Enver Hoxha ruled Albania with an iron fist from 1944 until him death in 1985. He had a strong admiration for Marxism and Stalin, he broke off relations with most of the communist world, which he accused of being revisionist and conspiring against him. Increasingly paranoid and afraid of invasion, Hoxha ordered the construction of around 750,000 bunkers across Albania.
Unsurprisingly, the massive construction project was a huge burden on the economy of one of the poorest countries in the world as well as a waste. Some bunkers were used from their intended purpose during the 1997 insurrection and 1999 Kosovo war. Some were converted into homes and storehouses, while most were simply abandoned.
Here’s a random quote I found on Wikipedia
The bunkers have also been used by young Albanian couples for sexual encounters. “Many Albanians lose their virginity in the bunkers, when they are not being used for sheep or cattle,” according to USAID official Raimonda Nelku. “They are in the Albanian psyche.”
MoreSecond on
Albania has only 2.4milj people left.
If everyone manned the bunkers, every elderly persone and baby.
there would be 3,6 persons per bunker
qndry on
Visited Albania some years ago and they’ve found some really creative ways to put these old bunkers to use.
AlbanianCatholic on
To all foreigners out there, may what we went through be a reminder on why you should stay away from communism.
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Enver Hoxha ruled Albania with an iron fist from 1944 until him death in 1985. He had a strong admiration for Marxism and Stalin, he broke off relations with most of the communist world, which he accused of being revisionist and conspiring against him. Increasingly paranoid and afraid of invasion, Hoxha ordered the construction of around 750,000 bunkers across Albania.
Unsurprisingly, the massive construction project was a huge burden on the economy of one of the poorest countries in the world as well as a waste. Some bunkers were used from their intended purpose during the 1997 insurrection and 1999 Kosovo war. Some were converted into homes and storehouses, while most were simply abandoned.
Here’s a random quote I found on Wikipedia
The bunkers have also been used by young Albanian couples for sexual encounters. “Many Albanians lose their virginity in the bunkers, when they are not being used for sheep or cattle,” according to USAID official Raimonda Nelku. “They are in the Albanian psyche.”
Albania has only 2.4milj people left.
If everyone manned the bunkers, every elderly persone and baby.
there would be 3,6 persons per bunker
Visited Albania some years ago and they’ve found some really creative ways to put these old bunkers to use.
To all foreigners out there, may what we went through be a reminder on why you should stay away from communism.