Albania's leader who made isolation and self-reliance state policy
The 1961 rupture with the USSR showed how far a small socialist state could take an ideological break.
He led Albania's communists and anti-occupation resistance, founding the postwar people's republic. He broke diplomatic relations with the USSR in 1961 and later with China, pursuing an independent Stalinist line.
Career timeline
- 1944–1985First secretary of the Party of Labour and leader of Albania
- 1961Breaks diplomatic relations with the USSR
- 1978Break with China
Albania's postwar interior minister and deputy premier
Born in Negovani (modern Flampouro, Greece). The Special Court he led in March–April 1945 tried about 60 former public figures and sent 17 to the firing squad; some contemporaries called him the most powerful person in Albania at the time.
A participant in the founding meeting of Albania's Communist Party and a Politburo member from its creation, he headed the Directorate of People's Protection from December 1944 and ran the Sigurimi, then in March–April 1945 led the Special Court that purged opponents. Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in 1946–1948, he was removed, arrested as a Titoist and executed in 1949.
Career timeline
- 1937Co-founder and first chairman of the Korçë Communist Group; by the late 1930s counted, alongside Enver Hoxha and Koço Tashko, among Albania's prominent communists.
- 1941–Participant in the founding meeting of the Communist Party of Albania; Politburo and Central Committee member from its creation.
- 1943Elected organizational secretary in absentia in March; became a member of the General Staff on 10 July.
- 1944Promoted to lieutenant-general at the Përmet Congress and appointed vice-president of the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation (KANÇ).
- 1944–1946Director of the Directorate of People's Protection (Drejtoria e Mbrojtjes së Popullit), the OZNA-modeled organ that carried out the brutal suppression of regime opponents.
- 1945Headed the Special Court of March–April 1945, which tried about 60 people and sentenced 17 to be shot and 8 to life imprisonment.
- 1946–1948Minister of the Interior, Deputy Prime Minister, chairman of the State Control Commission, vice-president of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, and deputy for Korçë.
- 1948In October moved from Interior Minister to Minister of Industry; stripped of his posts and expelled by the Central Committee; arrested on 28 November.
- 1949At his May trial he confessed to a Tito-backed assassination plot and was sentenced to death; executed on 11 June.
Albanian communist economic planner who led domestic criticism of Yugoslav economic control
On 18–19 November 1947 Xoxe accused him of 'anti-Party, nationalist activity' at the Politburo; the next day he was found shot in his State Planning Commission office. Accounts range from accident to suicide or killing, so the manner of death is unresolved.
Born Athanas Spiru in Durrës to a wealthy Orthodox family, he studied on Corfu and in Turin, joined the newly founded Communist Party of Albania in 1941 and led its Youth section. A Politburo member from 1944, he became Minister of Economy on 22 March 1946 and in 1947 Minister of Industry and chairman of the State Planning Commission, the only trained economist in the party leadership. He signed the July 1946 economic agreement with Yugoslavia reluctantly, then opposed the economic union plan with its customs union and monetary integration, using the 1947 Belgrade talks and a Moscow visit to secure a basis for refusing Yugoslav aid. This brought him into sharp conflict with Koçi Xoxe, leader of the 'Yugoslav lobby'. The Albanian institute studying communist crimes also lists him as directly responsible for repression by the party and the National Liberation Army.
Career timeline
- 1926–1929Boys' primary school in Durrës
- 1929–1937Schooling at an Italian institute on Corfu
- 1937Began economics studies in Turin
- 1941Joined the Communist Party and headed its Youth section
- 1944Politburo member and delegate to the Përmet Congress
- 1946Deputy and Presidium secretary of the People's Assembly; Minister of Economy from 22 March
- 1947Minister of Industry and State Planning Commission chairman; led Belgrade economic talks
Albania after Hoxha
Introducing Alia to one of his doctors, Hoxha said: "Younger comrades, like this one, will step in."
He succeeded Hoxha as Albanian party leader in 1985. Limited external opening initially sought to preserve the system, but economic crisis and protests led to acceptance of multiparty politics. He became president in 1991 and left office in 1992.
Career timeline
- 1943Joined the Albanian Communist Party
- 1948Member of the Central Committee
- 1956Candidate member of the Politburo
- 1961Full member of the Politburo
- 1982Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly (head of state)
- 1985First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania
- 1991President of the Republic of Albania
- 1992Resigned the presidency
