Legality Movement Explained

Legality Movement
Native Name:Lëvizja Legaliteti
War:World War II
Active:1943–1945
Ideology:Monarchism
Albanian nationalism
Leaders:Abaz Kupi
Headquarters:Mat
Area:Albania
Disbanded:1945
Allies:Allied Powers
  • United Kingdom

Balli Kombëtar (end of the war)

Opponents:Balli Kombëtar (start of the war) Albanian partisans
Axis
Battles:Albanian 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

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.But in the end of Albanian Resistance war they formed an alliance with them against LANÇ.

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.

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Escape Through the Balkans: The Autobiography of Irene Grünbaum . Irene Grünbaum. 31 January 2011. 0803270828. 1996. U of Nebraska Press .
  2. Book: OSS in World War Two Albania by Peter Lucas. Peter Lucas. 31 January 2011. 9780786429677. 2007. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers .
  3. Book: Hutchings, Raymond . Historical Dictionary of Albania . . Scarecrow Press . 1996 . 148 . 0-8108-3107-4 . 95-26304.
  4. Book: Tito, Mihailović, and the allies, 1941-1945. Walter R. Roberts. 31 January 2011. 0822307731. 1987. Duke University Press .