Some Aspects of Albania’s Attitudes Towards Jews During World War II (1939–1944)

Abstract

This paper uses a qualitative method to provide a comprehensive overview of the policies of the Albanian collaborationist governments towards Jews during the Italian and German occupations and examines the ways and the extent to which Albanians managed to protect and save Jews seeking asylum in their country. Moreover, from the perspective of first-person accounts, it aims to make a socioeconomic analysis both of Albanian rescuers as well as of the Jewish individuals and families they rescued, with a focus on the dynamics of the rescue efforts of officials and ordinary Albanians. The research produces two main findings: Albanian collaborationist governments did indeed manage to rescue Jews despite threats posed by the invaders; the rescuers’ efforts to save Jews did not necessarily correlate with their socioeconomic status.

Received: 20 December 2026 / Revised: 21 January 2026 / Accepted: 10 March 2026 / Published: 25 March 2026