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orchestrated collaborative strategies. The offensive was initiated just before dawn, at 03:00. Partisan forces implemented coordinated group assaults from various directions, progressively narrowing the encirclement and compelling the enemy to seek refuge within the barracks and fortified positions. Machine guns were strategically deployed to facilitate the advance of assault units, enabling them to approach enemy firing points before employing hand grenades. The situation prompted the
Italian command to activate their aviation resources, reserved only for the most critical circumstances. The Italians were forced to use airplanes from the bases of Tirana and Ioannina to save the garrison. The guerrillas, despite the bombardment by Italian planes, held the city for 15 hours. A squadron of five planes executed 36 sorties, indiscriminately bombing and strafing both partisan troops and civilian residences in Leskovik and across the ambush locations.
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137:
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634:
placement of obstructions. Upon the retreat from the
Leskovik garrison, the Italian "Arezzo" division encountered an ambush near the Shala bridge. Following two hours of intense engagement, the convoy halted at the Sanjollas ambush site, where prolonged night-time combat persisted for over 10 hours, including the effective deployment of close-quarters hand grenade attacks.
600:
The partisans were armed with 40 to 50 machine guns alongside a complement of mortars. Diligent efforts were invested in stockpiling a substantial quantity of ammunition. Each rifle was supplied with 50 to 70 rounds, while machine guns were provisioned with 300 to 500 rounds each. Mortars were backed
621:
Meanwhile, the partisan forces, undeterred from their mission, strategically positioned themselves in ambushes along the
Leskovik-Ersekë road, spanning the Shala-Sanjollas-Barmash area. The Italians were forced to evacuate not only Leskovik but also the Perat Bridge. After that, in retaliation, the
633:
The advantageous use of terrain and numerical superiority enabled the creation of a series of contiguous ambushes spanning 9 kilometers. At the ambush at Shala bridge, forces were strategically deployed on both flanks of the road, complemented by engineering efforts such as road demolition and the
572:
district engaged in the operation, comprising approximately 600 to 700 individuals. The partisan units designated for action included those from Gora, Opar, Devolli, Rrëza e Korça, "Tomori," Kurora, Leskovik, Kolonja, as well as two additional detachments. Their primary objective was the offensive
613:
Sustained attacks on the barracks continued for approximately 15 hours, with the availability of ammunition playing a pivotal role. Responding to the besieged garrison's predicament, two battalions supported by armored vehicles were dispatched to provide relief: one from Ersekë and the other from
609:
The transition from the concentration area to the attack and ambush sites commenced during the night, after 21:00 hours. The partisan units traversed multiple parallel routes and arrived at their designated target locations at the predetermined times. Upon reaching
Leskovik, detachment commanders
560:. Notably, the separate units of the opposing forces maintained a distance of approximately 200–300 meters between them. The stronghold was strategically encircled by multiple points of fire and tactical obstacles, bolstering its defensive capabilities.
601:
by an inventory of 15 to 20 shells per unit. Contingency plans encompassed the sustained engagement of battle through the allocation of ammunition reserves accrued prior to the conflict.
831:
641:, commanded by Nexhip Vinçani. Smiley fails to give the total Italian casualties, but he confirms the execution of 33 Italian soldiers by the partisans in the Shala ambush.
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was placed in a key position to secure the strategic road that connected the forces of the 4th Army of southern
Albania with those of the 6th Army in northern
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underscored the need for enhanced direction through staff roles in large-scale operations, an aspect that would be refined in the subsequent
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garrison after a few days. Subsequently, the
Italian army's inter-army communication predominantly relied on air channels.
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The consistent barrage of attacks along the routes compelled the
Italians to eventually withdraw their forces from the
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battle, South
Albania was effectively controlled by the partisans and the vast majority of Italian troops withdrew.
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as the annihilation of this garrison broke the connection between the two
Italian garrisons, it expanded
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Tepelenë, but most of these reinforcements fell prey to guerrilla attacks assisted by the
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https://www.google.al/books/edition/Shqiperia_Dhe_Tokat_e_Lirueme_1939_1946/Iz2JtwEACAAJ
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A total of 12 detachments consisting of partisans hailing from the
443:: Beteja e Leskovikut; 15–19 May 1943) was a battle between the
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and
Ostrovica undertook positions for ambush along the routes
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The operation was undertaken by the partisan detachments of
548:, totaling around 400 soldiers. Their armament consisted of
536:. This assembly included an infantry company from the
785:"Lufta Partizane Shqiptare - Beteja e Leskovikut"
832:Military history of Albania during World War II
20:
471:bases and connected the partisan bases of the
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8:
622:Italians burned five villages in Mugra from
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738:Shqiperia Dhe Tokat e Lirueme, 1939-1946
577:. Meanwhile, the detachments located in
842:Battles of World War II involving Italy
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540:, another company associated with the
810:Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar Volume 1
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507:used the military infrastructure in
463:was strategically important for the
483:The strategic position of Leskovik
14:
740:(in Albanian). pp. 511–514.
159:
135:
122:
109:
142:Italian protectorate of Albania
696:"Fjalor enciklopedik shqiptar"
1:
616:Special Operations Executive
89:set up an administration in
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564:Partisan units in Leskovik
511:to supply their troops in
501:German invasion of Albania
524:Italian units in Leskovik
254:
188:
171:
149:
102:
33:
25:
736:Gurakuqi, Romeo (2018).
552:and a combination of 40
852:History of Korçë County
246:World War II in Albania
28:World War II in Albania
789:www.luftapartizane.com
605:The partisan offensive
544:, and a contingent of
150:Commanders and leaders
497:capitulation of Italy
189:Casualties and losses
166:Mustafa Merlika-Kruja
808:Buda, Aleks (1985).
694:Buda, Aleks (1985).
180:400 Italian soldiers
837:Albanian Resistance
528:In the vicinity of
445:Albanian resistance
558:light machine guns
437:Battle of Leskovik
205:12 trucks captured
21:Battle of Leskovik
538:"Arezzo" division
430:
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211:
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207:2 tanks destroyed
177:600-700 partisans
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664:. Following the
487:The garrison of
365:Tirana and Kruja
311:Spring offensive
262:Italian invasion
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129:Kingdom of Italy
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847:1943 in Albania
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656:The battles in
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542:Financial Guard
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499:and during the
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375:German invasion
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812:(in Albanian).
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155:Nexhip Vinçani
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41:15–19 May 1943
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747:9781720312413
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662:PĂ«rmet battle
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573:targeting of
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449:Fascist Italy
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328:South Albania
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80:retreat from
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792:. Retrieved
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550:81mm mortars
534:Italian Army
527:
495:. After the
486:
459:
455:
436:
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390:
389:
344:
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321:
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296:Klisura Pass
289:
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267:
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256:
120:
103:Belligerents
546:carabinieri
479:districts.
477:Gjirokastra
397:Draufgänger
203:40 captured
201:150 wounded
826:Categories
794:2023-08-17
672:References
380:Drashovica
301:Trebeshina
199:200 killed
196:12 wounded
652:Aftermath
465:partisans
422:Desivojca
184:5 mortars
87:Partisans
666:Leskovik
658:Leskovik
646:Leskovik
624:Leskovik
595:Leskovik
587:Leskovik
579:Vithkuqi
575:Leskovik
530:Leskovik
489:Leskovik
461:Leskovik
453:Leskovik
441:Albanian
355:Tepelena
345:Leskovik
306:Hill 731
194:4 killed
172:Strength
91:Leskovik
82:Leskovik
51:Leskovik
46:Location
26:Part of
505:Germans
407:Preševo
284:Saranda
274:Korytsa
78:Italian
71:victory
55:Albania
744:
591:Permet
583:Erseke
519:Battle
513:Greece
493:Greece
469:LANÇ's
417:Tirana
412:Kosovo
402:Menina
360:Kurtez
350:PĂ«rmet
279:Himara
62:Result
639:Korça
628:Korce
570:Korça
554:heavy
509:Korça
473:Korça
340:Gjorm
742:ISBN
589:and
556:and
503:the
475:and
447:and
435:The
391:1944
385:Pezë
334:1943
322:1942
290:1941
268:1940
257:1939
116:LANÇ
69:LANÇ
38:Date
626:to
451:in
370:Reç
828::
787:.
756:^
722:^
704:^
680:^
630:.
618:.
597:.
515:.
53:,
797:.
750:.
698:.
593:-
585:-
456:.
439:(
236:e
229:t
222:v
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