(SANITIZED)ALBANIAN ARMED FORCES, AGRICULTURE, EDUACATION, AND SOVIET PRESENCE(SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00418R002700200001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 24
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 28, 2008
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 24, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

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CHAPTER A.
AMOD FOBCE4
GEN=
1. Ministry of Peonlets Defence
of Defence was Lieut. General Begir BALLUKU,
the Inf. Division which used to be in Korce was
replaces
&&&I && bw an info divisiono
the division but its
regiments also are not existing in Korce any longer.
late in 1953
took place a re-organization of the Albanian Army indicated by
the Soviet organizors. On the process of this re-organization
the info brigades of Korce, Tirana, Gjinokaster, and certain
inf. regiments were dissolved; instead of them were created
3 Army Corps formed by info brigades and regiments.
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2.- c otion & Location of Arnie Units.
a). In Biea de stationed in Korog
Since the beggining of 1954, or late in 1953
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b). Armored unit stationed in ZENIBLAK.
An armored unitk is stationed in the village of Zemblak.
Comment
The a/m unit must be under the brigade of Korce,
each Albanian brigade has a group of
about 15 tanks*
b),- $I.Inf. battalion stationed in Bilisht
An inf. battalion is permanently stationed in Bilisht.The conventional
number of this unit, which is under the inf. brigade of Korce, is ei-
-Rifles, long an short, some of them equipped with aiming telescope,
ther 4725 Or 475
Armament
like the Soviet rifles 7,62mm M-1891/30.
-Light machine guns, 7,62 mm D.R.(DEKTIRKF).
-Sub-machine guns, 7,62 PP SH 1941.
Soviet make.
-Machine guns 7,62 M.1910.
Revolvers, German and Soviet
the long ones are
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Mortars, 82mm M.1941
located them easily in the pi
equipment used by the enemy",
otirnn_q innimlAr3 in the
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-Two A.A. machine guns, 12,7 man. D.S.H.K. M-193$.
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Trantation eauitiment(means).
The battalion has no vehieles(automobiles); it has mules and horses only.
estimation the battalion and the arty batteries stationed 25X1
in that area must have more than 120 mules.&-fi&8
Strength
estimation the battalion has a strength of 350 men and 25X1
100 offices.
Trainin
Training takes place every day.
20 officers of the battalion went to
Korce,, early in Oct., in order to participate in a traning opera-
tion which took place in the heights of VCSKOPOJ., and lasted 3 weeks.
Commander
Until the middle of 1954, commander of the said battalion was apt
Zarif (lnu) from POLOSKE(QN-2151). By that time he was replaced by
Lt Col. Lulo SKENDO from the area of Kurvelesh(4-1-3515)?
The presence of so many officers in a battalion is due to the follow-
ing reason;
xs it has been confirmed by other sources too W IRTbatta of
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the brigades have the structure of a regiment's staff office and a
strength of officers sufficient to the requirement of a Rgt, so that
in case of mobilization the battalions have the possibility to be-
come regiments.
after the re-organization
of the Albanian Army, a opt commander of S battalion was replaced
by a Lt Col. may serve as a confirmation of the above*
d). Arty Unit stationed in Bilisht
Into the same barracks where the troo s of the info battalion are qua-
rtered, there is also an ar$y unit
" this unit is under the brigade of Korce or the inf. battalion of
Bilisht.
1944 or in 1945
and since that period
remains in Bilisht with the inf. battalion.
ne
The a,/m arty unit is equipped with:
-4 mountain arty guns 75.13.F- -1 does not know if they are Soviet
Transportation facilities(means)
Only mules are available. Four mules are required for the transporta-
tion of each gun*
this unit arrived in Bilisht either in
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does not know how many mules belong to 25X1
this unit because they are together with those of the info battalion
which [::]estimated to be more than 120.
3.- Conventional Nos of Units
Conv. Nos Unit
Town or village Date
4725 or 4755 Inf.battalion Bilisht
Oct. 26, 1955
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4.-Training.
a).Training of key personnel.
Training of reserve officers
A number of reserve officers,discharged from the Army., are called by
personal letters for a two months training. Their training is carried
out in various Army Units. Thus, the residents of the area of DEVOL
reported for training to the inf. battalion which is stationed in
Bilisht.
5.- Recruiting Service
a ). Calling of recruits
During the first fortnight of Oct. 1955 reported to the recruiting
office of Bilisht the residents of the area of Bilisht who expect their
turn to join the Army.
The said people were examined by a committee.Those who were selected
for the Border Guard Service were sent for training immediately. The
other were released and it was rumored that they will join the Army
Service 8~ ofc late in Oct. 1955.
Comment
The military class which is expected to join the army is that of 1936.
b). Length of Army Service.
Since the spring of 1955 the length of service in all the services of
of the Albanian Army was increased from 2 to 3 years, while for the
Air Force and the Navy was increasec from 3 to 4 yens.
This information from talks with men serving in
the Army(soldiers).
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6.- Military Installations
a).Armv Barracks in Bi]i sht
Location: The barracks are located between the S.W. end of the town and
the E. side of the motor road KORCE-KRISTALOPIGI.
Description: There are two single story stone-constructed buildings 50 x 12
x 4-1 me having their roofs covered with tiles.Into these two barracks
are quartered the troops of the inf. battalion, as well as the men of
arty group.In the same barracks are store tbA mmc of tha arty tlni t_
The third building is is a two-story one.
On the first florr there is one room only.Jn the second floor
there are 3 rooms. Into this building are quartered the carpenters, the
and
shoe makers, the tailbrss of the battalion.
The fourth building is simgle story 11 x 11 x 4 in. In this building are
quartered tho H.Q. of the battalion.
The fifth building, which is a single strory also., serves as an officers'
mess. The dinunensions of this bRdlding are 50 x 7 x 4 in.
In the B ith building are lodged the bachelor officers; the dimensions of
this one are 50 x 8 x 3 in.
The seventh building serves r>.s a cook-house; it dimensions are 10 x 5 x 4 in,
Water facilities: O n
:dater for the requirements of the barracks in question is available in
the water tank of Bilisht.
Eleot~ty(Lights): Electricity is provided by the main installations
of Bilisht.
Security measures. The barracks are surrounded by barbed wire installed
in t:?ro series(double line). In Sept. 1955 has been constructed a wall
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about 22- in. high. The said wall,which is built with bricks, is extended
along the course of the motor road KCRCE-KRISTAIAPIGI, and it is surround
ded by the a/m barbed wire fence.
In day time the barracks are guarded by a sentinel installed at the
gate of the camp which is located towards the motor-road.
For the A.A. protection of the barracks there are two A.A. machine gun
permanently installed in the area of the barrcks. The men-operators
of the A.A. guns live in tents located close to the gun-posts*
b). Ammunition depots for the battalion of Bilisht
The church of AWIA P fASKEVI which is in the cemetery of Bilisht serves
as an ammunition depot of the a/m bdtalion. The cemetery is located about
400 in. S. of Bilisht. At a distance of 20 - 30 in. from the said church
there is a little house which is used for the same purpose.
The area of the church is surrounded by a barbed wire fence. There is-
no permanent post for the security of the said depot. Two guards are
from
dispatched 1# the battalion.
7.- Personalities-
a)Inf. battalion No 4725
Commanders Capt A' Zarif (lnu) from POLOSKE.
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Commander: Lt Col. Lulo SKENDO.
Lieut. Qenan Tefik KANINA.
AIR FORCE
1.
a). "Jets"
In April or in May 195
the Albanian Air Force from BABAN(QN-176563),
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the Albanian Air Force had been
furnished with Soviet jets one year ago. The said jets are stationed I
in the airfields of Tirana and Berat.
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MR CHAPTER B.
FORCES OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATICNS
BORDER GUARD SERVICE
1. Composition and location of Border Guard units.
a). Border Guard Battalion #425.
Location: The hq and about 100 men of the 4& 1 1.25 Border Guard bat-
talion are quartered in requisitioned private houses in Bilisht.
Armament-:
German rifles
Soviet sub-machine guns, 7,62 ram. type PPSH 1941.
German sub-machine guns.
German and Soviet revolvers.
Transtiortation facilities
The said battalion has a Soviet truck 2,5 ton, type GLZ-51j. and
about 30 horses and mules.
rength.
With the HQ of the battalion there were about 20 officers.
rya g
The group of 100 men which was per*anently stationed in Bilisht did
nothing more than gymnastics every morning.
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mposition of the battalion because the men of the Border Guard
Service avoided any contacts and discussions with civilians.
Commander: Commander of the battalion, since 1949, is a major
named Selman Ibrahim (lnu), from Vlone.
b).PosJ1 of the #L25 Border Guard Battalion.
The #425 Border Guard Battalion covers a sector extending from
CERJE(included) to NIKOLIQE(included). For the full control of
the a/m sector of the border the battalion has the following posts:
Post of R.AKICKE(QN-235646),
CERJE (QN-234887),
SHYEC (QN-250630),
ZAGRADEC (QN-260600
n It VER.NIK (QN-266568), 20-22* men, eftnanded by a lieut.
n KAPESHTICE(QN 253525), 30-40 " ^ It n n
Fb the same post are assigned a 2nd Lieut. and a Warrant-officer.
Post of TRESTENIK (QN-255488); in this village there are two posts,
BRACAN (QN-237466),
BONCARE (QN-209415),
VIDE-ICVE (QN-174390 ),
QCTTEZE (TI-143415)..
AREZE (QN-099420)
It " NIKOLICE (Q1-067337)
The above coordinates refer to the villages only.
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LABOR ARMY I I
J..- Calling of volunteers for the Labor Arnw.
Late in ,Aug. 1955 the commander of the Police in Bilisht, Cpt At Beqir
SALIA congregated the inhabitatants of Bilisht and made a speed trying
to convince the young9 In joinning the Labor Army as volunteers.As he said
their presence in the labor Army was necessary for the construction of
the CERRIK(QG-3807) oil refinery.
Due to the fact that only one person applied, the authorities were forced
to hire salaried laborers.
SECURITY FORCES & SPECIAL UNITS
2. Government Police
a).Police =b-Direction of Bilisht&
The Police sub-Direction of Bilisht is subordinate to the Police H.Q. of
Korce. The strength of tUe subject police unit, not including the stations
which are under its consists of 3 officers and 33 men.
b)?Police stations subordinate to the Police Unit of Bilisht
The police station of PROGER(QN-200600) and that of BOZHIGRAD(QN-l70420) are
under the police unit of Bilisht. Lately it was rumored that late in Sept.
1955 the a,/m police stations were abolished and the whole strength was aect-
mulated in Bilisht.
Armament of the Police unit of Bilisht
The men of the a/m unit bear German rifles and submachines guns, as well
as German and Soviet revolvers.
The Siurimi in Bilisht
The Sigurimi section of Bilisht is quartered into the same building with
the police unit.
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4. PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATIONS
a)Armed villagers in Bilisht.
In the village of Bilisht there are about 15 armed civilians.Their
mission is to help the police whenever It is necessary to install
ambushes., etc.
One of themynamed Ramadan Arm-eb CAKERI, M6oMA(the most reliable be-
cause he is a Communist) is the chief of the armed civilians and they
call him responeible.The police authorities apply to him whenever
they need the armed villagers.Furthermore he is responsible for the
good maintenance of their armament and for that reason he makes inspe-
ctions in order to make sure that they take good care of their arma-
ment.The armed villagers are equipped
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CHAPTER C.
SOVI, AND MILITARY MISSIONS
SOVIET MILITARY MISSIONS
1.- Officers of the Soviet Military Mission assigned to the inf. Batt, of Bili-
Until the middle of 1954, a Lt Col. of the Soviet Army was permanently
assigned to the battalion of Bilisht.
By the middle of 1954 he left and since then he did not return to this post.
FORTIFICATIONS OF THE BORDER
1.- Removal of an field
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until April 1954, the inhabitants of NIPESHTICE 25X1
(QN-2552) were not permited to use the motor-road KAPESHTICE-KRIST,4LOPIGI; I
only the slopes located towards the S. side of the road &lM could be used
as pasture grounds.
Since the April of 1954 the said road is no more restricted and the villa-
gers using this road may arrive almost until the border line.
From the s/m event, on that road there was a mine-
As &%a Ain
as a result of this the road
field which was removed;
was no more restricted.
LA, DEFENCE
2. A.A. Gun Posts
Within the area of the Army barracks of the inf. battalion of Bilisht(loca-
ted between the N.W. end of & Bilisht and the E. side of the road BILISHT-
KRISTALOPIGI) there are 2 A.A. machine guns, jir of the type 12,7 mm DSHK
M-l938.
3. Bomb'-shelters
Since the summer of 1954 begun the construction of bomb-shelters which
are located at at the S.W. foot of the height ........ (WI-260558) and at
the position (QN-253545).The said bomb-shelters were mainly constructed
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with tree trunks and they were made for the Army troops.
Informant does not know any details about the said shelters, such as
their capacity, etc, because he has never been in them. 6b~o~do~4e
M&TAWCAMMAW A sign was hunged outside the shelter showing
that entrance was prohibited.
CHAPTER E.
LTTUTAL POLITICAL SITUATION
ORGANIZATION AND ADMIN. OF THE CNJNTRY
1.- State Administration
a).RRM(provincial) Executive Committee of BILISHT
In Bilisht,( c ..&& the capital(center) of that district) is cited
an Executive Committee which is organized as follows:
1). Office of the President of the Committee.
2). x
3). Secretariate.
4).Planning office.
5). Office of the Financial Affairs.
6). Farming office.
7). Labor office.
8). Office of he taxation.
9). Office of Health and Education.
10). Registration office. L M14 : ,.
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b). Justice
In Bilisht there is a People's Court of Justice which is composed as
follows:
1). President of the court.
2). People's prosecutor.
3). Two secretaries assisting the President.
4). Two secretake s n the prosecutor.
M& The a/;L people are employed by the Ministry of Justice.
None of the a/m people studied law.
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3. Education
In Bilisht operates a 4 grades elementary school and a 7 grades UNIKE.
Effective in Sept. 1955, t4 & 4 it is compulsory for the pupils
to attend the UNIKE,in case that operates such a school in their vil-
lage. 74hen there is none., then the students are obliged to attend the
4 grades elementary school.
For the UNIKE and the elementary school of Bilisht there are 6 school-
masters and I sebool-al
4.
Ohurch(Religi.on)
About 75% of the inhabitafis of Bilisht are Moslems; the remaining 25%
are Christians(Orthodox).
The performance of the religioud duties is free. Due to the lack of
a Moslem priest and the fact that the Mosque has been converted to
a A&& motion picture theater., the Moslems are not performing
their religious duties at all. The Christians(Orthodox), on the other
hand, except the aged ones, do notgo to the church because the youth
of the village scoff at those who go to the church.
In Bilisht there is only one priest officiating every Sunday at
the church of Saint-Athanasios which is located about 300 m. N. of
and his family
Biliain t.His name is Hristo LLAFAZANI ; heptit carried away forcibly
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5. Social Welfare
a).Hospitals
jospital of Bilisht
In Bilisht operates a public(government) hospital,, which has about 60
be ds.The personnel of the hospital consists of one doctor, graduate of %
the medical institute of Tirane and 5 nurses( 3 fe
males and 2 males). Medical examination is free for everybody.&h The
hospital of Bilisht provides medical treatment to all inhaRtants of
the area of Bilisht for which they have to pay 40 lek daily(for each
day in hospital),plus the medicines that they have to buy from pe-
rsons who receive packages with such items
This is due to the lack of medicines in Albania*
b). Diseases scourging the population
Due to the bad living conditions, the people had been affected by T.B.
especially the youth.
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PARTY SCTIVITIES
6. Structure & 0reanization of the C.P.
a) .C P ?organizations in Bilisht
C.P. Committee
The C.P. committee of Bilisht is organized as fol'ows:
First and Second secretary
Press & Agitation office (icvTr oe)
St;f ' L.
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FROT DTI DIOKRATIK(Organ. of the Democratic Front
-Chief: Fahri All MEKL
inhabitant
Members: Every above 20 years of age is obliged to be a member
Morale
Morale of the People
The Albanianpepple is scared and disappointed, The bad living
condition and the terror deprived the Albanians of any ability
for resistance. They hope for a war which would render their
liberation easier by an external inte#erence(foreign interfere-
nce).
F ono
1. Agriculture
Items and quantities produced in various areas.
Farming production in Bilidi t.
In the area of Bilisht there are 5.000 acres(Strema) of land
suitable for cultivation, producing the following items:
-Total production of wheat: 220.000 kgs
n n " maize: 160.000 "
n chick-peas: 8.000 "
n n " beans: 8.000 n
barley: 160.000 "
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Total production of rye 8.000 kgs
K " potatoes 200.000 kgs
tt It W beet-roots 2000.000 kgs
b). Farming goods (products) exported to the Soviet Union.
The following goods are exported from Albania to the U.S.S.R.
Fruits, olive oil, eggs, and cheese. Albania imports wheat and machi-
nery.
2.- Food sizo lies
a).Insufficiencv of supplies
in Albania there is a great scarcity of first
necessity items. Their distribution is still based on the ration-cards.
Ration-cards are issued to persons working in government operated acti-
vities only. The rest of the population D&IMIA get their supplies from
the black(free) market where the prices are vey high.
There are three different kinds of ration cards:
a). Ration-cards for laborers engaged with heavy labor
b). ".
c).
servants*
light work and for the civil-
^ the members of their faznii3ess
b). Prices of the first necessity items in the free market., compaired with
an average days wages:
Wheat 60-80 lek per kg
Maize 50-60 lek per kg
gutter. 500 lek per kg
Cheese 160 lek per kg
Meat 120 lek per kg
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Eggs 8 lek each.
Beans 90 lek g.kg.
Olive oil 280 lek per kg.
Rice 250 lek per kg.
Coffee 1200 lek per kg.
Sugar 2 50 lek per kg.
A pair of shoes 1000-1200 dt8~8o8c}9o9d~So8ac each.
A suit of clothes 10.000 leks.
Average day's wages about 180 lek.
C HAP T143 G.
ROAD COMMUNICATIONS
1.- Vehicles
The transportation from Bilisht to Korce is carried out by two busses
which belong to government enterprise. One of them is a 36-seats So-
viet ZIS; the other is a 24,-seats Czechosl.
Regular trips are performed every Saturdays, when the inhabitants
of the area of Devol go to the market of Korce. As for the rest days of
the week, the trips-schedule is based on the presence of passengers.
The bus-ticket M4 for a trip from Bilisht to Korce costs 30 lek.
C H A P T E R
GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION
1.- Info concerning towns and villages
Bilisht has about 470-500 houses and a total of 2.500 inhabitants.
About 75% of them are Moslems and the remaining 25% are Christian(Orth.)
estimation the number of male inhabitants is bigger than
that of females.There is a Post Telegraph once
whit
phone
2,
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contact with Korce.Aectric current s pr ce ggas.-engine driven
power plant. The water is received from wells and springs.
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