On April 11, 1985 , Enver Hoxha, leader of the Communist Party and then of the Party of Labour of Albania, passed away in Tirana. He led the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War and led the Albanian state after the war. He was born in Gjirokastër, where he attended the city school and the lower grades of the Lyceum (1917–1927). He attended the National Lyceum (French) of Korça (1927–1930). He went for higher studies (in biochemistry) at the University of Montpellier (France), which he did not complete. He stayed in Paris and then in Brussels as an employee of the Albanian Consulate in Belgium, but after a few months he was fired. In July 1936 he returned to his homeland. He joined the communist group of Korça and became one of its active members. After the fascist occupation of the country, he participated in the National Liberation Anti-Fascist Movement and became one of its organizers. He participated in the founding meeting of the Albanian Communist Party (November 8-14, 1941) as a representative of the Korça communist group and was elected a member of the Temporary Central Committee, in charge of the party’s finances, and then political secretary of the Tirana District. He participated in the First National Liberation Conference of Peza (1942) as a delegate of the Albanian Communist Party and was elected a member of the General National Liberation Council. At the First Conference of the Albanian Communist Party (Labinot, March 1943), he was elected General Secretary of the Albanian Communist Party. He held this post, with the subsequent title of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Communist Party, until the end of his life. At the meeting of the General National Liberation Council in Labinot of Elbasan (July, 1943) he was elected a member of the General Staff of the National Liberation Army and was appointed its political commissar. At the Congress of Përmet (1944) he was elected member of the National Liberation General Council and was appointed chairman of the National Liberation Anti-Fascist Committee and Commander-in-Chief of the Albanian National Liberation Army with the rank of army general. At the Second Meeting of the General National Liberation Council he was appointed Prime Minister of the Democratic Government of Albania. After the liberation, he was elected deputy in all legislatures and member of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. The Constitutional Assembly resulting from the elections of December 2, 1945 appointed him Prime Minister; simultaneously held the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense. Under the leadership of Enver Hoxha, a Stalinist dictatorship was established in Albania, a fierce class struggle was implemented, accompanied by violations of freedoms and human rights, with persecution and punishments, even capital punishment of political opponents. In the Constitution drawn up under his leadership (Constitution of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania) the leading role of the Party of Labor of Albania was sanctioned as the only leading force of the state and society, the class struggle as the main driving force of society, the principle of self-reliance, prohibition of private property. The activity of the Party of Labour of Albania, which was led by Enver Hoxha, was characterized by continuous attacks on groups deemed hostile, a consequence of the class struggle, which extended to its ranks as well. Enver Hoxha opposed any attempt to change and liberalize the system. During the years that he led the state, the economy in general, energy, education and culture and health recognized high rates of development. But the radical measures that were implemented in the economy led to the complete liquidation of private property and private initiative and the creation of a centralized economic system, which proved ineffective and ultimately failed, plunging the country into a general crisis. In foreign policy, Enver Hoxha followed a harsh course, which led to the isolation of the country from the world. After the war, Albania broke ties with Western Allies (Britain, USA) and closely aligned itself with the countries of the Communist Bloc. In 1948, it severed relations with Yugoslavia and became closely associated with the Soviet Union and other countries of the socialist camp. After Stalin’s death, he opposed the course of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the de-Stalinization process undertaken by Nikita S. Khrushchev, remaining faithful to the Stalinist legacy. Staying in these positions led to the breakdown of relations with the Soviet Union and other countries of the Eastern Bloc. In the meantime, it was closely related to the People’s Republic of China. But even this friendship in the 70s began to falter and then was interrupted due to the divergences that arose with the Chinese leadership, which began the course of improving relations with the United States of America, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia. In 1968, the publication of his “Works” series began, which was discontinued in the 71st volume (1990). Outside of this series, he published the works: “Imperializmi dhe revolucioni” (“Imperialism and revolution”) (1978), “Shënime për Kinën” (“Notes on China”) (1979), as well as a series of memoiristic works: “Kur lindi Partia” (“When was the Party founded”) (1981), “Kur u hodhën themelet e Shqipërisë së Re” (“When were the foundations of the New Albania laid”) (1984), “Me Stalinin” (“With Stalin”) (1979), “Hrushovianët” (“The Khruschevites”) (1980), “Rreziku anglo-amerikan për Shqipërinë” (“The Anglo-American threat to Albania”) (1982), “Titistët” (1982) etc. (In the photo: Enver Hoxha)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 957-959.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enver_Hoxha
Graphic processing: AHCF
