1956 – Shaking in the communist “camp”  Cover Image
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1956 – tronditje në “kampin” komunist
1956 – Shaking in the communist “camp”

Author(s): Ana Lalaj
Subject(s): History
Published by: Qendra e Studimeve Albanologjike
Keywords: 1956 ; communist “camp” ; Albania; Albanian History; Gulag ; Labour Party of Albania

Summary/Abstract: In November 1956, when the Hungarian Revolution occurred, the Albanian political leadership had overcome the test against the communist dissidence. In April 1956, in Tirana Party conference, it gave a devastating blow to all the delegates, who asked for liberalization of the life of the Labour Party of Albania (LPA) and that of the country, revising the political punishments of different communists, attitude towards Yugoslavia and improvement of the economic conditions. Hundreds of members were expelled from the party, some others were arrested, interned, and some were killed. It was the first and the last political dissidence within the rows of the Party. Later on there was no opponence or debate within the LPA. What happened in the Tirana Party conference was a consequence of the new political developments after the Stalin’s death (1953) and after the 20th Congress of CPSU 1956). Nevertheless, the exercising of the New Course in Albania didn’t display the radical performance as in other communist countries, and the Albanian communist leadership managed to run the situation by itself. Meanwhile that the New Course sent the message of Détente to the West, the Hungarian revolution disturbed temporarily the just-beginning Détente. It was a “coming back” to the Cold War, which was also reflected in Albania. LPA called the events of November in Hungary as “counterrevolution” and the consequences of the Hungarian political leadership. It supported the Soviet military intervention to Hungary. The Hungarian revolution as a key event of the Cold War, although it was not a source of the dissident communist movement in Albania, disturbed the Albanian communist leadership, which undertook energetic steps in strengthening its power. The Security State organs were reorganized, the bordering and chasing forces were added, the Albanian students, who had shown sympathy or had participated in the Hungarian revolution, were condemned, several discussions on international situation were developed with the Albanian intellectuals, and a lot of measures were taken to reduce the number of tourists. LPA leadership devoted particular attention to the antiparty elements, who were accused as a pivot of the entire subversive activity in the country.

  • Issue Year: 2007
  • Issue No: 01-02
  • Page Range: 114-126
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Albanian