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Axis or US stocks obtained during the war; ammunition for this equipment
is believed to be in short supply;
(3) Practically no motorized or mechanized equipment;
(4) Inadequate defense against chemical warfare or aerial attack.
Although there is little concrete information concerning the loca-
tion or extent of Albanian defensive fortifications. it is known that during
1946 there was intensive activity on defense constructions along the coast
and the Greek frontier. Coastal guns reportedly cover the harbors at Valona
and Sarande (near the Greek frontier) and possibly Durazzo. Construction
activity has also been reported on Saseno Island under the supervision of
Soviet and Yugoslav advisers. Moreover. Albanian coastal waters are fairly
extensively mined. Many of these mines were probably laid during the war,
but evidence resulting from the mining of two British warships in Corfu
Channel indicates that some of them have been laid more recently, possibly
by Yugoslavia.
3. War Potential
In the event of war, Albania could mobilize an estimated 100,000 men
from its pool of 312,000 males between the ages of 15 and 50. but, for at
least another five and probably ten years, such an Army would be inade-
quately trained and equipped. Albania is entirely dependent on outside
assistance for all its military requirements with the possible exception of
food. Under normal conditions, it is highly improbable that the Albanian
economy could afford imports of munitions and equipment in sufficient
quantities to equip effectively a fighting force, even considerably smaller
than that now being half-heartedly supplied by Yugoslavia and the USSR.
In its natural resources, Albania does have potential value as a war-
time ally to the other Soviet satellites. Exploitation of its supplies of
oil, chrome, copper, iron, and wood, however, will require extensive invest-
ments of machinery and capital equipment, at present unavailable except
from the West. The backwardness of the country's communications system
also detracts from its war potential. Roads are inadequate for the move-
ment of heavy military supplies and construction has only recently begun on
the country's only standard gauge railroad from Durazzo to Elbasan. Linking
this line with the Yugoslav network, in view of the rugged terrain and the
lack of capital, is still only a plan on paper.
Albanian ports of naval significance are limited to Durazzo, the only
harbor which can accommodate ocean-going vessels, and Vlone (Valona), a good
natural harbor with potential significance as a submarine base.
Airfield sites are few in number and limited to the southwestern part of
the country. However, when completed, the Lake Maliq drainage project will
create additional sites in southeastern Albania.
IV-3
SECRET
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Context sent to Scholar
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"ocrText": "Axis or US stocks obtained during the war; ammunition for this equipment\nis believed to be in short supply;\n(3) Practically no motorized or mechanized equipment;\n(4) Inadequate defense against chemical warfare or aerial attack.\nAlthough there is little concrete information concerning the loca-\ntion or extent of Albanian defensive fortifications. it is known that during\n1946 there was intensive activity on defense constructions along the coast\nand the Greek frontier. Coastal guns reportedly cover the harbors at Valona\nand Sarande (near the Greek frontier) and possibly Durazzo. Construction\nactivity has also been reported on Saseno Island under the supervision of\nSoviet and Yugoslav advisers. Moreover. Albanian coastal waters are fairly\nextensively mined. Many of these mines were probably laid during the war,\nbut evidence resulting from the mining of two British warships in Corfu\nChannel indicates that some of them have been laid more recently, possibly\nby Yugoslavia.\n3. War Potential\nIn the event of war, Albania could mobilize an estimated 100,000 men\nfrom its pool of 312,000 males between the ages of 15 and 50. but, for at\nleast another five and probably ten years, such an Army would be inade-\nquately trained and equipped. Albania is entirely dependent on outside\nassistance for all its military requirements with the possible exception of\nfood. Under normal conditions, it is highly improbable that the Albanian\neconomy could afford imports of munitions and equipment in sufficient\nquantities to equip effectively a fighting force, even considerably smaller\nthan that now being half-heartedly supplied by Yugoslavia and the USSR.\nIn its natural resources, Albania does have potential value as a war-\ntime ally to the other Soviet satellites. Exploitation of its supplies of\noil, chrome, copper, iron, and wood, however, will require extensive invest-\nments of machinery and capital equipment, at present unavailable except\nfrom the West. The backwardness of the country's communications system\nalso detracts from its war potential. Roads are inadequate for the move-\nment of heavy military supplies and construction has only recently begun on\nthe country's only standard gauge railroad from Durazzo to Elbasan. Linking\nthis line with the Yugoslav network, in view of the rugged terrain and the\nlack of capital, is still only a plan on paper.\nAlbanian ports of naval significance are limited to Durazzo, the only\nharbor which can accommodate ocean-going vessels, and Vlone (Valona), a good\nnatural harbor with potential significance as a submarine base.\nAirfield sites are few in number and limited to the southwestern part of\nthe country. However, when completed, the Lake Maliq drainage project will\ncreate additional sites in southeastern Albania.\nIV-3\nSECRET"
}