The expulsion of Yugoslavs from Albania was an anti-Yugoslav campaign carried out by Albanian leader Enver Hoxha against the leadership of Yugoslav leaders Josip Broz Tito and Aleksandar Ranković. This happened during the Cold War period as during the geopolitical tensions between the Communist Albania and Yugoslavia.[3]
| Expulsion of Yugoslavs from Albania | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Cold War, Informbiro period and the Albanian–Yugoslav border conflict (1948–1954) | |
| Type | Military Expulsion |
| Location | |
| Commanded by |  Enver Hoxha Kadri Hazbiu |
| Target |  Yugoslavs
|
| Date | 1948–1954 |
| Executed by |  Albanian People's Army Sigurimi |
| Casualties |  Bosniak family was executed[1] Purge of Yugoslav factions 3,500 Yugoslavs were expelled[2] killed |
Background
In 1948, relations between Communist Albania and Yugoslavia deteriorated dramatically. The two countries, which had previously maintained close political and economic ties, came into conflict due to ideological differences between the Albanian leadership under Enver Hoxha and the Yugoslav government led by Josip Broz Tito. This led to tensions between the two nations and had a profound impact on the Yugoslav minority in Albania.[4]
Course of events
Throughout 1948, many Yugoslavs in Albania were expelled on charges of espionage and loyalty to Tito. This occurred in response to the ideological rift between Albania and Yugoslavia, as well as Albania's foreign policy alignment with the Soviet Union.[5]
The expulsions often took place under difficult conditions, and those affected frequently lost their property and livelihoods in Albania. As a result, a total of 3,500 Yugoslav civilians, politicians, military personnel and advisors were expelled from all over Albania by the Albanian People's Army and the Sigurimi led by Enver Hoxha and Kadri Hazbiu.[6]
Also, during the expulsion, a Bosniak family got executed by Kadri Hazbiu and his Albanian Security Services agents for being Yugoslav agents of the UDBA.[7]
Aftermath
After the expulsion of the Yugoslavs from Albania, Enver Hoxha began closing the borders between Yugoslavia and Albania.[8] He then initiated a campaign to hunt down and eliminate Yugoslav factions that remained in Albania. This purge continued beyond 1948, with Hoxha also targeting pro-Yugoslav sympathizers, which lasted until 1954.[9] As an example, he ordered the execution of the Albanian agent, Koçi Xoxe, who was affiliated with Tito.