Part Twenty-One
Memorie.al / A large part of the Albanians, who left the country during the communist regime, it is said, collaborated with the CIA. In a declassified document from the American secret service, the names of some Albanians who were recruited and sent to Albania for various operations, with the aim of overthrowing Enver Hoxha’s communist regime, are shown. Among them are mentioned names such as Xhevdet Bloshmi or Alush Lleshakanu. They and some others were parachuted in February 1949 in Mirdita and were equipped with special radios. Then it is told how the agents managed to leave Albania in April 1949, from Greece.
The recruited agents
The intelligence objectives are set by Washington, including the desired information on the resistance groups, the internal political conditions and the military defense installations.
The plan entered the operational phase in February 1949, when four agents in two groups with special radio means, were released in perfect weather conditions at the desired point of the wilderness, in Mirdita. The agents were Alush Lleshakanu and Xhevdet Bloshmi of the first group, and Ndue Gjonmarkaj and Ndue Mlyshi in the second group.
Shyqyri Biçaku and Kolë Çuni were part of the second support group, but are being kept in reserve for reasons of poor health. No radio contact has yet been established with the first two groups. A flight in good weather conditions was carried out over Albania on the night of April 12, but no signal was noticed in the designated area, according to the preliminary plan.
On April 24, Ismail Vërlaci received a commercial cablegram from Kastoria in Greece, signed by Lleshanaku, which said that he and Blloshmi had arrived well in Kastoria. On April 28, he received the telegram that the two agents had arrived in Athens, where they were immediately put in contact with our center there for the giving of information.
Intervention from the neighbors
During the actions of the revolution the forces trained by about 4000 Albanians that are claimed to exist in Yugoslavia and the military forces of Greece and Yugoslavia must remain ready for assistance if the need arises.
The Greek and Yugoslav forces must withdraw immediately behind their borders, as soon as the revolution has proclaimed success. The Sixth American Fleet will carry out maneuvers in the Adriatic and Ionian seas during the revolution, to cover the amphibious landings and to help the revolutionaries in case of need.
It will not have an active role if it is not called for this. The fleet will remain in the area for several weeks to discourage and prevent antagonistic actions from the Soviet Union or its satellites. Free elections for a democratic government are to be organized.
While many of the individual recommendations in the above paragraphs may not be necessary, it is important to seek the friendly neutrality of Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia, for the overthrow of the Albanian government, if not their active cooperation.
Training in Germany
CIA assessment groups have analyzed more than 200 individuals in the Guard Company in Germany and have selected 66 of them as the most qualified for operations. The existing structures for the training of agents in Germany are already, after the completion of training for the Bulgarian agents, ready for the training of the Albanian agents.
The training of radio operators will be done in time to supply the last summer operations. Our contractors have received another training center in Germany, in addition to the one in Hambuechen and it is more effective than our first center there.
The Albanian refugee camp in Lavrion in Greece has been analyzed by the Legality Party and a list of 117 Albanians who can serve as agents has been drawn up, whose data are currently being cleared by the security groups. A brochure regarding the bomb episode has been drawn up in London since April 8, but has not been released over Albania for reasons of the restriction measure imposed by the State Department.
But nevertheless the supply mission was allowed to release 50,000 copies of this brochure in some localities as a deception instrument. 500,000 copies of the brochure announcing the start of clandestine radio broadcasts have arrived in Athens, making a total of 1,500,000 brochures that will be distributed with the removal of the restriction measure on June 3, 1951.
The radio broadcasts
The naval vessel with the clandestine radio station has established its base in Patras, Greece and a liaison officer between sea and land will go to Patras in May. The start of broadcasts is believed to begin around May 15, since it has been hindered by technical and personnel difficulties. Meanwhile repairs are being carried out on the telegraph equipment damaged during the ocean crossing.
The gathering of the propaganda staff is being completed in Greece and the propaganda editor and another radio technician are expected to arrive in the country. The texts that will be broadcast are sent first to Washington. The propaganda branch in the National Committee of “Free Albania” is increasing its production and the material exceeds the monthly needs of 500,000 brochures. In addition to this the Committee is producing abundant material also for the Committee’s newspaper that is published in New York.
Political activities the internal political problems between the groups of the National Committee of “Free Albania” have not yet been resolved, although it continues to function as a unit giving considerable support with its military junta and with the propaganda branch.
The two April issues of the Committee’s newspaper were published on time. Said Kryeziu, member of the presidium of the Committee for “Free Albania” (NCFA) and leader of the Agrarian Party, who has visited the Guard Company in Germany, is expected to be in the USA on May 10, in a visit that has as its aim the improvement of relations between him and the other members of the NCFA.
1951-1952
Memorandum
Description of the project and its developments in Albania
The objective of the project “OBHUNT” is the infiltration of agents into Albania, with the aim of creating resistance networks, safe bases and operational intelligence. The National Committee of “Free Albania” is being advertised as the sponsor of these operations and their final objective is the creation of a nucleus of an attacking and leading force for the population, against the current regime at the proper time.
One of the main assets of the project is the group of 25 trained Albanians who are kept in Athens, but other elements in the Greek camp of Lavrion are also considered of value, which constitute promising material through the refugees who come there from Albania from time to time. Another asset, of less value is the Albanian Guard Company in Honenbrun in Germany, with about 4000 members; they can be used by the CIA in case of need for an armed force, for active action against the communist regime.
The rivalry between the Americans and the British
In our upcoming discussions with the British regarding Albania, several points must be raised that affect the acceptance or not of the British proposals. One of them is the fact that our operation “BGFIEND” is much larger and more complex than the British operation “Valuable” and during the recent years our operations have been much more successful than the British ones, giving the majority of the intelligence and adding American prestige in the Albanian anti-communist circles.
There are some signals that the British seem somewhat dissatisfied with our achievements in Albania, since it is concerned that we may gain a more favored position of influence both within the country and in the emigration circles./ Memorie.al
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