Albanian-Soviet relations (Soviet post-war dimplomacy)

[Omsk]

Soviet - Albanian relations 1943-1947



This is a little text i wrote in hope that it will help users understand the relations between Provisional Democratic Government of Albania/People's Republic of Albania and the Soviet Union. [I will also mention some other dimplomatic forces in the region]




The USSR had a specific view of the Balkans, they saw Yugoslavia as the main factor of peace and influence,a staging point of further Soviet advances ,they knew a lot about the League of Communists of Yugoslavia,Josip Broz and the Yugoslav leadership which remained an ally of the Soviet Union until 1948 ,this escalated to an open conflict and a near war state during the [I]1950s.[Until the death of J.V. Stalin.] Things got better during the later years,especially during the Brezhnev era of the USSR.Before World War II unlike the communists in Yugoslavia,the communists of Albania were not organized,did not have many leftist intelectuals and thinkers in their ranks and didnt generally have a big impact on the political scene.Albania was usually left behind in the political games of the Yugoslav kingdom [Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1918-1944] ,Italy [Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)],and Greece,the major second grade powers of the region.
The Second World War changed things both on the world scene and in the Balkans,which were under Axis occupation,and faced terror on huge scales,the population was depraved of its rights,it had no freedom,and horrible mass execuations and genocide happened on a scale matched only by the horrors of Auschwits,Dahau,and camp Birkenau.Albania was not a important strategical point for the spreading of Soviet influence on Europe,but during 1942,with the failure of the Nazi offensives and the Soviet victories,the situation took an U turn,with the USSR focusing on the future of Europe after the defeat of Fascism.The USSR used its diplomatic power to ensure a independent Albania,a goal which they accomplished.The Soviet Union viewed Albania and Yugoslavia as two very close countries,and for the best part of 1944 they wanted to bring them closer,in hopes that they will form the basis of an ideological foundation on the Balkans ,which would recieve Soviet help,[various kinds of help,from medical to financial] and in turn present a bloc of Soviet allies.
The relations between the two states [Albania and the USSR] became especially close in the year 1944,when it was clear that the Third Reich had no future,and that a new map of Europe and the world will be drawn.As in most liberated countries,the USSR sent a dimplomatic mission composed of military proffesionals, officers whose task was to gather enough information about the country,industrial and military potential,about the leaders of the country and the intentions and further plans they had developed.The mission was led by major Ivanov.When they returned to Moscow,summer 1945,they had plenty of information for the leading top of the USSR.Aditional information was provided by the Yugoslav groups who had contacts in Albanian teritory and had close ties with the new communist leadership.After the first successful mission,the USSR decided to send another two.The Soviet government in december 1945 finally declared that they accept and support the goverment of Hoxha.The Albanian government soon started to send their own dimplomatic groups,the most noticable one arrived in Moscow on 16 May 1946.Selim Shpuza was one of the more important members of the mission.At this stage,the Albanian-Soviet diplomatic relationship became normal.The Soviet Union trusted the Yugoslav side in this period,and made clear intentions to give Yugoslavia enough support in the case of the Albanian question.J.V. Stalin was interested about the situation in Albania,one of the things that got the most of his attention,was the political situation in the country,the influence of the non-communist elements and the presence of counter-revolutionary elements.[The same interest he showed about the post-war situation in Yugoslavia.] After the official visit to Belgrade by Enver Hoxha, plans for an agreement were made,it was about the independance of Albania,similar to the deal signed in the case of Czechoslovakia.The greatest threat to the new Albanian state was the ever present problem of the weak economy.Albania recieved help from Yugoslavia,but the poor state of the Yugoslav economy after the war,prevented the state which was still in the process of rebuilding,to help the state which required a lot of help to stand on its own legs,as both the party structure,the economy,the military and the industry needed a lot of help to overcome the present problems which the small eastern state faced.However,on one side were the problems with the economy and infrastructure,in which the Soviets provided support and help,on the other hand,in the party struggles,during the period,the Soviets tried to remain neutrual,seeing the party struggles as a thing for the very communists of Albania to resolve.The Soviet Union tried to have a moderate stance on the party conflicts and the Soviet delegate didnt suport Hoxha,nor his direct enemy Koçi Xoxe in their conflict.Of more concrete help, in 1945,the USSR sent 100.000 units of wheat,and provided enough material for political work.The USSR also had plans to revitalize the Albanian military,and sent three full infantry divisions,and instructors, who,with their expirience would help the education of military officers and staff.5000 units of uniform material and cloth were also provided.In the previous lines,it has been pointed out that the Soviets also helped Albania in the battle against illiteracy,and the number of schools, teachers, and students doubled between 1945 and 1950. Illiteracy declined from perhaps 85 % in 1946 to 31 % in 1950.The Soviets helped in many aspects,and especially in the millitary of Albania,equiping it with standard line weapons and uniforms,which were needed.The Albanian government also planned to send student to the USSR,the students would study various sciences.In autumn 1946 the first group of Soviet lecturers arrived in Albania.The Soviet Union also tried to help the international dimplomatic efforts made by Albania,and to help it recieve international recognition.As the years pased,the Soviet influence and help in Albania grew,and became clear.

The position of the Soviet Union regarding the countries in the[I] Balkans,the countries of Eastern Europe was predominantely the role of the guardian,and the Soviets followed that role,helping the countries endure and overcome the many problems they faced in the post-war period.The Soviet dimplomats tried to have a neutrual stance on the conflicts in the very party structures of the countries they were stationed in.The Soviet diplomatic influence and various types of assistance [in the millitary,economy,education] greatly helped the new Albanian state.





Thats it,id like to see some comments,opinions,and aditional information,however,i will report trolling,derailing the thread and one line posts.

[Ismail]

What sources did you use? I uh, don't get the point in writing it.

From 1944 until 1948 Albania was represented in international communist affairs by Yugoslavia, such as in the Cominform. Stalin and the Soviet leadership knew very little about the Communist Party of Albania and got their information until 1947 from the Yugoslavs, yet Stalin often spoke about Albania and asked the Yugoslavs various questions relating to it. Stalin was particularly concerned with the suicide of Nako Spiru, at which point it became clear to him that Yugoslav influence on the country had ulterior motives.

One issue I have:

The USSR used its diplomatic power to ensure a independent Albania,a goal which they accomplished.The USSR had little to do with ensuring Albania's independence. The founding in May 1944 of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Committee represented the beginnings of the people's state power on a nationwide level and thwarted any attempts by the British and Americans to set up a "government in exile" amongst the supporters of King Zog or the Balli Kombëtar. There was no discussion during the war of partitioning Albania or of depriving it of its independence from any of the Allied Powers. The closest that the Soviets got to "ensuring its independence" was in advocating its membership in the United Nations (the US and its allies refused; Albania didn't become a member until 1955) and in opposing attempts by the reactionary Greek regime to annex southern Albania in the late 40's and early 50's.

As a note the naming goes like so:
May 28, 1944 = Anti-Fascist National Liberation Committee of Albania
October 23, 1944 = Democratic Government of Albania
January 11, 1946 = People's Republic of Albania

[Omsk]

What sources did you use? I uh, don't get the point in writing it.

I used numereous non-english sources,but mostly from my own notes.
There is no particular point,just a small,basic introduction to the Soviet presence and diplomatic moves in post-war Europe.This is actually my first attempt at something such as this,i will try to get some documents and notes from the period im writing about,and than i will possibly add a few lines to the original text.Another reason for the opening of this thread was to get some historical level discussion that would not banalize itself into the usual "Stalin-this that" thread.




From 1944 until 1948 Albania was represented in international communist affairs by Yugoslavia, such as in the Cominform

There are more cases of such coordination,for instance,the fact that the Comintern in 1939 gave a mandate for organisation of the communist groups to the Yugoslav communists,as they,at the time,were much more expirienced and had better both organisation and international ties.




Stalin and the Soviet leadership knew very little about the Communist Party of Albania and got their information until 1947 from the Yugoslavs

The Soviet government actually got a lot of infomration about Albania in the summer of 1945,with the return of the informative mission.The next mission,led by colonel Sokolov,provided even more information.Stalins information before any official contact was made,mostly came from Tito himself.[And other Yugoslav high ranking communist politicians from that period]



The USSR had little to do with ensuring Albania's independence
But it had a lot to do with the protection of its independence,as Albania could hardly withstand the international pressure and attacks made by foreign services.
The British and Americas official stance was that they were opposed to Albania because the government of Albania,was completely communist.The government of Bulgaria,and Romania,both (asked by Yugoslavia/USSR) wanted to recongnise the Albanian government,but,Hoxha welcomed and thanked the proposial,but asked them to wait until Albanian/Western relationships beacome clearer.Only did the initiative succede in 1946.The Albanian government was also recognized by the Republican Spain,whose government was in exile.The Yugoslav government also acted in the diplomatic mission in Poland,and the Polish recognized Hoxhas government on the 19th October,while Czechoslovakia recognized Hoxhas government on the 16th November 1945.Yugoslavia was the link between the USSR and Albania in that period.



amongst the supporters of King Zog or the Balli Kombëtar
King Zog had almost no authority in Albania by the time Hoxha got in power.That was also of great interest to Stalin.[ie were there any anti-communist elements]



May 28, 1944 = Anti-Fascist National Liberation Committee of Albania
October 23, 1944 = Democratic Government of Albania
January 11, 1946 = People's Republic of Albania



Yes i know that,but i focused on the diplomatic relations after the victory against the fascists.The Anti-Fascist National Liberation Committee of Albania was for the better part of it a partisan fighting force with heavy political elements.

[Ismail]

I used numereous non-english sources,but mostly from my own notes.You have a unique benefit, then, since my sources, although varied, are English. Can I see a list of these sources you're using?


There are more cases of such coordination,for instance,the fact that the Comintern in 1939 gave a mandate for organisation of the communist groups to the Yugoslav communists,as they,at the time,were much more expirienced and had better both organisation and international ties.Yes.


The Soviet government actually got a lot of infomration about Albania in the summer of 1945,with the return of the informative mission.The next mission,led by colonel Sokolov,provided even more information.Stalins information before any official contact was made,mostly came from Tito himself.[And other Yugoslav high ranking communist politicians from that period]I'm aware. My point was about the leadership struggles between the pro-Hoxha and pro-Xoxe factions, Stalin originally relied mostly on the Yugoslavs like Tito, Ranković, Djilas, etc.


But it had a lot to do with the protection of its independence,as Albania could hardly withstand the international pressure and attacks made by foreign services.In the late 40's and early 50's the US and Britain organized attempts at overthrowing the government, and the Soviets helped out a bit in preparing the government for these things, but otherwise I don't see how the USSR did anything exceptionally notable concerning Albania's independence.


King Zog had almost no authority in Albania by the time Hoxha got in power.That was also of great interest to Stalin.[ie were there any anti-communist elements]The Legaliteti movement (which was monarchist and pro-Zog) had some influence in the north amongst King Zog's tribesmen, and was favored by the British in the closing months of the war, but had compromised itself both by being reluctant to actually fight the German occupation and by at times collaborating with it against the National Liberation Front.

But you are correct in the main, King Zog's regime had been pretty much discredited after he fled his country rather than stand and organize resistance. The British did, however, have voices advocating the setting up of a government in exile against the communists.

[Omsk]

I'm aware. My point was about the leadership struggles between the pro-Hoxha and pro-Xoxe factions, Stalin originally relied mostly on the Yugoslavs like Tito, Ranković, Djilas, etc.



Yes,Djilas,i think (i might be wrong) had several talks with Stalin on the question of Albania,Djilas was also known as an admirer of Stalin.Although,of course,he later changed his views.


In the late 40's and early 50's the US and Britain organized attempts at overthrowing the government, and the Soviets helped out a bit in preparing the government for these things, but otherwise I don't see how the USSR did anything exceptionally notable concerning Albania's independence.


Well,the same situation forced the Soviets to act in the GDR,where anti-communist elements with a nazi background with the help of the allies attacked and destroyed bridges,destroyed communication lines and were engaged in similar activities.
The USSR also sent specialists to help organize some kind of a special service for Albania.


The Legaliteti movement (which was monarchist and pro-Zog) had some influence in the north amongst King Zog's tribesmen, and was favored by the British in the closing months of the war, but had compromised itself both by being reluctant to actually fight the German occupation and by at times collaborating with it against the National Liberation Front.


Yes,i know of the royalist faction,most of the royalist factions in the occupied countries (Balkans and Europe) were funded/helped by the British,who hoped they would lead the struggle against fascism,instead of the communists,but as in Yugoslavia,the royalists failed in Albania.It is interesting to note that both of the royalist movements failed miserably,and that the British gave up on them both.


But you are correct in the main, King Zog's regime had been pretty much discredited after he fled his country rather than stand and organize resistance. The British did, however, have voices advocating the setting up of a government in exile against the communists

The same goes for the Yugoslav royality,which was unpopular among the people,for abandoning the country.However,the most fanatical of the royalists kept on fighting,while most ran to either the US or Europe.