Liberation of Krujë (1944)
The Liberation of Krujë (Albanian: Beteja e Krujës) was a battle of the LANÇ counter-offensive during World War II against German collaboratist forces.
Prelude
In late summer 1944, Krujë became a target during the National Liberation Army’s general offensive. The broader operation had begun across multiple fronts, with the 1st Brigade assigned to attack Krujë while other partisan brigades advanced into regions such as Mirditë and Luma.
Activity began on 7–8 September 1944. The same material also references a later wartime telegram dated 2 November 1944, which reports the 23rd Brigade entering Krujë. In addition, a brigade-history note suggests that 22 September marked the moment when Krujë “began to breathe freely”, implying continued contestation after the initial assault phase.
Battle
On 7 September 1944, the 1st Assault Brigade advanced toward Krujë as part of the planned offensive. The unit pushed through mountain positions above the town, reportedly scattering over 300 Zogist forces and reaching Barkanesh, south of Krujë, by evening.
During the night of 7–8 September 1944, the main assault on Krujë began. Three battalions of the 1st Brigade launched an attack after midnight against occupying and collaborator forces. The operation resulted in the capture of key positions, including the castle, following relatively short resistance. Brigade narratives describe the town as falling into partisan hands and being declared liberated in the immediate aftermath.
Enver Hoxha's own account in The Anglo-American Threat to Albania describes this phase as a decisive breakthrough, stating that the 1st Brigade attacked Krujë in early September, routed German garrisons and “reactionary bands”, destroyed Abaz Kupi’s house, and continued operations toward Prezë alongside elements of the 3rd Brigade.
Aftermath
The immediate aftermath of the September fighting reportedly involved further clashes and continued instability in the region. According to the same dossier sources, partisan losses around Krujë amounted to seven fighters, including six members of the 1st Brigade and the political commissar of the Mat Battalion, Mustafa Kaçaçi. Subsequent operations are described as continuing toward Ura e Zezë and Prezë, where forces associated with Abaz Kupi were reportedly pushed back.
Control of Krujë remained contested between the Legalists, Partisans and Collaboratists. By 22 September 1944 the area “began to breathe freely”, indicating gradual consolidation rather than immediate stabilization.
A telegram dated 2 November 1944, attributed to Dali Ndreu and addressed to Enver Hoxha, reports that the 23rd Brigade entered Krujë, that Legaliteti forces were defeated, and that associated allied elements surrendered. A further recollection cited in a 2019 article by Dr. Hasan Luçi, referencing Bejo Stefani’s memories, also places the final liberation of Krujë on 2 November 1944, after which partisan units continued operations against German columns along routes north of Tirana.
The dates of the liberation of Krujë remain debated because of contradictory accounts regarding the battle and subsequent events.