Journal of Critical Reviews ISSN- 2394-5125 Vol 7, Issue 11, 2020 ALBANIA AND THE SOVIET UNION IN THE COURSE OF THE WORLD WAR II Dr. Etleva Babameto1 1Albanian University. [email protected] Received: 14.04.2020 Revised: 21.05.2020 Accepted: 12.06.2020 Abstract In the events of World War II, Albania rallied without hesitation on the side of the Anti- Fascist Coalition, alongside the Great Britain, United States and Soviet Union. In this context, the aim of this study is to analyze the role, mission, relations of Albania with the Soviet Union, and how these relations influenced the war course of events in Albania, the spread of communism there and the outcomes of the war for this country. The study is based on the methodology of recognizing and assessing existing historical documents and materials as primary source, based on archival sources, to come up with objective and critical analyzes, interpretations and assessments of current events. The study concludes that regarding the period under study, the Soviet Union, although viewed with admiration from Albania as its ideological ally, had no direct interests in Albania except the spread of Communist ideology; it did not contribute to the liberation of Albania; it did not directly influence the communists’ takeover there. Keywords: WWII, Albania, Soviet Union, Allies, Relationships, Mission. © 2020 by Advance Scientific Research. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.11.166 INTRODUCTION On the official level, however, Albania established diplomatic The decision to analyze the relationship between Albania and relations with the USSR in 1934, but the functions of the Legation USSR in a given period of time such as World War II brings 4 were performed by the Soviet Legation in Athens . The Soviet accordingly to mind the communist ideology, the spread of Government also decided to appoint as its diplomatic communism in the Balkans, and more specifically in Albania. But representative in Tirana in the capacity of the Envoy how and when did communist ideas originate in this country? Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Court of Indeed, before World War II, it can be said that communism in Albania, the Minister of the Soviet Socialist Republics in Athens, the Balkans was very weak and only ideological. Meanwhile in 5 Albania, the first signs of Bolshevik activity aimed at communist Mr. Mikhail Kobexky . The Albanian government gave its consent propaganda appear as early as the 1920s, corresponding with the 6 to this appointment . period when England’s conservative press began publishing in July 1924 articles on “Bolshevik danger” threatening the Balkans. These developments took place at a time when, during the Concretely, The newspaper ‘London Times’ published on July 28, interwar period, the European Diplomacy was focused on 1924 the article “Bolshevik Plots in the Balkans”1. Apparently, ensuring peace on the Continent. This period in Europe, gave rise even Albania being part of the Balkans, had become involved in to two political, ideological and social models which would this political imbroglio. attempt to challenge exactly the most sacred principles of Western democracies: 1. The communist system featured on the This activity for the Balkans was carried out by a spying office Bolshevik Party under which the Soviet Union would adhere to run by Vienna headquartered Comintern headed by a former and abide by the communist principles and aim the strategy of Russian officer named Vorobjeff. The documents show that ruling the communist world through the destruction of world Vienna Comintern agents were also suspected of dealing with capitalism; and 2. The fascist system created by Benito Mussolini. some of the Russians who had been living in Albania for many years, some of whom had obtained Albanian citizenship and a GENERAL OVERVIEW OF ALBANIA - SOVIET UNION part of them the Yugoslav one, but they do not provide detailed RELATIONS IN THE COURSE OF THE WAR YEARS information on any activity of proper political character of these a. Albania’s Status in the Political Spectrum of the USSR Russians or even how and to what extent they influenced the It should be primarily noted that there is scant information on spread of Bolshevism in Albania. the relations between Albania and the Soviet Union during World War II. This is mainly due to the fact, inter alia, that Albania was It must be said that for the period in question, the Albanian at the periphery of this country’s interests to such an extent that people were little familiar with communist ideas. Such ideas had contacts between the two countries were always very rare till the begun to emerge during the first half of the 1930s, when end of World War II. Comintern sent some trained Albanian communists (who had fled after the fall of Fan Noli’s government) to set up some The Soviet Union, meanwhile, had determined its claims on post- communist cells. The first Albanian communist group was set up war influence since the summer of 1940 with a series of by political immigrants in Moscow in 1928. The most prominent diplomatic attempts and maneuvers. To this end, during the of these communists was Ali Kelmendi who helped to create wartime, there was a shift in emphasis on Soviet propaganda: the some communist groups, but their activities were no more than slogan of defending socialist values was replaced by the patriotic distribution of leaflets, cutting enemy wires and organizing urge to defend the motherlan, thereby seeking to draw an equal demonstrations. line between the struggle for the defense of the country with the socialist ideology. This propaganda, among other things, would Bolshevik slogans in Albania are documented as early as 1930 bear its fruit in the course of the war for some countries; yet, and specifically on January 12, 1930, the Prefect of Korça sends Albania was and remained, until the end of World War II a notice to the Intelligence Office for the distribution of slogans country posing almost no interests to this country. Indeed, unlike against Bolshevism and against Ahmet Zog. what it did in Belgrade, Sofia and Bucharest, the Soviet Union made no efforts to openly intervene on behalf of Albania’s affairs. Journal of critical reviews 932 ALBANIA AND THE SOVIET UNION IN THE COURSE OF THE WORLD WAR II Albania is the only country in Europe together with Yugoslavia approve the principle of (con) federation for European countries, where the communist takeover is not a direct outcome of the Red and especially the Balkan countries, the Soviets contended that Army intervention. these federations were directed against the Soviet Union. , The Soviet Union would maintain this position towards Albania In January 1942 at a meeting of Eden in London with the Soviet even after the war, with Albania expressing nothing of interest to ambassador Maisky, told the latter about Albania, that he shared this country except for its favorable strategic Mediterranean Stalin’s view but added that in view of Greek and Yugoslav position. This position already adopted would be further claims, he was not anxious to commit hmself on the subject at expressed at a meeting with the Yugoslav representative later in present. Maisky, after acquainting himself with the views of the January 1948, in which Stalin would openly express indifference, British government, agreed with them and supported the idea of unawareness and a lack of interest for this country, which was in the British government not recognizing Zog as an official but stark contrast to the admiration expressed then in Albania for merely a private person since British commitment in King Zog’s him. At the meeting he would address to the Yugoslav image and the creation of the exiled Albanian government meant representative with the words: “What is happening in that direct commitment in the question of Albania’s independence country? What kind of people are they?.... I had hoped that the and its territorial integrity, which was contrary to Greek Albanians were at least a little Slavic... we have no special interest interests so predominant to English policy. Thus, it was agreed in Albania. We agree to Yugoslavia swallowing Albania ….”. As that neither Britain nor Russia would commit themselves to Zog. commonly known, in 1960 Albania severed relations with its He also guaranteed Eden: the Soviet government wished to ideological leader, ie., the USSR, but the dynamics of these maintain the same footing with the British government in all relations during the Hoxha regime until their breakup is not part matters. But while the Soviet Union maintained the same line of this study. with the British government on all matters concerning Albania, this was not the case for the idea of (con) federations in Europe. All that can be said about the relationships between Albania and The Soviet Union would soon express openly opposition to that the Soviet Union during World War II concerns two to three not matter, a position which it would adopt throughout World War II. so influential moments which will be further dealt with below. Meanwhile, there were rumors that the Soviets intended to reach b. The Soviet Union’s Attitude towards the Italian out to the Mediterranean and establish a sphere of influence in Occupation of Albania the Balkans . This situation prompted discussions in the Foreign Regarding the Soviet Union’s attitude towards the occupation of Office to take measures to prevent Soviet penetration into the Albania, it can be said that little effort if not any was made to region. Thus the question of the creation of federations and/or defend the Albanian cause.