Enver Hoxha

Prime Minister of Albania

Died when: 76 years 177 days (917 months)
Star Sign: Libra

 

Enver Halil Hoxha ( HOJ-ə, Albanian: [ɛnˈvɛɾ ˈhɔdʒa] (); 16 October 1908 – 11 April 1985) was an Albanian communist revolutionary and statesman who served as the First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania, from 1941 until his death in 1985.

He was also a member of the Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania, chairman of the Democratic Front of Albania, commander-in-chief of the armed forces from 1944 until his death.

He served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Albania from 1944 to 1954 and at various times served as both foreign minister and defence minister of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania.

Born in Gjirokastër in 1908, Hoxha became a grammar school teacher in 1936.Following Italy's invasion of Albania, he joined the Party of Labour of Albania at its creation in 1941 in the Soviet Union.

Hoxha was elected First Secretary in March 1943 at the age of 34.Less than two years after the liberation of the country, the monarchy was formally abolished, and Hoxha rose to power as Albania's symbolic head of state.

During his 40-year rule, he rebuilt the country, which was left in ruins after World War II, building Albania's first railway line, raising the adult literacy rate from 5% to more than 90%, wiping out epidemics, electrifying the country and leading Albania towards agricultural independence.

He also outlawed religion, travelling abroad, and private proprietorship, closed or converted to secular uses all of Albania's religious facilities.

Under his regime, thousands of perceived dissidents were executed, and tens of thousands more were imprisoned in forced labour camps.

Hoxha's government was characterised by his proclaimed firm adherence to anti-revisionist Marxism–Leninism, i.e.Stalinism, from the mid/late-1970s onwards.

After his break with Maoism in the 1976–1978 period, numerous Maoist parties around the world declared themselves Hoxhaist.The International Conference of Marxist–Leninist Parties and Organisations (Unity & Struggle) is the best-known association of these parties.

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