Enver Hoxha

[ 16. 10. 1908 – 11. 4. 1985 ]

Es lebe Genosse Enver Hoxha!

(zu seinem 20.Todestag - 11. 4. 2005)

Sein Leben und sein Werk

Der folgende Text wurde dem Bildband „Enver Hoxha – sein Leben und sein Werk“ entnommen, der vom Institut für marxistisch-leninistische Studien des Zentralkomitees der Partei der Arbeit Albaniens 1985 herausgegeben wurde. Die Übersetzung stammt vom Genossen Wolfgang Eggers.

„Meine geliebte Stadt, in der ich geboren wurde – ich danke dir für immer, weil du mich groß gezogen hast, mich gelehrt hast. Du gabst mir die Kraft, meine Pflicht gegenüber der Heimat zu erfüllen und für den Sieg jener zu kämpfen, die unterdrückt waren, die unter Hunger und Armut gelitten haben“ (Enver Hoxha).

Kindheit und Jugend

Enver Hoxha wurde am 16. Oktober 1908 geboren und stammt aus einer patriotischen Familie der Stadt Gjirokastra . Seine Mutter, Gjylo, war eine bescheidene Frau des Volkes. Sein Vater, Halil, der vor und während des Ersten Weltkrieges die wirtschaftliche Not der Emigration erfahren nmusste mit dem geringen Einkommen eines unteren Büroangestellten, versuchte die Familie recht und schlecht über Wasser zu halten.. Er hatte 5 Kinder großzuziehen und für ihre Schulbildung zu sorgen. Enver Hoxha verbrachte seine Kindheit und frühe Jugend in seiner Geburtsstadt, in einer Zeit des Kampfes für nationale Befreiung Albaniens und dessen Fortschritt..

Am 28. November 1912 wurde der unaufhörliche Freiheitskampf gegen die osmanisch-türkische Besatzung gekrönt mit der Unabhängigkeitserklärung Albaniens auf der Versammlung von Vlora. Enver Hoxhas Onkel, Hysen Hoxha, ein wohlbekannter Patriot mit großem Ansehen, war Vorsitzender einer ganzen Anzahl von patriotischen und kulturellen Vereinigungen in der Stadt und Initiator der ersten albanischen Schule in Gjirokastra. Dieser nahm als Delegierter Gjirokastras an diesem großartigen Ereignis teil. Hysen Hoxha übte einen nicht zu unterschätzenden Einfluss auf die gesellschaftliche und patriotische Erziehung Enver Hoxhas aus – insbesondere während der Abwesenheit seines Vaters, der sich als Wirtschaftsemigrant in den USA aufhielt.

Im März 1913 - nur dreieinhalb Jahre nach der Unabhängigkeitserklärung - wurde Gjirokastra and die umliegenden Gebiete von griechischen Chauvinisten besetzt, die dann drei Jahre später den italienischen Imperialisten den Platz räumen mussten. Enver Hoxha musste seine Kindheit unter dem Besatzungsregime verbringen (1913-1919), zur Zeit des ununterbrochenen Volkswiderstandes, dessen Beendigung 1920 mit dem Krieg von Vlora gekrönt wurde. Alle von Fremden besetzten Gebiete wurden befreit. Von dieser Zeit an, der Periode der dramatischen Ereignisse und Kämpfe für Freiheit und Aufrechterhaltung der territorialen Integrität des Landes, wurde der junge Enver Hoxha erfüllt von tiefer Liebe zur Heimat, ihrer Freiheit und ihrer Unabhängigkeit.

In den Jahren 1917-1923 besuchte Enver Hoxha die öffentliche Schule „Drita“, die ihre Eröffnung den Anstrengungen der Patrioten Gjirokastras zu verdanken hatte trotz schwerster Bedingungen der italienischen Besatzung. Auf diese Weise wurde der junge Enver Hoxha mit den großen Ereignissen der demokratischen Bewegung von 1920-1924 vetraut gemacht, die einen unauslöschlichen Eindruck auf ihn hinterlassen hatte.

Nachdem er die öffentliche Schule „Drita“ (1917-1923) verlassen hatte, setzte Enver Hoxha seine Schulbildung im französischen Gymnasium fort, die in Gjirokastra neu eingerichtet worden war (1923-1927). Das war die Zeit eines eifrigen Schülers, der sich mit Heißhunger über das neue Wissen und die Kultur hermachte . Er wurde auch als ein revolutionärer, demokratischer Jugendlicher geprägt. Er war ein Bewunderer von Avni Rustemi, einem Sympathisanten der fortschrittlichen „Bashkimi“ Vereinigung und der bürgerlich-demokratischen Revolution von 1924. Enver Hoxha schloss sich den Oppositionskräften gegen das mittelalterliche Regime des Obskurantismus an, das in Albanien die Oberhand gewann , nachdem die Konterrevolution gesiegt und A. Zog die Macht ergriffen hatte (December 1924).

„tagein – tagaus lasen wir auf französisch ... was in Russland vor sich ging. Eine neue Welt nahm von meinem jungen Kopf Besitz. Es war wie der erste Funke eines großen Feuers, das in mir entbrannte – das muss etwa im Jahre 1926 gewesen sein...“ (Enver Hoxha).

The 16-year old Enver Hoxha was one of the initiators and secretary of the „Student“ Association in Gjirokastra which was formed at the beginning of July 1924. With its cultural-artistic activities, this association evoked love for the Homeland, freedom and democracy. When, after the establishment of the Zogite domination, reactionary elements demanded the closing of the „Student“ Club, Enver Hoxha was at the head of the revolt of the progressive pupils. In 1926, Enver Hoxha, who had learned about and been enthused by the French Revolution of the 18^th century while he was at school, came in contact for the first time with the ideas of the October Socialist Revolution which had penetrated into Albania some years before. These ideas, which represented a new world, a new ideology, communism, were implanted more deeply in the mind of Enver Hoxha during the period when he continued and completed his secondary studies in Korça (1927-1930).

„When I was granted a bursary to go to Korça, my joy was great, indescriebable ... A new page of my life was being opened, with great hopes, with fine dreams, with thoughts and a greater sense of responsibility about ny duties as a young man towards my family and the Homeland!“ (Enver Hoxha).

His attending lessons at the French Lycée of Korça played an important role in the education of the young Enver Hoxha with progressive and revolutionary ideas. The works of the men of our National Renaissance and of democratic and progressive foreign literature with which he became acquainted there, umbued him more deeply with love for the Albanian language, for the cultural wealth of the Homeland, and for the great, progressive and revolutionary world culture. For Enver Hoxha and other sons of the people who were pupils of the Lycée the history of French revolutions was a great lessons which increased their hatred and prepared them for a struggle against the feudal regime of Zog.

„The Lycée of Korça was a progressive and revolutionary centre ... With what we learned and read there we were armed against the feudal regime...“ (Enver Hoxha).

In the Communist Movement

For the Albania of the time,, Korça in the years 1927-1930 was a big urban centre with a relatively developed working class, and one of the most revolutionary. Elements of it had embraced the ideas of communism and had formed the nucleus of the future „Puna“ communist group (the Communist Group of Korça) in 1927. In this town, the revolutionary democrat Enver Hoxha felt himself close to the corageous and progressive workers of Korça and linked himself for the first time with the Albanian communist movement. The Manifesto of the Communist Party, which the communist worker Koci Bako gave him, accompanied with the instruction: „Read it, translate it, keep it hidden and return it to me,“ works of other classics of Marxism-Leninism and the Albanian communists gave Enver Hoxha that orientation which was to become the greatest and only purpose of his life.

In the summer of 1930 Enver Hoxha completed his studies at the Lycée of Korça with excellent results. After great efforts, in October 1930 he was granted a bursary to continue his studies in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Montpellier in France. Being unable to persue his higher studies in the social sciences as he desired, because he lacked the money. Enver Hoxha enrolled in the faculty for which he was granted the bursary.

Enver Hoxha enrolled and commenced his studies in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, but the social sciences remained his passion. During his years of study at Montpellier he devoted a great deal of time to the study of literary, historical and philosophical works, and especially to the study of Marxist-Leninist literature, and attended lectures and conferences in the worker`s clubs run by the CP of France.

During the years of his schooling Enver Hoxha spent the summer holidays in his birthplace. He stayed with his parents, sisters, relations and the friends that he loved and valued so much. In his companions he valued honesty, intelligence, the will to learn and, above all, devotion to serve the Homeland. In November 1933 the Zogite government cut off Enver Hoxha`s bursary. After unseccessfull efforts to find some job so that he could continue his studies, Enver Hoxha left Montpellier and went to Paris in the hope of finding work in order to continue studying there, in the Faculty of Law.

In the capital of France, in the Paris of the communards, Enver Hoxha became acquainted with French communists, entered into the circles of Parisian workers and took part in the rallies organized by the CP of France. In the clubs for Marxist education run by the CP of France in the worker`s quarters, he studied extracts from and commentaries on Karl Marx`major work, Capital, and Engels` work, Anti-Dühring.

Through his own efforts and with the assistance of some Albanian friends, in 1934 Enver Hoxha was appointed as a clerk in the Albanian consulate in Belgium. In Brussels he enrolled and attended studies in the Faculty of Law of the Free University of Belgium und persued his studies of Marxism-Leninism further. The ideas of this theory, considered in the light of the situation in Albania and the movement on the proletariat, especially the French proletariat, played a special role in imbuing Enver Hoxha with the revolutionary world outlook and spirit of a resolute communist. For his revolutionary activity, which came to the notice of the agents of Zog, in 1936 he was dismissed from his position on the grounds that he had turned the consulate into an arsenal of Marxist literature.

During the years of his studies and work in France and Belgium, on his journeys to and from the Homeland, Enver Hoxha had frequently stopped in the city of Bari in Italy. In that city he was given the possibility to mix with the anti-Zogite emigrees who had left Albania after the defeat of the Bourgeois-Democratic Revolution of 1924 and to gain first-hand knowledge of their moral and political situation. This knowledge served Enver Hoxha later, during the efforts of the CP of Albania to rally the various groups of the nationalists and involve in the war against the Italian occupiers.

Left without work and the means to complete his university studies, Enver Hoxha returned permanently to Albania in the summer of 1936. A few days after returning to his birthplace, now imbued with the communist world outlook, he took a pledge on behalf of the youth of Albania at the grave of the outstanding patriot, Bajo Topulli. Two months later, he took part in a lofty and significant mission: the exhumination from the Plain of Shtoi of the remains of Çerçiz Topulli and Muço Qulli to return them to their birthplace, and in a brief address to the people of Shkodra he expressed his admiration for the patriots of the Albanian national movement.

After his return to the Homeland, Enver Hoxha`s first concern was to re-establish contact with the Albanian communist movement. In July 1936 in Gjirokastra he was introduced to the oustanding communist militant, Ali Kelmendi, who had played an important role in the extension of the communist movement in Albania on sound lines. Before the Zogite government expelled Ali Kelmendi from the Homeland, Enver Hoxha met him several times and discussed the problems of the development of the communist and worker`s movement with him. The Zogite authorities, who regarded him with suspicion, left Enver Hoxha unemployed for month on end after his return to Albania. After great efforts, he was appointed as a part-time teacher at the boy`s secondary school on Tirana, but was paid only for the hours which he was actually teaching. In April 1937 he was appointed a part-time teacher at the Lycée of Korça.

In Korça Enver Hoxha mixed with the workers and immediately reestablished his contacts, now in an organized way, with the communist group. Through his close contacts with the communist militants, Miha Lako, Pilo Peristeri and others, and with his theoretical horizon and practical activity, he quickly became one of the most active members of the Communist Group of Korça and the communist movement of Albania. Charged by the Communist Group of Korça to work especially with the pupils and teachers, the communist teacher, Enver Hoxha, with this propagating of democratic and communist ideas, his fiery words in defence of the rights of the people, won the sympathy of students, teachers and progressive intellectuals and became one of the main organizers of the out-of-school organization „Korça Youth“.

The year 1939. A Very serious danger, the prelude to the greatest tragedy of the Albanian people, threatened Albania. Fascist Italy, which through many concessions and enslaving political treaties had transformed Albania into a semi-colony, began preparations for its military occupation. In the face of of this danger, a logical consequence of the anti-national policy of the regime, King Zog, the landowners and the big Albanian bourgeoisie sold out to Italian capital, did not undertake any steps to organize armed resistance to the fascist aggression. The communists were the only organized force determined to and capable of arousing the people to fight in defence of the freedom and independence of the Homeland. Enver Hoxha distinguished himselg amongst the members of the Communist Group of Korça for his denunciation among the people, especially among the school youth, of the aims of fascism and for his urging the necessity for the creation of a braod anti-fascist movement. In the first days of April 1939 the plans of Italian fascism for the occupation of Albania became publicly known. Powerful demonstrations, organized and led by the communists, burst out all over the country. On the initiative of members of the communist groups and patriots, centres for the recruitment of volonteers to fight against the fascist aggression were opened in Tirana and other towns. At the meeting organized in the Town Hall of Korça, Enver Hoxha called for the mobilization and arming of the people who were aroused and ready to fight to defend their freedom and independence with their blood, and for the condemnation of the capitulationist and traitor King. In April 7, 1939, Italian fascism launched its aggression against Albania. Betrayed and left without weapons by the King and the government, unorganized and without any aid or support from abroad, the Albanian people used against the enemy „that language which Europe had forgotten“, but were unable to prevent the aggression and occupation of the country. The bloody and heroic resistance of Albanian patriots, who met the aggressors with bullets at all the ports of Albania and elsewhere, was crushed by the fascist hordes armed to the teeth. Albania was occupied.

The fascist occupation created an atmosphere of terror and insecurity throughout the whole country and put the very existence of the Albanian people and nation in jeopardy. Fully aware of the historic importance of the moment, Enver Hoxha was amongst the first who was able to see beyond the fascist gloom tio the days of freedom and the future.

Conscious of the responsibilities and duties of a revolutionary communist, from the first days of the fascist occupation he became a fiery agitator for the idea of the liberation war among the ranks of the school youth. For his revolutionary activity and resolute, open, anti-fascist stand, after coming out at the head of the demonstration of Novemeber 28, 1939, Enver Hoxha was dimissed from his job and banned from re-employment as a teacher.

By decision of the centre of the Communist Group of Korça, at the beginning of 1940, Enver Hoxha came to Tirana and imeediately threw himself into revolutionary activity to unite the communist groups and create the conditions for the formation of the CPA. Convinced about the mistaken character of the course persued by the chiefs for the unification of the communist groups through agreement between themselves, Enver Hoxha was the first to understand that the formation of the party would be achieved through activity from below, through unification to the base of the communist groups. Under the disguise of trade, he set to work energetically to accomplish this vital task for the fate of the people and the Homeland and very quickly transformed the shop „Flora“ in Tirana into the main centre of the communist movement in Albania.

In struggle with the spirit of factionalism and sectarianism, Enver Hoxha gave an impulse to the work of smoothing out disagreements, of finding a common language and of collaboration between members of different groups to carry out revolutionary actions. By establishing sound links with militant communists from other groups which operated in Tirana, amongst whom Qemal Stafa and Vasil Shanto were outstanding, Enver Hoxha worked and struggled for the formation of the Communist Party of Albania.

Continuing his efforts to unite the communist groups and form the party, during 1940 and early in 1941, Enver Hoxha went to Shkodra, Durrës, Fier, Kuçova and Gjirokastra, where he met and talked with communists of different groups and a major victory on the road of uniting the communists in a single party, was the great anti-fascist demonstration which took place in Tirana on October 28, 1941. Enver Hoxha was the main organizer of this demonstration. Being in the first line of the demonstrators, he came to the own cool-headedness and intelligence. From those moments to the eve of the liberation of Albania, all his activity was carried out in illegality. The fascists irdered Enver Hoxha`s arrest for participation in the demonstration.

Founder of the Communist Party of Albania November 8, 1941

In the Meeting of the Main Communist Groups of Albania on November 8, 1941, Enver Hoxha, with the ideological, political and organizational platform which he presented and defended, with the principled struggle which he led against liquidationist theses, supported also by other participants in the Meeting, placed the newly-formed Party on sound Marxist-Leninist foundations. Elected by the Founding Meeting a member of the Provisional Central Committee of the Party and charged with the task of leading its work, Enver Hoxha immediately placed himself in the forefront of the work and efforts to organize the CPA and to link it with the masses. „The Resolution of the Meeting of the Main Communist Groups of Albania“ ( the first programmatic document of the CPA) and „The First Appeal of the CC of the CPA Addressed to the Albanian People After the Founding of the Party“, written by Enver Hoxha in November 1941, echoed like a powerful call to battle for the communists and the whole people.

In the conditions of the most ferocious terror and condemned to death in absentia by the courts of fascism, Enver Hoxha devoted all his mental and physical energies to carrying out the tasks with which the Party had charged him. In November 23, 1941, on behalf of the CC of the CPA, he attended and chaired the meeting for the founding of the organization of the Communist Youth of Albania. The last Consultative Meeting of Activists of the CPA (April 1942), the Special Conference of the Party (June 1942), and a number of other meetings and organizations and forums of the Party were conducted successfully in Tirana on his initiative and under his leadership. The analysis and decisions of these meetings and the intensive revolutionary activity of Enver Hoxha for their application had vital importance for the ideological, political and organizational strengthening of the Party and gave a new impulse to its work.

Enver Hoxha, author of the first leaflets which the communists distributed before the founding of the CPA, became the initiator and leader of Zëri i popullit, the organ of the CC of the Communist Party of Albania, which was published by decision of the Central Committee. The leading article of the first issue and all the other articles written by Enver Hoxha in this newspaper and other organs of the press during the period of the Antifascist National Liberation War, propagated the political line of the Party and the anti-fascist war of the Albanian people, showed the ways to national liberation and forcibly denounced the occupiers and the traitors. Enver Hoxha`s articles are models of the new piblicity and political literature which emerged in Albania in the period of the liberation war.

In the Years of the National Liberation War

In carrying out the fundamental task of the newly-created Party for the political unification of the people in the war against the occupier, Enver Hoxha established close links with the common people in town and village, with patriotic intellectuals and nationalists, and others, and on his insistence and following his example, the communists intensified their activity in town and countryside. Comabting the attempts of pseudo-patriots and anti-Marxist concepts, he advocated the possibility of the political unification of the people from below and the necessity of the Front`s being led by the Communist Party of Albania. Through his daily work the masses and his elaboration of the political and organizational platform, Enver Hoxha made a direct contribution to the preparation, organization and the direction of the Conference which met on September 16, 1942, in Peza, at which the political foundaments of the National Liberation Front of the Albanian people were laid.

Right from its founding, the CPA, guided by the Marxist-Leninist thinking of Enver Hoxha, linked the struggle for driving out the occupiers with the establishment of the people`s democratic regime in liberated Albania. The Conference of Peza, which laid the foundation of the people`s state power in Albania, accepted the theses presented by Enver Hoxha in the report, The National Liberation Councils as organs of the Unity and Struggle of the Albanian People, as the basis for the setting uo of national liberation councils.

Will be continued, soon.