Battle of Reç

Battle of Reçi
Part of World War II in Albania
DateAugust 30–31, 1943
Location
Reç, Albania
Result Albanian victory
Belligerents
LANÇ Fascist Italy Italy
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Fascist Italy Colonel De Blazio
Units involved
Perlat Rexhepi Bataillon Fascist Italy Italian crew command (infantry, cavalry, carabinieri)
Strength
30–40 Albanian partisans[1][2] Fascist Italy 1,200–2,400 soldiers[3][4]
Casualties and losses
Unknown 40–147 KIA[5]
several hundred were wounded

The Reçi War (Albanian: Lufta e Reçit), was the toughest and most successful resistance against the Italian fascists in the Shkodra region. This war took place in World War II in Albania, 1943 and was the last Albanian war against the Italian invaders.[6]

Background

As the Albanian partisans retook many of the regions that were under Italian occupation, the situation in Albania got better and better. To clear the Mbishkodra area, where the influence of the National Liberation Movement was increasing and the partisan formations were growing day by day, they prepared the Italian fascists before a military operation.[7][8] The direction of the operation was entrusted to Colonel De Blazio, the deputy commander of the sector. The forces would be accompanied by artillery and the actions would be supported by aviation.[9]

The War

The attack of the Italian fascists began on August 30, the Albanian partisans were prepared and defended themselves against the Italians.[10] The Italians started the operation on the village of Reç with 200 soldiers.[11] However, when the Italians expected a counterattack from the Albanian partisans, the Italians brought in reinforcements and had a total manpower of 1,200–2,400 soldiers,[3][4] greatly outnumbering them. The Albanian partisans attacked the Italians back and also inflicted a great deal of damage on the Italians. The Albanian partisans were outnumbered they had about 143 soldiers in this battle. However, only 30 to 40[12][13] Albanian partisans took part in this Battle, nevertheless they fought to the end and remained steadfast.

Aftermath

The battle ended victoriously for the Albanians, many of the Italian soldiers were killed or wounded in battle. Altogether it is estimated that 40–147[14] Italian soldiers were killed in action by the Albanian partisans and several hundred wounded[15]

References

  1. ^ Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar 2008–2009, p. 2219.
  2. ^ Telegraf, Gazeta. "Lufta e Reçit dhe fundi i fashistëve italianë në Shqipëri". Gazeta Telegraf (in Albanian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  3. ^ a b Gjeçovi 1999, p. 138.
  4. ^ a b "Jup Kazazi dhe Lufta Antifashiste e Recit Nga Skender Shkupi – Arkiva Shqiptare e Lajmeve". www.arkivalajmeve.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  5. ^ Gjeçovi 1999, p. 139.
  6. ^ Studime historike (in Albanian). University of Michigan: Akademia e Shkencave, Instituti i Historisë. 1991. p. 68.
  7. ^ Gjeçovi, Xhelal (1999). Lufta Nacionalçlirimtare në Shqipëri, 1939–1944. Tiranë: Arbri. ISBN 99927-628-6-1. OCLC 45261224.
  8. ^ "Lufta e Reçit". Enciklopedia Shqiptare (in Albanian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  9. ^ Gjokutaj, Eduart (2021). "Boshlleku I Tvsh Ne Shqiperi Dhe Kosovo, 2021 (VAT Gap in Albania and Kosovo, 2021)". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3885630. ISSN 1556-5068.
  10. ^ Frashëri, Xhemil (2003–2010). Lufta e armatosur e popullit shqiptar : thelbi, përmasat, vlerat dhe arritjet e saj : 7 prill 1939-29 nëntor 1944. Tiranë: Dardania. ISBN 99927-861-1-6. OCLC 53285276.
  11. ^ Lufta e Reçit, 30–31 August 1943, archived from the original on 30 October 2022
  12. ^ Zija Xholi; Ylli Vejsiu (2008–2009). Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar (Botim i ri ed.). Tiranë: Akademia e Shkencave e Shqipërisë. ISBN 978-99956-10-27-2. OCLC 426069353.
  13. ^ Gjokutaj, Eduart (2021). "Boshlleku I Tvsh Ne Shqiperi Dhe Kosove, 2021 (VAT Gap in Albania and Kosovo, 2021)". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3885630. ISSN 1556-5068.
  14. ^ Shqiptare, Qendra Mbarekombetare e Koleksionisteve (2017-08-29). "30 Gusht 1934, u zhvillua Lufta e Recit, beteja më e sukseshme në Shkodër". Qendra Mbarekombetare e Koleksionisteve Shqiptare (in Albanian). Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  15. ^ Fico, Agron (1969). Këngë popullore të Luftës N. çl. dhe të periudhës së ndërtimit socialist (in Albanian). University of California: Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës, Instituti i Folklorit. p. 151.