CIA documents for resistance in Albania in 1949, 1950 and 1951

IN 1949

On November 29, 1949, the Albanian government is said to have released under an amnesty Pandi Christo, who was convicted of Titoism along with Koci Xoxen. It is reported that in October 1949, the Albanian government trumpeted the discovery of a wide antigovernmental plot of about 400 people, including a colonel from Shkodra. They will be judged soon.

In late November 1949, a plot of about 20 persons has reportedly been uncovered in Vlora. Three of the persons are reported to have collaborated with anti-communist guerrillas with the intention of releasing some nationalist prisoners. So far, 10 of them have been sentenced to death, while others have been imprisoned.

The leader of the plot is said to have been some kind of Malchi, by Dukat. Also reported is frequent and fierce clashes between Albanian and Yugoslav forces in the border area, especially near Tropoja and Prizren.

Some anti - Communists, including Mark Shllaku, were executed in Shkodra in November. Informators also say that the two resistance leaders, issued by parachute in the Mirday area, have created a major active resistance movement.

On October 8, 1949, fierce fighting was reported among government troops and nationalist resistance. Sources talked about numerous resistance forces, as their leaders had gathered for a conference called by Ndué Peter Gnmarkaj. The fighting lasted two days and ended with the defeat of government forces. To strengthen control over areas in northern Albania, the Hodge government made some changes to local governments. Mirday's subfecture was transferred from Shupal to Lumth Plain. The Bajrakles (communs) of Bulla and Ceita were placed under Matti's subfecture jurisdiction. Fandi's Bayrac was placed in the Quka jurisdiction. Now Debar's subfect has only three dung. Oros, Cune and Debar.

Sources report that about 50 members of the National Ball, believed to have entered Albania in mid-October, were betrayed to government forces by faithful regime residents. About 30 were killed, and the other 20 were captured.

A Yugoslavia-trained, well-armed Albanian refugee brigade known as “Coci Xoxe” reportedly has been stationed at the Albanian border near Shkodra Lake, awaiting orders to act against Hodza government

THE year 1950

During the night of April 2-3th, an important police position was attacked north of Librazd by a group of 22 nationalist partisans, led by some Bloshim. They took over the police station and killed the commander. Among the documents found in the building was an order to ban any resistance activity in the region and report without delay any suspects among the population or between members of the police themselves, which could influence or sabotage elections.

During the night of 30-31 March, a group of interior ministry agents was attacked by about 15 members of Albanian resistance as they were travelling from Tirana to Elbasan. In the incident about 30km from Tirana, police suffered 12 deaths or injuries, between them and some Poda, commander of the ministry's battalion. During his death he reportedly said: “You can kill me but I assure you I'm on your side, so I'm dying without any thought of revenge”

Among the documents seized after the attack was a warrant for control of the positions or force of resistance groups in this area. Currently, about 85 percent of the urban population and about 95 percent of the rural population are anti - Communists. But the civic population is largely apathy, and it has no initiative, unlike rural areas, mainly northern ones of the country, which have the provision to help with resistance activity (by March-April 1950).

THE year 1951

Although the Albanian people live in miserable conditions and poverty, the country's overall resistance against communist leaders is not taking the proportions of an organised revolt. In the Corca area, resistance is more active in the Muslim part of the city, while resistance is active among the Catholic population in northern Albania. Gun clashes and other incidents of break-up order are frequent throughout the country. Special driving trials head to certain locations after an uprising and make quick arbitrary decisions for the capture.

Another informant reports that there are no signs of a wide organized revolt, and that something like that is still considered impossible. Some of the most educated Albanians are radical right-wing, but most people don't think about political programmes, except to be anti-communist. The same informant says communists in Albania have disappeared from domestic food and other goods. Villagers live only with what they can hide from state officials collecting harvest production. Villagers keep food in their homes for only two or three days, and are refueled by reserves hidden in the mountain. Village shops are empty, sometimes they rarely have salt or oil. In the Korca area, whenever a shipment of food or other goods comes along, authorities divide it in two parts, one for collective farms and the other for themselves and party members, leaving nothing for the population. Good crops are expected this year. /sot/