Liberation Day: November 29, 2009
Liberation Day is a national holiday in Albania.
November 29 is a national holiday in Albania and remembers the day in 1944 that invading German and Italian troops were driven out of the country by Allied Forces. November 28 is celebrated as Independence Day, celebrating Independence from the Ottoman Empire, and November 29 as Liberation Day.
History of Liberation Day in Albania
Italy invaded Albania on April 7, 1939, taking control of the country. Benito Mussolini, Italian fascist dictator, proclaimed King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy as King of Albania, starting the Italian occupation and making Albania one of the first countries to be invaded in World War II by the Axis Powers. During the occupation, Mussolini tried to promote Italian culture among Albanians, discouraging the use of the native Albanian language and forcing Italian to be learned in schools and bringing Italian colonizers from Italy to Albania.
During the war, Mussolini used Albania as a base to launch several attacks on Greece, most of them unsuccessful. In 1942, the National Liberation Front was set up in Albania to fight off the Italians and later the Germans. By the time that Italy was invaded by the Allied forces and Mussolini saw his last days, Germans decided to take over Albania, taking over the capital city of Tirana and driving the Albanian guerrillas into the surrounding hills. The Germans would later decide to recognize Albania as independent and neutral state, creating a government front of German-friendly Albanians. Even so, the National Liberation Front pursued its efforts towards full independence from Germany and achieved complete liberation from the Nazis on November 28, 1944.
Albania’s Liberation Day Traditions, Customs and Activities
Almost everyone in Albania still has family memories and stories that were passed down from previous generations about the occupation during World War II. The day is to honor the victims of the war, and it celebrates freedom and hope for Albania. A national ceremony is held in Tirana, featuring a memorial service for the victims and national Albanian heroes that fought the occupying forces. The ceremonies are attended by the president, government officials, and representatives from many veterans associations. The ceremonies are broadcast so that all Albanians can follow the solemnities. For most Albanians it is a non-working day that, following Independence Day on November 28, gives reason for a longer break to have time to be with family and friends.
Other interesting posts:
