Republic of Albania Day

Coat of arms of AlbaniaIn 1939 Albania was occupied by fascist Italy. The Albanian constitution was abolished, a local fascist party was organized, and the Albanian army was incorporated into the Italian army in 1940.

In the same 1940, the formation of anti-fascist partisan groups, headed by regional leaders, intellectuals and religious leaders, began. On November 8, 1941, separate groups of Albanian Communists founded the Communist Party of Albania.

As the Italian army collapsed, the Germans forced the occupation of cities and the coastal plain. By September 1943, Albania was occupied by Nazi Germany. But already in October 1944, under pressure from the resistance, the Germans began to retreat from Albania.

On November 29, 1944, the Albanian National Liberation Army expelled the last occupiers. In January 1946, the People’s Republic of Albania was proclaimed.