Europe's North Korea

Script + Sources: tinyurl.com/mya8evca
Join the IMPERIAL Members Area: www.youtube.com/@IMPERIALYT/m...
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This is a video about the Socialist People's Republic of Albania, a state that lasted for half a century and epitomised an isolationist and quasi-xenophobic foreign policy. While today Albania is open to the world and nominally democratic, despite its issues with corruption, in the mid to late 20th century it was ruled by a paranoid tyrant akin only to North Korea's Kim Il Sung - this video intends to shed some light on this relatively unknown period of European history and specifically the life and disposition of one of the most brutal dictators Europe has ever seen.
There's so much more meat to this topic that I unfortunately didn't have time to cover, like Hoxha's prohibition of religious organisation within Albania and his innumerable purges - if you'd like to read more into this subject you'll find plenty of great sources in the script above.
Follow me on Twitter: / yt_imper1al
Chapters:
0:00 Europe's North Korea
1:26 Albania Forged
2:57 Enver's Bloody Court
8:07 Albania’s Paranoid Isolation
12:46 Tirana’s Forbidden City
18:10 When Gods Die
21:00 A Message
The visuals or audio herein may not be utilised to train a machine learning algorithm of any kind without express permission of the Copyright holder (IMPERIAL)

[@IMPERIALYT]

NOTICE: There are some errors in this video that I wish to correct - see the bottom of this document for more info. tinyurl.com/mya8evca This was quite a difficult and tangled topic to cover, and I was unfortunately unable to include all of the intricacies of Hoxha's rule and every single idiosyncrasy of Albania's time as a Communist hermit state. For example, I was unable to include Hoxha's assault on religious institutions within the country, as I didn't have the time and was unable to find a good way of getting it to integrate with the rest of the video. If you'd like some more background info, I'd recommend reading Blendi Fevziu's book "The Iron Fist of Albania" along with Elidor Mëhilli's book "Albania and the Socialist World". Anyways, hope you enjoyed the video. Feel free to use this comment to respond with any suggestions or corrections, which I'll be happy to add to the script's correction section.

[@GeoBlits]

MOMENT OF DAYS

[@RiRiDingetjes]

Thanks for adding the sources, and even the whole script

[@CantTellYou]

Say what you want about Hoxha, but we all know he’s the coolest & hottest guy ever to walk this earth

[@commander_expendable]

source of music?

[@user-og3zk8jn9k]

This is your worst video yet Albania does have a reason to be afraid of Yugoslavia "Following the Yugoslav-Soviet Union split (1948), local Albanians were viewed by the state as possible collaborators of pro-Soviet Albania and consequently Kosovo became an area of focus for the secret service and police force under Ranković.[20] During Ranković's campaign, members of the Albanian intelligentsia were targeted, whereas thousands of other Albanians underwent trials and were jailed for "Stalinism". Yugoslavia had a literal plan to occupy Albania And lots and lots of information here looks sensationalist than historical This video is better to be unlisted or at least updated, There is a lot of dishonesty about Hoxha, idk if that's your attempt or just an actual mistake but this is a horrible viewpoint to make Hoxha look as bad as possible.

[@ozymandias999]

As an albanian I can tell you, growing up and hearing my parents and grandparents stories about that time is bone-chilling to say the least, like sort of living in a dystopian surreal world that you'd only think exists in books. It really gives perspective in life and every time I feel like complaining in my head, there's always that thought "imagine how they had it, this you're dealing with is almost laughable". You really do learn to appreciate things most would take for granted today.

[@klaaskonijn9853]

Your grandparents were Balli kombetar or what?

[@ozymandias999]

@@klaaskonijn9853 nah, just regular farmers living in a village

[@klaaskonijn9853]

@@ozymandias999 "regular" landless farmers or "regular" landowners?

[@klaaskonijn9853]

@@ozymandias999 cuz landless farmers were actually given land and bread under Hoxha while the landowners, who often collaborated with Balli Kombetar, had land taken from them. Most landowners were against Hoxha. A landless peasant would be crazy if he was against Hoxha. And it would be especially weird since agriculture collapsed in the 90's in Albania

[@ozymandias999]

@@klaaskonijn9853 they didn't have much land and it was anyways taken from them, never affiliated with Balli or got vocal against the regime cuz it would be suicide either way. It didn't start all that bad after WWII (as is usual with communism in the early steps) but the more it went on the worse it got, especially during the late '70s and '80s when they basically cut all connections with the outside world like North Korea today.

[@mikethespike7579]

I once worked for a German ship building company in the early 1980s that had sold a refurbished ship to Albania. Before it was fully handed over to Albanian authorities it was put through all kinds of tests by Albanian and German engineers which took 3 weeks. In that time both sides got to know each other fairly well. The Albanians refused to believe us when we told them that TVs, cars, washing machines, telephones, central heating etc, were basic commodities in the west that everyone could afford. Towards the end of the tests several Albanians finally admitted to me that their disbelief was in reality just pretence, they knew just how backward their country was, but that there was a state agent among them whose only job was to watch out what they say.

[@bardhb]

My Mom (Kosovo Albanian) did the research for her doctorate in the 70 and 80, and she describes the same situation. Always having minders by your side. In one of her visits she got permission to meet some lost cousins of a friend of hers and give them some presents. They couldn't talk about anything beyond the greetings and introductions. Both parties had minders and the minders told them to keep it short and not talk about anything.

[@TricaGamer]

Now look the shitshow that Albania has become

[@mermiez1]

REAL fascism and dictatorship. Americans have absolutely no idea what that actually looks like.

[@tedgemberling2359]

Interesting. One thing I remember reading that was kind of impressive about Hoxha is that he made sure all the debts of Albania were paid off. It had no debt to any other country or corporation.

[@ahmetzogu3289]

Is that the reason crime is rampant in the West, because everyone can afford to buy everything on credit?

[@oriond1934]

I was 7 when Hoxha died, and I remember people wailing on the streets. They sent us home early from school, and all I remember is that I was happy to go play outside. My father told me years later that if you didn't show any emotion, they could arrest you on bogus charges

[@plako8047]

I was about 10 when he died and when our school visited his grave I cracked a joke and made some of my classmates laugh. School called my parents to tell them about the incident but nothing else came off it fortunately.

[@BitMan1010]

@@plako8047 cus no one liked him LMAO

[@GreaterAlbania1]

@@BitMan1010 not true

[@BitMan1010]

@@GreaterAlbania1oh let me guess you like him?

[@GreaterAlbania1]

@@BitMan1010 yes for some things

[@eldrago19]

My grandfather planned to travel from the UK to Greece via Albania. He got a lucky escape when visiting someone in Yugoslavia he was informed "they might let you in, but they won't let you out."

[@dzonikx]

what happened after

[@gavinisdie]

​@@dzonikxhe probably just continued through Yugoslavia to get to Greece

[@lagjescuni5482]

@eldrago19...they might let you in, but they won't let you out doesn't make any sense.....the difficulty was in entering Albania, not in leaving Albania therefore it is the opposite of what the Yougoslavs said

[@marekohampton8477]

I was told a similar story by someone who was stationed in Germany when they served in the British Army in the 70s. Him and a couple of colleagues had a couple of weeks leave, so they decided to hire a car and take a trip to Greece. They crossed the Yugoslav border no problem from Austria, and, looking at the map, decided that it was a shorter journey if they travelled through Albania. They rocked up with their passports on the Yugoslav side, and explained to the border guards that they were just travelling through and had no intention of stopping, but were given short shrift and told not to be so fkn stupid, they'd get arrested as spies if they tried, take the long way round, and have a great holiday in Greece.

[@goatgamer001]

@@marekohampton8477 he needn't go through albania, he could just have crossed directly to greece

[@DonJuanMarco1994]

Fun Fact: Enver Hoxha and Kim Il Sung hated each other because Hoxha criticized Kim Il Sung's brand of Communism as revisionist.

[@weirdshibainu]

Wow. Just wow.

[@CliffCardi]

And yet he sucked Mao’s dick.

[@rogink]

And Kim saw Hoxha as an imperialist lackey.

[@ollikoskiniemi6221]

​@@roginkHow could an extreme isolationist be an imperialist

[@eisbergsyndrom5010]

Everyone's a revisionist except for me.

[@jenson9691]

Great video man! I've never really heard much about Albania and this makes it very obvious why, keep up the great work,

[@klaaskonijn9853]

Well this video aint gonna teach u shit cuz its full of crap. In 1997 there literally almost was another communist revolution because the 90's were such a shithole. Hoxha and the PPSH built Albania. The capitalist wind of the 90's destroyed everything and now Albania sells out its own cities and beaches for the big tourist industry while the young people have to work in Germany. There now is crime, drugs, dirt and massive depression all across Albania while the very hated and corrupt government only fills the pockets of its compradors. Nostalgia for Hoxha is everywhere, in Labinot-Mal they literally guard his last statue, ive been there myself

[@CantTellYou]

I mean there are dozens of countries we don’t hear or know much about really, and what we do have about many is either a few news stories or just media-driven stereotypes - things like “Albanians have mafia connections because The Sopranos told me so”

[@silveriver9]

Because western mainstream media never want to talk bad against themselves, that's why they only talk shit about the global south. Now you are beginning to realise the extent of western propaganda. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Travel more around the world and be wary of media and one's perception and biases, to realise the true extent of western propaganda.

[@screwyourhandle]

I first learned of Hoxha only a few days ago when reading the wikipedia article on political decoys. That's probably why this video showed up in my recommended. I'm in my 30s

[@swiatlojest9136]

Fun fact: In the autobiography book written by Hoxha himself, he mentioned a period of his youth where he was stealing fruits from the garden of my Grand grandfather from my father's side. He mentioned my family there and the fact that my grand grandfather was kicking him out of his property. I'm curious how later on, he didn't do anything to him knowing his habit of vendetta or revenge. Edit : Thanks for the likes. I wanted to add to the story also something interesting and paradoxical. My grand grandfather from my mother side was part of the traders and wealthy families who were persecuted and confiscated all the wealth and belongings, aprox 1.7 million of gold napolons at the time. The communists spare his life because he didn't hide his gold so they let him keep the house. I have do have the newspaper from 1944 with the families who were impacted. It's interesting that both of the grand grandfather's could have been killed, and I wouldn't be alive now. Cheers to all

[@davidchong5909]

That is a relief he didn't come back to settle childhood beef with your great grandfather lol

[@swiatlojest9136]

@davidchong5909 that's true, but he usually had a weak point for comrades from his native city, Gjirokastra. The same happened with Ismail Kadare, the known albanian writer with whom he had disputes and contradictions. But he never killed him

[@Umadoveracommentg]

And how weird this may think, for how to write that down means it left an impression on him, there’s a good chance even he knew what he was doing was wrong at the time, and hence why he never wanted to take revenge, children tend to have a natural moral compass, only skewed by the horrors of life

[@jpt3640]

Well, an autobiography always is written by the subject of interest himself ;) That's why it's called auto - Scnr

[@xandyrwlkyr2563]

Thanks for sharing that. Its always interesting to hear strange side stories and personal connections to figures of history whether good or bad.

[@glurgbarble7268]

On a lighter note, Hoxha also stole an entire fleet, including 4 Whiskey class submarines, from the Soviets. In 1961 the Soviets stationed a fleet in Vlorë as part of Russia's endless quest to try and get a warm water port. Then a few thousand Albanian soldiers showed up and said "these are our ships now", the Soviet engineers sabotaged the fleet before being forced to hand it over but Hoxha just brought in engineers from China to fix them. And he got away with it because the Soviets didn't think it was worth going to war with this lunatic over this.

[@morganmorse2086]

As crazy as Enver Hoxha was, he also had balls. Imagine stealing submarines from a nuclear power.

[@stefanoslavdas9222]

The most Albanian thing to do 😂😅

[@josevictorionunez9312]

That's some GTA level stealing. Geez.

[@gimzod76]

The lads of top gear found the rusting hulks of them didn't they?

[@SlabeshAlboz]

​@@gimzod76yes 👍

[@hannesalteshaus9846]

Bro read 1984 and thought:" Yep. That's what I want to do with my country"

[@BetalerIkkeSkatt]

used the book as a step by step tutorial

[@daedaessosmart6684]

nah fr lmfao

[@royale7620]

Same with Ceausescu

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Commies

[@DivadNoodeldehm-lz2gm]

California....

[@user-fg5bh1ys7q]

Truly a very good documentary, about the communist era of Albania. It’s crazy to see this, cause as the first Albanian/American child from my family. My father has told me vast stories of him growing up and being in the military in Albania at the time and about my grandfather and great grandfather. My father defected the country in 1988 as a soldier in the alpine division guarding the border between Greece and Albania. Long story short, my grandfather was a high ranking officer. And had gotten the news that my father/his son was a defector and collaborator to the western world, for leaving Albania. To this day I don’t know what happened my father has never truly told me, but from little things I know, civilians and probably people my father knew. where fleeing the country and the officer on the post where my father was, gave orders to kill the civilians fleeing, to not let them cross the border. My father refused and some how the officer ended up dead. The soldiers on duty with my father, from what he said where absolutely lost and scared shitless. Some soldiers next to him joined and fled the country, and some others started shooting at him. He told me the entire southern country was on high alert chasing them for days. After days of running my father ends up in northern Greece where him and a couple of his comrades surrendered to a small Greek police station, My father said when 5 Albanians still dressed in military uniforms walk the street, the people thought it was an invasion. One of my fathers friends at the time was wounded bleeding down his leg, when they walked into the Greek police station, the front lady screamed so loud that every police officer charged out. My father and his comrades still had there AK’s drawn. He told me, that you could hear a feather fall that’s how quite and utterly still everyone was pointing guns at each other. Nevertheless, my father came and surrendered as a refugee fleeing Albania. He ended up staying in a Greek prison for 8 months, getting interrogated..ect for them suspecting he was a spy. To this day he doesn’t have some nails and back teeth. Somehow NATO gets involved, and my dad ends up in America after almost 2 years of traveling from country to country. Unfortunately, my father never got the opportunity to see his dad or my grandfather ever again. For my father being apart of the family of a high ranking military official, from what he told me it brought a lot of government wondering eyes to the family, and shame. My grandfather past away before my father could come back to Albanian, and way before I was born. My father did return to Albanian with my mother in the late 90’s right before I was born, in Vlorë. To visit our family and his mother after 11 years. Unfortunately, during that time the Kosovo conflict was going on, and my father stayed in Albania and fought in Kosovo, while my mother returned to America with me. Ik this was a long comment lol, but I wanted to share this with people. I haven’t been back home in 24 years, and this coming months I will be going back home finally. I have tons of truly old black n white photos of my family dating back to before WW1 to WW2 an later. Albania has alot of history and culture that is not talked about much. Century’s of history and culture. And I appreciate informative videos such as this. Thank you

[@leiflinder8854]

Wow!!!!!

[@maybachmilo1105]

Much respect to him for staying in Kosovo words cant explain true warrior!

[@heartofarebel4098]

I genuinely appreciated reading your story. Thank you for sharing!!

[@peterpaul8894]

Very interesting

[@richardl.gonzalez3995]

Thank you so much for sharing what life was in Albania. I enjoy reading and hearing about life behind the Iron Curtain.

[@soren633]

Learning about Enver Hoxha is really something, this guy was an absolute madman. It's actually incredible how someone can be such a hypocritical monster and feel so self-assured to call every other marxist a "revisionist."

[@GreaterAlbania1]

Madman? For protecting his country from enemies

[@eric55406]

@@GreaterAlbania1 ...enemies imagined or real?

[@GreaterAlbania1]

@@eric55406 real Yugoslavia Serbs Greece the west trying too overthrow him etc

[@sirol97]

​@@GreaterAlbania1His enemies or the coutnry enemies? Because there is a huge difference.

[@MaggieKeizai]

Because every other marxist was revisionist. Hoxha was Marxist-Leninist all the way, just like his idol Stalin. There's zero daylight between being a completely orthodox Marxist-Leninist/Stalinist and being both a hypocrite and a monster.

[@Dancingonthesun]

Im watching this from my dilapidated albanian hill bunker, theres no heat or electricity but ive ran a cord from the neighbour's house. Great video Imperial!

[@gabbyn978]

Could you please make a followup on this video? I remember that after the opening of Albania, the people had so little knowledge of the inner workings of a capitalist market that they fell for the lure of pyramid schemes by the millions, until the systems collapsed in 1997, and riots broke out which shook the new democracy to its very roots. Five years before those events, right after the collapse of the Eastern Block, the poverty was so bad that men started hijacking (foreign) ships, and forced the captains to ferry them over to Italy. One AP photograph shows such a ship with about 4,000 people on board, and even more trying to get aboard until they are hanging down from the ropes like grapevines - on the outside. The fashion company Benetton, whose advertisment strategy was to gain attention by placing shocking pictures on their posters, used this photograph in a campaign, which gave it a lasting impression.

[@riton349]

Hanging like grapevine? Did they committed suicode

[@gabbyn978]

@@riton349Google for Benetton ship Albania, then you will find the picture

[@piuthemagicman]

​@@riton349No, they were desperately hanging from the ropes because the ship was overfilled with Albanian refugees

[@TheAlbaniaGaming]

Yes, that's true. They fell for a giant pyramid scheme, and like pretty much all other post communist countries, it became a democratic oligarchy. Several people control the strongest companies and brands of the country.

[@alexmilea2528]

Super interesting, had to google this to see for myself. Thanks for sharing

[@robloxmemedudes]

I love this dude. The quality is absolutely impeccable yet he manages to get through such different topics, some of which I may not even find interesting- yet I still watch because it's just so good.

[@zoominmonkey278]

Thought you were talking about Hoxha for a minute lol

[@robloxmemedudes]

LMFAO@@zoominmonkey278

[@screwyourhandle]

I don't know who or what is responsible for those graphics, but as a former graphic designer coming to this channel for the first time, the visuals were highly satisfying

[@robloxmemedudes]

mhm@@screwyourhandle

[@bdleo300]

@@zoominmonkey278 Hoxha banned all lawyers... so he wasn't that bad 😀

[@leiflinder8854]

The graphics of this video are about the best I have ever seen. If KZbin video is an art form then this one has to be the epitome of the genre. The writing is flawless, the narration is perfect and the subject underserved generally, is here unfolded and analyzed. "Hats off" to you, mate.

[@user-ed6mp6jo9p]

I totally agree, and I just wanted to express the same sentiment. I really appreciate the content, the visuals, and especially how the narrator has this beautifully human voice. It's such a refreshing change compared to other videos where the narrator sounds like they're being chased and speaks at a frantic pace

[@boomboom1258]

Till this day, I can never understand why there are individuals like them who would be willing to put the rest of society into dismay and hardships just so they can party, enjoy luxuries, expatriate medical services + medications. But this video clearly definitely serves a larger purpose to educate everyone with wholesome history lessons and events. My first time watching a video from this channel and I'm already very impressed with their high-quality production.

[@rogink]

You could say the same about the bloke in the Kremlin. Supposedly the richest man in Russia, with palaces, gold and other luxuries. He could have stepped down after invading Crimea in 2014 with the whole of Russia backing him, and lived the rest of his life comfortably. But he chose to stay on. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[@MAXIMIR-wf7ez]

Because it's profitable. Who is better for the US, dictator Stalin, who literally destroyed the system of colonialism, or democratic Yeltsin/Putin selling resources on the cheap?

[@rogink]

@@MAXIMIR-wf7ez Stalin was only useful to the West to defeat Hitler. After that he went back to being a megalomaniac not only to his own people, but leaving eastern Europe under his jackboot. Putin is just a regular dictator compared to his Soviet predecessors.

[@soren633]

It's so sad that a people's freedom and liberation from feudalism and tyranny from foreign powers can just be co-opted by such a paranoid hypocrite so quickly. That instead of working to establish an a high standard of living for his people he simply gave up due to paranoia and allowed himself and his closest elites access to it is just even worse.

[@jeffrutledge1789]

@@rogink America is much worse with our bankers and elites ruling behind the scenes. They put two corrupt puppets in front of us for us to vote for. Giving us the illusion of a vote. While having the most insane military budget in human history. Almost 1000 military bases across the world in a constant state of war. Suppressing dozens of nations. Our puppet politicians become filthy Rich. While coming up with more and more laws and taxes every year! Time for people to wake up!

[@sinisatrlin840]

Border between Yugoslavia and Albania was one of most heavyly guarded borders with many incidents, There where dead soldiers and civilians on daily basis, in 70s and specially in 80s Yugoslav borders toward west where quite soft, you cold travel unrestricted anywhere but Albania. Berlin border was walk through the park compared to Yu/Al border.

[@user-lo4gi7ht3x]

Only until sundown then everyone went home for supper. In the early 1960s my father was driving along the border and we took a wrong turning and came to a border post unguarded,being just a pole across the road.

[@sinisatrlin840]

@@user-lo4gi7ht3x Maybe near where you and i live, in the western parts of former YU. Ask someone who was in JNA near the Abanian border, ask someone who was conscripted around the time Enver Hoxa died. I never served in JNA, but my father and many relatives where. One hint, what do you think where did YU get samples of AK to reverse engeneer it into M70?

[@user-lo4gi7ht3x]

We were visiting from the uk after my father got his British passport. Strange land gypsies still pushed carts and trained baby bears to dance and the women wore exotic trousers@@sinisatrlin840

[@lagjescuni5482]

dead soldiers and civilians on daily basis??? oh really?? until now I believed that they seduced every millisecond wtffffffffffff....but if I ask you to bring me some proof or fact of what you say..ou are certainly not able to prove even a single event of the kind

[@XcT27]

In 1984 I walked around the border stone that separated Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece, 3 countries in 3 seconds. I don't remember any major incidents!? The whole border line is very mountainous, with peaks going up to 3.000 meters, with no major roads or cities at the Albanian side, basically it was wilderness. There are modern roads today, but not back than.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Another weird nation in Europe during the Cold War was the Socialist Republic of Romania. Although Romania was part of the Warsaw Pact, they had relations with the West and wasn't that loyal to the Soviets, opting to do things their own way. I'd say it was more similar to North Korea than Hoxha's Albania. In fact, North Korea and Albania didn't necessarily like each other, relations first deteriorated during the Sino-Soviet split, and then in the 1970s, Hoxha criticized Kim Il-sung for betraying communism by accepting foreign aid and being revisionist. In the case of Romania, after Nicolae Ceaușescu visited Pyongyang in 1971, he was so impressed with Kim Il-sung that he wanted to emulate everything. For USSR-Romania relations, Romania moving away didn't start with Nicolae but rather Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej. After seeing the rapid de-Stalinization going on in the USSR, Gheorghe adopted policies in Romanian national interests rather than Soviet ones and stepped-up measures that greatly increased trade relations with Western countries. Nicolae continued this by calling out the Soviets for invading Czechoslovakia in 1968. Like Albania, they didn't participate. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused Romania to distance itself further. And when the other Warsaw Pact nations boycotted the 1984 Summer Olympics, Romania actually attended the games!

[@bdleo300]

Yep and in return Yanks betrayed and backstabbed Ceausescu...

[@jcesula]

As an Albanian, I would like to thank you for making this video. Your video was very educational and informative. Thanks to you, I have learned so many things that weren't even taught in school about communist Albania, like how Enver Hoxha had employed foreign-trained physicians and had his own club with his party members, or the fact that an American journalist had visited in Albania in 1957. My parents have always told me about communism. My mother would barely have anything to eat in the morning and right after she ate breakfast, she would work work all day in the labour camp without taking a break. She also served in the army when she was a teenager and she told me stories about how she was brainwashed by the paranoid propaganda machine about how the Americans or the Soviets were going to invade Albania. Even though it has been more than 30 years that communism has fallen, there are many people that still have a communist mindset or are nostalgic about communism, like my grandfather for an example. He still has the same ideas that Enver Hoxha taught him. I was born a decade after communist Albania had collapsed and when I was growing up I could tell that life was depressing and gloomy around the streets, even though I was just a kid and I didn't know anything about my country's history. Once again, well done with this video. You have just earned a sub! Cheers!

[@GreaterAlbania1]

Ur grandfather is right

[@DriverKIT]

As a communist: Which kind of ideas does your grandfather hold? Because there are many forms of socialism/communism. Is he still believing in isolationism or does he believe in the general idea of communism?

[@ahmetzogu3289]

As an Albanian, you shouldn't believe everything your told, especially by KZbinrs who have not read enough about history. All Albanian are from the same mould. You would have done the same as Hoxha in that era. It was the Cold War.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@DriverKIT But the results are the same. Tyranny, repression, stagnation and ruin, famine, cult of personality, genocide, persecution, corruption, etc.

[@dano1307]

Thanks for sharing. My god I can't believe the amount of people claiming communism. Guarantee none of them live in a truly communist country or they would not have that same opinion.

[@Cristieagle]

Good video. I think you should also do a video covering Ceausescu's Romania, there are also many similarities with North Korea there, and there's no shortage of strange, if not disturbing, actions taken by his regime to investigate and showcase.

[@peterheinzo515]

i think he already did

[@VeteranAlpha]

​@@peterheinzo515Nope.

[@user-uh8fu3mb9l]

Hoxhaist Albania once maintained such a good relationship with Maoist China that China even designed an airliner (Shanghai Y-10) to enable direct flight to Tirana. But as China approached and eventually allied with America, Albania gradually distanced itself from China until the eventual split. By the way, Hoxhaism is quite influential in movements of the Third-World countries, like the Ethiopian revolutionaries that overthrew the Derg.

[@CrocodileWhispers]

“Hoxhaism” that is not a thing. He had no ideology. It inspired no one. No one emulated it because there was nothing. He didn’t do anything!!!

[@belstar1128]

they always pick the worst people for inspiration in Africa

[@user-uh8fu3mb9l]

​ @CrocodileWhispers ​​ @belstar1128 ​Just looked up Wikipedia. Hoxhaism seems to be a fairly large movement in the present and more so in the past, even rivalling Maoism. Hoxha would rejoice in his grave, while Mao would turn in his crystal coffin. 😏

[@33moneyball]

Indeed…irredeemable nonsense never goes out of fashion unfortunately

[@user-uh8fu3mb9l]

@@33moneyball I believe that if you had lived under the rules of Haile Selassie and Dinaw Mengestu in a succession, you would have opposed both the United States and the Soviet Union. 🤗

[@andrewlainis4727]

As a neighbor of Albania (Greek), the people are very skillful when it come to handcraft and bulding. They are workaholics and very down to Earth, and i think that these ethics were born out of the Hozha Regime in the 80s. A former Albanian colleague used to say "Enver was a ruthless diactator, but was the only one able to keep our people United!". Albanians sought a better future in Greece and other countries, unfortunately leaving their homeland almost void of young people to carry on. In recent years, though, Albania has seen some economic growth and has become an adriatic tourist magnet for those who know about Albanian coasts.

[@bay0r]

that's a good neighbour right here. yassou file mou!

[@lagjescuni5482]

@andrewlainis4727....Scanderbeg was the only one who managed to unite the Albanian princes despite all the intrigues of the Venetians, Serbians etc. in favor of the Ottomans.. instead Enver failed to unite all the Albanian fighting groups in the Mukje conference

[@lagjescuni5482]

but despite some episodes the Albanians did not have a bloody civil war like the Greeks and Yugoslavs did not only because of power games but also because of their ethnic and religious problems....if you are young you probably know nothing about the Greek civil war or the colonel regime etc just curiosity?

[@KOjoe1k67]

They indeed adapts amazingly quick and are amazingly smart. In Switzerland we have one of the world biggest albanian diaspora. I think in a about 25 years they made more money than the portugeses immigrants made in like 40 years in Switzerland. Knowing where they come from and all, it's freaking impressive imo

[@JG-tt4sz]

Ironically, it was Mussolini who unified all of Albania and Albanian Kosovo into one state.

[@elddery813]

Couldn't resist becoming your donator, keep doing your important and qualitative content. P.S. With love from Ukraine

[@thediaz07]

I HATE to be that guy but how's life over there rn?

[@thediaz07]

And I'm asking with all due respect

[@JoeRogansForehead]

Hey shouldn’t you be on the frontlines ?

[@mackenziemoore5088]

Slava Ukraini Slava Heroyam 🇺🇦🇺🇦

[@Yuki_Ika7]

I hope you are doing okay, I have a friend who is Ukrainian and lives outside of Kharkiv. Slava Ukraini! Heroyam Slava!

[@wrathford]

I visited Albania twice last year. I've had very memorable times there, and I even met my partner in Durres. The country is working hard to modernise and become more tourist friendly. I recommend visiting Vlore and Sarande. Very interesting country, try the local olive oil!

[@GreaterAlbania1]

We don’t want too modernize and be weirdos like the west. Enver saved Albania and now it’s becoming shit. Albania for Albanians! True Albanians only marry Albanians

[@richardshiggins704]

I enjoyed my visit to Albania including Sarande and the magnificent Roman ruins of Butrint . The bunkers are still to be seen throughout the countryside .

[@RDSyafriyar]

"Albania's Enver Hoxha was unusual in being well read in the European literature classics - and Molotov thought his cosmopolitanism a reason for suspicion. But Hoxha was a conventional communist dictator in denying his people access to disapproved alien culture." - Robert Service 🇬🇧

[@cecilDisharoon]

Is that the Canadian poet? Where can I read his critique of Albania? I only know him by his wilderness poems.

[@Baibakov88]

@@cecilDisharoon No, different Robert Service.

[@fixipszikon6670]

"communist dictator" is an oxymoron, just like "law abiding criminal". Does not exist. There is no dictastorship in communism, and whoever is a dictator can not be a communist, no matter what they say.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@fixipszikon6670 Sure there isn't!

[@ems4884]

How certain are we about that part of his biography. He does not speak like sometimes well-read.

[@Levi-vs8vh]

This story telling and editing is top tier. Incredible work!

[@MaggieKeizai]

My father was a devout Hoxhaist. For some infernal reason, Hoxha was really popular in South America and had a real hold on the communist parties there. My dad was convinced that Albania was the one true workers' paradise on earth, so he emigrated to the US and indulged himself up to his eyeballs in having political freedom and resenting it while also taking advantage of it to try to gain converts and spread communism in the US. It was a miserable environment to be raised in, different from other cults only in that there were no other cult members to make it all seem normal. Just mind-bending, existential discord.

[@zachinthehat1707]

That is insane. He sounds like one hell of a dude to have to call “dad”. Thank you for recognizing his hypocrisy in trying to spread communism in the US

[@xandyrwlkyr2563]

I am really sorry you had to go through that. If its any consolation, you are not alone in the U.S. having to be raised in an environment where hypocritical leftists have a nice pay check in one hand and a Big Mac in the other while suffering no government interference or consequence as they scream about Western decadence on a public street.

[@beantea5592]

Very interesting

[@Legitpenguins99]

This is emblematic of the delusion of western communists. Denouncing the "corrupt decadent west" while enjoying a cushy lifestyle only possible in the west, while using first amendment rights to free speech to denounce their own country , which would get them sent to prison or worse in a communist country. Its as ironic as it is ridiculous

[@baronvonjo1929]

Just wow man. I never understood the types like that as they take part and take advantage of the very system they hate. It's amusing going to small stalls or shops here in the US and but they are selling anti capitalist baubles while being a business owner in a capitalist society. The fact they can't see the irony is just astounding.

[@fatihcan1466]

This whole video was amazing! The storytelling, the motion graphics, the visuals… Thanks for your effort🙏🏻

[@illiria2000]

Excellent work. You have done your home work well. To give you some insight on the propaganda and the cult of personality of Hoxha’s regime. My mother recalls that when Hoxha died, she cried for him harder than she cried for her own dear father. She remembers feeling that they(the people and the country) were left as orphans with no one to protect them. And the world (our neighbors and the world powers) were going to wipe them off the earth. To this day, his cult of personality persists with those of my parents generation. The nostalgia is strong with that generation. Their counter arguments to the awful things the regime did are: we had rule of law, we had secured place of work, we had great education system and we had a big formidable army for a little country. But when you point out that Albanians current shitty politicians are a byproduct of that nepotistic, ruthless regime they have nothing to say.

[@GreaterAlbania1]

Enver saved Albania lavdi

[@illiria2000]

I’m not understanding what you’re trying to say.

[@GreaterAlbania1]

@@illiria2000 without Enver being strict and strong military Yugoslavia and Greece would have split Albania

[@Chris-qb8kg]

yugoslavia the one who gave rights to kosovo and albanians??? and greece was having turkish issues and many were against going to war with them due to soviet threat@@GreaterAlbania1

[@reed582]

@@GreaterAlbania1 bot

[@Destroyer-dt1mi]

Amazing Video, just from the start the music the editing and narration is absoultely wonderful. So modern yet nostolgic, keep up the good work.

[@ronriesinger7755]

I did research on Albania in college in the mid-70’s. Almost impossible to find information. I did note that Hoxha had all of the land approaches to the country not only blocked but wiped out!

[@BenjaminDeutsch-xd1yh]

This is *exceptionally* well produced and made. Thank you for creating a very well researched primer to this part of recent history.

[@MrCoolecas]

albania nowadays is amazing, truely a place to visit, beautiful lands and very nice people. Whilst its got far to go stil its really nice to go to

[@leestirling4623]

Very nice people? Judging by the ones we get in the UK, that's a complete lie. They are the number 1 in the list of top 5 worst nationalities in the UK due to their drug trafficking and violent crime gangs.

[@IMPERIALYT]

Very true, Albania today is lovely and I hope to visit someday.

[@captainevenslower4400]

Agree, the people are amazing and the landscapes are breathtaking. They are one of the most hospitable folks I have ever met.

[@akhan4727]

​@@captainevenslower4400the people are nice but you get to realize the ghost of communism still lingers. the people are very empty inside it's like they're all suffering from pent up ptsd. hoxa also banned religion in 1967 so in one generation almost all sense of spirituality was gone. Albania may become extinct soon, almost all the young people are leaving and have no real hope. the people in government are all people with ties to the communist block. the Albanians are now one of the most powerful and brutal international mafias in the world

[@Tokarev.-]

"nice people"

[@atypicalpinetree4212]

So glad that you site your sources so concisely and readily available. I went to check one of your claims and was able to find where it came from easily. Thank you so much

[@WrestlingColin]

I visited Albania in 2017 for a few weeks. It was a beautiful country and a truly unique experience. While in the city of Gjirokastra, we toured a soviet eras (1960s) underground bunker built by Hoxha in case of nuclear war. I couldn't get over how laughably simple it was... it was just concrete rooms underground. Not very deep underground either. I didn't see any kind of ventilation systems or attempts at air filtration from radiation, or anything like that. I remember thinking "wow, this guy either didn't know a damn thing about nuclear war, or his government was just incapable of building anything advanced."

[@sumax-nz1je]

There was only 3 nuclear bunkers in Albania the rest were only for bombs the 3 ones are located in tirana and are underground and huge

[@FreddAlb]

He builded lot of thinks. He builded the whole city underground in north Albania.

[@WrestlingColin]

@@sumax-nz1je Interesting, sounds like the tour guide may have got it wrong when he classified it as a nuclear bunker then.

[@A_Ducky]

Say what you will but those old simple cold war bunkers saved a lot of people's lives in ex-Yugoslavia during the war (90s).

[@northwestpassage6234]

Just spent 3 weeks in Albania a few months ago, despite their history and current problems, Albania was such a beautiful country and the people were so friendly and welcoming to foreigners.

[@MasterChees117]

It’s not the other way around.

[@gaynormca8992]

Try living next door to them. I had 4 years of Hell!

[@torikeqi8710]

History of Albania is very rich and "current " problems are easier to fix than problems of the west

[@lagjescuni5482]

@northwestpassage6234...all of Albania's Balkan neighbors have more or less the same problems, (economic problems) perhaps they have even more given that in Albania there are no ethnic or religious problems, etc. which have generated horror in the Balkans for more than a century

[@KOjoe1k67]

Im believe a lot of problems are coming from linguistic differences rather than religious ones. I mean, i know enough Albanians (i was in a school with plenty of savage albanians) to know that they don't care much about religion at all. They say themselves they are Shiptars before being Muslims, wich is rather crazy to admit imo @@lagjescuni5482

[@Hungry2]

I just found your channel and i have to say your content is on a different level! Keep it going my friend you will grow and suceed! Thanks for your videos🫡

[@MPaz-kw1rt]

Great video, fascinating topic.

[@JP-qf6vw]

Insane production quality here

[@lucashinch]

This is great, already subscribed. Thank you for this.

[@miniminuteman773]

Another quality video. Bravo!👏

[@IMPERIALYT]

Oh shit no way, just saw this - I see your conspiracy takedowns on KZbin and TikTok all the time, they're hilarious. I'm glad you enjoy my content haha

[@spytf2-pb3yo]

surprising that this only has 68 likes

[@linkly9272]

Of course it's quality. The aliens scripted it for him, afterall.

[@bassmentier]

In 1960's Yugoslavia there was a communication tower being built on a mountain. They were close enough to Albania that they were picking up their radio signals. Some of the guys knew Albanian and supposedly the radio was annoucing that "Yugoslavia is building a rocket launcher on our doorstep!!!!"

[@neilsmith2047]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@patmw]

Unreal production quality, respect

[@Swedish_Boi_Main]

Interesting, love your content man

[@christopherjustice6411]

Great video. Would be cool to see a deep dive on Ceausescu next.

[@noelrios9320]

Fantastic doc. Especially on subjects I've never heard of, absolutely subbed.

[@TheMachinery.]

This is extremely impressive, extensive & stunningly well-made

[@zx921]

Fantastic video! I just want to add that the reason why so many people lived in awful conditions is because the bunkerization of Albania caused a housing crisis in the country. To put it into prespective, the entire project cost twice as much as the Maginot line and consumed three times the concrete

[@bl8de3]

I know a lot of people from there. They are the only people I've met who have exclusively talked about their country of origin in a bad way.

[@fliptip]

These videos are so high quality, keep it up

[@manusant_]

Congratulations on this video. The animation and the data is priceless. Thank you, it’s important to spread the word about this stories

[@user-ug6co5kl2l]

Well done. Everything you said is absolutely correct. I'm married to an Albanian, so my husband has told many stories of back then. Yes it was the north Korea of Europe. Sad though that know people are still very poor and corruption is off the charts. I have visited Albania and have seen much potential but I fear that nothing will ever happen. I did enjoy my time there. People were super nice and hospitable. They deserve so much better. I really hope that some day someone will take charge and turn this little poor country into what it should be a jewel.

[@GreaterAlbania1]

Albanians marry Albanians so ur husband isn’t real Albanian

[@xandyrwlkyr2563]

It isn't surprising that there is so much corruption there, as that was always the case throughout Hoxha's reign. Communism falling will not suddenly stop it, just make it less institutionalized and decentralized. Its funny that communists complain about the exploitation of capitalist democracies when only democracy and genuine freedom of speech have the power to hold government accountable.

[@carlosmiguelgarrido]

the animation looks really great in this one. Also great topic

[@primesspct2]

Thanks for the video, I learned alot!

[@MrMarukas86]

Music, story telling video i love everything brother. Subscribed

[@marlind9430]

Amazing documentary, and thank you for making this incredible video on Albania, my homeland.

[@Nicopolis777]

probably my favourite country out of 11 i travelled in across europe this summer. and honestly where i felt the safest as well, everyone was so hospitible!

[@muppetb.lansing8374]

Great video and stunning visuals. Thanks heaps!

[@padfla867]

Only a few mins and I like the way it's presented, just a voice-over and straight to points and nice mapping and graphics and photos 😎👍👍

[@MagnusMss]

Great video, man! Keep it up. You really have something special.

[@dooshmacbaggins]

I have a good friend who grew up in Albania during the 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s. He is a very quiet man. When I asked him what it was like, he spoke of Hoxha and life during his rule. He has spoke of some things about the daily life in Alabania during this time. His descriptions of it gave me no idea it was that bad.

[@EokaBeamer69]

Damn this production quality is amazing.

[@Charlesmagne800]

Great video, awesome quality like always!

[@Marmite695]

Thank you so very much for producing this particular mini-documentary. As a life-long student I embrace and cherish every opportunity to learn, and understand!!

[@christianromainedwardlee1381]

Such an amazing KZbinr man! Great narration (both the info and overall voice), super well researched and just great great editing!! ❤

[@toxicexecute]

the editing is so good, the video is captivating, i loved it good job :]

[@bnegaalarb8906]

Indeed it is. A bit different from all these YT videos.

[@sinusoidal_tendencies]

The quality of this video, with its 3D renders and editing magic, is extremely impressive considering the relatively small size of the channel. You've just gained a new subscriber. Phenomenal material.

[@arhamsulman4704]

this much work for youtube video !!!! Man i am impressed by all the motion graphics and 3d animation done in this video. These are not just animations but very impressive art depicting the situation perfectly. I can pause at each frame and it looks excellent. I am a 3d animator myself and i know how hard it is to make 3d animations in blender with good composition, Colour and photorealism. First time watching you ! Subbed !!!!!!!!!

[@toowindytoskydive]

In 1981 when I was 11 we had a family holiday in Albania. At the time they only allowed less than 1000 visas for western tarvellers and Tirana airport only had around 7 international flights per week. We stayed in a beach resort in Durres but took loads of trips around the country including Tirana and the technoiogy museum mentioned in the video. We also visited a history museum in Durres which had an American 'spy' plane on display which had been shot down by the airforce. I'm pretty sure that it was something like a Sabre but I 'm probably wrong. There was also a statue of a heroic restistance fighter which was surrounded by old WW2 era weapons. I wanted to look at a German MP42 but the caretaker would only show me Russian weapons! I also remember the bunkers although TBH they were extremely hard to miss given their numbers. It was a great holiday for us but we could leave after two weeks unlike 99.9% of the population.

[@briangriffin4937]

Compelling, dramatic graphics. Creative and informative from one who used to design such things, long ago.

[@adamhayden5152]

Subbed, fantastic writing in this video.

[@Soniti1324]

I'd really like a part 2 to this video, covering Albania to the modern day. Rough part of the world over there.

[@bnegaalarb8906]

We chilling now big dawg

[@S_the_G]

16:21 technically true but still randomly hella funny in a very serious video 😂😭

[@IlyasCambridgeAdvice]

super interesting and well made, curious how you do the video editing because it looks so good

[@kftito31]

Wow man, great video, awesome graphics!

[@itsiraa]

I went there often for a holiday. It was and is one my favorite destinations. I loved the warmness of people, and it’s a beautiful country.

[@kzm1934]

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" - George Orwell , Animal Farm

[@madtownbbbear]

Excellent video! I learned quite a bit. Faleminderit! 👍

[@ChairmanMeow1]

Great video editing.

[@TheRealUnconnected]

Another great video dude, you are smashing it. Its really good to see a new high quality educational youtube creator come a long, i cant wait to see you up there with the big dogs sitting on a few million subs.

[@elddery813]

You're amazing, thanks for your content 💗

[@Joseluz1969]

Very good images and over voice, it makes the story very pleasant to follow and easy to understand.

[@mrDKqqq]

Another great video with awesome graphics, thanks!

[@anoddballsabre6938]

Small brain: align with USSR because you fear the West Medium brain: align with Yugoslavia because you fear the USSR Big brain: align with China because you fear Yugoslavia Hoxha brain: align with 170,000 bunkers because you fear China

[@bnegaalarb8906]

There's levels to this shit 😂

[@Sebman1113]

I originally thought this would be about Belarus but it’s interesting learning about Eastern bloc history.

[@freddie_mvp]

Brilliant storytelling and production of this video 👏🏼👏🏼

[@smoothkid765]

The presentation and visuals are exceptional.

[@Somerandomblokefromreading]

Thanks for the amazing video, keep up the good work.

[@ZeroResurrected]

The amount of people that still to this day defend Hoxha is as baffling as it is disgusting

[@Marquis-Sade]

Those people exist?

[@GreaterAlbania1]

Enver Hoxha saved Albania o kar

[@ZeroResurrected]

@@GreaterAlbania1 From what? Basic human rights?

[@lukee-dg4ql]

e mbyti ne varferi,spiunllek e prapambetje kulturore po ju aq mbushni@@GreaterAlbania1

[@a.q.2330]

​@@GreaterAlbania1ça thua ti ore të mos ishte ai ndoshta nuk do ishim copë copë si jemi tani

[@user-qn9mb9dh6q]

amazing video quality and information. wouldn't even be upset one bit if you had a sponsor ad read.

[@JP-vs1ys]

very polished. i'm blown away by how one person can set this up.

[@user-mf1fl3oy6s]

Also Enver banned all religions throughout the country. He destroyed most religious structures and praying wasn't allowed

[@bloemkoolendestreetgang450]

For anyone who wants some more on Enver Hoxha, the fantastic Real Dictators podcast is set to do a series of episodes on him as their next topic.

[@k9spike235]

Amazing documentary!

[@impermanent-being]

Great video. Thanks for the info. Well done, "solo creater from Switzerland"!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

The wildest event that happened in Albanian-USSR relations: The Vlorë incident. As you brought up, Albania criticized the USSR for being too accommodating towards the US and its allies, thus it rejected the détente approach and aligned themselves with China. Nikita Khrushchev hoped that Albania would serve as a military base on the Mediterranean Sea for all the socialist countries and provided equipment and training to the Albanian army, which included a fleet of twelve Whiskey-class submarines. The Soviets wanted to increase its influence in the Mediterranean in order to counter NATO. Albania allowed the USSR to establish a strong military base that housed marines and larger units similar to destroyers. So when this Soviet-Albanian split happened, the Soviets imposed economic sanctions, withdrew eight of the twelve submarines, broke up naval facilities at Vlorë, and encouraged pro-Moscow leaders in Albania to stage a coup against Hoxha. But Hoxha nor his military weren't having it. In 1961, the Albanian government decided to use military force to expel the Soviet forces from Albania and to take control of four of the submarines. So on April 7, Albanian troops began to position the Vlorë base and encircle. Soviets initially resisted, but after days of siege and negotiation, they finally left on April 12th. The Soviets tried to sabotage the submarines, but the Chinese fixed them. After the regime collapsed, the Turkish military rebuilt the base.

[@j.dunlop8295]

Thanks, good information of conflict of dictators trying for autonomy, to control their people's destiny and borders? Tricky! Ask, Ukrainians?

[@PhilEdwardsInc]

I did not have "King Zog" on my Bingo card today.

[@JWisdom]

Amazing content bro honestly 🔥