Bashkim Prishtina

Escape from Tirana Bashkim Prishtina

In the middle of WWII, the European country of Albania was embattled on multiple fronts. Even before the country was invaded by the Italian Axis forces (who would be followed by the Germans), Albania was fighting its own Civil War between the loyal Nationalist forces and the opposing Communist forces. Kosovo was a heavily contested area, having been officially annexed by Albania before the start of the war. In the midst of this violence and political turmoil, one young woman negotiated a new life with her husband in a new country. Stella Velle had been an Italian schoolteacher when she met Hysen Prishtina, the love of her life who would carry her to his home country of Albania where he would become a central leader in a time of strife. When Hysen was forced out by the regime, it was up to Stella to manage, along with her young children, a daring Escape from Tirana.