Legality Movement

File:Ahmet-Zogu-1895---1961.jpg

The Legaliteti sought the return of King Zog, who had fled the country on the eve of the Italian invasion.{{cite book|title=OSS in World War Two Albania by Peter Lucas|author=Peter Lucas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CTdnAAAAMAAJ&q=Legaliteti|accessdate=31 January 2011|isbn=9780786429677|year=2007|publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers }} The Legaliteti consisted of supporters from mostly the northern mountain tribes, particularly the Mati region.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

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.{{cite book |last=Hutchings |first=Raymond |title=Historical Dictionary of Albania |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s7sUAQAAIAAJ |location=Lanham, Maryland |publisher=Scarecrow Press |date=1996 |page=148 |isbn=0-8108-3107-4 |lccn=95-26304}} 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.

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.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} 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).

After the outbreak of the Albanian civil war, the communists reached in Tirana in 1944. The communist 5th Brigade fought against the Legality Movement's headquarters at Tujan Pass. Abaz Kupi withdrew to avoid further civil war, informing King Zog of the bloodshed. In Mat, partisans clashed with Legality forces, including a battle in Fushë-Aliaj on July 9, where 21 partisans were killed. This was one of their few engagements.

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.{{cite book|title=Tito, Mihailović, and the allies, 1941-1945|author=Walter R. Roberts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43CbLU8FgFsC&q=Tito,+Mihailovi%C4%87,+and+the+allies,+1941-1945|accessdate=31 January 2011|isbn=0822307731|year=1987|publisher=Duke University Press }} 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.

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

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://albania.dyndns.org/najbor.htm Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes); Patrice Najbor - JePublie - Paris - 2008]
• La dynastie des Zogu, Patrice Najbor - Textes&Pretextes - Paris - 2002

• [http://www.albanianroyalcourt.al Official website of the Albanian Royal Court]
• [http://albania.dyndns.org/ Site Officiel de la Maison Royale d'Albanie]
• [http://albania.dyndns.org/najbor_albanie_juifs.htm L'Albanie et le sauvetage des Juifs]

Category:1941 establishments in Albania

Category:1945 disestablishments in Albania

Category:Albanian militant groups

Category:Albanian monarchists

Category:Political parties established in 1941

Category:Political parties disestablished in 1945

Category:Albania in World War II

Category:Anti-communist organizations in Albania

Category:Albanian Resistance

Category:Monarchism in Albania

Category:Zog I