Albanian orders and medals from the socialist period are poorly understood and seldom collected, even after three decades since the regime's collapse in 1992. While the awards of many other communist states flooded the market in the mid-1990s (most notably those of the
Soviet Union,
Bulgaria, and
East Germany), Albanian medals continue to remain elusive for many. The manufacturing of Albanian awards has undergone several phases and seems to fall in line with Albania's shifting alliances during
Enver Hoxha's regime. The first decorations established by the new communist government were created on July 9, 1945:
Hero of the People,
Order of the Flag,
Medal of Remembrance,
Order of the Partisan Star,
Order and Medal of Bravery. These awards were established for services in the anti-Fascist and partisan campaigns of
World War II against both the
Italians and
Germans and carried a great deal of prestige. Soon after, on October 13, 1945, three more orders and two additional medals were added:
Order of Freedom,
Order of Skanderbeg,
Order and Medal of Labour,
Medal of Liberation. Between the end of 1945 and 1964, several other decorations were established, most notably the titles
Hero of Socialist Labour and
Mother Heroine, as well as a series of honorary titles for the arts and sciences. On January 18, 1965, the entire honors system was completely revised. In addition to establishing many new orders and medals, some pre-existing decorations were modified as well. The
Order of the Red Star was expanded from one to three classes and a new medal was added. The
Order for "Military Service" was converted from a breast star to a ribboned badge and expanded from one to three classes. The
Order "For Patriotic Achievements" was added in three classes to the pre-existing medal. The
Order "For the Defence of State Frontiers of the PRA/PSRA" was added to the pre-existing medal. The
Order "For Maintenance of Public Security" was added to the pre-existing medal. The
Order "For Civil Bravery" was added to the pre-existing medal, which was renamed from the
Medal "For Bravery in Labor". The 1965 awards structure remained largely intact with several minor additions and modifications up through to the collapse of the communist government. Law No. 6133. passed on February 2, 1980, codified many of the regulations and changes that were enacted since the 1965 restructuring. The 1980 law continued in effect until it was finally revoked by president
Sali Berisha when he signed Law No. 8113 on March 28, 1996, which completely swept away the communist era honors system.
List of Awards Titles •
Title of "Hero of the People" (Titulli "Hero i Popullit") •
Title of "Hero of Socialist Labour" ("Hero i Punës Socialiste") •
Title of "Mother Heroine" (Titulli "Nënë Heroinë) • Title of "The People's Teacher" (Titulli "Mësues i Popullit") •
Title of "The People's Artist" (Titulli "Artist i Popullit") • Title of "The People's Painter" (Titulli "Piktor i Popullit") • Title of "The People's Sculptor" (Titulli "Skulptor i Popullit") • Title of "Distinguished Labourer in Science & Technology" (Titulli "Punonjës i shquar i shkencës dhe i teknikës") • Title of "Meritorious Teacher" (Titulli "Mësues i merituar") •
Title of "Meritorious Artist" (Titulli "Artist i merituar") • Title of "Meritorious Painter" (Titulli "Piktor i merituar") • Title of "Meritorious Sculptor" (Titulli "Skulptor i merituar") • Title of "Distinguished Master of Profession" (Titulli "Per mjeshtër shquar ne profesion") • Title of "Exemplary Oil Worker and Exemplary Miner" (Titulli "Naftëtar i zgjedhur dhe minitor i zgjedhor") • Title of "Good Oil Worker and Good Miner" (Titulli "Naftëtar i mirë dhe minitor i mirë") • Title of "Distinguished Oil Worker and Distinguished Miner" (Titulli "Naftëtar i dalluar dhe minitor i dalluar")
Orders • Order of Freedom (Urdhëri i Lirisë), Class I, II, III •
Order of the Flag (Urdhëri i Flamurit) •
Order of the Partisan Star (Urdhëri Ylli partizan), Class I, II, III • Order of
Skanderbeg (Urdhëri i Skënderbeut), Class I, II, III • Order for Patriotic Achievements (Urdhëri Për veprimtari patriotike), Class I, II, III • Order for Defence of the Socialist Homeland (Urdhëri Për mbrojtjen e Atdheut Socialist), Class I, II, III • Order of the Red Banner of Labour (Urdhëri Flamuri Kuq i Punës), Class I, II, III •
Order of Bravery (Urdhëri i Trimërisë) • Order of Labour (Urdhëri i Punës), Class I, II, III • Order for Distinguished Labour in Mining & Geology (Urdhëri Për punë të shquar në miniera dhe në gjeologji), Class I, II, III • Order for Distinguished Labour in Agriculture (Urdhëri Për punë të shquar në ekonominë bujqësore), Class I, II, III • Order for Distinguished Defence Services (Urdhëri "Për shërbime të shquara në fushën e mbrojtjes"), Class I, II, III • Order for Distinguished State & Community Service (Urdhëri Per shërbime të shquar shtetërore dhe shoqërore), Class I, II, III • Order of
Naim Frashëri (Urdhëri Naim Frashëri), Class I, II, III • Order of Military Service (Urdhëri i Shërbimit Ushtarak), I, II, III •
Order of the Red Star (Urdhëri "Ylli i Kuq"), Class I, II, III • Order for Brave Deeds (Urdhëri Për Vepra Trimërie), Class I, II, III •
Order of Maternal Glory (Urdhëri Lavdi Nënës), Class I, II, III • Order for the Defence of the State Frontiers of the PRA/PSRA (Urdhëri Per mbrojtjen e kufirit shtetërore të RPSH/RPSSH) • Order for Maintenance of Public Security (Urdhëri Për Ruajtjen e Rendit Shoqëror) • Order for Civil Bravery (Urdhëri Per Trimëri Civile) • Order for Meritorious Service to the People (Urdhëri Per shërbim të mire popullit)
Medals •
Medal of Remembrance (Medalja e Kujtimit) •
Medal of Bravery (Medalja e Trimërisë) • Medal of Liberation (Medalja e çlirimit) • Medal for Patriotic Achievements (Medalja Për veprimtari patriotike) • Medal of Labour (Medalja e Punës) • Medal for Distinguished Labour in Mining & Geology (Medalja Për punë të shquar në miniera dhe në gjeologji) • Medal for Distinguished Labour in Agriculture (Medalja Për punë të shquar në ekonominë bujqësore) • Medal for Distinguished Defence Service (Medalja Për shërbime të shquara në fushën e mbrojtjes) • Medal for Distinguished State & Community Service (Medalja Per shërbime të shquar shtetërore dhe shoqërore) • Medal of
Naim Frashëri (Medalja Naim Frashëri) • Medal for Brave Deeds (Medalja Për vepra trimërie) • Medal of Military Service (Medalja e Shërbimit Ushtarak) • Medal for Long Service in the Armed Forces (Medalja Për shërbim shumëvjeçar në forcat e armatosura) • Medal for the Defence of the State Frontiers of the PRA/PSRA (Medalje Per mbrojtjen e kufirit shtetėrore tė RPSH/RPSSH) • Medal for Maintenance of Public Security (Medalja Për Ruajtjen e Rendit Shoqëror) • Medal for Bravery in Labour (Medalja Për trimëri në punë) (1956-1965)
replaced by • Medal for Civil Bravery (Medalja Per trimëri civile) (1965) •
Medal of the Red Star (Medalja Ylli i Kuq) • Medal for Meritorious Service to the People (Medalja Per shërbim të mire popullit) • Medal for Arts (Medalje e artë) • Medal for Motherhood (Medalja e Nënës), Class I, II • Medal for the 10th Anniversary of the Army (Medalja e 10-vjetorit të Ushtricë) • Medal for the 40th Anniversary of the Labour Party of Albania (Medalja e 40-Vjëtorit i Partia Punës e Shqipërisë) ==Titles and Decorations of the President (1996–present)==