JUGOSLOVENSKO-ALBANSKI ODNOSI 1945-1948. U DOKUMENTIMA RUSKIH ARHIVA
YUGOSLAV-ALBANIAN RELATIONS 1945-1948 IN DOCUMENTS OF THE RUSSIAN ARCHIVE

Summary/Abstract: Former studies, monographs, and other contributions dealing with Yugoslav-Albanian relations were written without reference to documents from a number of Russian archives, which have only recently become accessible to historians. Very important in this respect is the first book of documents "East Europe in the Documents of Russian Archives 1944-1953" (Moscow, Novosibirsk, 1977), in which sources for the period 1944-1949 were published. These documents refer to the Yugoslav-Albanian relations, from the period immediately after the war to the break in diplomatic relations between the two countries, caused by the Cominform Resolution of 28 June 1948. The documents, although scarce, portray the countries’ military, diplomatic, economic, and political relations, as well as the ties between the Yugoslav and Albanian communist parties, from the postwar period until the middle of 1948. They also testify to the substantial economic aid, which Yugoslavia gave to Albania in order to help its economic development, and to strengthen its military and defensive potential. The internal relations within the Albanian communist party and the conflicts among its leaders are described in these documents, as well as the altitude of the Albanian political and party leadership toward the Yugoslav political elite, and of the latter toward Albania. The published documents clearly show the presence of Soviet influence and interference in Yugoslav-Albanian relations. Particularly important are the documents dealing with the problem of Kosovo and Metohija, and with the future of this region.

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