The villa currently housing the Vatican embassy in Tirana played a pivotal role during the summer of 1944, a period when Albania was under German occupation. Prior to this, it served as the residence of Foreign Minister Eqrem bej Vlora. Eqrem’s secretary, Eqrem Libohova, had generously gifted the property, along with his wife and two daughters, allowing him to continue his duties in Tirana.
The situation was extraordinary, resembling a scene from a Hollywood film. On a specific July day, Vlora hosted a German officer, a commanding figure within the Nazi forces stationed in the capital. Simultaneously, a British intelligence officer was discreetly concealed within the villa’s basement.
For roughly three hours, the German officer occupied the second floor, enjoying the meal prepared by the Vlora family. Throughout this period, the British officer remained hidden below, diligently reporting his observations to headquarters. This clandestine operation unfolded within the walls of the villa, a testament to the complex and dangerous realities of wartime intelligence gathering in Tirana.
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