Insurgency in South Albania

Insurgency In South Albania
	Part of World War II in Albania and Greco-Italian war
	File:The forces of the Balli Kombëtar.jpg; The forces of the Balli Kombëtar
Date	September 1939 - November 1944
Location	Epirus, Southern Albania, Northern Epirus, Albania, Çamëria, Thesprotia, Greece
Result	Initial North Epirote victory Northern Epirus Liberation Front occupy the region of North Epirus for a small period; Eventual Albanian victory Northern Epirus Liberation Front completely destroyed by the Balli Kombëtar and LANÇ; LANÇ executes all the leaders of the front; Persecution of Greeks by LANÇ in 1944; Albanians retake North Epirus;
Territorial; changes	Temporary Albanian occupation of Çamëria
Belligerents
Commanders and leaders
Strength
~40,000-50,000	~15,000-20,000
Casualties and losses
Around 2000 (including civilians)	Around 4000 (including civilians)

The Insurgency in South Albania during World War II, also known as Operation of North Epirus, was a military operation led by the Northern Epirus Liberation Front and EDES.Their goal was to retake the area of North Epirus which was fairly populated by greeks from the Axis powers.It Took place from September 1939 until the end of World War II.The operation resulted in Albanian victory ^[1]^[2]

Background

The North Epirote insurgency in south Albania during World War II stemmed from long-standing historical tensions regarding the Northern Epirus region, which had a considerable Greek population. Following the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), Northern Epirus came under Albanian control, despite Greek claims and local support for unification with Greece. This situation led to persistent friction, as Greece regarded Northern Epirus as part of its historical territory.

During World War II, Italy's occupation of Albania and its subsequent invasion of Greece resulted in a short-lived Greek occupation of Northern Epirus, reigniting Greek hopes for the region. However, German intervention in 1941 restored control to Albania under Axis supervision, which resulted in the repression of the Greek population. In response to persecution and cultural suppression, local Greeks formed resistance groups to pursue autonomy and safeguard their rights amid the larger conflict, creating a legacy that continued to influence Greek-Albanian relations.^[3]^[4]

Aftermath

The aftermath of the North Epirote insurgency was marked by significant political repression, as the Albanian government intensified its crackdown on the Greek minority, leading to widespread persecution and arrests. Greek cultural institutions and schools were closed, severely restricting the expression of Greek identity. Human rights violations were rampant, with many executions occurring, resulting in approximately 73,000 Greek deaths. Additionally, economic hardships ensued as many Greek-owned businesses were confiscated, further worsening conditions for the community. Oppressive conditions prompted many Greeks to emigrate, creating a substantial diaspora. The legacy of the insurgency continues to strain Greek-Albanian relations, particularly regarding minority rights. Although there have been attempts at addressing historical grievances, challenges related to minority rights persist.

Course of Insurgency

The North Epirote insurgency during World War II was a significant struggle for autonomy by the Greek population in Northern Epirus against Albanian and Axis control. This period was marked by several key battles and events that shaped the course of the conflict.

Battle of Pindus (1940-1941)
The Battle of Pindus was a crucial confrontation in the Greco-Italian War, where Greek forces successfully repelled Italian troops attempting to invade through mountainous regions. This victory bolstered Greek morale and inspired the local population in Northern Epirus to seek autonomy.

Gjirokastër Raid (1943)
North Epirote forces launched an operation to capture Gjirokastër to rally local support. However, the raid ended in failure as Albanian forces successfully defended the city, resulting in significant casualties for the Greek insurgents and the leaders were killed by LANÇ^[5]

Impact and Legacy

The North Epirote insurgency had a lasting impact on Greek-Albanian relations and the identity of the Greek minority in Albania. Politically, the conflict reinforced Greece’s historical claims to Northern Epirus and heightened Albanian efforts to assert control over the region. In the post-war period, Albania’s communist regime imposed strict assimilation policies on the Greek minority, limiting Greek language education and cultural expression, which fueled continued friction between the two countries.

Culturally, the insurgency strengthened Greek identity among Northern Epirotes, who saw their struggle as a defense of their heritage. Despite assimilation pressures, many retained their cultural identity, with some choosing to emigrate. In diplomatic terms, the issue of minority rights in Albania became a central focus for Greece in international forums.

The legacy of the insurgency continues to shape Greek-Albanian relations, influencing discussions on minority protections and historical reconciliation.^[6]^[7]^[8]

↑ Clogg, Richard (2002). A Concise History of Greece. USA: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521004794.
↑ Kola, Paulin (2003). The Myth of Greater Albania. New York: New York University Press. ISBN 9780814747735.
↑ Sakellariou, M. B. (1997). Epirus, 4000 Years of Greek History and Civilization. Athens: Ekdotike Athenon. ISBN 978-9602133712.
↑ Pettifer, James (1995). The Greek Minority in Albania in the Aftermath of Communism. New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN 9789607387028.
↑ Hatzopoulos, Pavlos (2016). *The Greek-Albanian Frontier: A Study of Nationalism and Conflict*. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1784530723.
↑ Hatzopoulos, Pavlos (2016). The Greek-Albanian Frontier: A Study of Nationalism and Conflict. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1784530723.^{[dead link]}
↑ Tziampiris, Alexander (2017). Greek Foreign Policy in the Balkans: The Strategic Dimension. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1138297035. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
↑ Heraclides, Alexis (2023). Greek-Albanian Entanglements Since the Nineteenth Century. Athens: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781000963755.

[1] Clogg, Richard (2002). A Concise History of Greece. USA: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521004794.

[2] Kola, Paulin (2003). The Myth of Greater Albania. New York: New York University Press. ISBN 9780814747735.

[3] Sakellariou, M. B. (1997). Epirus, 4000 Years of Greek History and Civilization. Athens: Ekdotike Athenon. ISBN 978-9602133712.

[4] Pettifer, James (1995). The Greek Minority in Albania in the Aftermath of Communism. New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN 9789607387028.

[5] Hatzopoulos, Pavlos (2016). *The Greek-Albanian Frontier: A Study of Nationalism and Conflict*. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1784530723.

[6] Hatzopoulos, Pavlos (2016). The Greek-Albanian Frontier: A Study of Nationalism and Conflict. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1784530723.^{[dead link]}

[7] Tziampiris, Alexander (2017). Greek Foreign Policy in the Balkans: The Strategic Dimension. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1138297035. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)

[8] Heraclides, Alexis (2023). Greek-Albanian Entanglements Since the Nineteenth Century. Athens: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781000963755.

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