At the end of March 1949, an unusual development occurred in southeastern Albania. At the request of Nikos Zachariadis , the leader of the Greek democratic army, the Albanian government secretly approved the passage of a Greek partisan division through Albanian territory , with the aim of reinforcing the offensive against the monarcho-fascist troops in the Gramoz region. The document preserved in the Albanian archives is a detailed report of the Ministry of Interior , which describes the meetings with Zachariadis, the discussions with the Soviets and the clandestine organisation of the operation.
On March 25, 1949 , Nikos Zahariadhis urgently arrived in Tirana, requesting a meeting with Mehmet Shehu , Minister of the Interior at the time.
“The operation in Gramos will begin soon,” he said.
“We ask that you allow us to pass 500 soldiers and 200 artillerymen through Albanian territory, from the Vic area towards Furka, to strike the enemy forces from behind.”
Zachariadis assured that:
“The troops will move through the night, in motorized vehicles and in secrecy, without being armed.”
Mehmet Shehu immediately forwarded the request to the Party Secretariat , which, in the absence of Enver Hoxha (who was in Moscow), decided to consult with Soviet comrades and with Enver himself via a telegram through representative Glaskov.
But time was running out , while Greek troops were massing in front of the Albanian border .
On March 26, the Secretariat meets and, without yet receiving a response from Moscow, unanimously decides to allow the passage of the troops.
The crossing took place on the night of March 27-28 , in an organized and silent manner.
“In 4 hours, 50 trucks with soldiers and about 400 horses passed, accompanied by 500 soldiers on foot. Only one battalion with 300 men and horses was forced to take shelter in the forest during the day and passed later.”
According to the report:
“Instead of the requested 900 soldiers, about 2,500–3,000 men and 400 horses , an entire division, actually passed through our territory.”
The crossing was made from Kapshtica (Bilisht) and ended in Qytezë (Ersekë) .
On April 1 , Mehmet Shehu met with Zahariadhis again in Vici, to seek clarification. Zahariadhis claims:
“Only 1,000–1,500 people passed through.”
But Albanian intelligence information did not match this figure. The troops that passed through, according to them, were fighting on the Konicë–Furkë front , as was consistent with the communiqués of the headquarters of the democratic army.
The Gramos operation: the consequences
- The first phase of the offensive had been successful: a brigade and a half of monarchists had been destroyed.
- However, the partisan forces now faced new enemy reinforcements arriving from Arta, Metcovo, Kojan, and Pendalofos.
- The human toll was heavy : from April 1 to 10 , 645 seriously wounded Greeks entered Albania.
The document further provides a complete overview of the structure of Albanian aid:
- Around 8,000 Greek political refugees in Albanian territory;
- 2200 active democratic soldiers ;
- 1200 injured in hospitals ;
- Radio, printing press, transport, supply depots and clandestine stations in Bilisht, Korça and Durrës;
- Hospitals with Polish and Hungarian doctors ;
- 6 active channels along the border for supply and evacuation.
Archival reference:
Year 1949, File 2
