Expulsion of Soviets from Albania

The expulsion of Soviets from Albania was an anti-Soviet campaign carried out by the Albanian leader Enver Hoxha. It was a significant event in the history of Albania and took place during the Cold War. This phase was characterized by tensions between the Soviet Union and the socialist regime in Albania. The expulsion began from 1961 and continued until 1964.[1]

Expulsion of Soviets from Albania
Part of Vlora incident and the Albanian–Soviet split
TypeExpulsion by military force
Location
Albania
Planned by Albania
Commanded byPeople's Socialist Republic of Albania Enver Hoxha (First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania)
People's Socialist Republic of Albania Mehmet Shehu (Prime Minister of Albania)
People's Socialist Republic of Albania Beqir Balluku (Minister of Defence of Albania)
Target Soviet Union
Date1961–1964
Executed by Albanian People's Army
OutcomeAlbanian victory
  • All Soviets were expelled from Albania
Casualties Several Soviet sailors were killed by the Albanian Armed Forces

Background

After the end of World War II, Albania became a socialist state closely aligned with the Soviet leadership under Joseph Stalin. In the 1940s and 1950s, a close relationship developed between the Soviet Union and Albania, with the USSR providing economic, military, and political support.[2][3]

However, ideological differences between the two countries began to emerge in the subsequent years. Albanian leader Enver Hoxha was a staunch advocate of "Hoxhaism," a communist ideology heavily influenced by Stalinist principles but also claiming a certain degree of autonomy for Albania.

The Soviet Union under Nikita Khrushchev, however, took a political turn in the late 1950s, criticizing the cult of Stalin. This new Soviet policy was vehemently rejected by Hoxha and the Albanian government as they viewed it as "revisionism" and a departure from Marxist–Leninist principles.[4]

Expulsion

Tensions between the USSR and Albania escalated in the 1960s. Enver Hoxha and his party saw Soviet policy as a threat to their revolutionary principles and Albania's national sovereignty. In return, Soviet leaders such as Khrushchev openly criticized the Albanian government and its leader.[5]

During the Albanian attack on the Soviet naval presence at the end of July 1961, Soviets were expelled from Vlora. Many Soviet sailors were killed during the attack and driven out of Albania.[6] When the Soviets under the leadership of Khruschev broke off diplomatic relations with Albania, all Soviet buildings and military bases or the Ambassador were confiscated by the Albanian government[7][8] and all Soviets up to 1964 were then expelled from Albania.[9]

References

  1. ^ Watson, Bruce W. (2019). Red Navy At Sea : Soviet Naval Operations On The High Seas, 1956–1980. [Place of publication not identified]. ISBN 978-0-429-30402-6. OCLC 1107880381.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Xhaferri, Manjola; Tase, Mirela (2022-12-06). "Analysis of Albania's diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union during the years 1948–1959". Analysis.
  3. ^ "Albania country profile". BBC News. 2012-04-11. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ^ "The Khruschevites". www.marxists.org. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  5. ^ Zagoria, Donald S. (1961). "Khrushchev's Attack on Albania and Sino-Soviet Relations". The China Quarterly. 8 (8): 1–19. doi:10.1017/S0305741000001752. ISSN 0305-7410. JSTOR 651662. S2CID 154923413.
  6. ^ Watson, Bruce W. (2019). Red Navy At Sea : Soviet Naval Operations On The High Seas, 1956–1980. [Place of publication not identified]. ISBN 978-0-429-30402-6. OCLC 1107880381. The expulsion was particularly unpleasant as the Albanians shot and killed several Soviet sailors and seized some Soviet Whiskey submarines.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ "ALBANIANS SEIZE SOVIET BUILDINGS; Moscow Denounces Action and Ouster of 3 Left at Embassy After Break". The New York Times. 1964-02-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  8. ^ "TIRANA SAYS SOVIET DEFAULTED ON DEBT". The New York Times. 1964-02-29. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  9. ^ Watson, Bruce W. (2019). Red Navy At Sea : Soviet Naval Operations On The High Seas, 1956–1980. [Place of publication not identified]. ISBN 978-0-429-30402-6. OCLC 1107880381.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)