The “Battle for the Liberation of Tirana” unfolded as a major operation, one of the most important, fierce, and successful ones carried out by the units of the Albanian National Liberation Army against German forces and their collaborators for the liberation of Albanian cities. It was prepared and carried out within the framework of the General Offensive of the Albanian National Liberation Army for the complete liberation of Albania, serving as its continuation and climax. The battle took place in the triangle of Kruja–Elbasan–Durrës, covering an area of approximately 4000 km², including military operations for the liberation of Tirana and the surrounding cities. It was executed according to the operational-strategic plan prepared by the General Command, with the main objective being the liberation of the capital city, Tirana.
The German 21st Mountain Corps Command, considering the strategic importance of Tirana as the capital city and as a compulsory route for their withdrawing forces, organized the defense in three lines, where they had carried out fortification works and deployed significant forces and resources. Strongpoints were built at all major and important sites in the city. Within Tirana, the enemy had concentrated around 3000 German forces, approximately 800 local collaborators, two artillery groups, an armored sub-unit, and numerous light and heavy mortars. The overall enemy force in the operation area amounted to about 10,100 personnel. The liberation of the capital was entrusted to the 1st Assault Corps, commanded by Dali Ndreu. The Corps Headquarters devised a comprehensive operational plan based on the General Command’s operational-strategic plan, envisioning the creation of an internal and external front. The operation unfolded in three phases: the preparatory phase (September 12 – October 28), the first phase of the attack (October 29 – November 10), and the final attack phase (November 11–17). The decisive operation for the liberation of Tirana concluded with victory after 19 days of intense urban warfare and battles along the roads leading to it. Tirana was liberated on November 17. Within this operation, during the first two weeks of November, Kruja, Elbasan, and Durrës were successively liberated. The people of the capital city made a significant contribution to the Battle for the Liberation of Tirana, strongly supporting all the fights that took place in its neighborhoods and streets. (In the photo: Map of the battle for the liberation of Tirana.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1555-1556.
Photo: © Central State Archives
Graphic processing: AHCF
