The Albanian Treason Trial (1945)

Albanian Studies, Vol. 3

ISBN 978-1507709511 Centre for Albanian Studies, London 2015 344 pp. In late January 1945, the new communist rulers of Albania began a campaign to prepare and sensitize public opinion in the country for the Special Court for War Criminals and Enemies of the People. The daily newspaper Bashkimi  decried the leaders of Balli Kombëtar and Legality as traitors, noting on 2 February: “All without any exception will give accounts before the Albanian people and before Albania. Today or tomorrow the sword of Albanian justice will fall on their necks…” The Special Court, set up on 25 December 1944 by order of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Council, opened its doors at the Kosovo Cinema, the building later to house the National Theatre, on 1 March 1945. On trial were sixty men.

Table of Contents

Introduction, by Robert Elsie Notes of a Foreign Observer, by Vandeleur Robinson Proceedings of the Special Court for War Criminals and Enemies of the People The Charges The Hearing of Fejzi Alizoti The Hearing of Tefik Mborja The Hearing of Terenc Toçi The Hearing of Xhevat Korça The Hearing of Qemal Vrioni The Hearing of Zef Benussi The Hearing of Shuk Gurakuqi The Hearing of Kostandin Kotte The Hearing of Emin Toro The Hearing of Zef Shiroka The Hearing of Javer Hurshiti The Hearing of Bahri Omari The Hearing of Kolë Tromara The Hearing of Lazër Radi The Closing Arguments and Sentence of the Court Biographies of the Main Participants and of Other Historical Figures of the Period Bibliography Buy this Book on AMAZON