Part Thirteen
Memorie.al / Enver Hoxha’s communist regime was very harsh toward all deserters. In a document published by the newspaper, declassified by the CIA, details are given about what happened in 1952. The CIA managed to recruit many agents with the help and assistance of Yugoslavia, but according to the document, many individuals who attempted to leave the country and give information were shot. There, the names of many individuals are given, who were also known as the heads of resident groups in the northern zone. It also shows how the overthrow of the regime was being attempted through operations from neighboring countries.
Continued from the previous issue
5 September 1952
Operational Plan for Albania “Charity,” correspondence from Albanians in Yugoslavia
Attached we have two letters sent on 21 and 22 August 1952, from the informant in Sabac, Yugoslavia. The writer informs the source that he and … has started work respectively as a mechanic and electrician at the Zorka chemical factory in Sabac, to supplement the income above the 3000 dinars monthly that they receive from the Yugoslav government, which are not enough for all needs. Also, as explained to them by Colonel Čedo Mijović, everyone must work to turn the socialist program into a success.
In the letter of 21 August he explains about the mission of the group of six people from Yugoslavia in Albania. Ded Pjetra, who has killed a sergeant and a communist major at Ura e Mesit, together with a Mirditor, are reported to be still alive and have not yet returned to Yugoslavia. Hilë Sllaku, Shpend Bushati (former Albanian agent of the Sigurimi who defected to Yugoslavia in February 1951) and a third unidentified person have been killed in Albania. A few days before his letter, another mission that also included Pjetër Smaili entered Albania.
Details
In his second letter, mainly through the confirmation of previous information, but unfortunately without specifying the dates or particular circumstances, the writer gives the following information regarding the individuals mentioned: The brothers Ndue, Pal and Martin Lala, a son of Gjergj Nikoll Ndreu and three unidentified persons from Kruja have reached Skopje; Gjergj Kol Ndreu and his son Zef have been killed; Jak Lala; the two sons of Gjon Nikoll Ndreu, Kole and Mark; the son of Llesh Gjok Lala, Pjetër; and Geg Zef Hyseni; Gjon Lal Piroli has been wounded or captured by the enemy; Pjetër Mark Ndoja; Gjon Ndue Perjaku, and another person who later died; The entire group above was betrayed in Mamurras by Gjin Cara from Perlati.
The death of 15 persons
The letter further continues to report that on 11 August Pjetër Kimza, Dom Zef Oroshi, Frrok N. Jaku, Kol Perdoda, Ndue Jak Zefi and five other unidentified individuals reached Yugoslavia. Members of another group of ten people who had headed for Yugoslavia from Pjetër Çup Qafa reported the death in Albania of 15 individuals, including: Llesh Kaziu, Frrok Z. Pashku, Prend Ndue Marku, Ndue Llesh Frroku, Zef and Dodë Coku, Marka Pjetër Gjini, Llesh Froku, Zef Marka Tuci. Almost all the resistance leaders in Albania have been arrested, while Llesh Frrok Geci, Preng Gjok Deda and his sons, and Osman Vora have surrendered to government forces. The writer reports that in his opinion the Yugoslavs have deliberately destroyed the organization supported in Albania.
7 February 1952
Monthly activity report
The activities of our branch for the infiltration of agents and supplies this month have been hampered by the Balkan winter, which has made operations in Albania impractical. Several attempts were made to infiltrate groups of four agents into the southeastern areas of the country, to determine the reaction to the supply drops and propaganda dropped in December, but it was decided to postpone the operation until the cold weather broke. Aerial penetrations into the country have been successful, with supplies and 200,000 propaganda leaflets dropped from the air in Tirana and northern Albania on 21 January.
On the political front, Radio “Free Albania” continues its daily broadcasts and the newspaper “Shqipëria” continues to be published, but now from Rome and not from New York. The change of location, we believe, has brought better quality and a fresher appearance from a journalistic point of view. Within the National Committee, our pressure for the expansion of the political base has continued.
Agent information
Recently we received a letter written in ink from our group of four agents operating in Kukës in northern Albania. In the letter it is advised that the four members of the group spend the winter in Prizren, Yugoslavia, and return to Albania in the spring. They requested, and are being sent, food and money to spend the winter in Yugoslavia. A group of three agents dropped into central Albania in October, we have no information about.
In the psychological warfare sector, we have continued broadcasts according to the program of the clandestine radio “Voice of Free Albania,” from the station near Athens. In the third edition of the publication of the organ of the NCFA, it is written about the commitment of Yugoslavia and Greece to preserve the territorial integrity of Albania, and about Italy’s acceptance in principle. This news received considerable attention in the Western press. The NCFA letter is published irregularly in English, French and Italian.
On 21 January we dropped a load of supplies and propaganda in northern Albania, in the towns of Shkodra, Kukës, Burrel and Tirana. The supplies contained 900 cans of simple food and 250 bags of 300 grams of flour each.
Leaflet drops
A mission for leaflet drops this month was combined with the dropping of propaganda supplies, due to bad weather conditions. 200,000 folded brochures and 5000 copies of Shqipëria were dropped, while with the improvement of the weather, drops will also begin in the southern area of the country. In political developments we mention Ihsan Toptani of the “Free Albania” Committee, who participated in the meeting of the European movement gathered on 20 January in London.
The Albanian League of Political Asylum-Seekers in Yugoslavia, formed on 10 May 1951, is reported to have begun distributing the new publication “Flamuri i Lirisë” (The Flag of Freedom), which apparently supports the Albanians’ effort against the tyranny of the Hoxha government. We have had some reports of differences between the action of our officers and the British, signaling that the British may be pursuing a unilateral policy of action, regarding the National Committee of “Free Albania.”
3 May 1949
Intelligence operations in Albania from Italy and Greece
Currently the foreign branch is engaged in two intelligence operations against Albania and will begin a third during the month of June. Their details are listed below:
Plan I
Joint operations with Italian naval intelligence for the infiltration of intelligence groups into Albania by air. The organization was contacted by Italian naval intelligence in the spring of 1948, with the proposal for joint intelligence operations in Albania. In July 1948, final approval was given for our commitment to the operation, which includes the provision of a C-47 aircraft for dropping personnel and supplies. An officer of the Italian intelligence services has worked with the group to develop the operation.
The C-47 aircraft arrived in October 1948 and other supplies were provided by Germany and Switzerland. The members of the group were recruited from refugee camps in Italy and Greece, and transport was provided by the CIA. The agents sent to Albania will contact the local resistance movements through their leaders, identified in the memoranda of 18 January. All individuals have been checked in CIA files for derogatory information.
The Albanians have been chosen because of their family ties in the central regions of Elbasan and Mirdita, where the existence of resistance groups has previously been reported. The groups include agents of Muslim and Catholic faiths. The Albanian leader in Italy who has worked in the Italian navy and the CIA is Ismail Verlaci.
Infiltration of agents
The first objective of the plan is the infiltration of agents by air, who, equipped with radio transmission means, will establish contacts with local resistance groups, to gather information. Initially they will observe the local situation and establish a base of communications and reception of supplies dropped from the air. The intelligence objectives are set by Washington, including the desired information on resistance groups, internal political conditions and military defense installations.
The plan entered the operational phase in February 1949, when four agents in two groups with special radio equipment were dropped in perfect weather conditions at the desired point of Serrisht, 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 held in reserve due to 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 12 April, but no signal was noticed in the designated area, according to the preliminary plan.
On 24 April Ismail Verlaci received a commercial cablegram from Kastoria in Greece, signed by Lleshanaku, which said that he and Blloshmi had arrived safely in Kastoria. On 28 April 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 provision of information.
Plan II
Another plan is currently being prepared in Italy and is expected to enter the operational phase in June. Currently the agents, who will most likely be dropped by air, appear to have little chance for propaganda or creating resistance. If in the future their potential increases, the OPC branch will be informed. / Memorie.al
Continued in the next issue
