Battle of Peshkopi

The fighting broke out on 18 October 1943, although the main clash took place on 19 October. The nationalist side included much of the local Dibra elite, while the partisan side was reinforced by Albanian partisans together with the Macedono-Kosovar Brigade and allied foreign volunteers.^[5][6]

As the fighting intensified, the British officer mediated between the two sides. A temporary arrangement allowed partisan forces to leave Peshkopi and nationalist forces to enter the town on 21 October, producing an armistice and opening negotiations.^[5]

Casualty figures vary. About 60 nationalist fighters were killed, and partisan losses included Vllado Rakočević of the Serbo-Macedonian battalion. Other sources list Met Hoti and Ibrahim Koleci among the nationalist dead, Zogist officers, and Aqif Zeneli, Halil Hasa, Idriz Kaba, and Nesim Kaza among partisan losses.^[6][7]

The fighting did not end the political struggle in Dibër. The region was divided between nationalist and communist elements. A Yugoslav Communist emissary reportedly urged Haxhi Lleshi to act against “reactionary” forces, deepen divisions among Albanian opponents, and create a new mixed Albanian–Macedonian battalion under communist leadership.^[8]

Nationalist leaders temporarily established local administration in Peshkopi after entering the town on 13 October 1943, including the prefecture, municipal, and gendarmerie posts.^[9]

The wider area remained unstable. Partisan headquarters in Dibra came under intensive attack on 7 November 1943, and fighting in the Dibër–Peshkopi region continued into November, until German operations later pushed partisan forces back.^[10]

The battle is generally considered a partisan victory, as nationalist forces did not retain control of Peshkopi.^[7]