SOE operations in Albania during the Second World War

Marian Zidaru Marian Zidaru

doi:10.47577/tssj.v7i1.521

Abstract

After Mussolini entered World War II on the side of Hitler, the British sent a colonel into Albania in April 1941 to help the resistance, but he was soon captured. It would not be until April 16, 1943, that two more SOE officers, Lt. Col. Neil McLean and Captain David Smiley, parachuted into northern Greece and crossed the border. Others would follow, including a former lieutenant in the Spanish Foreign Legion, Peter Kemp; Himalayan explorer Bill Tillman; and Reginald Hibbert, whose view of events in Albania in the years to come would put him bitterly at odds with his fellow SOE officers. SOE operations were hampered by woeful British ignorance about Albania. London had only a lower-level diplomatic presence there before the Italian occupation, and the main source of information had been an elderly Englishwoman who had lived there for 20 years. This paper told the story of SOE operations in Albania.

Highlights

Party was secretly established in Tirana in November 1941
Smiley never mentioned Reginald Hibbert's name in his report and complained bitterly that British liaison officers had repeatedly told them that Kupi, working with the Germans, was softening these lies and reporting them. " Political disputes soon had an impact on fighting with the Germans
In November 1943, McLean and Smiley were taken on a patrol boat from Albania to hold a conference in Cairo, while a new mission led by General Edmund Davies was parachuted to help guerrilla groups

Summary

Introduction

Party was secretly established in Tirana in November 1941. Secretary-General Enver Hoxha studied in Paris and owned a tobacco shop unsuitable for the Marxist. 1 Guerilla War in Albania After Mussolini entered World War II on the German side, the SOE sent a colonel to Albania in April 1941 to help the resistance, but he was soon captured. Two other SOE officers, Colonel Neil McLean and Captain David Smiley, were parachuted in April 16, 1943, into northern Greece and crossed the border.

Results

Conclusion