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German War Memorial

During WW2 Albania was occupied by the Italians until that country's surrender in 1943. At that point the Germans invaded and occupied Albania. In previous posts I mentioned the British and Commonwealth Memorial in Tirana park. In the same part of the park there is also a memorial to the many more German soldiers who died in Albania during the occupation.





Comments

Ll.T. said…
Well, life is full of ironies; those who came to conquer met their death; those who won (and are still living) are now forced to see a memorial to the men who came to conquer them in one of the city's prized spots for quiet, long walks.

I'm not sure that the memorial was neccessary but whatever, who cares anymore!
5:44 pm
zdenka pregelj said…
It seems after certain time we tend to forget who was the enemy...
You have very interesting blog!
9:23 pm
Anonymous said…
Check out the dates on the stones - these guys were young, in their early 20s on average... caught up in a horrible war far away from home. I come from a country that suffered badly in that time too but feel all those kids who were misused by the political/war machine deserve to be honoured. I find the German memorial in Tirana quite good and fitting.
8:10 am
Anonymous said…
I find the nazi memorial insulting, to be honest. These people came to our country to kill and burn and we're raising them a memorial? My grandfather's house in Berat was burned to the ground by this "young angels", as were many other historical houses in Berat and all over Albania. How about the village of Borova, that was wiped off the map, with everyone in the village killed and every house burned, will the government raise them a memorial? Maybe not, since they're only Albanians.
Where this world has come to? What is the actual f-kn point of this memorial, I don't understand. Albania's a$$licking govt maybe needs a few euros from Germany, but has got to be a more dignifying way. And what happened to all the TRITOL that was going around, no one in Tirana has a few pounds to spare for this memorial?
6:24 am
Anonymous said…
It good to see Germany honor their sons.
1:18 am
Anonymous said…
Unlike the other anon, I don't find it insulting. Now we enjoy good relationships with Germany and there is no threat from them. I think that they have learned from past mistakes and have done an owesome job rebuilding hteir nation. If only we could take their example and work hard for our country too. Germans have helped us a lot these last 2 decades. You have to separate the politics of 60 years ago with today's Germany. My greatgrandfather fought in WWII and later he carried all his life a bullet inside his knee. In the neighbouring village in the province of Korce, the villagers were not telling where on the mountains the partisans hid so the German commander took out the baby from a pregnant woman with a bayonete. Would this be acceptable by Germans today? No! So, I think that we are lucky to have gotten past the ugly history and to live in peace. I hope we have these kind of relations with Serbs one day. Instead, today's Serbs, young and old, sing "Ubij Siptara"(Die Albanian).

There is nothing wrong with the memorial because the families can remember their young sons and Albanians can show the place where invaders will end up if they develop crazy war plans.

VNV-Victory Not Vengeance
11:46 pm
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