The XVII Assault Brigade of the Albanian National Liberation Army was formed in Gjinar of Elbasan. It was formed from the battalions of Shpati, Vërca, Dumre and with young volunteers from the provinces of Elbasan, with an effective number of about 700 fighters, who were organized into 3 battalions with commander Gjeli Argjiri, political commissar Qamil Guranjaku. The brigade immediately lined up as part of the IV Assault Division. On October 2, 1944, it moved to the area of Mati and Peshkopia, where, until the beginning of November, it helped to establish and strengthen the power of the popular councils, as well as to mobilize the people in the war. By order of the Headquarters of the 1st Assault Corps, it participated in the fight for the liberation of Tirana, initially as a reserve concentrated in the Mullet and Lundra region, while on November 13 it received the task of striking the German convoy of the “Steyrer” group, which was moving on the road Qafë–Kërrabë-Tirana. The brigade organized an ambush in the Fikas-Ibë region and, in cooperation with other forces of the corps, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. On December 14, it was lined up as part of the VIII Offensive Division and was placed in Peshkopi. 27 martyrs fell from the ranks of the XVII Assault Brigade. (In the photo: XVII Assault Brigade in Qafë Murrë, Dibër.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 307-308.
Photo: © Central State Archives
Graphic processing: AHCF
