By order of the General Staff, the “1st Assault Brigade of the Albanian National Liberation Army,” the first formation of this size within the Albanian National Liberation Army, was inaugurated. The inauguration took place in the field of Makrëza, near Vithkuq (Korçë), with fighters chosen from all the existing partisan formations, amounting to an effective number of 556 people. At first, it was organized into 4 battalions. The brigade was led by a staff with Commander Mehmet Shehu and Commissar Tuk Jakova. The strength of the brigade was increased to 1,860 people. The combat path of the 1st Brigade began with the Vithkuq war (1943). Among its other important battles were the strike in Xhyra of Librazhd (September 1943), actions during the General Enemy Winter Training (1943–1944), the battles in Mallakastër (November 1943) and in the province of Mesaplik (December 1943). In February-March 1944, 3 battalions of the 1st Assault Brigade carried out an incursion from Mokra in the direction of the Shkumbin River to clear the area of Letëm-Kostenje-Martanesh-Orenje-Shmil from the Nazi invaders and their collaborators and to meet with the General Staff of the Albanian National Liberation Army, which was in this area. During the counterattack of the Albanian National Liberation Army in January-March 1944, the 1st Assault Brigade fought in Mokre and cooperated with the 4th Assault Brigade for the liberation of Pogradec. During the General Enemy Training of June 1944, the 1st Assault Brigade fought fierce battles in Vërçë, Sulovë, Shpat, Ura e Moglica, Qafa e Gjarprit, Qafa e Dardhes, Guri i Prere, and in Shëmbërdhenj. The 1st Assault Brigade was aligned as part of the 1st Assault Division, and with its passage north of the Shkumbin River, the brigade fought against the Nazi forces and their collaborators in Cerenec, Gollobordë, Peshkopi, and Dibër, as well as for the second liberation and defense of the province of Mati. In September 1944, it fought for the liberation of Kruja, and in October-November 1944, it participated in the war for the liberation of Tirana. In November 1944, the 1st Assault Brigade was incorporated into the 2nd Assault Division of the Albanian National Liberation Army and took part in the military operations for the establishment of the new power in the Northern Highlands (December 1944 – February 1945). The 1st Assault Brigade fought in over 200 battles and inflicted many killed, wounded, and captured on the enemy. From its ranks, 370 martyrs gave their lives. It published the newspaper “Attack Forward!” and some pocket newspapers for its battalions. The 1st Assault Brigade was decorated with the title “Hero of the People.” (Pictured: Lineup of the 1st Assault Brigade on inauguration day.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 296.
Photo: © Central State Archives
Graphic processing: AHCF
