Justice in uniform. Profiles of military law in Albania during the Italian occupation (1939-1943)

By, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Damigela HOXHA

Abstract

The essay aims to present the outline of military justice in Albania during the Italian occupation (1939-1943). It dwells in particular on the analysis of criminal legislation – shaped entirely on the Italian Codes – and addresses the problem of political trials before the Albanian War Courts, through the examination of a series of striking trials, preserved in the General Directorate of Archives. The historical problem of the establishment of Italian military courts in Albania and, especially, that of their practice has never been adequately studied. On the contrary, the archival fonds of Rome and Tirana can provide important indicators about the role and action of military justice. In this article, also on the basis of documents from the Tirana State Archives, are presented the essential institutional and normative coordinates, together with some surveys of the rulings of the Italian Military Courts in Albania.