The “XVI Assault Brigade of the Albanian National Liberation Army” was formed in Therepel of Skrapar from a battalion from Berat, two battalions from Mallakastra, and a volunteer detachment from Lushnja, comprising about 465 fighters organized into 3 battalions. Within a short time, the number of fighters doubled, and on September 10, 1944, the IV battalion was established. As part of the training for the units of the Albanian National Liberation Army aimed at liberating the main cities of Southern Albania, the XVI Assault Brigade conducted combat operations in the Berat-Vlorë-Lushnje area. By October 10, the brigade had liberated the province of Myzeqe and forced the enemy to retreat to the cities of Fier and Lushnja. The brigade maintained constant control over the Vlorë-Fier, Berat-Lushnjë, and Berat-Fier roads, striking enemy convoys. On September 18, it organized an ambush in the village of Vajkan, along the Fier-Lushnjë road, targeting a German convoy, resulting in significant damage to personnel and war material. The brigade also inflicted losses on the enemy during an ambush at the Koshovica pass on the Fier-Vlora road and another at the Cukas hills on the Berat–Lushnje road on October 5. In cooperation with the forces of Group III of Mallakastra, part of the XVI Brigade liberated the city of Fier on October 15, while the remaining forces, along with the VIII Assault Brigade, continued combat operations in Lushnja, liberating it on October 18, 1944. The XVI Assault Brigade was led by political commissar Abdyl Këllezi, and 56 martyrs fell from its ranks. On December 14, 1944, the brigade was integrated into the III Assault Division of the Albanian National Liberation Army. At the beginning of 1945, it began publishing the newspaper “Voice of Liberation.” (In the photo: Partisans of the XVI Assault Brigade, October 1944.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 305.
Photo: © Central State Archives
Graphic processing: AHCF
