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Temporary labor camps

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Temporary Labor Camps

The hardest works for the completion of projects, of which the communist government would later boast, were immediately assigned to political convicts, who drained marshes, opened up roadways and irrigation canals while working as slaves.

Others were distributed near agricultural farms. When they left the enclosed camps, the interned mainly worked in agriculture, whereas the prisoners, with little exception, were organized in what would be called reeducation units with forced labor.

These camps were temporary. Somewhere close to the marsh to be drained or work to be constructed, dormitories were improvised and enclosed by barbed wire. The camp would stay there until the end of the works. Later, the convicts would be moved to another work front.

This is where we see the camps of the first and later years, designated as Reeducation Units and temporarily placed near working areas.

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Vlashuk Camp

In March – November 1953, the Vlashuk Camp was opened to construct the Devoll – Thanë irrigation canal,…
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Lekaj Camp

After work was finished in Beden, a part of the prisoners went to Lekaj, December 1948. The terrain of…
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Beden Camp

The Beden Camp was one of those horrible sites for political prisoners, who had to build a canal…
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Jubë Camp

This was the first forced labour camp in communist Albania. It was built in the Jubë village of…
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Maliq Camp

Drying the Maliq swamp was an early target of the Albanian state to reclaim land.  In the years 1945-1946,…
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Lozhan Camp

–Lozhan, April – December 1949 The internees were sent from Kamza and other sites to Lozhan, Korça in…