In Voskopojë of Korçë, the 4th Assault Brigade of the Albanian National Liberation Army was formed. It was formed with the personnel of the “Shqiponja” battalion, with partisans coming from the “Fuat Babani” “Hakmarrja” “Tomori“, “Reshit Çollaku“, “Gorë-Opar” battalions, as well as with young volunteers from the city and villages of Korçë. Initially, it had 550 people, divided into four battalions; on the eve of liberation, the personnel reached about 2000 people, divided into 5 battalions with 4 companies each. Its ranks were augmented with volunteers from the Korçë district and the regions where it fought: around 400 from the Dibra region, Italian anti-fascists, and Armenians who deserted from the German army. The 4th Assault Brigade fought battles in various regions of Korçë, Berat, Elbasan, Dibra, Shkodra, Durrës, and Tirana. From its establishment, it faced the general enemy offensive of the winter of 1943–1944, broke the siege in Opar, moved to Skrapar, counterattacked the enemy from behind, and liberated the occupied areas, facilitating the resistance operation by other partisan units in the southern part of the country. It fought successful battles during the Counter-Offensive and Spring Offensive of the Albanian National Liberation Army in the regions of Opar, Gorë, Tomorrica, Kolonjë, Mokër, and Rrëzë e Fushë of Korçë. Together with forces from the 1st Assault Brigade and territorial forces, in April 1944, it liberated Pogradec and thwarted the enemy operation “Dolchstoss” (“Stab in the Back”), which aimed to regain control of the liberated areas of Korçë. During the general enemy offensive in June 1944, it fought fierce battles in Golik, Grabovicë, Gur i Kamjes, Moçan, Krosnisht, Luginë e Lozhanit, Mal i Dusharit, Qafë e Gjarprit, etc. In May 1944, it was incorporated into the composition of the 1st Assault Division and fought for the liberation of Central and Northern Albania, in Qarrishtë, Zerqan, Klos, Burgajet, Lis, Kurdari, Fushë-Alie, Melan, Grevë, Dibra e Madhe, Lurë, and in the outskirts of Elbasan. During the battle for the liberation of Tirana (1944), it fought battles in Qafë-Kërrabë, on the Peqin-Rrogozhinë road, in Petrelë, Shijak, Xhafzotaj, Kashar, Prezë, and in the heavily fortified area of Tirana: Kodra e Kopilit-Pallati Mbretëror-Kisha e Shën Prokopit-Kazermat e Ali Rizait-Tirana e Re-Sheshi i Ministrive-Banka Kombëtare and played an important role in the Battle of Mushqeta (1944). After liberation, it was incorporated into the 4th Assault Division and took part in military operations to establish the new government in the Shkodra district and in Durrës to safeguard the maritime border of the port. (In the photo: Partisans of the 4th Assault Brigade, 1944.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 298-299.
Photo: © Central State Archives
Graphic processing: AHCF
