TIRANA, Nov. 30 – Albanians across the world came together on Nov. 28 to celebrate Flag Day, marking modern Albania’s declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.
The country’s liberation from the Nazis at the end of War World II is officially celebrated on Nov. 29.
An official state ceremony was held Nov. 28 in Vlora, the southwestern port city where independence was declared in 1912.
Nov. 29 is a point of debate every year as the date is seen as tied to the communist past and not celebrated from the right side of the political spectrum, which honors the country’s WWII heroes on Nov. 28 instead.
There has been a lot of debate whether the last Nazi soldier left Albania on Nov. 28 or Nov. 29. Documents from the German archives have recently revealed the date was actually Dec. 4.
