Battle of Peshkopi
The Battle of Peshkopi (Albanian: Beteja e Peshkopisë) was an engagement during the Albanian resistance in World War II. It took place in October 1943 in Peshkopi, northeastern Albania, and ended in a partisan victory.
The battle formed part of the wider struggle in Albania between the communist-led partisan movement and other wartime political and military forces, including the Balli Kombëtar and the pro-Zog Legality Movement. According to one account, nationalist forces from Dibra launched an offensive to capture the town, while partisan forces were commanded by Haxhi Lleshi, Njazi Islami, Esat Ndreu, Faik Shehu, and Aqif Lleshi.
Background
In early October 1943, control of Peshkopi became increasingly contested. Nationalist leaders reportedly entered the town on 13 October and established the Komiteti Nacional under Fiqiri Dine, Riza Drini, and Selim Jegeni. On the partisan side, the Esat Ndreu detachment and a battalion of the Macedono-Kosovar Brigade were deployed, reportedly including Serb and Montenegrin partisans.
Tensions escalated after nationalist leaders demanded that non-Albanian partisan units leave the Peshkopi district. The communist command did not comply, and the dispute turned into open fighting. A later account says that a British liaison officer intervened and urged the communist leadership to withdraw the foreign units, but the request was refused.
Battle
The fighting broke out on 18 October 1943, although the main clash took place on 19 October. The nationalist side included much of the local Dibra elite, while the partisan side was reinforced by Albanian partisans together with the Macedono-Kosovar Brigade and allied foreign volunteers.
As the fighting intensified, the British officer mediated between the two sides. A temporary arrangement allowed partisan forces to leave Peshkopi and nationalist forces to enter the town on 21 October, producing an armistice and opening negotiations.
Casualty figures vary. About 60 nationalist fighters were killed, and partisan losses included Vllado Rakočević of the Serbo-Macedonian battalion. Other sources list Met Hoti and Ibrahim Koleci among the nationalist dead, Zogist officers, and Aqif Zeneli, Halil Hasa, Idriz Kaba, and Nesim Kaza among partisan losses.
Aftermath
The fighting did not end the political struggle in Dibër. The region was divided between nationalist and communist elements. A Yugoslav Communist emissary reportedly urged Haxhi Lleshi to act against “reactionary” forces, deepen divisions among Albanian opponents, and create a new mixed Albanian–Macedonian battalion under communist leadership.
Nationalist leaders temporarily established local administration in Peshkopi after entering the town on 13 October 1943, including the prefecture, municipal, and gendarmerie posts.
The wider area remained unstable. Partisan headquarters in Dibra came under intensive attack on 7 November 1943, and fighting in the Dibër–Peshkopi region continued into November, until German operations later pushed partisan forces back.
The battle is generally considered a partisan victory, as nationalist forces did not retain control of Peshkopi.