Albania today marks 50 years of freedom. Therefore, joy and pride are justified. And so 29 November can rightly be called the greatest holiday. Because the glorious National Liberation War made the centuries-old dream of Albanians for freedom a reality, successfully crowning the efforts of generations who dreamed of sacrificing themselves for a homeland without occupiers, in the Soviet Union, England, and the United States of America. With their vision and patriotism, the Albanian communists did Albania a great service, because they saved it from the disgrace into which the quisling Balli-Zogists wanted to plunge it—those who not only placed themselves at the service of the occupier, but also became his accomplices in all the crimes against the people. History will not only condemn all the efforts of today’s quislings, descendants of yesterday’s quislings, who are trying by every means and method to rehabilitate their forefathers by slandering the Antifascist National Liberation War and 29 November, but will always hold high the names of those who sacrificed themselves for Albania, the names of those communists and non-party patriots who pinned on Albania’s chest the partisan medal, the antifascist medal, which are the medals of our honor and pride. No one can falsify the glorious history of the Antifascist National Liberation War, no one can trample on the blood of the martyrs of freedom, no one can erase from history 29 November 1944, whose 50th anniversary we celebrate magnificently today. successfully crowning the efforts of generations who dreamed and sacrificed for a homeland without occupiers, without executioners and servants of the occupiers. Thus, the deepest honor and gratitude today are directed first and foremost to all those brave men and women who gave their lives, who sacrificed their youth and dreams for a free and independent Albania; they are directed to all the brave partisans who, with rifles on their shoulders, bandoliers at their waists and the red star of freedom on their brows, set every inch of this ancient and hard-pressed land ablaze, as the people’s song proudly underscored: “What is it that makes the earth burst into flames, why does Albania glow red? It is blood mingled with mud, that makes flowers spring from stone.” But deep honor and gratitude are also deserved today, on the day of Albania’s liberation from the foreign Nazi-fascist occupiers and the domestic traitors, by the Albanian communists, who not only organized that great war but also led it with rare courage and heroism, leading the people to victory and placing it alongside the other peoples of the great world antifascist coalition led by

— Based on a conversation with Comrade Arif Hasko, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee of Veterans of the National Liberation War of the Albanian people — 29 November 1944, for our mass and combat organization of veterans, as undoubtedly for the mass of the people, represents one of the most important dates in the centuries-old history of our people. Let the pseudo-historians and pseudo-democrats of the collaborators of the foreign occupiers do as they wish, but they will not be able to extinguish or crown this great celebration of the hundreds and thousands of heroes and martyrs, immortalized in blood, of the 70,000 partisans who brought forth the glorious National Liberation Army and of the entire Albanian people. To understand this commemorative day in all its significance, the Committee of Veterans of the National Liberation War of the Albanian people, in cooperation with sister organizations of peoples in the organization of its great allies, the Nation, and with the party organizations—its organization, one of its principal bodies—which for several years had had a special and meaningful program, here on the pages of the newspaper “Kushtrim brezi”; likewise, our National Committee openly and unequivocally denounced the anti-democratic decision of the Council of Ministers, according to which parallel commemorative events were not permitted to be organized, which meant excluding our fighting Organization from the right to mark and honor the glorious Jubilee. The National Committee of Veterans of the National Liberation War refused to participate in and boycott the so-called government commission for celebrating 29 November; indeed, it denounced this shameful and illegal act in many [...?] historical events. In the long series of activities organized on the way to historic 29 November, there were numerous events in the capital, and even more in the districts, from Tropoja, Shkodra, Kukës and Peshkopia to Gjirokastër, Sarandë, and elsewhere. In this way, the anniversaries of the founding of the partisan Brigades and the anniversaries of glorious events were commemorated, such as the Peza Conference, the first Congress of BRASH in Helmës, the first Women’s Congress in Berat, and others. Likewise, almost all the fiftieth anniversaries of the deaths of the people’s heroes were commemorated here in Tirana and in other places where they fell. Special meetings were regularly organized each month with the families of those martyrs who had fallen during that particular month; these meeting-receptions aroused great emotion, and even the martyrs’ grandchildren took part. The veterans’ meeting with the elders of the martyrs’ families, especially those who worked for the liberation of the capital, was particularly moving. (Continued on page 2)

— Symposium on the occasion of 29 November — Yesterday, the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of the city of Tirana organized a symposium on the occasion of 29 November, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Homeland from the Nazi-fascist occupiers and their “servants.” Historians, representatives of political forces, deputies, writers, etc. took part. Also present was Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania. The symposium was opened by Musa Ulqini, chairman of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Tirana. Then Dr. Maqo Llakrori delivered greetings on behalf of the leadership of the Albanian Party of Labour and the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Tirana. “The Socialist Party, ah, considers itself, without any hesitation, the inheritor—though not the sole one—of this great historical legacy. It considers the centuries-long struggle and the efforts that led to 28 November 1912 and the National Liberation War to be the basis for national dignity and development, and for the elevation and realization of every Albanian’s personality. It therefore considers every attempt to distort historical truths—which begins with changing the date of liberation—to be historically and morally unjust and practically harmful to social peace within the country and to Albania’s image abroad. Four papers on the Antifascist National Liberation War were presented at the symposium. Prof. Dr. Xhemil Frashëri discussed the National Liberation War as the only path to Albania’s liberation. “It is in the interest of historiography and of the nation, as a major manifestation of its values, that the National Liberation War be given the place it deserves in Albania’s history. By achieving Albania’s liberation, the Antifascist National Liberation War also opened the way to democracy; democratic ideals were among the factors that encouraged the people’s participation in the struggle for independence. By unfolding all these aspects, the National Liberation War gave priority to the problem of national creation and led it toward democratization in its service, within parameters that did not create obstacles to the struggle against the occupier. “In this,” he emphasized, “by objectively evaluating the values of the alternative that the National Liberation War offered the Albanian people, and its successful culmination on 29 November 1944, we are fulfilling a task that is both scientific and patriotic. These values are passed on to us and will be passed on to future generations.” (Continued on page 4)

On 25 November 1994, the National Committee of the Organization of Veterans of the Antifascist National Liberation War of the Albanian people, in cooperation with the political-social organization “OMONIA,” as part of the 29 November celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Albania’s Liberation and the fiftieth anniversary of the antifascist war, organized, together with their collaborators from Balli Kombëtar and Legaliteti, a festive meeting in the hall of the “Dajti” Cinema dedicated to the contribution of the Greek minority in Albania. On 25 November 1994, the National Committee of the Organization of Veterans of the Antifascist the political-social organization “OMONIA,” as part of the 29 November celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Albania’s Liberation and the fiftieth anniversary of the antifascist war, organized, together with their collaborators from Balli Kombëtar and Legaliteti, a festive meeting in the hall of the “Dajti” Cinema dedicated to the contribution of the Greek minority in Albania. Opening the meeting, Comrade Dilaver Poci, deputy chairman of the National Committee of the National Liberation War, first gave the floor to Comrade Pipi Mitroporgji, a member of the leadership of the National Liberation War organization, who delivered the paper: “The participation of the Greek minority in Albania in the National Liberation War and its current support.” The following papers were then presented: - “The Greek minority’s intelligentsia and peasantry during the National Liberation War,” by Comrade Jorgo Kërva. - “The organization of the Movement and the War for the creation of national liberation,” by ...

FILMATET - The people and the partisans on the 29th of November, the Day of Liberation

Eternal honor and gratitude to the martyrs of the homeland / those who laid down their blood at the foundations of the / 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of Albania Eternal honor and gratitude to the martyrs of the homeland those who laid down their blood at the foundations of the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of Albania