Xoxe was born in 1911 in Negovani (modern
Flampouro), near
Florina in
Greece, back then part of the
Manastir Vilayet of the
Ottoman Empire. He was of
Tosk Albanian descent. The family originated from
Kolonjë, and due to economic circumstances in the 19th century moved to the village of
Plikati and later relocated to Negovani. Hoxha began to fear Xoxe as a rival to his own power. After Xoxe ordered the arrest of moderates with anti-Yugoslav sentiments, including
Sejfulla Malëshova, Tito attacked Hoxha in a letter to the Albanian Politburo. Hoxha responded by traveling to
Moscow with
Nako Spiru and returning with a formal trade agreement with the
Soviet Union without consulting Tito. Tito began to develop a more assertive policy towards the Soviets, which angered Stalin. Over time, Stalin began to side with Albania as a supportive bulwark against Tito. The Soviet Union began to increase Moscow’s presence in the country, spending specialists in mining and oil refining. Tito attempted to deploy two army divisions into Albania's territory under the pretext of protecting it from a Greek invasion, despite this being in contravention of the Albanian government's wishes. Tito then pushed Xoxe to convene a meeting of the Central Committee, where he expelled a number of Hoxha’s supporters and proposed a motion to merge Albania’s economy and military with Yugoslavia’s. Hoxha, with support from the Soviets, fought back, with him abrogating the treaties agreed to with Yugoslavia and expelling Yugoslav advisors in Albania. Hoxha argued that Xoxe was engaged in a plot to transform Albania into a colony of Yugoslavia, pointing to the attempts of the Yugoslav army to deploy into Albania, and the various treaties which subordinated Albanian economic planning to the national plan of Yugoslavia. Xoxe attempted to save himself by declaring his support for the Soviet Union and arresting supporters of Tito in the government. The Central Committee, however, flipped on Xoxe, stripping him of his posts and expelling him from the party. In November 1948, he and many others were arrested. ==Personal life==