Ever Hoxha, the son of a Muslim cloth merchant, was born in Albania on 16th October, 1908. Educated in France he returned to Albania after the country was invaded by the Italian Army in 1939.

Benito Mussolini forced King Zog into exile and and the king of Italy assumed the Albanian crown. In October 1940 Mussolini used Albania as a base to launch an attack on Greece. Attempts by the Italian Army to invade Greece ended in failure, but with the help of the German Army Mussolini was able to keep control of Albania.

Hoxha founded the Albanian Communist Party in November 1941 and led the resistance during the Second World War. After the Germans withdrew Hoxha was strong enough to form a provisional government in October 1944. Hoxha held the positions of Prime Minister (1944-54), Foreign Minister (1946-53) and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (1946-54).

As First Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour he established a Stalinist dictatorship after 1954. Ever Hoxha died in Tirane on 11th April, 1985.