Albania Today – Index – 1971-1979

Qemal Stafa Stadium

Qemal Stafa Stadium

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Albania Today – Index – 1971-1979

Here you will find the list of contents from the issues of Albania Today already posted, or about to be published, on this blog. Where the complete issue is not yet available the intention is to post some of the most important, individual articles.

Albania Today: Index 1980 – 1984, Index 1985 – 1990

Albania Today: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 (missing), 1980 (missing), 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 (missing), 1988, 1989, 1990.

(C) = the complete edition is available on the blog

1971

No 1 (01) (C)

Forward towards new victories for the happiness and prosperity of the People and Socialist Homeland – From Comrade Enver Hoxha‘s Report at the 6th Congress of the PLA

For the further and continued development of the Revolution for the successful construction of Socialism in Albania – From Comrade Mehmet Shehu‘s Report at the 6th Congress of the PLA

Elections to the Leading organs of the PLA

Resolution of the 6th Congress of the PLA in support of the Liberation Struggle of the Vietnamese People

Our common road is the road of Revolution, of Socialism and Communism – Comrade Enver Hoxha‘s speech at the reception given in the Palace of Brigades

Report from the 6th Congress of the PLA

1972

No 1 (02) (C)

  1. Aspects of Albanian Life

The Vanguard of the Revolution and Socialist Construction – Ndreçi Plasari

Dynamic and flourishing economy – Abdyl Backa

Problems of Socialist Construction in the Albanian countryside – Hasan Banja

Our school on the road to its further revolutionisation – Mumtaz Shehu

Albania – A State free of taxes and dues – Fejo Babaramo

Impressions from the Exhibition of the Economic and Cultural Development of the PLA – Likurg Roshi

  1. Problems of International Life

The demarcation line between the Marxist-Leninists and the Modern Revisionists cannot be liquidated – Editorial of Zëri i Popullit

Instigators of and apologists for aggression – Editorial of Zëri i Popullit

The Monetary Crisis of Capitalism – Veniamin Toçi

‘United Europe’ – A counter-revolutionary offspring of Capital – Shaban Murati

No 2 (03) (C)

The Working Class and its World Historic Mission – Foto Çami

The Dictatorship of the Proletariat and the fight against bureaucracy – Luan Omari

Our industrial march – Vangjush Gambeta

Our higher school and its role in the scientific research work – Jorhji Sota

Treasures of Ancient Culture – Aleks buda

Hands off the Balkans – Zëri i Popullit

‘European Security’ and Revisionist-Imperialist interests – Shaban Murati

Revolted generation – Arqile Semini

Through the pages of the Albanian Press

No 3 (04) (C)

The Seventh Congress of Albanian Trade Unions

  • The Speech of Comrade Enver Hoxha
  • Summary of the Report by President of the Trade Unions Rita Marko

On the Transformation of Agriculture into an Industrial-Agricultural Country – Hekuran Mara

The intelligentsia and its present-day role – Bajram Abdiu

From the History of the Albanian Language – problems and results – Prof. Eqrem Çabej

Resolutely expose and oppose with all forces the counter-revolutionary Soviet-US Alliance – Zëri i Popullit

Progressive Peoples and States – Zëri i Popullit

The Theory of ‘Limited Sovereignty’ – Agim Popa

Chronicle

  • 7th Congress of Albanian Trade Unions Convened

Through the pages of the Albanian Press

No 4 (05) (C)

For the strengthening of the leading role of the working class and the perfecting of the Party-Class-Mass relations – Nexhmie Hoxha

Right to Pension – A victory for the co-operativist peasantry – Teodor Sterjo

Revolutionisation of teaching methods in school – Hamit Beqja

Folklore science in Albania – Prof. Zihni Sako

The Albanian cities and towns – Osman Allkja

Class struggle is an actual and inevitable fact in every developed capitalist country – Thanas Leci

‘Leninist’ phraseology cannot camouflage Anti-Leninism

People fight against Colonialism and Neo-Colonialism – Paskal Milo

Albanian Chronicle

  • Conference on Albanian Folklore
  • Second National Conference of Social Studies
  • Plenum of the CC of the PLA
  • Decision of the Second Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA ‘On the creation of the Academy of Sciences of the PR of Albania’
  • From the Proceedings of the People’s Assembly

Through the pages of the Albanian Press

No. 5 (06) (C)

Youth – Active force in the revolutionisation of the country’s life – Rudi Monari

The working class and Socialist Construction in the countryside – Hekuran Mara

Socialist Trade in the service of the people – Kiço Ngjela

Illyrian studies at the present stage – Skënder Anamali

The New Albanian Literature and Ismail Kadare – Spiro Mitrojorgji

Present day revolutionary movement and Trotskyism – Agim Popa

The Peace-loving peoples and countries reject the hegemonistic concepts of the two imperialist superpowers – Nesti Nase

Chronicle

  • 30th Anniversary of the historic Peza Conference
  • First convention of Illyrian studies
  • Plenary Session of the organising commission of the Congress of Orthography of the Albanian language
  • At the Youth Congress

Press review

No 6 (07) (C)

The Albanian People fight, work and live in the Party epoch – Enver Hoxha

Great Victory of our National Culture – Androki Kostallari

State Social Insurances – Feti Gjilani

The product and the export – Qemal Shehu

Memorandum of the Government of the People’s republic of Albania handed to the Government of the Republic of Finland

Identical Imperialist political concepts – Shaban Murati

Modern revisionism and religion – Hulusi Hako

Chronicle

  • 60th Anniversary of Independence and 28th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Homeland
  • Reception at the Central Committee of the PLA
  • The Congress of the Orthography of the Albanian Language

Press Review

1973

No 1 (08) (C)

Development of sciences in Socialism is a necessity and indispensibility – Hysni Kapo

Economy and scientific socialist planning – Abdyl Këllezi

The objective and subjective factors in the revolution – Fotq Çami

Working class control and party organisations – Peçi Orgocka

Philosophy and art – Alfred Uçi

Grave defeat for US Imperialism – Zëri i Popullit

Neo-colonialism in Africa – Paskal Milo

Chronicle

  • National Conference of the Physical Culture and Sports Union of Albania
  • First meeting of the Academy of Sciences
  • Reception at the CC of the PLA
  • Relations of the University extended
  • To the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Brazil
  • Third plenum of the CC of the PLA
  • New Publications

Press Review

No 2 (09) (C)

The women and their complete emancipation – Vito Kapo

Resolute fight against ideological foreign influences – ‘Rruga e Partisë’

Self reliance – Hekuran Mara

Rise of the people’s wellbeing – Abdyl Backa

On Albanian Diaspora in the middle ages – Zija Shkodra

An enduringly relevant work – Zija Xholi

JV Stalin – great revolutionary and Marxist-Leninist – Zëri i Popullit

The Vatican – centre of anti-Albanian diversion – Zëri i Popullit

Social democracy in the service of the bourgeoisie and reaction – Adem Mezini

Chronicle

  • 20th anniversary of the death of JV Stalin
  • On the occasion of March 8
  • Diplomatic relations established [with Malta]
  • Presentation of credential letters [Iran]
  • Festive meeting [30th anniversary of state security service]
  • Telegram [to Cambodia]
  • At the Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia
  • Meeting [Cambodia]
  • Plenum [of the CC of the PLA]
  • Reception [Vietnam]
  • The Shanghai Acrobatic troupe began its tour of Albania in March
  • Greeting the creation of the Academy of Sciences
  • First Symposium [palaeontology]

Press Review

No 3 (10) (C)

Albanian women – determined builder of Socialism, loyal to revolution – Mehmet Shehu

Strategy and tactics of the ACP in the period of the National Liberation Struggle – Ndreçi Plasari

People’s Army – Army of Revolution – Arif Hasko

Panorama of the economic-social development of Socialist Albania – Aristotel Pano

The intelligentsia in Socialism – Fiqret Spahiu

Anarchism as counter-revolutionary theory and practice – Bujar Hoxha

Diplomatic counter-revolution – Shaban Murati

Chronicle

  • May Day in Socialist Albania
  • The Martyrs’ Day
  • Among the working people
  • Diplomatic relations Albania-Nigeria
  • Scientific symposium on literature
  • A good will delegation from Somalia
  • May Decade
  • Samdech Norodom Sihanouk in Albania

7th Congress of the Albanian Women’s Union

Press review

No 4 (11) (C)

Army of the soldier people

Intensive fight against alien ideological manifestations and liberal stands towards them

Possibilities of building Socialism without passing through the stage of developed capitalism – Hekuran Mara

Neo-freudianism – one of the most reactionary trends of bourgeois ideology – Viktor Riska and Kleanthi Zoto

Soviet working class deprived of the means of production – Veniamin Toçi and Kiço Kapetani

Apologists and spokesmen of capital – Paskal Milo

Documents – (Memorandum of the Government of the People’s Republic of Albania to the Government of the Republic of Finland

New Soviet-US agreements – a grave challenge to all the peoples of the world

Chronicle

  • Communique
  • Decision [of CC of the PLA]
  • Glorious 30th Anniversary [People’s Army]
  • Festive Meeting [People’s Army]
  • Message of the younger generation
  • Another of Comrade Hoxha’s Works published in France
  • Friendship delegation [China]
  • Diplomatic relations [Cameroon]

Press Review

No 4 also included a special supplement entitled ‘The tragic events in Chile – A lesson for revolutionaries the world over’. This was reprinted from the Editorial of the newspaper Zëri i Popullit, the official publication of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania following the Fascist coup in Chile on 21st September 1973.

No 5 (12) (C)

CC of the PLA greets the 10th Congress of the CP of China

Democracy and dictatorship in Socialism – Agim Popa

Culture – property of the entire people – Thimi Tase

The anti-Albanian activity of the reactionary clergy – Viron Koka

Falsifications and theoretical speculations – Liman Daci

Pacifist demagogy and the objectives of the superpowers – Sofokli Lazri

Organised leadership of the revolution – an historic necessity

The wave of anger and opposition to UDS and Soviet Imperialism has risen still higher – Nesti Nase

Chronicles

  • 688 titles of text-books
  • Products of the ‘New Albania’ film studio
  • The port extended [Durres]
  • Archaeological excavations of historic importance
  • The Fascist coup in Chile condemned with great indignation
  • 6th Session of the 7th legislature of the People’s assembly
  • Energetic protest [Italy]
  • Activities on the occasion of the 24th Anniversary of the proclamation of the PR of China
  • Tirana – city of 370 construction sites

Press Review

No 6 (13) (C)

29 years of Socialist Albania – Petro Dode

Problems of improving relations of production in the socialist economy – Hasan Bania

The people express the great creative talent

From the life of the country

‘It is our factory’

The 1973 Archaeological season

The Heroic Albanian Spirit in world music

The currency crisis in extremis – Aleko Haxhi

About the Middle East crisis

Hegemonistic plans of Soviet Social Imperialism in Asia – Zëri i Popullit

Chronicles

  • A friendly visit [Vietnam]
  • November 7 and 8 celebrated with enthusiasm
  • National meeting of vanguard workers
  • National conference of young talents
  • An Albanian friendship military delegation visits China
  • A delegation of technical scientific collaboration of the PR of China in Albania
  • November 28 and 29 holidays celebrated with joy
  • A brilliant victory of the Albanian Democratic Front

Press Review

Issue No 6 also included a supplement to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the birth of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, the leader of the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China.

1974

No 1 (14) (C)

Socialist Albania – country of a new reality and of a new man – Adil Çarçani

Stability and reduction of prices – a distinctive feature of the Socialist economy – Priamo Bollano

Modern agriculture, extended Socialist production – Kozma Skarço

Socialist Realism – Great art of the Revolution – Ismail Kadare

From the life of the country

  • Fresh air, clear water and greenery everywhere
  • 70th Anniversary of people’s Sculptor Odhise Paskali
  • Exhibition of Satire in Sculpture

Lenin’s ideas and work are immortal – Zëri i Popullit

A meeting against Revolution and Communism – Zëri i Popullit

Press review

  • The neo-colonialist objectives of the Soviet Social Imperialists towards Latin America – Zëri i Popullit
  • Sham poses and real anti-socialism – Drita
  • The Albanian people will always support the just struggle of the Palestinian people – Zëri i Popullit
  • A great blow to the anti-China activity of the Soviet Social Imperialists – Bashkimi
  • The spiral of the currency crisis – Zëri i Popullit
  • The reformist leaders of the Italian trade unions sabotage the strike struggle of the working class – Puna
  • The struggle to criticize Lin Piao and Confucius – A great revolutionary movement – Zëri i Popullit

No 2 (15) (C)

The veterans are the living embodiment of partisan heroism

New work by our heroic youth

Education in the service of Socialism and Revolution – Thoma Deliana

Rates of development of Socialist Albania – Aleko Haxhi

Freedom of conscience – Hulusi Hakq

The counter-revolutionary alliance – Omer Hashorva

The real nature of the theatre of the absurd – Arqile Semini

Savage enemy of the revolution, socialism and the peoples of the world – Zëri i Popullit

Press Review

  • US ‘Aid’ for Africa in the service of Washington’s neo-colonialist Policy – Zëri i Popullit
  • The youth of the capitalist world in the grip of unemployment – Zëri i Rinese
  • Expansion of the two imperialist powers in the Indian Ocean – Zëri i Popullit
  • Another stride in strengthening the solidarity and unity of the developing countries – Zëri i Popullit
  • Foreign workers – victims of capitalist oppression and exploitation – Puna
  • The Chilean People resist oppression and terror – Zëri i Popullit

No 3 (16) (C)

Socialist industrialization in Albania – Koço Theodhosi

The progress of public health at present – Llambi Ziçishti

The June 1924 Revolution in Albania – Stefanaq Pollo

From the life of the country

  • May Day in Albania
  • New contribution to the strengthening of Albanian-Cambodian Friendship
  • From wooden boats to transoceanic ships
  • 6,000 scientific experiments in agriculture within a year
  • Third meeting of the Assembly of the Academy of Sciences
  • Scientific Educational Session

Against Imperialist interference and control – Nesti Nase

Revisionist economic integration and its contradictions – Kiço Kapitani and Veniamin Toçi

‘The transition from confrontation to talks’ – a counter-revolutionary theory – Shaban Murati

Pages from ‘The History of the Party of Labour of Albania’

Press Review

  • German Imperialism – a real threat in Europe – Zëri i Popullit
  • Military manoeuvres – a means of pressure, blackmail and threat – Luftetari
  • The Solzhenitsyn farce – Drita
  • The Vatican in the service of the two Imperialist superpowers – Zëri i Popullit
  • NATO – an alliance for war and aggression against the freedom and independence of the European peoples – Bashkimi
  • The struggle against reformism in the trade unions – an important task for the working class – Puna
  • The enemies of the Vietnamese people will always suffer defeat – Zëri i Popullit

No 4 (17) (C)

The working class of Albania – a leading force of socialist society – Rita Marko

The leading role of the Party in the national Liberation Army – Hito Çako

Wellbeing for all the working people – Dervish Gjiriti

Some problems of contemporary foreign literature

From the life of the countryside

  • 8th Session of the 7th Legislature of the People’s Assembly
  • 50th Anniversary of the 1924 Revolution
  • Protest by the Government of the PR of Albania addressed to the Government of the Italian Republic
  • Asdren’s Mortal remains return to the Motherland
  • Reservoirs and artificial lakes for irrigation
  • Compilation of new texts concluded in Tirana University
  • 30 research projects in the field of Veterinary Medicine
  • After ten years of work
  • From screws to agricultural machines

The national question and revisionism – Bujar Hoxha

‘Deidologisation’ or ”reidologisation’ – Servet Pëllumbi

Further evidence of the expansionist and hegemonistic aims of the two superpowers

Press Review

  • Steps towards strengthening the national sovereignty of the developing countries – Zëri i Popullit
  • Racism is still a major evil in American society – Bashkimi
  • Strengthening Dictatorship of the new Czechoslovak bourgeoisie – Zëri i Popullit
  • Every dollar or rouble of ‘aid’ – a link in the neocolonialist chain – Zëri i Popullit
  • The degeneration of youth – a logical consequence of social degeneration in the Revisionist countries – Zëri i Rinese
  • Nixon’s visit to the Middle East – a new expression of the anti-Arab aims of US imperialism – Zëri i Popullit
  • Activation of fascist criminals – a grave new danger to the Italian people – Zëri i Popullit

No 5 (18) (C)

The policy of the People’s Republic of Albania is open, a policy of Proletarian Principles – Enver Hoxha (Available in Enver Hoxha, Works Vol 4, p866-887.)

The Democratic Front – a militant union of the Albanian people in the struggle for Socialism – Ramiz Alia

What are the higher types of cooperatives – Pirro Dodbiba

Foreign trade in the service of the economy – Kiço Ngjela

Revolutionary education of youth with the spirit of mass undertakings – Jovan Bardhi

The revolutionary national teaching – Bedri Dedja

From the life of the country

  • Communique on the Meeting of the 5th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA
  • Brilliant victory of the Albanian People on their Triumphant Socialist Road
  • 25th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the PR of China
  • A delegation of the Republic of South Vietnam in Albania
  • The new school year begins

Tirana – the lovely capital of socialist Albania – Sabri Pilkati

Press Review

  • The hegemonistic aims of the superpowers underlie ‘European Security’ – Zëri i Popullit
  • A sure defender of the Revolution and Socialism – Luftëtari
  • Six years after the barbarous aggression by the Soviet Social Imperialists against Czechoslovakia – Bashkimi
  • Ideological diversion aims at disrupting and subverting the youth – Zëri i Popullit
  • The Fascist Pinochet clique makes haste to reward its American bosses – Bashkimi
  • The Revisionist Bourgeoisie – owner of the means of production – Zëri i Popullit
  • Nixon’s departure – a serious exposure for the US ruling class – Zëri i Popullit

No 6 (19) (C)

Time works for us and the future belongs to Socialism and Communism – Mehmet Shehu

Glorious jubilee of the Albanian People – Hysni Kapo

The PLA – forger of the historic victories of the Albanian people – Petro Dode

Taxation policy in Albania – Pjetër Kosta

From the life of the country

  • Communique on the convening of the 6th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA
  • First Session of the 8th Legislature of the People’s Assembly
  • Albanian people celebrate with joy the 30th Anniversary of Liberation
  • Albanian-Chinese Talks
  • National Conference of Studies about the Antifascist National Liberation War
  • Third National Games

The great Socialist Revolution and the renegades to it – Zëri i Popullit

The economic and financial crisis in the capitalist world – Kiçq Kapetani

Press Review

  • Triumphant march of the great People’s China on the road of the Revolution and Socialism – Zëri i Popullit
  • Irresistible explosion of economic crisis in the capitalist world – Zëri i Popullit
  • By their determined struggle the working people of the capitalist countries refute the preachings of the Revisionist and Trade Union scabs – Zëri i Popullit
  • A counter-revolutionary meeting in the service of Social Imperialism – Zëri i Popullit
  • Soviet Social Imperialism again stabs the arab people in the back – Bashkimi
  • The Mediterranean – an arena for the feverish race between the two Superpowers to expand – Zëri i Popullit

1975

No 1 (20) (C)

The anti-Fascist national liberation war – a great people’s revolution led by the Communist Party of Albania – Nexhmije Hoxha

Albania’s example in socialist construction – Aristotel Pano

Development of productive forces in agriculture – Vangjush Gambeta

From the life of the country

  • Second Session of the 8th Legislature of the People’s Assembly
  • A reflection of great victories
  • An art reflecting the militant spirit of our revolutionary reality

Foreign essays on the national liberation war in Albania – Stefanaq Pollo

Reformist and revisionist trade unions in the service of the bourgeoisie – Filip Kota

The working class in capitalist society today – Harilla Papajorgji

The Kremlin neo-colonialists oppress and plunder the peoples – Zëri i Popullit

Press Review

  • The time works for the peoples, for the revolution, against the hegemonism of the two superpowers – Zëri i Popullit
  • The threats of the Israeli Zionists in the service of the policy of the two superpowers – Bashkimi
  • ‘Asian Security’ is a trap to get the peoples of Asia under the domination of the Soviet Social Imperialists – Bashkimi
  • Further expansion of religious activity in the revisionist countries – Zëri i Rinise
  • Espionage, diversion and aggression – in the service of the hegemonistic aims of the US and Russian imperialists – Bashkimi
  • Degeneration and dissolution in the mass of youth – a direct consequence of the capitalist system – Zëri i Rinise

No 2 (21) (C)

Writers and Artists are aids of the Party for the Communist education of our men and women – Enver Hoxha (Speech December 20, 1974, 4th Plenum of CC) (Available in Enver Hoxha, Works Vol 4 p888-917.)

Great success, brilliant prospects – Abdyl Këllezi

Powerful lever of the Party in its revolutionary struggle – Rita Marko

The leading role of the Party grows with the development and consolidation of Socialism – Rruga e Partisë

From the life of the country

  • March 8 in Albania
  • A new railway line
  • National Conference on Agricultural Sciences
  • Meeting of the Plenum of the Steering Committee of the Albanian Writers’ and Artists’ League
  • Underground Museum of Durrës

A necessary condition for the defence of the freedom and independence of the people – Zëri i Popullit

[Documents] The unity of the people around the CPA in the National liberation Front – Ndreçi Plasari

Press Review

  • Full sovereignty over their national riches – indisputable right of the peoples – Zëri i Popullit
  • Socialist China is forging ahead every day towards ever higher peaks – Bashkimi
  • Great Renaissance Artist – Drita
  • ATU resolutely struggle for the triumph of the Anti-Imperialist Revolutionary class line in the World Trade Union Movement – Puna
  • A memorable event in the fraternal relations between Albanian and Vietnamese peoples – Bashkimi
  • The Soviet army – an army of occupation and oppression of the peoples – Zëri i Popullit
  • Spiritual alliance and practical collaboration between the Vatican and the Revisionist cliques – Zëri i Popullit

No 3 (22)

The road of Socialist construction – Adil Çarçani

On the class struggle in Socialism – Fiqret Shehu

A free woman can only live in a free society – Vito Kapo

Outstanding figures of our culture

From the life of the country

  • Communique on the Meeting of the 7th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA
  • The Albanian people enthusiastically welcome the historic victory of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people
  • The 31st May Day in Socialist Albania
  • With respect we remember the fallen
  • Albanian people celebrate the 30th anniversary of the victory over Fascism

May 9 calls on the peoples for vigilance – Zëri i Popullit

In the service of the Soviet plans for expansion and domination – Zëri i Popullit

‘Historic compromise’ or ‘historic treachery’ – Agim Popa

[Documents] The questions of state power in the anti-Fascist National Liberation War of the Albanian people – Luan Omari

Press Review

  • Great example for all the peoples of the world fighting for their freedom and rights – Bashkimi
  • Revolutionary and fraternal greetings to the Heroic Cambodian people – Zëri i Popullit
  • The Soviet Social Imperialists are more and more inculcating the spirit of the Great Russian Chauvinism in the Soviet youth – Zëri i Rinise
  • The European peoples cannot leave their security in the hands of the two Imperialist Superpowers – Zëri i Popullit
  • Revival of fascism – a real danger – Zëri i Popullit
  • Increase of opposition to domination of the seas by the two Imperialist Superpowers – Zëri i Popullit

No 4 (23) (C)

The strength of our army is based on its revolutionary popular character – Rruga e Partise

Bureaucratism – a dangerous enemy of Socialism – Foto Çami

Great driving and inspiring force – Dritëro Agolli

To contribute to society the maximum of our energies and take from it what is due to us – Abdyl Backa

Judicial institutions in the PR of Albania – Grigor Gjika

The pressures and flatteries of the revisionists do not work in Albania – Zëri i Popullit

From the life of the country

  • Close fraternal friendship [Cambodia]
  • Manifestation of the fraternal and unbreakable Albanian-Chinese friendship
  • 32nd anniversary of our people’s army
  • Diplomatic relations of the PRA with other countries extended
  • Tens of thousands of school pupils and students in national and local actions
  • An about 6,000 year old culture
  • Beautiful manifestations of Chinese and Albanian gymnasts

The Soviet economy – a completely and definitely capitalist economy – Aristotel Pano

[Documents] The armed uprising of the Albanian People in the anti-Fascist National Liberation War – Vehbi Hoxha and Ndreçi Plasari

Press Review

  • The Korean people will smash the aggressive plans of the Washington and the Seoul clique – Zëri i Popullit
  • Victory of the Liberation Struggle of the valiant people of Mozambique – Bashkimi
  • Israel’s aggressive acts cannot suppress the Palestinian resistance – Zëri i Popullit
  • The peoples are determined not to submit to the threats of US Imperialism – Bashkimi
  • ‘Military Integration’ – is conscription of vassals by the Soviet boss – Luftëtari
  • The struggle for complete sovereignty over national riches – an important phenomenon of the present day international situation – Zëri i Popullit

No 5 (24) (C)

A reflection of the Marxist-Leninist thinking and revolutionary practice of the Party of Labour of Albania [The Works of Enver Hoxha]

Socialist State – organised proletariat as a ruling class – Luan Omari

Vigorous development of the Socialist economy in the PRA – Hasan Banja

Intellectualism – a totality of counter-revolutionary concepts and practices – Muzafer Ahmati

The place of folklore and its role in the socialist artistic culture – Alfred Uçi

From the life of the country

  • Communique on the meeting of the 8th Plenum of the CC of the PLA
  • Close ties between Party and People
  • The 26th Anniversary of the PR of China marked in Albania
  • The 30th anniversary of the DR of Vietnam marked in Albania
  • New successes in the education sector
  • The Albanian-China Friendship Association
  • The Albanian people remember with respect our Comrade PL Arboleda
  • The Albanian people solidarize with the just struggle of the Spanish revolutionary patriots

The Conference of insecurity of Europe – Zëri i Popullit

The two superpowers – the greatest arms dealers in the world – Veniamin Toçi

[Documents] The National Liberation Movement of the Albanian people and the Anti Fascist World War – Shyqyri Ballvora and Sotir Manushi

[Documents] The Government of the PR of Albania supports the just demands of the developing countries – Reiz Malile

Press Review

  • ‘Economic emigration’ – incurable ulcer of the capitalist world – Zëri i Popullit
  • The Spanish people are fighting the Fascist dictatorship – Bashkimi
  • The diplomacy of the two superpowers – a diplomacy of aggression and war – Zëri i Popullit
  • ‘… the cause of the Revolution lives on and is beautifying the world’ – Drita
  • Revisionist cinematography – a poisonous weapon in the service of the new Soviet bourgeoisie – Zëri i Rinise
  • ‘A filthy trade in human beings’ – Bashkimi

Issue No 5 contained a special supplement entitled ‘Time is working in favour of the People’s Liberation and the Revolution’, the speech given by Nesti Nase at the 30th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

No 6 (25)

Most of the issue devoted to the publication and selected articles from Vol 19 of Hoxha’s works (in Albanian), which was published in November 1975. Includes, as a supplement, his speech at the Meeting of the 81 Communist and Workers Parties in Moscow November 16, 1960. This speech, one of the most principled speeches presented by any Marxist-Leninist, can be found on pages 93-163 of Vol 3 of Enver Hoxha’s Selected Works on this blog.

The Road of struggle and victory over Khrushchevite Revisionism – Ramiz Alia

From the life of the country

  • The November 7 and 8 holidays celebrated with joy
  • Important centre of education of the Cadres with the teachings of Marxism-Leninism
  • The 3rd Session of the 8th Legislature of the people’s Assembly
  • November 28 and 29 celebrated with joy

Issue No 6 contained a special supplement. This is a reprint of a speech given by Enver Hoxha entitled ‘Speech delivered at the Meeting of the 81 Communist and Workers’ Parties in Moscow’. This was delivered in November 1960 and was the occasion that Hoxha attacked the revisionists of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union for their betrayal of the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism. In a sense this was the first shot in the war against modern revisionism.

1976

No 1 (26) (C)

Important step for perfecting the state of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat – Hysni Kapo

The role of the socialist state in the communist training and education of the working people – Zija Xholi

The time has completely confirmed the predictions of the PLA – Sofokli Lazri

Stability and vitality – distinctive features of the economic and social development of Albania

The antipode of creative attitude towards things and phenomena – Lili Zhamo

Peasant art and artistic crafts in Albania – Andromaqi Gjergji

From the life of the country

  • 30th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the People’s Republic of Albania
  • Deep gratitude and respect for the martyrs who fell outside the fatherland
  • The Albanian people honour the memory of Comrade Chou En-lai
  • All for one and one for all
  • The 70th anniversary of the publication of Lenin’s article ‘Party organisation and party literature’

The revolution determines the course and opens the way to the development of present day human society – Zëri i Popullit

[Documents] Draft Constitution of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania

Press review

  • Stalin was a great Marxist-Leninist – Zëri i Popullit
  • The peoples of northern Europe follow with vigilance the aggressive and expansionist plans of the two Imperialist Superpowers – Bashkimi
  • The aggressive activity of the two superpowers refutes the propaganda about the relaxation of tension in Europe – Zëri i Popullit
  • The struggles of the broad peasant masses in Latin America is on the upsurge – Zëri i Popullit
  • The people of Northern Ireland are fighting for their just cause – Bashkimi
  • Efforts to divert the struggle of the developing countries into compromises and bargainings – Zëri i Popullit
  • Feverish preparations for war by the two Imperialist Superpowers – Luftëtari
  • The gap between the rich and the poor is becoming ever wider – Bashkimi

No 2 (27) (C)

Documents – Report delivered to the 1st Consultative Meeting of the activists of the Communist Party of Albania – Enver Hoxha

Clear reflection of the self-acting capacity and stability of the economy of the PR of Albania – Petro Dode

A document of extraordinary value for the present and the future of Socialism in Albania

The economy of the PRA is successfully coping with every imperialist-revisionist blockade – Kiço Kapetani

The vitality of the principles of Socialist realism in present day Albanian art – Dalan Shapllo

From the life of the country

  • The 20th volume of the Works of Comrade Enver Hoxha came off the press
  • 23rd Anniversary of JV Stalin’s death commemorated
  • The Teacher’s Day
  • March 8 in Albania
  • One of the most ancient mosaics of the world of antiquity

A congress of demagogy and social imperialist expansion – Zëri i Popullit

The French Revisionists in the positions of the open fight against Revolution and Communism – Zëri i Popullit

Press Review

  • Victory of the Marxist-Leninist and Revolutionary forces in Germany – Zëri i Popullit
  • Instruments of the gangster policy of the US Imperialists and Soviet Social Imperialists – Bashkimi
  • In struggle against Capital, the working class is tempering its revolutionary features – Puna
  • Nothing can conceal the preparations of Soviet Social Imperialism for aggression – Zëri i Popullit
  • Nuclear explosions serve the preparations for war of the two superpowers – Luftëtari
  • What helps and what does not help the true security and collaboration of the Balkans – Zëri i Popullit
  • Always vigilance and ready to defend the freedom won with so much bloodshed and sacrifice – Bashkimi

No 3 (28) (C)

Decision of the CC of the PLA and the Council of Ministers of the PR of Albania on the reduction of high salaries, on some improvements in the pay system of working people and the further narrowing of differences between the country and the town

A new victory of the policy of the PLA in the uplift of the general wellbeing of the people – Zëri i Popullit

The worker-peasant control – an important factor for the strengthening of the socialist order – Hekuran Isai

A document of extraordinary value for the present and the future of socialist Albania

The deepening of the class struggle on the ideological and cultural front – Hamit Beqja

From the life of the country

  • The first pig iron of Albanian brand
  • The great holiday of the workers
  • We commemorate the martyrs with respect
  • A living example of militant spirit, revolutionary optimism and socialist solidarity

Plunderers of the peoples of the developing countries – Niko Ketri

Press Review

  • Why does Federal Germany refuse to pay war reparations? – Zëri i Popullit
  • The expulsion of the fleets of the Superpowers from the Mediterranean – an important action for the strengthening of independence and general security – Zëri i Popullit
  • The men of bourgeois governments are ready to sell anything for money – Bashkimi
  • The Soviet bourgeoisie ensures high incomes from oppression and exploitation of the working people – Puna

No 4 (29) (C)

Almost exclusively devoted to the publication of Vols 20, 21 and 22 of Enver Hoxha‘s Works (in Albanian).

From the life of the country

  • Communique on the meeting of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA
  • Decision on summoning the 7th regular Congress of the Party of Labour of Albania
  • Decision on the approval of the draft directives of the 7th Congress of the PLA for the Sixth Five Year Plan for the years 1976-1980
  • The 55th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China in Albania
  • A marked event in the scientific life of the PR of Albania
  • The 33rd anniversary of the creation of the Albanian Peoples Army

A meeting that sealed Revisionist betrayal – Zëri i Popullit

No 5 (30) (C)

A great event for the further development of the revolution in Albania 

important steps forward in the complete construction of the socialist society – Aristotel Pano

The relations between the cadres and the masses and the struggle against bureaucracy – Agim Popa

Albanian ethnography and some of its problems – Aleks Buda

From the life of the country 

  • The second volume of works selected of comrade Enver Hoxha – in English – has come off the press
  • Atmosphere of joy and revolutionary enthusiasm
  • The traditional festival of the education-loving people
  • New archaeological discoveries in Durrës
  • The state folk song and dance ensemble of the PR of Albania made a tour of Sweden and Norway

The economic crisis and the sharpening of contradictions in the capitalist-revisionist world – Hekuran Mara

(Documents) The resolution of the meeting of the main communist group of Albania on the creation of the Party 

Press review 

  • The two superpowers – greatest practitioners of discrimination in international trade – Zëri i Popullit
  • Falsity of Bourgeois Democracy – Bashkimi
  • The working masses are suffering the consequences of the grave crisis in the capitalist world – Puna
  • The plot of ‘Internationalisation’ of culture – Drita
  •  Demogogy and violence  – cards of the bourgeoisie in crisis – Zëri i Popullit
  • Aggression and war – principal means to secure positions of political, economic and military domination of the two Superpowers – Luftëtari
  • From integration towards complete assimilation – Zëri i Popullit
  • Dangerous conspiracies of US Imperialism at the expense of the Zimbabwean people – Bashkimi 

No 6 (31) (C)

This issue dedicated exclusively to the 7th Congress of the PLA held from 1st to 7th November 1976 in Tirana.

Including:

The report ‘On the activity of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour’ submitted by Enver Hoxha

The report ‘On the directives of the 7th Congress of the Party of Labour of Albania for the 6th Five-year Plan for the development of the economy and culture of the People’s republic of Albania for the years 1976-1980’ submitted by Mehmet Shehu

The Closing Speech of the Congress by comrade Enver Hoxha

1977

No 1 (32) (C)

The Constitution of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania

The Constitution that embodies the true features of Scientific Socialism – Enver Hoxha

The great role and force of the peasantry in Socialist society – Lenka Çuko

From the life of the country

  • The 5th Session of the 8th Legislature of the People’s Assembly
  • A year of successes, a year of perspectives
  • An important event in the history of the Albanian people
  • Radiant beacons of the struggle for national and Social Liberation
  • A Revolutionary centre for training artists
  • Scientific session on the Protection, Study and Restoration of Monuments of Culture
  • Thousands of specialists for Agriculture and animal husbandry

Imperialism and Social Imperialism in crisis and under the Revolutionary blows of the peoples – Zëri i Popullit

The modern distortions in contemporary bourgeois-revisionist music – Simon Gjoni

Press Review

  • The name and work of Comrade Mao Tse-tung are immortal – Zëri i Popullit
  • While the millionaires multiply their millions, the masses of the people are living in poverty and want – Bashkimi
  • The reformist and Revisionist Trade Unions – saboteurs of the struggle of the working class against capital – Puna
  • The tentacles of the two superpowers on the African continent – Zëri i Popullit
  • The consequences of the crisis for the peasantry of the capitalist countries – Albanian Telegraphic Agency

No 2 (33) (C)

In struggle and Revolution the Marxist-Leninists become strong and indomitable (from Comrade Enver Hoxha’s conversation with Comrade Pedro Pomar)

The PLA has always followed one Marxist-Leninist line – Ndreçi Plasari

Principle of universal value for the Revolution and the construction of socialism – Harilla Papajorgji and Kiço Kapetani

Marriage and the family in the PSR of Albania – Ksanthipi Begeja

From the life of the country

  • The 24th Anniversary of Stalin’s death commemorated
  • Teachers day in Albania
  • The Day of Women’s International Solidarity
  • The vigorous development of Albanian science

A document which strengthens the revolutionary unity among Marxist-Leninist Communist Parties

Militant Internationalist Solidarity in struggle against common enemies

The 3rd Congress of the CP of Germany (M-L) is held

The Socialist International – an instrument of the Imperialist Bourgeoisie – Adem Mezini

Press Review

  • The present day Soviet union – a Social-Fascist country, an imperialist superpower – Zëri i Popullit
  • The US imperialists and the Soviet Social-Imperialists stir up strife, disruption and conflict everywhere in the world – Bashkimi
  • Further sharpening of class conflicts in the capitalist world – Puna
  • The expansionist and hegemonist policy of the Bonn Revanchists – Zëri i Popullit
  • The Mediterranean – an arena of the rivalry between the two superpower – Luftëtari

No 3 (34) (C)

[Documents] The line of our Party is a correct, revolutionary line, in conformity with the teachings of Marxism-Leninism – Enver Hoxha (Letter to Basic Party Organisations, May 9th 1962)

[Documents] Our intelligentsia is raised and developed in the bosom of the people – Enver Hoxha (speech October 25 1962) (Available in Enver Hoxha, Works, Vol 3 p358-401.)

A decisive condition for the triumph of the Revolution and the construction of Socialism – Fiqret Shehu

The literature of socialist realism is developing in struggle against the bourgeois and revisionist pressure – Ismail Kadare

On the Contradictions in Socialist society – Alfred Uçi

From the life of our country

  • May Day in Albania
  • The Martyrs’ Day
  • Enlarged meeting of the Assembly of the Academy of Sciences of the PSR of Albania
  • The festival of Albanian cinematography
  • Another expression of fraternal solidarity
  • Permanent centres for the Patriotic Education of the masses

The Party of Labour of Albania and the problems of War and Peace – A Tomorri

The 2nd Congress of the Portuguese Communist Party (Reconstructed)

From Gramsci and the resistance to the present day struggle for Marxism-Leninism and Proletarian Internationalism

Press Review

  • The two imperialist superpowers – the greatest enemies of the peoples, the most dangerous aggressors – Luftëtari
  • The African peoples will give the proper reply to the intrigues of the two superpower against them – Bashkimi
  • The working class in struggle against capitalist oppression and exploitation – Puna
  • Fascism – a real danger to mankind – Zëri i Popullit
  • The military protection of the superpowers is intended to turn the ‘defended’ country into a US or Soviet protectorate – Bashkimi

No 4 (35) (C)

Youth gives life and animation to the country, new blood to the Party – Enver Hoxha (Speech at Politburo of CC June 2nd 1977)

The 8th Congress of the Albanian Trade Unions

The theory and practice of Revolution – Zëri i Popullit

We must fight, to the last beat of our hearts, for the triumph of Marxism-Leninism – Piro Bita

The economy of the PSRA is developing at rapid and stable rates – Abdyl Backa

From the life of the country

  • Communique on the meeting of the 2nd Plenum of the CC of the PLA
  • 6th Session of the 8th Legislature of People’s Assembly of the PSR of Albania
  • 7th Congress of Albanian Labour Youth union will convene on September 26
  • The Albanian People’s Army Day

Powerful weapon of the world proletariat for the triumph of the revolution and the victory of Communism – Sotir Manushi

The present economic crisis and the sharpening of the general crisis of capitalism – Hekuran Mara

Press Review

  • The European Common Market – a tangle of inter-imperialist interests and rivalries – Bashkimi
  • Working masses resolutely oppose capitalist oppression and exploitation – Puna
  • The Arab peoples must fight to realise their aspirations – Zëri i Popullit
  • Consistent neocolonialist policies of US imperialism towards Latin America – Bashkimi
  • Rhodesian racist aggression against Mozambique at the service of imperialist plans – Bashkimi
  • Spiritual and Physical poisoning with drugs – Albanian News Agency

No 5 (36) (C)

The Word and Deed of Our Party Are not Divorced from the Glorious Past of Our People – Enver Hoxha

Khrushchev kneeling before Tito

Conversation with Chou En-lai

The Revisionist Parties – typically Bourgeois, Counter-revolutionary Parties – Fiqet Shehu

Socialist Revolution – The Only Road of Social Progress – Zija Xholi

 From the life of the Country

  • People’s press day
  • The new school year
  • The 35th Anniversary of the historic Conference of Peza

The Second Congress of the Communist Party of Spain (M-L)

Hold High the invincible Banner of Marxism-Leninism

Press Review

  • Class struggle of the proletariat is driving the world revolution – Zëri i Popullit
  • Growing discrimination of women in the Capitalist countries – Puna 
  • ‘Preservation of the balance’ – a theory to mask and legalize aggressions – Zëri i Popullit
  • Multinational companies – Levers of imperialism for the enslavement of the peoples – ATA
  • Fruit of ‘Democratization’ – Zëri i Popullit
  • The bourgeois education system – a barricade to the children of common working people – Zëri i Popullit

No 6 (37) (C)

The 7th Congress of the LYUA (Labour Youth Union of Albania)

  • Comrade Enver Hoxha’s message of greeting addressed to the Congress on behalf of the CC of the Party
  • Comrade Enver Hoxha’s Speech
  • Excerpts from Comrade Lumturi Rexha’s report
  • Message to the Central Committee of the PLA

Commemorative meeting on the 60th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution

  • The opening speech of Comrade Mehmet Shehu
  • Comrade Hysni Kapo’s speech

From the life of the country

  • The book ‘Enver Hoxha – Speeches, talks and articles, 1965-66’ is off the press
  • Communique of the meeting of the 3rd Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA
  • The 7th and 8th November celebrated
  • The month of literature and arts
  • Twenty years that challenged the centuries
  • Delegations of  Marxist-Leninist parties in the PSR of Albania

Constitution of the revisionist betrayal

Joint statement of the Communist Party of Germany (M-L), the Communist Party of Spain (M-L), the Communist Party of Greece (M-L), the Communist Party of Italy (M-L), and the Portuguese Communist Party (Reconstructed)

  • An important document in defence of Marxism-Leninism and the correct revolutionary strategy – Zëri i Popullit

Press review

  • The fury of the Neo-Nazis does not intimidate or daunt the German Marxist-Leninists – Zëri i Popullit
  • The proletariat in the Capitalist countries is fighting hard against oppression and exploitation – Puna
  • An event if great historic importance – Zëri i Popullit
  • The Spanish working class in struggle against the Monarchic-Fascist dictatorship
  • The bourgeois detective novel today – Drita 

1978

No 1 (38) (C)

[Document] The Peza Conference – an event of great historic importance – Enver Hoxha

The history of the Albanian people is written in blood – Mehmet Shehu

The class struggle within the Party – a guarantee that the Party will always remain a Revolutionary Party of the working class – Ndreçi Plasari

Mythology in modern aesthetics – Alfred Uçi

From the life of the country

  • New Year celebrations in Albania
  • Volume 25 of comrade Enver Hoxha’s Works is of the press
  • Delegations of Marxist-Leninist Communist Parties in the PSR of Albania
  • Twenty-five years of the geological service in Albania
  • Dignified works dedicated to the peasantry
  • Success of the pharmaceutical industry
  • The 6th Conference of the Union of the Journalists of Albania and voluntary correspondents
  • Anniversary of the Republic

‘Eurocommunism’ or disguised revisionism – Zëri i Popullit

Press Review

  • The burden of the crisis is weighing ever more heavily on the British workers – Zëri i Popullit
  • The unrelenting anti-Imperialist Liberation struggle of the African peoples continues – Bashkimi
  • A conflict alien to the lofty interests of the peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia – Zëri i Popullit
  • Emigration – grave tragedy for millions of youth in the Bourgeois-revisionist world – Zëri i Rinise
  • Savage exploitation of Latin American peasants by capitalist monopolies – Albanian Telegraphic Agency
  • The just cause of the Arab peoples is invincible – Zëri i Popullit (Available in Enver Hoxha, Works, Vol 5, p186-194.)

No 2 (39) (C)

The first centenary of the Albanian League of Prizren – a marked event in the glorious history of the Albanian people – Zëri i Popullit

A class struggle in the political field in the period of Socialism – Vahim lama and Gramos Hysi

A majestic program of the struggle of the proletariat for the triumph of Communism – Bujar Hoxha

JV Stalin’s work will live on through the centuries – Sotir Manushi

The Party of Labour of Albania pursues a correct policy for the raising of the people’s wellbeing – Nezhdet Hoxha and Burim Hysi

From the life of the country

  • The 8th session of the 8th Legislature of the People’s Assembly of the PSRA
  • The excellent example
  • The 8th march in Albania
  • High rates of the increase and distribution of our publications

The 3rd Congress of the Communist Party of Italy (M-L)

The anti-Marxist content of ‘self-administrative socialism’ – Omer Hashorva

The class essence of the inflation in the capitalist and revisionist world – Dhimitër and Lulzim Hana

Press review

  • Ever stronger crisis and shocks in the capitalist currency system – Zëri i Popullit
  • Further arming of the West German Bundeswher – Luftëtari
  • The game of ‘European Security’ and the unaltered aggressive and hegemonistic aims of the two superpowers – Bashkimi
  • The struggle of the Nicaraguan people is invincible – Zëri i Popullit
  • Further ruination of the countryside – Bashkimi
  • A weapon of American Imperialist espionage – Zëri i Popullit
  • Determined to eradicate racism from the African continent – Zëri i Popullit

No 3 (40) (C)

Cheek by jowl with the people

A broad and complicated front of the class struggle in Socialist society – Raqi Mahdi

The Albanians confronted with the Eastern Crisis 1878-1881 – Alexs Buda

The technical-scientific revolution and its special features in Albania – Vladimir Misja

From the life of the country

  • The Albanian people on the Workers’ International Solidarity Day
  • A marked day for the Albanian people
  • The 108th anniversary of the birth of JV Stalin in Albania
  • Telegram to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Britain (M-L)
  • Telegram to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Canada (M-L)
  • Telegram to the Central Committee of the Party of labour of Albania
  • Achievements of the Institute of Language and Literature

Revisionist ‘theories’ of restored capitalism – Hekuran Mara

The Organisational Degeneration of the Revisionist Parties and its consequences – Petro Cirunna and Pandi Tase

Press Review

  • The tentacles of US monopolies in Europe – Zëri i Popullit
  • The ‘Green Revolution’ increases neocolonial dependence – Albanian Telegraphic Agency
  • The demagogy about disarmament – a cover for militarism and war preparations – Bashkimi
  • The European Common market – an instrument of the expansionist policy of Americam Imperialism – Puna
  • The Soviet Social-imperialists – robbers of the people – Bashkimi
  • Pseudo-culture in the service of Revanchist aims – Drita
  • The aggressive activity of the two imperialist superpowers in the Mediterranean – a danger to the freedom and independence of the peoples of the region – Bashkimi

No 4 (41) (C)

The 35th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Army

  • Comrade Enver Hoxha’s Speech
  • Opening speech by Comrade Mehmet Shehu
  • From the speech of Comrade Veli Llakaj

The Centenary of the Albanian League of Prizren

  • The work of our men of Renaissance lives on and is honoured in new Socialist Albania
  • The Albanian League of Prizren – a brilliant page of our history written in blood

The 8th Congress of the Women’s Union of Albania

  • Message of greeting of Comrade Enver Hoxha to the 8th Congress of the Women’s Union of Albania on behalf of the CC of the Party of Labour of Albania
  • From the Report of Comrade Vito Kapo to the 8th Congress of WUA

Communique of the meeting of the 5th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PLA

Announcement of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency

To the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Chile

The Communist Party of Dahomey founded

The Communist Party of New Zealand reaffirms its basic line and policy

Important Marxist-Leninist document of the Communist Party of New Zealand – Zëri i Popullit

International rally in Canada

Imperialists hands off Vietnam – Zëri i Popullit

The ‘Theory of the Non-Aligned World’ and the ‘Theory of Three Worlds’ united in defence of the Imperialist status quo – Zëri i Popullit

[Document] People aspire to real disarmament

Press review

  • The broad working masses of Latin America oppose their exploitation by the local capitalists and foreign monopolies – Puna
  • The two superpower – chief supporters of reactionary regimes – Albanian Telegraphic Agency
  • ‘Enrichment’ of the Brezhnev doctrine of ‘limited sovereignty’ – Zëri i Popullit
  • ANZUS – military pact which opposes the interests of the Asian peoples – Luftëtari
  • The children – victims of savage capitalist exploitation – Puna

Supplement to No 4/78

Letter of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania and the Government of Albania to the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the Government of China – July 29th 1978

No 5 (42) (C)

Proletarian democracy is genuine democracy – Enver Hoxha (Available in Enver Hoxha, Works, Vol 5, p233-264.)

Unshaken stand on the positions of Marxism-Leninism – Zëri i Popullit

Powerful solidarity with the unshakeable Marxist-Leninist stand of the PLA and the Albanian people

Comrade Enver Hoxha on the Dictatorship of the Proletariat – Agim Popa

Chinese warmongering policy of Hua Kuo-feng’s visit to the Balkans – Zëri i Popullit

Savage enemy of the Revolution, the freedom and independence of the peoples – Zëri i Popullit

The capitalist character of the relations of production in the Soviet Union – Aristotel Pano and Kiço Kapetani

The proletariat tempers its class consciousness in fierce battles – Idriz Dhrami

Press Review

  • Jimmy Carter’s words and the racist reality in the USA – Bashkimi
  • Capitalist co-operation for joint exploitation of workers and peoples – Zëri i Popullit
  • The flames of the Liberation War extend in Southern Africa – Luftëtari
  • What lies behind the military take-over in Bolivia? – Zëri i Popullit
  • Warmongering activity of the two superpowers – ATA
  • Manifestation of Bourgeois-Revisionist degeneration and corruption – Zëri i Rinise

No 6 (43)

The first six pages of the magazine I was able to consult had been torn out. Not knowing what was there it’s impossible to speculate why or what the article/s on those pages were about.

Albania is forging ahead confidently and unafraid – Enver Hoxha

Scientific Session on Problems of Current World Development

  • Opening speech by Nexhmije Hoxha
  • The Revolution – a question put forward for solution – Ramiz Alia
  • Broadening and deepening of the struggle against all the currents of modern revisionism – an historical necessity – Fiqret Shehu
  • The Marxist-Leninist Parties – the leading force of the revolutionary movement today – Agim Popa
  • The Foreign Policy of the PLA and the Albanian Socialist State is the policy of Proletarian Principles – Sofokli Lazri
  • Closing speech – Ramiz Alia

From the life of the country

  • Brilliant victory of the Albanian People on their glorious Socialist road
  • The monumental work of the Party and the heroic Working Class of Albania
  • ‘The Light of the Party’ Hydro-power plant at Fierza is inaugarated
  • A great occasion for the ‘Enver Hoxha’ automobile and tractor combine

Press Review

  • The ideas of the Great October – a banner for the cause of revolution put forward for solution – Zëri i Popullit
  • The further deepening of inter-imperialist contradictions between Bonn and Washington – Zëri i Popullit
  • ‘Freedom of the press’ – a fraud of Bourgeois democracy – ATA
  • ‘Responsible’ trade unions – tools in the service of the bourgeoisie – Puna
  • Violence and terror cannot stamp out the struggle of the Guatemalan people – Zëri i Popullit

1979

No 1 (44)

Yugoslav Self Administration – a capitalist theory and practice – Enver Hoxha (Available in Enver Hoxha, Works, Vol V, p265-356.)

Albania forges ahead non-stop on the bright road of Socialism – Mehmet Shehu

Comrade Enver Hoxha’s Work ‘ Imperialism and the Revolution’ – a powerful revolutionary weapon – Zëri i Popullit

From the life of the country

  • The first session of the 9th Legislature of the People’s Assembly of the PSRA
  • Scientific session on the problems of the protection of the environment
  • Achievements by the new Albanian archaeology
  • Twenty five years of the Tirana Opera and ballet Theatre

The Counter-revolutionary Theory of the ‘Three Worlds’

Press Review

  • Japanese Military Expansion – Zëri i Popullit
  • Spain and Portugal in the aggressive plans of Washington – ATA
  • Nationalisation under capitalism serves to step up the exploitation of the proletariat and the working masses – Puna
  • Scientific research in the service of plans of aggression – Luftetari
  • Revanchists and Nazis in full activity in the Federal German Republic – Bashkimi

No 2 (45)

The Marxist-Leninist stand of the PLA on the problems of war and peace – Foto Çami

Outstanding contribution to the exposure of the strategy of imperialism and modern revisionism – Agim Popa

The revolution and national liberation – the reliable road for the working class and the peoples – Zija Xholi

Leninism – an ever triumphant theory – Shyqri Ballvora

Proletarian partisanship and some of the aspects of the waging of class struggle – Dritëro Agolli

A pedestal of social justice – Aleko Haxhi and Thimi Nika

From the life of the country

  • The 2nd Session of the 9th Legislature of the People’s Assembly concluded its work with success

The anti-Marxist-Leninist essence of ‘ideological pluralism’ – Servet Pëllumbi

The theory of three worlds – an opportunist variant of the class struggle of the proletariat – Joao Amazonas

Sino-American alliance – a great threat to the peoples’ freedom, independence and security – Zëri i Popullit

A great historic victory for the Iranian people – Zëri i Popullit

The Chinese leadership with Deng Xiaoping at the head has launched a military attack against Vietnam – Zëri i Popullit (Available in Enver Hoxha, Works, Vol 5, p720-728.)

Press Review

  • A Congress which raised the invincible banner of Marxism-Leninism still higher – Zëri i Popullit
  • The bourgeois educational system in crisis – Rinia
  • A dangerous agreement for the peoples and countries of Asia – Bashkimi

No 3 (46)

Decision of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania

JV Stalin’s work is immortal – Petro Lalaj

Neither ‘Self-isolation’ nor autarky – Aleko Haxhi

For a broader participation of the Student Youth in the Technical-Scientific Revolution – Valdete Sala

The new school in Albania is blazing new paths – Hamit Beqja

From the life of the country

  • May Day – the great popular celebration of the Albanian People
  • The Albanian people will turn their grief into great and indomitable revolutionary strength
  • Ferro-Chromium plant in Burrel inaugurated
  • The centenary of the birth of the great Albanian artist Alexsander Moisiu is commemorated

On alliances and compromises and the criticism of the theory of ‘Three Worlds’ – Xhelil Gjoni

Militant organisation of Revolutionary thought and action – Asim Bedalli

Soviet Revisionism – the most complete theory of modern revisionism – Omer Hashorva

‘Mao Tse-tung thought’ – an anti-Marxist, counter-revolutionary theory – Servet Pëllumbi

Telegram to the Central Committee of the Workers’ Communist Party of France

The Workers’ Communist Party of France is formed

From the message of the Workers’ Communist Party of France addressed to the CC of the PLA and Comrade Enver Hoxha

Press Review

  • The policy of oppression and discrimination of the nationalities in the social-imperialist Soviet Union – Zëri i Popullit
  • Growth of bureaucracy – an expression of the decay of the American Capitalist system – Bashkimi
  • The warmongering hysteria of German Revanchism – Luftetari
  • ‘Humanism’ which strengthens capitalist exploitation – Zëri i Popullit
  • The peoples are fed up with demagogical slogans about disarmament – Luftetari
  • Further penetration of American capital into the Soviet Union – ATA

No 4 (47)

The Democratic Front led by the Party is the great organisation which unites, organises and educates the people politically – Enver Hoxha

A brilliant manifestation of the unity of the Albanian people around the Party of Labour of Albania

Comrade Enver Hoxha’s closing speech

Report delivered by Comrade Ramiz Alia to the 5th Congress of the Democratic Front of Albania (excerpts)

Telegram to the 3rd Congress of the Portuguese Communist Party (reconstructed)

Proof of the unflinching struggle of the PLA against modern Revisionism – Zërii Popullit

The theory of the ‘Non-Aligned Countries’ serves the superpowers, the Bourgeoisie and reaction – Piro Vito

On the ‘United Europe’ of the monopolies – Arshi Ruçaj

The expropriation of the bourgeoisie of the principal means of production and their transformation into Socialist State Property (1944-46) – Iljaz Fishta and Veniamin Toçi

Press Review

  • Modern revisionism means division and bourgeois nationalism and chauvinism – Zëri i Popullit
  • New faces of the old scum – Drita
  • Belgrade’s Journal ‘Nin’ conceals the truth about the situation of the Albanian population in Yugoslavia – Ylli
  • Depression and inflation – typical phenomena of the Soviet economy – Zëri i Popullit
  • Children – the innocent victims of the bourgeois-revisionist order – Zëri i Rinise

No 5 (48)

Powerful manifestation of the correct line of the Party, the invincible strength of the people, the vitality of the socialist order – Enver Hoxha

‘Reflections on China’ – brilliant defence of Marxism-Leninism, scientific exposure of Chinese Revisionism – Fiqret Shehu

The economy of the PSR of Albania is stable and dynamic – it grows ceaselessly stringer – Harilla Papajorgji

Socialist social ownership in the PSR of Albania – Hasan Banja

Albanian archaeology – current problems

From the life of the country

  • Rapid developments of the energetics
  • Rapid development of transport
  • ‘Les lettres Albanaises’ – a new French magazine

Telegram to the 7th National Conference of the Communist Party of Brazil

The 7th National Conference of the Communist Party of Brazil

JV Stalin – an indomitable fighter against imperialism – Deko Rusi

Increased impoverishment and proletarianisation of the masses in capitalist society – Salaudin Kucaj

Press review

  • The Chinese Social-imperialists – supporting the reactionary and Fascist regimes – Zëri i Popullit
  • Polarisation of society – an expression of the anti-popular character of the bourgeois state – Bashkimi
  • Victory of the Nicaraguan people in their struggle for freedom and independence – Zëri i Popullit
  • Stepped up armaments race – ATA
  • The sell-out of the interests of the country to foreign capital sanctioned in China – Zëri i Popullit
  • Deep contradictions, fierce rivalry among imperialists – Zëri i Popullit
  • Racialist-imperialist plans and manoeuvres – Zëri i Popullit

No 6 (49)

Magnificent balance of victories in the course of 35 years of Socialist Albania – Mehmet Shehu

The Chinese revisionist leadership – an enemy of the Marxist-Leninist movement – Piro Bita

Radical changes in the way of life in the Albanian countryside today – Veniamin Toçi

From the life of the country

  • Messages of greetings to the 3rd Congress of the Communist Party of Spain (M-L)
  • Telegram to the central Committee of the Communist Party of Japan (Left)
  • To the central Committee of the Communist Party of Brazil
  • Socialist Albania celebrated with joy the 35th anniversary of the liberation of the homeland and the triumph of the people’s revolution
  • The National Conference of Problems of Socialist Construction

Socio-economic content of ‘self-administrative’ capitalist ownership – Hekuran Mara

The anti-scientific essence of the revisionist views on the alleged change of the nature of capitalism – Deko Rusi

Press Review

  • Counter-revolutionary collaboration between revisionist and social-democrat renegades – Zëri i Popullit
  • The policy of ‘detente’ and the economy of super-profits at the cost of the working people – Zëri i Popullit
  • Expansionist ambitions of West German capital – Zëri i Popullit
  • Nato on the road of strengthening its aggressive potential – Zëri i Popullit

More on Albania …..

November 11th – Armistice Day

Liverpool Cenotaph

Liverpool Cenotaph

More on the ‘Revolutionary Year’

November 11th – Armistice Day

The first commemoration of Armistice Day in Britain took place on November 11th 1919. In order to get men to fight in the new style of warfare brought about by the start of hostilities in 1914 what was euphemistically called ‘the Great War’ by the British was supposed to be ‘the war to end all wars’. With that as a background it made some sense to remember those who had died fighting for the interests of their respective imperialist countries. However, since the 20 million estimated to have been killed between 1914 and 1918 paled into insignificance in the century following that conflict the whole ethos of the day has changed.

Once the ink was dry on the Treaty of Versailles, signed on 29th June 1919, cities, towns and villages in Britain, France and Belgium (but not in Germany who had other matters – like starvation, an attempt at revolution and the rise of fascism – to concentrate the minds of the people following the draconian conditions of the ‘treaty’) made efforts to raise money so that those who died could be remembered in those places they lived before being shipped off to the trenches of the Western Front or other theatres of war. (The discrepancy about the dates you’ll see on such memorials stems from whether 1918 – which was the year of the end of the shooting – or 1919 – the year of the final treaty – had been chosen as the time when the war ended.)

Even the latter date might not have been totally accurate as the so-called ‘allied intervention’ in the Russian Civil War following the October Revolution – where 14 nations that had been trying to destroy each others’ armies and navies got together in an attempt to destroy the first workers state – continued until 1920. British fatalities in that conflict were, no doubt, listed on the local memorials to appear throughout the twenties although they were fighting in a completely different theatre of war and for completely different reasons.

So even before discussions on the treaty to end the war ‘to end all wars’ had even begun British forces were following the old imperialist road of killing all those who might challenge the right of capitalism to rule the world for the benefit of a few.

Added to that far off conflict the echoes of the guns on the Western Front had barely faded before those psychopaths from the British Army, who hadn’t had their fill of blood, volunteered to join the Black and Tans (the British equivalent of the proto-fascist Freikorps of Germany) who murdered with impunity in Ireland, when the Republican movement was a bit more principled than it is today.

When Nazi forces murdered without discretion, in various countries, during the Second World War the perpetrators were branded as war criminals. When the Black and Tans did the very same in Ireland between 1920 and 1922 they were commended as heroes fighting for the British State. Presumably those that were killed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the Irish War of Independence are also commemorated on the World War One memorials, if not by having their names recorded at least by association with the recently concluded war.

As time went on, and not too many years at that, the emphasis of ending wars as they were too destructive, in terms of personal suffering as well as the destruction of what a society had already created, was being pushed into the background.

My point here is that the idea behind Armistice Day, November 11th had become a lie, even before it could be first commemorated.

People in Britain seem to have an unhealthy appetite for celebrating war anniversaries. It was in just such a climate that the decision was made to make a big issue out of the centenary of the First World War – I could accept (just) commemorating the centenary of the end of the war in 2018 but the beginning in 2014? That’s just bizarre. But here the politicians are being clever. They know that there’s a deep-seated jingoism in a sizeable proportion of the British electorate that they can tap into. They also know that those very same people aren’t prepared to be critical of what has happened in the past – especially if the British ‘won’.

We have already seen a lot being made of the 1914 ‘Christmas Truce’ and no doubt tours to the battlefields of the Western Front and the likes of the Menin Gate in Ypres have been selling like hotcakes but are we really dealing with the real issues at hand?

Although this particular ‘celebration’ was initiated by the Tories and the ersatz Tories of the liberal Party such pandering to the lowest political level is also a forte of the Labour Party. Through the centuries when the British armed forces had been killing, raping and looting throughout the world (of the 196 countries in the world today the British have NOT invaded only 22 of them) there had been no proposal of a day where those forces were celebrated – this was probably because even those in power at the time realised that making these killers out to be heroes would be tantamount to making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

So, if after so many years without a special day devoted to those who had fought and/or died in past conflicts, why did the Labour Party introduce Veteran’s Day in 2006 (3 years later to be called Armed Forces Day)? Because British forces were becoming even more deeply involved in a continuous series of futile, un-winnable, unpopular and more than probably illegal (on their own terms of reference) conflicts which are likely to go on for ‘a generation’. What better to throw in a parade every year and people can forget reality. It also makes it difficult for those who oppose such imperialistic shows of military might as they will be branded as being un-supportive of ‘our boys – and now girls – who are fighting for ‘us’.

Whenever I hear this type of ‘argument’ I always wonder how it would be received if it came from the mouths of the parents of German Waffren SS soldiers whose idea of fighting for ‘us’ was murdering all the villagers and burning every building, as they did in Borove in Albania, or corralling every villager they could into a large building and then setting it on fire, burning all of them alive, as happened in hundreds of villages in the Soviet Union during the Second World War.

There was a sound moral reason why ordinary people (not the ruling class) of Britain adopted the idea of a day to remember those who had died in the First World War. Of course, many had died in previous wars but, in numerous senses, the war that began in 1914 was different. Although for the first year or so the war was conducted by ‘professionals’ they were soon joined by ‘volunteers’ and when that wasn’t enough to feed Death’s insatiable appetite mass conscription was introduced for the first time in 1916. These were children in many ways. Whether from the factories or the farms the vast majority of them hadn’t gone much more than a few miles from the place of their birth before being shipped off to some ‘exotic’ location. They took much of the propaganda fed to them uncritically and therefore were like lambs to the slaughter.

Any leadership was denied them when the traitorous Labour Party (yes, it’s been betraying the workers from the earliest days of its existence) decided to go back on the decisions made at gatherings, in the years leading up to the war, in such declarations as the Stuttgart Resolution (1907) and the Basel Manifesto (1912) – which called upon workers not to fight in a bosses war – of the Second International.

Although there had been many casualties in previous wars the overwhelming majority of those from the ‘Great War’ were young men in their late teens and early twenties. This had a not before experienced effect on women who never got closer to the war than those living on the south coast hearing gun fire from across the Channel. For, more or less, each soldier who didn’t return there was a young woman who had little or no prospect of marriage (at a time when this was the norm in society) or experienced widowhood . And this doesn’t take into account the many more who did return but with severe physical disabilities and even more who fought the war every day for the rest of their lives due to the trauma suffered in the trenches.

In Britain the civilian population didn’t suffer in the same way as they did in France and Belgium during the actual fighting. The real suffering followed 1918 and that made Armistice Day commemorations much more meaningful for many more people in the 1920s. This was unprecedented and hasn’t really been repeated in any way close in Britain since (although other countries had to face a similar situation subsequently, most notably the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War).

This should have been a wake up call to British workers. It wasn’t, even with all the suffering caused, both economically and socially, in the 20s and 30s. Even though the conditions showed that the capitalist system offered nothing to the majority of the population the British working class weren’t prepared to go that step further and confine it to the dustbin of history. The working class were responsible for this but then they weren’t able to create in their midst a revolutionary party that would be able to lead such a struggle – not then, nor since.

Although the Treaty of Versailles officially ended the 1914-19 war that was only really a declaration that called for a time out. The war might have ‘ended’ but the same issues that caused the war in the first place remained. Those issues could have been resolved if the workers of Europe had stood firm with the young socialist state in the Soviet Union and changed their own countries but, for various reasons, they didn’t. The rise of fascism generally, the victorious coup carried out by Mussolini in Italy, the defeat of the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War and, especially, the rise of Hitlerite Nazism in Germany made the World War, Part 2, inevitable.

The war in which British forces fought between 1939 and 1945 can safely be said to have been the only ‘just war’ in the history of the country. It was an ideological war for many of the soldiers involved (despite the overarching agenda of the politicians and those capitalists they really represented) with the defeat of fascism being the prime aim. For those who fought the gaining of land, resources and materials for the capitalist class was never an issue, unlike the majority of previous incursions abroad. (This is excepting, as it was fought solely on British soil, the English Civil War of the 17th century where the people rose up in a national liberation war against the God-crazed despot and dictator Charles Stuart.)

When that war officially ended in August 1945 that should have been the point when the world could have said that it had gone through the war to end all wars. But again it wasn’t. The enemy of the war that had been won, in great part, by the unimaginable sacrifice of the Soviet people, changed. Expansionist German had finally been defeated but that didn’t mean that the new kid on the block, the United States of America – together with its already tethered and dependent poodles, the United Kingdom and the other western European nations – hadn’t picked up the baton for world domination. The country which had fought fascism, as one of the ‘allies’, was now the enemy and communists seeking to make a world without war had to be defeated at all costs.

The British Armed Forces were to played, and play to this day, an important and crucial role is this battle against national liberation, progress and freedom.

Lest we forget:

Vietnam

From August to November 1945 Japanese soldiers in Vietnam were re-armed, by the British, to be used as a force against the Vietnamese Viet Minh, the national independence force led by Ho Chin Minh, in order to allow the French time to organise their forces to regain their colonialist control of the region. The Viet Minh had consistently fought against the Japanese invaders, the French had surrendered to the Nazis quite quickly and half the country was under a collaborationist government.

Indonesia

The British were involved in one battle during October and November 1945 against pro-independence Indonesian fighters in the battle for the city of Surabaya. British troops came with tanks, naval support – in the form of 2 cruisers and 3 destroyers – and air support from the RAF. The British ‘won’ but the battle became a clarion call for independence fighters in the future. Thousands of local people lost their lives.

Palestine

British forces had been in Palestine since the end of the First World War and became increasingly in conflict with the Palestinian population as more and more Jewish immigrants arrived in the country following the Balfour Declaration of 1917 – which promised ‘a national home for the Jewish people’. This decision didn’t take into account that there were already people living on the land and to make the declaration a reality some of these people would have to move. This led to increasingly violent conflicts between the British and the Palestinian Arabs before 1939 and once the war in Europe had been won and the Holocaust became widely known it was only a matter of time before the State of Israel would come into existence. A UN decision at the end of November 1947 came up with a ‘solution’ of the partition of Palestine. This wasn’t accepted by the Palestinians – it was their country and who were European powers to say otherwise – nor the Israeli settlers – who wanted it all.

Although the British were attacked by various Jewish terrorist groups (the leaders of which were later to hold high political office in the state of Israel) they stood aside as the date for the Declaration of the State of Israel (May 15th 1948) approached and the Jewish settlers carried out massacres such as the one of the village of Deir Yassin. This is a sore in that part of the world which has been festering ever since, with the suffering of the Palestinian people become greater day by day.

Greece

In March 1946 British forces continued its support of the Monarchist government in Greece. This had been ‘a government-in-exile’, i.e., the King ran away when the Fascists invaded. The Communist guerrillas who didn’t have that luxury stayed and fought against the invaders. Once the Nazis were thrown out at the end of 1944 the British were there to help reinstate the monarchy and gave support to a ‘White Terror’ against left-wing movements within the country. This ultimately led to the ‘Generals Coup’ of 1967 and then seven years of military, fascist rule.

Albania

In May 1946 a small convoy of the British Navy sailed through the narrow Corfu straights between the Greek island and Albania. This intimidation of a country with a tiny population who had liberated itself from the Nazi invaders in November 1944 was all part of the British plan, with the aid of its far superior armed forces, to undermine the Albanian Communist Government. As in Greece, Britain favoured the cowardly monarchy that had run away when the Italians had invaded in 1939, this time the self-proclaimed King Zog, and subsequently tried to infiltrate spies and saboteurs faithful to British interests, this all failed miserably.

China

In April 1949 the British Royal Navy ship, The Amethyst, was sent up the Yangtze River in China. This seems to have been more of an example of latter-day colonial arrogance on behalf of the British government and a similar attitude in the Admiralty. They seemed to be totally oblivious of the fact that tens of millions of Chinese men , women and children had died at the hands of the Japanese invaders; that the Communist Red Army under the leadership of Mao Tse-tung had played the major role in the defeat of that invading force of fascists; and that for four years they had been fighting, and were close to defeating, the capitalist favoured nationalist forces of the Kuomintang – who Britain subsequently recognised as ‘China’ (although limited to the island of Taiwan) in the United Nations until 1971. As in all these situations there’s a huge dose of hypocrisy. What would be the reaction of the British state if a Chinese warship were to start going up the Thames to ‘protect’ the Chinese Embassy, the excuse used in 1949?

Malaya

The British anti-guerrilla campaign in Malaya, starting in 1948, was euphemistically called ‘The Malayan Emergency’ – it’s interesting that after 6 years of war the use of the term was avoided so as to con the British populace that they hadn’t come out of one war to go into another. This was a dirty war fought in a manner that was to become the norm in Africa, Asia and Latin America for the next 50 years. Here the people were fighting for control of their own country opposed by a colonial power. As many of the guerrillas were of an ethnic Chinese background one of the tactics of the British was to use a ‘divide and conquer’ approach, pitting ethnic groups against each other.

The British troops in Malaya were also the first to use the tactics that the Americans were to perfect in Vietnam in the 1960s. Torture of captives was common, the tactic known as ‘search and destroy’ was widespread and the burning of villages was a matter of course, a shoot to kill policy was in place – meaning that if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time (even if where you lived) you could die, whole villages were ‘resettled’ (read imprisoned in controlled areas) so they could not aid the guerrillas, the use of defoliating chemicals was used to clear the jungle of shelter for the insurgents, and massacres of entire villages were part of the British tactics. One of those villages was a place called Batang Kali, the story of which is very similar to the case of My Lai in Vietnam in 1967, and like the later example of murder by imperialist troops not one British soldier was held to account.

Korea

The Korean War took place between June 1950 and July 1953, when an armistice was agreed but not a long-lasting solution. The division of the country was as a consequence of conferences between the Allies in the final months of the war and shows that matters were not always thought through by the Soviet Union – it seems they didn’t fully recognise the antagonism they would have to face from the capitalist nations, who were planning the ‘Cold War’ before the gunfire of WWII had ended. Using the Soviet Union’s boycott of the United Nations Security Council (in support of the People’s Republic of China’s rightful representation in the international body and hence unable to exercise the right of veto) with the US and the UK in the forefront of rhetoric and actual ‘boots on the ground’, an international force was sent in an anti-Communist crusade – a situation similar to which we can all recognise to date. A total of 87,000 British troops (including conscripts) were sent to Korea, resulting in a 1,000 fatalities. The country is divided to this day with occasional flare-ups, either militarily or in a war of words.

Kenya

As the British armed forces became involved in an increasing number of anti-colonial struggles on moving into the 1950s it’s possible to see how ‘tactics’ used in one place were repeated, and often refined, in others. The Mau Mau Uprising (again a loaded word that indicates the actions of the local populace was somehow illegitimate) was the name given to a liberation movement that fought the British from 1952 until 1956, when the struggle was all but lost by the Kikuyu fighters. In all these actions what are described as ‘war crimes’ can be attributed to the British forces, whether they be actual British soldiers or militias, auxiliaries recruited locally.

In Kenya concentration camps were established, often in very remote areas to keep the activities secret from the rest of the population. (Here it should be remembered that concentration camps were not the invention of the Hitlerite Nazis from the 1930s. No, the Nazis took their lead from the tactics used by the British at the end of the 19th century in their wars against the Boers in South Africa.) Torture was common and recent attempts by those who suffered at the hands of the British to get some sort of redress have been told, surprise, surprise, that the relevant documents have gone missing. There are a number of examples were captured insurgents were clubbed to death and a number of massacres of the local population are also documented.

Cyprus

A move by the British to move their Middle East Head Quarters from the Suez area of Egypt (presumably due to the hostility of the nationalist government of Nasser) to the island of Cyprus in 1955 was the spark to ignite both the Greek and Turkish populations desire to separate from the British and unite with their respective mainland countries. A total of 371 British soldiers died in the 4 year period but figures of Cypriot casualties are unclear – though they would have been much higher. Documents released in 2012 seem to show that, as in other places where the British fought to defend a dying colonialism, they were able to act with impunity in the way they dealt with the locals. To give an idea of the situation I’ll quote from an article in The Guardian newspaper just after the release of the documents: “A young British army officer recorded seeing 150 soldiers indiscriminately “kicking Cypriots as they lay on the ground and beating them in the head, face, and body with rifle butts”.”

Suez

In 1956, in response to the Egyptian President Nasser’s nationalisation of the Suez Canal the British, together with the Israelis and the French, concocted a scheme to invade the country. Although this was a short-lived occupation and really a debacle for the British and the French before they left there was a tally of 4 to 5 thousand dead Egyptians.

Oman

Oman in the 1950s was somewhere between slavery and feudalism. All power and resources where in the hands of the Sultan, who lived in a palace, which he rarely left, and was serviced by hundreds of slaves. There was no development, no schools, no health care and disease was endemic. As a result there was an inevitable rebellion. But, to paraphrase Franklin D Roosevelt when he was referring to the Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, ‘He may be a son of a bitch, but he’s Britain’s son of a bitch’. He was also anti-Arab nationalist, something the British liked after the disaster of the Suez Crisis, and he allowed the British to build a couple of air bases in a strategically important part of the world.

This was a ‘war’, which began in the middle of 1957, fought almost exclusively, at least initially, by the Royal Air Force. In supporting the Sultan they followed the tactic of making it so dangerous and unpleasant for anyone to support any opposition to the staus quo that they would think twice to do so. They also attacked water supplies, crucial for survival in such a desert country. These were war crimes in anyone’s definition but the pilots seem to, literally, get away with murder as they are so far from the actual killing zone – just like drone pilots today. If force needed to be used on the ground the British were happy to provide the weapons. Once the RAF had bombed the rebel strongholds to dust the SAS were sent in to finish the job, in the process gaining a reputation for being the hard men of the British Army but really just carrying out mopping up operations. By July 1959, the Sultan, with the military might of the British behind him, seemed to have won.

Brunei

An anti-colonial rebellion broke out in December 1962. Intelligence of the intention of an insurrection got to the British about a month before it was due to begin, thus allowing themselves time to organise a response. It seems that overwhelming force, with infantry regiments, including a couple of Gurkha regiments, on the ground as well as Royal Navy and RAF support was able to stop the rebellion before it gained any momentum.

Indonesia

Although British troops weren’t directly involved in the October 1965 military coup which put the pro-Western Suharto in control of the country and led to the murder, over the next couple of years, of millions of Communist and trade unionists, the Royal Navy did play the role of protectors of a boat load of Indonesian soldiers on one of their killing sprees. This shouldn’t be a surprise. The Labour Government of Harold Wilson knew what was going to happen before the event, virtually giving Suharto the green light. Communist led attempts at insurrection in Sarawak and the anti-colonial (British) failed insurrection in Brunei had both been supported by Sukarno and his removal suited Britain’s political and economic interests in the region. As was, and still is, the case the question of oil came high on the agenda.

Aden

Aden, which is now part of Yemen, had been under the control of the British since 1839 but at the end of 1963 (I know that’s a long time before getting fed up with foreign domination) the local people had had enough of colonial rule. The British response to this was to declare another ’emergency’ and send in the Army’s 24th Infantry Brigade and nine squadrons, helicopters as well as aircraft, of the RAF. This was a short but very intense conflict, with the balance of power changing after each battle. The commander of the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was nicknamed ‘Mad Mitch’ so that will give you an idea of how the battle was fought on the British side. The British left, earlier than originally planned, in November 1967. Around 60 British soldiers lost their lives but the number of local fighters who were killed is unknown.

(As we were nominally supposed to be in ‘Peace Time’, it’s interesting to note that 1968 was the first year since the end of the Second World War when British troops were not in a combat role somewhere in the world. I think it’s true to say the only year from 1945 till now.)

Ireland

British troops were sent into Ireland, in the most recent version of ‘The Troubles’, on 14th August 1969. Although it could be true to say, initially, they were welcomed by the Catholic community that soon melted away. With Ireland it’s difficult to know where to start. It would depend where you stand on Ireland whether this was a national, civil conflict or the perpetuation of colonial rule. Whatever interpretation you choose it brings up difficult questions. If you think that Northern Ireland is part of the UK then British troops were mistreating, torturing and generally terrorising British citizens. If you believe in an All Ireland Republic this was a matter of the colonial conflict getting closer to home.

British troops in Ireland: kicked in people’s doors in the middle of the night; soon had their backs to the Unionist attackers and faced the Republicans trying to defend themselves; killed children by firing ‘battery enhanced’ rubber bullets into their faces; killed civilians in a virtual ‘shoot to kill’ policy; the ‘Bloody Sunday’ massacre in Derry – in recent days a soldier has been arrested for this, but, as always happens in these circumstances, a lowly soldier becomes the scapegoat for overall Army policy; the Springfield Massacre in Belfast where British snipers shot 5 people, including a 13-year-old girl and a priest; the Ballymurphy Massacre when eleven civilians were killed; introduced Internment; and generally made life miserable for the people of Northern Ireland and despite the Good Friday Agreement the underlying issues remain.

(When it comes to Army recruitment the worsening situation in Ireland changed the way the Armed Forces presented themselves. Into the early years of the 70s the call was for young people to ‘Join The Professionals’. When that was seen as joining a bunch of thugs who kicked in people’s doors in the middle of the night advertising for the army virtually disappeared from the scene.

Ireland has now been all but forgotten in the public consciousness – in the mainland if not on the island itself. Despite the disastrous wars that the UK has been involved in since 2002 there is a new level of confidence in the state. However many soldiers might die or return with psychological issues there seems to be no shortage of volunteers to join up. Whether the advertising campaigns are really necessary is another matter, it does shovel money into the pockets of companies who support the State but more importantly keeps the idea of an internationally capable armed force in the public thinking.)

Muscat and Oman

The issues that caused the people to rise up against the Sultan in the 1950s didn’t go away, although the revolutionary forces were severely weakened by British military action. By 1970 oil was a much bigger player in the country and the rebellions continued to break out. Instead of making efforts to ameliorate the condition of the people the British government (Labour) instituted a coup against the old Sultan (who was past his sell by date), brought the more compliant son to the throne, and then used the RAF to again bomb the poor peasants out of existence.

Malvinas

The war with Argentina over the Malvinas was a nasty, tacky war encompassing all those reactionary and archaic aspects of wars fought when Britain was dominant in the world and ‘the sun never set on the British Empire’ and the short campaign brought out the worst in the British population. Those aspects of racism and jingoism latent in the country were given free rein by the Thatcher government, who revelled in the opportunity to distract people’s attention away from their inability to deal with the economy. ‘Victory’ in the South Atlantic also allowed those war-mongers within society to attain a level of influence that was still palpable more than twenty years later when the never-ending ‘war on terror’ was declared. More than a thousand men were to die in that short war, a quarter of them British.

Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and ……

Perhaps it’s unjust to lump all these countries together but circumstances in the last 13 years make it difficult to separate what happens in one country from the effects on another. There is no perceivable end to this war, even politicians saying (in a perverse way to gain support for their policies) that this was is a generational war, one that will go on for years. ‘Victory’ in one place only means the fighting break outs in another. So far 465 military personnel have died in Afghanistan, 179 in Iraq. When it comes to wounded the situation is not so clear, in Iraq almost 6,000 but the figures for Afghanistan are obscured, presumably to keep as many people as possible in the dark about the true human cost.

But the figures become another matter when we consider casualties amongst those opposing the invasion of their country and civilians who get caught up in the fighting. Those figures are probably well over 200,000 but we’ll probably never know the exact figures as numbers are a political game. And from experience of the past the numbers of enemy combatants will always be exaggerated, and those of civilians played down, to demonstrate that the ‘good guys’, i.e., us, are winning.

Industrial Disputes in Britain

Another matter which is never considered is the role that the Armed Forces have played in industrial disputes in this country. Up to the mid-1980s, when trade union activity dropped considerably with the success of the Thatcher government’s anti-union policies, especially with the defeat of the miners in 1984/5, the British Armed Forces were called out almost 50 times to basically scab (strike break) on behalf of the employers. This was at a time when trade union membership was close to 12 million, so hardly a minority group within society – although lack of solidarity amongst trade unionists often meant that groups could be picked off one by one – the tactic learnt long ago by capitalism but still not by those who oppose the rotten system.

When it comes to party politics in Britain it should be pointed out that the colour of the government at any time in the last 70 years has played no part whatsoever in whether British Armed Forces were sent to other parts of the world or not. The Labour Party has been as willing to send troops to maintain British imperialism’s control of various countries, considered by capitalism to be of such importance that force was necessary, as the ‘traditional’ representative of the ruling class, the Conservative Party. Even in opposition these parties play a game and might make noises around the execution of the deployment but never, ever challenging the morality of the issue.

My reasons for this long list (longer than even I remembered) of occasions where British Armed Forces have been in action since 1945 is to argue that it is impossible – if you have any moral compass whatsoever – to consider those who have been killed or wounded as having done so in order to make the world a better place to live, the sort of statements that have been bandied around in the last week or so leading up to November 11th – a phrase which I can’t remember being used in such the same way in previous years.

It seems that the longer the ‘war against terror’ goes on the more the British population in general are prepared to accept the cost that will have to be paid in men, women and materials – those at the receiving end of this mayhem not really being considered at all. There are crocodile tears for the refugees but the bombs continue to drop, drones get used more and more (becoming more terrifying to the people of the ground with the use of the ‘double tap’ tactic – where the drone will stay for hours if need be just to ready to send another missile on anyone who tries to help the injured.

One of the stated aims of even an imperialist army is to defend the people from the country which they originate but do the people of Britain actually feel any safer as a consequence of all these wars against diverse people’s throughout the world?

If wars against poor peasants in the past didn’t affect the civilian population of Britain that is starting to change. In my travels throughout the world I was always amazed that it was very rare to come across hostility from local people who had suffered under the British Armed Forces over the decades. That has changed now. The combined efforts of Bush and Blair have created a genie which will be very difficult (if not impossible) to push back into the bottle.

So have British troops, in the last 100 years, made ‘the world a better place’? I would suggest not. A better pace for the rich and powerful but not for ordinary working people, in whatever country and at whatever level of economic development.

Why do young men and women still volunteer to join such an organisation when it has such a history? I don’t know. There will always be the psychopaths who, if they did what they do in the armed forces in civilian life they would be pariahs of society. Put them in a uniform and they become ‘heroes’. But they, I would like to think, are in the minority – although I find it disturbing when a parent of a dead serviceman/woman will say that their son/daughter died ‘doing something they loved’, when the job of a member of an infantry regiment is to kill people’.

Way back in the 70s and 80s it was suggested that those who join (especially the Army) do so because they come from poor working class backgrounds and there’s nothing else for them to do. Even if that argument is correct the poverty of their origin does not give them license to go to other parts of the world and terrorise the local population.

And where does anyone think the foot soldiers to defend capitalism are to come from anyway? The highest casualty rate in the First World War was among the lowest ranks of the officer corp. Either because they were in the first ranks of those going ‘over the top’ or because they were shot so that the rest of the soldiers didn’t have to go ‘over the top’ at least they were fighting for a society that had benefited them.

Even in the 21st century troops after coming back from the wars in the east are complaining about the lack of support in civilian life. Don’t they have any idea of history? In the 1914-19 war they were promised ‘homes fit for heroes’, they didn’t get them. Why should the State act any differently now, especially when we are in a time of austerity where we are ‘all in this together’ and everyone must play their part?

I don’t want this country to keep sending its young people to fight wars for whom the ruling class are the only beneficiaries. I don’t want that we have to keep adding different campaigns to the list on the First World War memorials. But unless the people of this country stand up against these wars that is what will continue to happen, and now in a climate where people are so full of hate (and why is that surprising?) that they are prepared to bring the war back to the country which had sent the bombs to kill families on the other side of the world. These are very dangerous chickens that are coming home to roost.

For a time leading up to and in the immediate aftermath of the war against Iraq many people wore badges with the slogan ‘Not in my name’. That should be the slogan all the time, a slogan which shouldn’t be forgotten once the fighting has started and the bodies of those young people start to arrive back home. If the country is not prepared to see the processions through ‘Royal’ Wootton Bassett (something which the General Staff of the Army hated and which will never be repeated however height the casualties) then it shouldn’t allow those young people to be sent out in the first place.

That would be in a world without war – but there are far too many vested interests to allow such a situation to arise without a fight. To attain that would be definitely worth fighting for – a war to end all wars.

More on the ‘Revolutionary Year’

Fier Martyrs’ Cemetery

Fier Martyrs' Cemetery

Fier Martyrs’ Cemetery

More on Albania …..

Fier Martyrs’ Cemetery

Many of the Martyrs’ Cemeteries throughout Albania are situated on hills, sometimes quite high hills, in the vicinity of the cities and towns. This is the case with the Fier Martyrs’ Cemetery which, when it was constructed, would have been clearly seen from the centre of the town, the area around Sheshi Pavarësia (Independence Square) and the Bashkia (Town Hall). Up to the 1990s the buildings weren’t that tall but subsequent construction of high-rise flats has meant that you don’t really see the cemetery until you’re almost upon it.

As you come to the cemetery from the northern side a residential road brings you to a small, now abandoned, white building – all fittings having been removed. This is too small to have been a museum that were normally situated near a cemetery (and anyway, there’s a proper Historical Museum in the centre of town, in a good condition, looking as if it has only recently been refurbished and with many fine exhibits from the Socialist period). The building must have some connection to the cemetery (perhaps a place selling flowers on special occasions, but that’s only speculation) as it wouldn’t have served many other purposes.

From this building there are a series of steps taking you to the lapidar and statue at the highest point of the hill. The graves are laid out to the right of the steps, with the tombs on two levels. The whole area is relatively clean, the tombs are undamaged, and although the grass is growing between the stone tiles and a little untidy around the graves it is obviously cared for, at least on an occasional basis.

Probably when the cemetery was originally laid out there would just have been a lapidar, although not the one there now. If we go back to the late 1940s and early 50s the lapidar would have been a simple affair, sitting on the highest point, with a star somehow attached to the highest point facing the approach steps or perhaps surmounting the pillar.

The present lapidar sits on a large, raised plinth and must be, at least, the second reincarnation with the area being improved at the same time the statue was added. But what you see today is not what would have been seen at that time in the early seventies.

I’m almost certain the plinth and lapidar are from the 1970s but they have recently been restored following years of neglect and vandalism. The people and the Bashkia (local government) of Fier made a decision, anything up to ten years ago, to recover and recognise the past sacrifices of local people in the National Liberation War. It was in 2010 that the new (and awful) Liri Gero statue was unveiled and the monument to the 68 Girls was given a new plinth. It would make sense to think that the cemetery was restored at the same time.

The top face of the plinth is covered with marble tiles, is in a very good condition and are in three colours – red, white and brown – with a simple geometric pattern all the way around. The concrete below is unadorned, but clean and undamaged, and raises the plinth about a half a metre above the surrounding area.

The lapidar itself is a simple tall, rectangular pillar, wider at the bottom couple of metres or so, and then soaring vertically upwards. Whether the original marble facing was stolen or just fell off due to neglect I’m unsure. Now it is covered in white and greyish marble slabs from the top to the bottom. The highest limit of the widest part is indicated by a frieze of narrow, red tiles. However, there’s been a bit of cost cutting as the tiles on the topmost part of the lapidar are only on the side facing the steps and half way on the right and left face giving the impression that the decoration is ‘functional’, that is, on those parts most people will see as they come up the steps.

Fier Martyrs' Cemetery

Fier Martyrs’ Cemetery

There’s also been a bit of cost cutting on the metal decoration on the main face. At the bottom there’s a large laurel branch with nine leaves. This looks to be treated sheet steel but there are signs of rust appearing at the joins of the leaves and the branch. Higher up the words ‘Lavdi Deshmoreve’ (‘Glory to the Martyrs) runs in large, golden letters vertically from the top down. From a distance this looks quite smart but once close up you can see that the letters have been made out of sheet steel, boxed, in three dimensions and then painted with gold paint. The elements are starting to take their toll and the paint is fading and rust is starting to show. At the top of the column, a few centimetres from the top, is a large, red, metal star – the symbol of Communism.

This is the first time, so far, that I’ve seen sheet steel used in the renovation of a lapidar. Whether the laurel branch would have been on the original I don’t know but the words ‘Lavdi Deshmoreve’ almost certainly would have, it’s universal on Albanian lapidars. But almost invariably the letters would have been made out of the more expensive bronze and it’s possible the originals had been looted and melted down for scrap.

The other component of the Fier Cemetery lapidar is a large (about twice life-size) statue of a female partisan. Being Fier, which still celebrates the bravery and heroism of Liri Gero and the 68 Partisan Girls, it’s not a surprise a female statue was chosen.

Fier Cemetery - Female Partisan

Fier Cemetery – Female Partisan

The figure stands on a solid block of concrete a couple of metres to the right of the monolith. Unusually, this statue has a name, ‘Liria fitohet dhe mbrohet me pushke’ meaning ‘Freedom won and defended by the rifle’. This is the implied meaning of most of the statues in such circumstances, taking its lead from a the revolutionary slogan of the Party of Labour of Albania, ‘To build Socialism holding a pickaxe in one hand and the rifle in the other’ – what has been gained by the workers is never guaranteed unless they are prepared to fight to defend them from all attacks, whether internal or external.

The statue is made of concrete and is the work of Gjergji J Toska and Qiraku Dano and was inaugurated in 1972 (or perhaps 1973). Toska was from the region of Myzeqeja, which is just to the north of Fier, between Divjake and Lushnje. In an interview he has said that where he grew up had an influence on his sculptural works. The sculpture took about 18 months to create and it was one of a number that had been commissioned for other cemeteries in the country. During the period when these type of sculptures were being installed in Albania it was normal for final approval to be granted by a local approval commission, in the early 1970s none such existed in Fier so photos of his work were sent to Tirana, where the work was well received.

Again there are elements that appear as a recurring motif. The woman is striding out as if she were climbing in the mountains, representing Albania and the fact that the Partisans used the hills as their base to attack the invaders and soon controlling the countryside, leaving the occupation forces surrounded in the towns.

In her right hand she holds the top of the barrel of her rifle, the butt of which is resting on the hillside next to her right foot. Although her weapon is a good representation of a bolt-action rifle it is much bigger than it would have been in reality. It would have taken, indeed, a true Amazon to fire such a weapon. But a weapon of such a size was necessary to allow the pose the sculptors have chosen to represent.

Her legs are as far apart as possible and she is stretching up to hold the top of the gun. Her left hand is stretched out behind, and above, her head to hold the right, top edge of partisan flag (and later to be the national flag of the country) with its symbol of the double-headed eagle with the Communist star above the heads. The top left corner of the flag is being held taut by having a fixed bayonet used as a short and temporary flagpole and the material is scrunched up in her hand so we don’t see the normal rectangle of the banner but more of a trapezoidal shape. The bottom right of the flag hangs down and partially covers her long hair, resting on her shoulder, a small triangle fluttering free. She has a determined look on her face and looks into the distance, to the left of her rifle.

Her limbs almost form an X, the right arm and left leg in a straight line, the other two limbs not doing so as her right leg is higher up the hill she is climbing. This gives the figure a sense of dynamism. She is moving forward as well as going up, going higher. Stretching she is pushing herself to achieve more. As a Partisan this is first and foremost victory in the National Liberation War against Fascism but in that war Communists were fighting to rid their country of the invaders but also in order to build a new society. And once the revolution is won it’s not possible to rest on your laurels. It’s difficult to make a revolution but it’s even more difficult to build a new sort of society – which will be constantly under attack from the capitalists, both in the country and from without, and more the powerful imperialist nations. So the task of a Partisan changes after liberation but it doesn’t get any easier – hence the title of the statue.

The Partisan is dressed in full uniform and has the red star on her cap and (what would have been) a red bandana around her neck. Around her waist she wears an ammunition belt.

Although it’s not immediately obvious from the front on looking at the back of the statue we see that her long hair is being blown over her left shoulder, indicating that a strong wind is blowing into her face. Another indication of being in the high mountains and suggests more movement as the flag would be fluttering.

Freedom won and defended by the rifle, GJ Toska and Q Dono, Fier (Martyrs' Cemetery) 1972

Freedom won and defended by the rifle

The statue looks to be in very good condition and has recently been painted, the paint showing few signs of wear but then I don’t think that Fier gets particularly harsh weather conditions at any time of year. As with most of these concrete statues they would not have been originally painted at all, just the unadorned concrete, but this is a general approach to the cleaning and renovation of monuments now in different parts of the country.

The grave of Liri Gero will be in this cemetery, but I was amiss on my last visit and didn’t identify exactly where it is. I will remedy that on my next visit.

Fier Martyrs' Wall of Honour

Fier Martyrs’ Wall of Honour

In some of the Martyrs’ cemeteries there’s a list of all those from the area who died in the war. However, this is not the case in Fier. On the first floor (which documents the period from pre-war years to 1990) of the Fier Historical Museum there’s a wall of remembrance, listing those from the Fier district who gave their lives for National Liberation. Although a recent creation it has all the aspects you’d expect from the Socialist period. The background is the Communist red and in the centre there’s a large black, double-headed eagle. Over the two heads is a golden star. At the very top are the words ‘Deshmoret e luftes antifashiste nacionalçlirimtare’ (Martyrs of the National Liberation War) in gold letters. And then, also in gold letters, are the names of 443 men and women from the Fier district – many more than are commemorated with a tomb in the cemetery.

Location of the Fier Martyrs’ Cemetery.

It’s best to arrive at the cemetery from the north, going up Rruga Skender Muskaj, from Rruga Jani Bakalli, and taking the first left along Rruga Koli Stamo – this brings you to the derelict building at the bottom of the steps.

GPS:

40.719541

19.56362402

DMS:

40° 43′ 10.3476” N

19° 33′ 49.0465” E

Altitude:

36.4m

Other lapidars in Fier.

So far I have been concentrating on the more elaborate monuments that come under the heading of ‘lapidars’ and which have been identified by the Albanian Lapidar Survey. To me that makes sense as the more ornate and complicated works of art have a story to tell and, although sometimes it has been difficult to find the information, it has been a pleasure trying to unravel what is before us. However, the vast majority of lapidars are more modest, but in their own way as important and significant a part of Albania’s history as the grand works of sculpture. More importantly all these small lapidars commemorate men or women who died fighting Fascism. Sometimes only two or three but even though they may not have been honoured as ‘Heroes of the People’ they were fundamental in the victory of November 1944.

In a sense the condition and evolution of the three other lapidars in the centre of Fier encapsulate the problem that Albania has in dealing with its past. Revolutionary Socialism never has been, and never will be, a State of all the people. For many reasons, class background, ideological and religious convictions, simple greed and selfishness there will always be those who will resist and use every opportunity to sabotage or undermine any achievements in a Socialist society. To all these negative factors have to be added the mistakes that the revolutionaries make, either out of ignorance, excessive zeal or even those who have infiltrated the Party in order to undermine its work, that exacerbate an already difficult task. And that’s before you have to take into account efforts by economically more powerful external forces to destroy a socialist society by whatever means possible.

This means that symbols of a past period are bound to be targets once the revolution loses support amongst a significant proportion of the population. In Albania the easiest target was the General Secretary of the Party of Labour for the majority of the time of Socialist construction, Enver Hoxha. As do all revolutionary Marxist-Leninists he believed in the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’, a concept that developed from the concrete experience of workers in different parts of Europe seeking to build a society which was not based on exploitation and oppression. By presenting and arguing this ideological stance Hoxha was branded ‘Dictator’ by his enemies and detractors. It was to their advantage to try to make the concept, that has to involve the vast majority of a society to be successful, into a personal, individual matter.

But the idea of the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ developed from the defeats that workers had undergone throughout history but especially from the late 19th century onwards. The thirty thousand men, women and children who were slaughtered in the last week of May 1871 at the end of the Paris Commune; the massacre of the Spartacists in Germany in 1919; the Civil War in Russia when the White forces were supported by 14 countries which only a few months before were sworn enemies; the interventions that Albania itself was subject to in the first years after liberation by the combined efforts of the British and the Americans all reinforced the truth that if the workers want to take real, and not just imagined, power (as is promised by Social Democracy and the ballot box) then they have to fight as much after the revolution as before it.

When we come back to the idea of the lapidars in Albania we see that Hoxha therefore become the easiest target. Public statues of him and the likes of the Memorial to the Berat Meeting of 1944, where he is a prominent figure amongst the fine sculpture where many tens of people were depicted (a sad loss), were destroyed in the early days of the counter-revolution. Now he is printed on mugs and pens in the souvenir shops of Gjirokaster or found as a small stone bust in small Albanian produce shops throughout the country – although a large bust of him is presently covered in a white tarpaulin in the ‘Sculpture Park’ behind the National Art Gallery in Tirana (or at least was in May of 2015).

The issue then becomes what to do with the other monuments, in the main commemorating those who died in the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, in a country with such a small population that virtually every family would have had a relative amongst the country’s martyrs, within a generation or two. This meant that the majority of the monuments weren’t conscious targets of attack by reactionary forces but time, mindless and infantile vandalism and general neglect would play their part in erasing the country’s past.

There are a lot of questions which address this issue of identity, relationship to the past and how culture in general is seen in Albania today but that will take some space so I’ll return to that at a later date (or else this post will never end).

However, a part of that debate can be seen played out in the Fier lapidars.

Monument to the Three Martyrs

3 Martyrs - Fier

3 Martyrs – Fier

On the right hand side of the road, about 200m from Sheshi Europa Plaza (on the Fier ring-road) on the SH73 – the road to Berat – is a modest monument to three young men killed in the fight to liberate the city from the German Nazis. This is more typical of the lapidars around the country than those I have documented so far and if you didn’t know it was there it would be very easy to miss. Unlike War Memorials in the UK it is not common for there to be some sort of railing around the monument, not now nor in the past.

More typical but also on the modest side of typical. Some of the lapidars seek to impress as they soar skywards, although there may not be a great deal of ornament or decoration, but this one is minimalist and only stands about 2 metres high. So we have a simple, concrete monolith and on each side of that column there are two ‘wings’ which extend to just below half way up. It’s painted white (and fairly recently going by the condition) and the only other aspect of it is a marble plaque fixed to the top half of the facade. In most of these cases there would have been a red star but I could see no indication that something had been fixed just above the plaque (where you would expect to find one) so it’s possible that one was attached at the very top, normally a painted iron star attached by short, narrow pieces of reinforced iron. Whatever the situation in the past there’s no star there now.

Although it has been repainted there has been no attention paid to the plaque. The letters on the plaque had been cut out of the marble and then made more obvious by being painted in black. That has worn and it’s now very difficult to make out the words, especially if you aren’t good at the language and can’t make assumptions of what the words should be. In different places I’ve seen fairly badly delineated letters, perhaps more good intentions than skill, so this is something that has to be taken as it comes.

The most important point I wish to make about this lapidar is the fact that, to all intents and purposes, to most Albanians it doesn’t seem to exist. Obviously it exists as an entity but not for what it represents. On the day I visited this lapidar the area immediately around it was relatively clear. It sits at the side of a field where there is a small lay-by. When the ALS team visited it was holding up a moped and breeze blocks for some construction project were being stored right beside it.

3 Martyrs - Fier

3 Martyrs – Fier – photo by Marco Mazzi

Now, was this done consciously – that the people who were treating a war memorial as just a convenient post against which to lean their bike and therefore making apolitical statement – or unconsciously, not realising what it was and the bike and the breeze blocks had to go somewhere? Or are these small and unobtrusive lapidars just victims of their own simplicity, people don’t see them unless they really look?

Carved into the marble plaque are the words:

Më 27-VII-1944 ranë në luftën për çlirimin e qytetit të Fierit dëshmorët e Luftës Nacional Çlirimtare Tomor Dizdari, Orman Zaloshnja, Vangjel Gjini.

This translates as:

On 27-VII-1944, in the fight to liberate the city of Fier during the National Liberation War, the martyrs Tomor Dizdar, Orman Zaloshnja, Gender Vangeli fell.

At that time this area would have been considered well out of the town centre so, this is presumably the location where they actually died. So far I’ve been unable to find any more information about the three martyrs.

Location:

GPS:

40.71874003

19.56974097

DMS:

40° 43′ 7.4641” N

19° 34′ 11.0675” E

Monument to the 11th Brigade

11th Brigade - Fier

11th Brigade – Fier

This monument is right in the centre of town, not far from the Bashkia and at the junction of the street in which the Historical Museum can be found. This is a step up from the previous lapidar, displaying more architectural elements but without involving any sculptural elements. This particular lapidar also demonstrates the process, stated long ago and now again becoming a trend in parts of the country, of updating/upgrading/restoring/renovating the lapidars. Here the old has been demolished and a new created in the same location – and it’s almost a replica. But not quite.

Both consist of a platform, which has three steps on the right hand side of the long edge which continue on the right hand narrow edge. On this platform a monolith rises up to a height of about eight. On the left hand side of this monolith there’s a curved buttress at the bottom. It’s here where there’s a slight difference between the old and the new. On the old this right hand structure is joined by another rectangular slab of concrete which extends upwards about a metre over the first. On the new there is a space between these two components and the concrete in between is painted a deep red, which continues from under the curved buttress. On both the versions a concrete slab about 2 x 4 metres is placed at 90º to the lapidar.

Although there’s a possibility that the old has been renovated I don’t think this is possible, at least not for all of the structure. The platform has been faced on the lower part by false brick tiles, as have the steps. The top of the platform has also been covered with marble tiles. This would cover all the wear and tear of over 40 years on the concrete so that part might be part of the original. I don’t think this is the case with the rest of the lapidar.

11th Brigade - Fier

11th Brigade – Fier – photos by Marco Mazzi

Apart from the separation of the two slabs of concrete it all looks a lot smarter, the edges are sharper and I don’t think that can be achieved with a repair job (and would you put new, modern concrete on a crumbling forty-year old base? Also the slab that contains the letters appears wider than the original. Another difference is the red star on the facade that faces to the left. On the old this is larger and has greater depth whereas on the new it’s smaller and flatter.

The wording on the two versions is also slightly different. On the old the letters are just stencilled, in red paint, onto a white background – these were probably not the original but a later ‘restoration’. They are:

1 Nentor 1944 Brigada E XI-S

This translates to:

1 November 1944 S Brigade XI

S is for Sulmuese. This can be translated as assault, shock or guerrilla group. Units of the Albanian Partisan Army were not designed for mass, set battles. They could move fast and therefore weren’t as heavily armed as the Fascist opposition which ultimately secured them victory. It is one of those contradictions of war that the better equipped force can actually find that what appears an advantage on paper, in crucial circumstances, becomes a hindrance and bogs them down in a way that makes them vulnerable. The E? This is a grammatical device which seems somewhat redundant.

There are indications that there might have been more text or an image of some kind (on the edge close to the column) but there’s no way to work out what might have been.

The letters are almost the same, but not exactly, on the new. They are inlaid on a large rectangle of marble (a much more sophisticated presentation than the previous version) and read:

1 Nentor 1944 U formua brigada XI Sulmuese

This translates as:

1 November 1944 – the XIth Assault Brigade was formed

This is confusing to me. I believe that the 1st November 1944 is the date when Fier was liberated from the Nazis. The 11th Brigade would have been formed long before that as the whole of the country was liberated on 29th November of that year.

Location:

GPS:

40.72572702

19.55575199

DMS:

40° 43′ 32.6173” N

19° 33′ 20.7072” E

Monument to Petro Sota and the 1943 Nazi Massacre

Petro Sota and 1943 Massacre - Fier

Petro Sota and 1943 Massacre – Fier

The third lapidar in Fier is different again. It’s a simple monolith, which is made grander by being placed on a plinth, and is in the public park in the centre of the town. On the side facing the centre of the park there’s a marble plaque with an inscription. The park is now considerably smaller than it would have been when the lapidar was first installed as a huge chunk of it has been taken up by a large mosque. Considering that all the other lapidars in the town have been cleaned recently this one is showing signs of wear, although structurally sound, and the inscription – black paint in the carved marble – is showing signs of wear it’s still quite easy to read the words.

What makes this lapidar unusual is that it actually commemorates a person and an event. So far I haven’t come across monuments where the space is shared.

The first is recognition of another of Fier’s sons in the National Liberation War, Petro Sota. He became a Communist before the Italian Fascists invaded the country in 1939 and once the town was occupied he worked as a courier of information, news and materials for the liberation cause. He was a driver and had a certain amount of freedom to move around and with different ruses got around the roadblocks and checkpoints the Fascists imposed or order to maintain control of the town.

On one occasion he used a child sized coffin to bring in the Party newspaper and on another caused the Italian soldiers to follow him, allowing free passage for those who were bringing in contraband. He is remembered as when, in July 1943, things went wrong on a mission he was able to destroy sensitive Resistance material before being killed.

He is recognised in the top half of the inscription:

Petro Sota, vrarë më 13 korrik 1943 nga fashistët italianë duke kryer detyrën e ngarkuar nga njësiti gueril.

Which translates as:

Petro Sota, killed on 13 July 1943 by the Italian Fascists, carrying out tasks entrusted to him by the guerrilla unit.

The second half of the inscription asks more questions than it answers. This is:

Po këtu më 10 shtator 1943 nazistët gjermanë masakruan 45 qytetarë të pafajshëm

In English:

But here on September 10, 1943 the German Nazis massacred 45 innocent civilians

So far I don’t have the information that explains exactly what happened and why. This was just after the Nazis replaced the Italian Fascists, who had by this time effectively withdrawn from the war on all fronts. It’s possible the Germans wanted to stamp their mark on the country, knowing already the sort of fierce opposition they would face from the Communist Partisans. Also, exactly at this time the German forces were being defeated outside the village of Drashovice (in the Selenice valley close to Vlora) so it could have been a massacre caused by the Nazis’ frustration.

Whatever the reason 45 is a lot of people at one time and what surprises me the most is there wasn’t a more substantial monument to the event, as there is in Borovë and Uznovë. The names are not even listed, the event only meriting a couple of lines on a very modest memorial – and shared at that. Something to investigate.

The tally of Nazi five atrocities, in effect war crimes, in Albania that I have identified, so far, make the decision to establish a memorial to the German dead during their invasion of the country even more of a mystery, apart from establishing the fascist credentials (or at least forelock-tugging attitude) of past, post-1990 governments in Albania.

Petro Sota

Petro Sota

The reason for the lack of a memorial to those 45 people becomes even more confounding when we look at a statue of Petro Sota that was unveiled in 2014. I have the utmost respect for what Petro might have done during the Liberation War and I have no problem with the placing a bust of him in the town of his birth – but aren’t we forgetting priorities here? Another question for which there is, as yet, no answer.

This new stature is the work of Fatos Shuli (a sculptor I have not come across before and about who I know nothing) seems to capture the individual that was Petro Sota. His picture in Flasin Heronj të Luftës Nacional Çlirimtare (Heroes of the National Liberation War Speak for themselves) gives the impression that he was a dapper dresser before the serious work of ridding his country of the invaders got in the way. This idea of style is captured in the new bust but, I must admit, I question the priorities of the Fier Bashkia.

Location:

GPS:

40.72619397

19.55685496

DMS:

40° 43′ 34.2983” N

19° 33′ 24.6779” E

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