Legality Movement
Lëvizja Legaliteti
LeadersAbaz Kupi
Dates of operation1943–1945
HeadquartersMat
Active regionsAlbania
IdeologyMonarchism
Albanian nationalism
AlliesAllied Powers
OpponentsAlbanian partisans
Axis
Battles and warsAlbanian resistance of World War II

The Legality Movement (Albanian: Lëvizja Legaliteti) were an Albanian royalist and pro-monarchy faction founded in 1941. It was led by Abaz Kupi.[1]

Ideology

Zog of Albania

The Legaliteti sought the return of King Zog, who had fled the country on the eve of the Italian invasion.[2] The Legaliteti consisted of supporters from mostly the northern mountain tribes, particularly the Mati region. The Legaliteti were anti-communist. Despite being nationalistic, the Legaliteti were against the Balli Kombëtar as the Balli Kombëtar were the social democrats and pro-republic while the Legaliteti were loyalists and royalists.[3] The Balli Kombëtar were also accused by the Legaliteti because they supported the German occupation.

History

The negative action of the Albanian Communists on the Kosovo issue alienated a significant number of its adherents from that border region. Following November 1943, Abaz Kupi, until the Mukje Agreement, was a member of the Central Council of the NLM, withdrew with others to form the Legaliteti. Kupi was a respected Gheg chieftain who had commanded King Zog's troops in Durrës when the Italians invaded Albania. In the early 1940s, three new political factions emerged within Albania after the Italians were defeated: the Albanian Communists, Balli Kombëtar (National Front), and Legaliteti (Legality). The Allies originally supported the Legaliteti. Being the smallest faction with no significant influence in Albania, the Allies broke aid with the Legaliteti and aided the Yugoslav Partisans, who in turn backed the Albanian communists.[4] In 1945, the Albanian communists assumed control over Albania at the end of World War II in Europe. Most Legaliteti members were executed or had escaped to the west.[4]

Legacy

The monarchist Legality Movement Party takes its name from the group.

References

  1. ↑ Irene Grünbaum (1996). Escape Through the Balkans: The Autobiography of Irene Grünbaum. ISBN 0803270828. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  2. ↑ Peter Lucas (2007). OSS in World War Two Albania by Peter Lucas. ISBN 9780786429677. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  3. ↑ Hutchings, Raymond (1996). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 148. ISBN 0-8108-3107-4. LCCN 95-26304.
  4. 1 2 Walter R. Roberts (1987). Tito, Mihailović, and the allies, 1941-1945. ISBN 0822307731. Retrieved 31 January 2011.

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.