Expulsion of Yugoslavs from Albania
Part of the Cold War and the Albanian–Yugoslav conflict
TypeMilitary Expulsion
Location
Albania
Commanded byAlbania Enver Hoxha
Albania Kadri Hazbiu
TargetSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavs
Date1948–1954
Executed by Albanian People's Army
Sigurimi
Casualties Bosniak family was executed[1]
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Purge of Yugoslav factions
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 3,500 Yugoslavs were expelled[2] killed

The expulsion of Yugoslavs from Albania was an anti-Yugoslav campaign carried out by Albanian leader Enver Hoxha against the leadership of Yugoslav leaders Josip Broz Tito and Aleksander Rankovićs. This happened during the Cold War period as during the geopolitical tensions between the Communist Albania and Yugoslavia.[3]

Background

In 1948, relations between Communist Albania and Yugoslavia deteriorated dramatically. The two countries, which had previously maintained close political and economic ties, came into conflict due to ideological differences between the Albanian leadership under Enver Hoxha and the Yugoslav government led by Josip Broz Tito. This led to tensions between the two nations and had a profound impact on the Yugoslav minority in Albania.[4]

Course of Events

Throughout 1948, many Yugoslavs in Albania were expelled on charges of espionage and loyalty to Tito. This occurred in response to the ideological rift between Albania and Yugoslavia, as well as Albania's foreign policy alignment with the Soviet Union.[5]

The expulsions often took place under difficult conditions, and those affected frequently lost their property and livelihoods in Albania. As a result, a total of 3,500 Yugoslav civilians, politicians, military personnel and advisors were expelled from all over Albania by the Albanian People's Army and the Sigurimi led by Enver Hoxha and Kadri Hazbiu.[6]

Also, during the expulsion, a Bosniak family got executed by Kadri Hazbiu and his Albanian Security Services agents for being Yugoslav agents of the UDBA.[7]

Aftermath

After the expulsion, Enver Hoxha began closing the borders between Yugoslavia and Albania.[8] He then initiated a campaign to hunt down and eliminate Yugoslav factions that remained in Albania. This purge continued beyond 1948, with Hoxha also targeting pro-Yugoslav sympathizers, which lasted until 1954.[9] As an example, he ordered the execution of the Albanian agent, Koçi Xoxe, who was affiliated with Tito.

References

  1. ↑ "After the debate with Enver in his office, in a fit of rage, my brother put his hand on the pistol he had in his belt...&". Memorie.al. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  2. ↑ Shala, Agron (2018-12-24). "Viti 1948: Lindja e "dashurisë" Shqipëri-BRSS dhe "vëllezërit" jugosllavë - Telegrafi". Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  3. ↑ Zalar, Charles; Judiciary, United States Congress Senate Committee on the (1961). Yugoslav Communism: A Critical Study. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  4. ↑ Kramer, Mark; Makko, Aryo; Ruggenthaler, Peter (2021). The Soviet Union and Cold War neutrality and nonalignment in Europe. The Harvard Cold War studies book series. Lanham (Md.): Lexington Books. ISBN 978-1-7936-3192-3.
  5. ↑ Kramer, Makko & Ruggenthaler 2021, p. 346.
  6. ↑ Shala, Agron (2018-12-24). "Viti 1948: Lindja e "dashurisë" Shqipëri-BRSS dhe "vëllezërit" jugosllavë - Telegrafi". Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  7. ↑ "After the debate with Enver in his office, in a fit of rage, my brother put his hand on the pistol he had in his belt...&". Memorie.al. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  8. ↑ Apor, B.; Behrends, J.; Jones, P.; Rees, E. (2004-10-09). The Leader Cult in Communist Dictatorships: Stalin and the Eastern Bloc. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-51821-6.
  9. ↑ Gellately, Robert (2013-03-07). Stalin's Curse: Battling for Communism in War and Cold War. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-164488-7. The purge continued into 1950-51, and anyone remotely suspected of pro-Yugoslav sympathies--a considerable number, it turned out was ousted.
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