Kruja Camp

Kruja Camp, March 1945 – September 1947
The camp was located in the town of Kruja in a military unit. Kruja was chosen for the northern camp probably due to its remote geographic position designated as an internment camp. The camp only operated in the first years of the communist regime for the March 1945 – July 1947 period. The internees lived on 600 grams of cornbread per day, which they had to pay for. They were forcefully exploited for their labour.

-In the Kruja Camp, there were around 900 people, who were from Korça (344), Gjirokastra (299), Vlora (128) and Berat (129). September 1947 records mention that there were 309 internees in the camp. Since the internees’ work front could not be large enough in Kruja, their transfer was considered. They were exploited for labour in several places. The camp is divided, with some internees taken to the Sukth Farm, at the Kullë and Rrushkull sectors, whereas the other in Kashar. They worked in Kashar in summer 1947. They were put in tents, and the main work was digging away the asphalt. The internees were taken from Kashar to a place called KatërRrugët e Shijakut (Four Roads of Shijak) to do the same. The camp stayed open until 1947. Other works were performed in Sukth and KullëRushkull. As the Kruja Camp closed, southern internees would then be taken to Valias.

Internees