13 Facts About Spiro Moisiu

Spiro Theodori Moisiu, born as Spiro Koxhobashi, was the Major general of the Albanian National Liberation Army during World War II.

Spiro Moisiu was the father of the former President of Albania, Alfred Moisiu.

Spiro Moisiu was born on 5 May 1900 in Kavaje, to Theodori Moisiu, an educated merchant fluent in several languages, and Ana Stavri.

Spiro Moisiu was a close relative of the famous actor Alexander Moissi.

Spiro Moisiu returned from Austria in 1919 and after following a military course directed by German and Austrian instructors in Tirana, he graduated as a lieutenant.

In 1920, as a member of the Albanian governmental forces, Spiro Moisiu was appointed to the protection forces of the Congress of Lushnje.

Spiro Moisiu organised the forces at his disposal to make a stand in Shengjin.

Spiro Moisiu did not want to fight against the Greeks and along with another Albanian major, Prenk Pervizi, withdrew his men from the front lines and induced many Albanians to desert.

Spiro Moisiu was there contacted by communists who in July 1943 proposed him to be the General Commander of Communist-dominated Albanian National Liberation Army.

Spiro Moisiu had the merit of turning the dispersed and not very well organised Albanian resistance forces into a regular army.

Spiro Moisiu opposed the model proposed by the Yugoslavs for the reorganization of the Albanian army, and preferred Soviet instructors to Yugoslav ones.

Spiro Moisiu sent many Albanian officers to Soviet military academies in order to create a new generation of Albanian officers.

Spiro Moisiu was married to Aspasi Druga from the reputable Druga family of Kavaje.