Bunkers in Albania
Encyclopedia
Bunkers in Albania were built in the Socialist People's Republic of Albania during the rule of Enver Hoxha
, to avert possible external invasion. The pill box bunkers are still prominent in the landscape of Albania
. Together with the Porto Palermo Tunnel
it is considered as the most important militairy structure build by communist Albania.
Recently T-59 tanks
were set in action to remove some bunkers in Albania
.
received a PhD in military science. From 1981, he was Deputy Minister of Defense. Under the ministers Beqir Balluku
, Mehmet Shehu
, and Kadri Hasbiu, he held this post until October 1982 (Prime Minister Shehu died violently in December 1981). During this time, Moisiu was the main architect of the Albanian bunkers. He was appointed by Enver Hoxha to fill Albania with bunkers, a legacy that Albania has until today. However, the bunkerisation of Albania produced a disaster, causing Enver Hoxha
to send Moisiu to Burrel
, where he served as the commander of an engineers' company from 1982 to 1984. Moisiu left active service as a general.
, and consumed more than three times as much concrete. Which is around 1,2 Billon euro.
asked the chief engineer how confident he was that it could withstand a full assault from a tank. The engineer answered that he was very confident. Enver Hoxha then insisted that the engineer stand inside his creation while it was bombarded by a tank.
Then the bunkers went into production on a massive scale.
s across a country of 3 million inhabitants, to act as look-outs and gun emplacements along with chemical weapons. The bunkers were built strong and mobile, with the intention that they could be easily placed by a crane or a helicopter in a previously dug hole. The types of bunkers vary from machine gun pillboxes, beach bunkers, to naval underground facilities, and even an Air Force Mountain and underground bunkers.
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
, to avert possible external invasion. The pill box bunkers are still prominent in the landscape of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. Together with the Porto Palermo Tunnel
Porto Palermo Tunnel
Porto Palermo Tunnel is a submarine bunker built in the Socialist People's Republic of Albania during the rule of Enver Hoxha. It is situated at the northern end of the bay of Porto Palermo. It is no longer in use as such, but remains in a military restriction zone.-Bibliography:* Historia e...
it is considered as the most important militairy structure build by communist Albania.
Recently T-59 tanks
Type 59
The Type 59 main battle tank is a Chinese produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, an improvement over the ubiquitous T-54/55. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963...
were set in action to remove some bunkers in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
Background
The cult of personality intensified around Hoxha, who became increasingly paranoid about foreign intrigue and conspiracy. ref name=Olsen-book /> After a purge in the military and the economic bureaucracy, in 1976, Albania implemented a rigidly Marxist–Leninist constitution that not only made the party the leading force in state and society, but also limited private property and forbade foreign loans. Isolating itself completely from the rest of the world, Albania embarked on a massive defense program, including the amassing of a huge arsenal of weapons and the construction of more than 700,000 concrete military bunkers for a country with only 3 million citizens.Alfred Moisiu's Role
In 1979, Alfred MoisiuAlfred Moisiu
was the fourth President of the Republic of Albania from July 24, 2002 to July 24, 2007. He is the son of Albanian Army general Spiro Moisiu....
received a PhD in military science. From 1981, he was Deputy Minister of Defense. Under the ministers Beqir Balluku
Beqir Balluku
Beqir Balluku was an Albanian politician, military leader, and Minister of Defense of Albania. Balluku assisted Enver Hoxha in carrying out the 1956 purge in the Communist Party of Albania...
, Mehmet Shehu
Mehmet Shehu
Mehmet Ismail Shehu was an Albanian communist politician who served as premier of Albania from 1954 to 1981...
, and Kadri Hasbiu, he held this post until October 1982 (Prime Minister Shehu died violently in December 1981). During this time, Moisiu was the main architect of the Albanian bunkers. He was appointed by Enver Hoxha to fill Albania with bunkers, a legacy that Albania has until today. However, the bunkerisation of Albania produced a disaster, causing Enver Hoxha
Enver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
to send Moisiu to Burrel
Burrel, Albania
Burrel is a city in northern Albania, 91 km from Tirana. It is the centre of the District of Mat.The city's population is 15,539 . Burrel is one of the largest districts in Albania. It is also known among Albanians as the "Land of Kings", as Gjon Kastrioti, the father of George Kastrioti,...
, where he served as the commander of an engineers' company from 1982 to 1984. Moisiu left active service as a general.
Costs
The bunkers cost more than twice as much as France's pre-World War II Maginot LineMaginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
, and consumed more than three times as much concrete. Which is around 1,2 Billon euro.
Testing of the Bunker
When the prototype bunker was finished in 1958, Enver HoxhaEnver Hoxha
Enver Halil Hoxha was a Marxist–Leninist revolutionary andthe leader of Albania from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania...
asked the chief engineer how confident he was that it could withstand a full assault from a tank. The engineer answered that he was very confident. Enver Hoxha then insisted that the engineer stand inside his creation while it was bombarded by a tank.
Then the bunkers went into production on a massive scale.
Types of bunkers
Hoxha's legacy also included a complex of over 700,000 one-man concrete bunkerBunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
s across a country of 3 million inhabitants, to act as look-outs and gun emplacements along with chemical weapons. The bunkers were built strong and mobile, with the intention that they could be easily placed by a crane or a helicopter in a previously dug hole. The types of bunkers vary from machine gun pillboxes, beach bunkers, to naval underground facilities, and even an Air Force Mountain and underground bunkers.