Within the framework of August 23rd, the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Totalitarian Regimes, established by the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe, to honor the human dignity of victims of totalitarianism, the International Scientific Symposium “Tepelena in Two Times – From the Italian Barracks to the Barbed Wire Camp” was held, organized by AIDSSH with the academic contribution of partners in Albania and Italy.
This symposium addressed, in light of archival documents, Tepelena during World War II and the post-war period during the years of operation of the internment camp. The history of the camp begins with the Italian invasion of Albania in 1939 and the battles in the Tepelena area between Italians and Greeks. Subsequently, the barracks of the former Italian garrison were used to relocate families previously interned in Turan and surrounding areas. The barbed wire-surrounded camp was closed in 1953 due to harsh living conditions and high mortality rates.
The symposium was held in two panels with contributions from AIDSSH, the Italian Institute of Modern and Contemporary History, Harvard University, University of Tirana, University of Teramo in Italy, University of Korça, University of Elbasan, Institute for the Integration of Former Politically Persecuted Persons, Institute for the Study of Crimes of Communism, Bedër University, the Franciscan Library, and the platform kujto.al, the Association of History Teachers, etc.
For more information, read the papers from this Symposium:
