault brigades. At the Congress of Përmet on May 24, 1944, the decision was made to transform the existing structures into a regular army. Thus, the function of the Commander-in-Chief was established, ranks were determined, and large military formations were created. The armament of the NLA consisted of self-made weapons, anti-tank rifles, mortars, and cannons, some of which were trophy weapons.

At the end of the war, the NLA reached 70,000 troops, of which 6,000 were organized partisans in 24 assault brigades, 8 divisions, and 3 corps.
During the occupation by the Nazi-Fascist forces, following the country's invasion on April 7, 1939, and the subsequent annexation of Albania by Italy, the occupiers decided to integrate the Albanian army with the Italian one. In terms of organizational perspective, the main military formation established by the occupiers was the battalion. The strength of the battalions ranged from 500 to 600 troops.

In January 1943, the formation of an Albanian military unit with the dimensions of a brigade became possible. After the capitulation of fascist Italy, Nazi occupiers entered Albania. As part of the re-establishment of the Albanian Army, in September 1943, the General Command of Defense was formed with General Division Preng Pervizi at its head. This command envisaged the formation of four battalions in Tirana, Shkodra, Elbasan, and Korça, which would constitute the "fundamental body of the Albanian army."

The military structures established in Albania during this period were not independent but were controlled by the German High Command. In November 1944, the Albanian Army was finally disbanded as the country moved towards complete liberation by the National Liberation Army.