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Beqir Balluku was born on February 14, 1917 in Tiranë, Albania. He studied at a Technical High School in Tiranë. While he was doing his military service he joined the ranks of the Albanian resistance against the Axis in the Antifascist war (1940 ‑ 1942). On May 20, 1943 he was appointed commander of the Communist partizan battallion "Krujë Ishëm", and on September 18 1943 he was named commissary of the third brigade. Later he was appointed commander of the second Brigade. On January 28, 1948 he was named Chief of the Head Command of the Albanian Army. He graduated in the General Staff Academy (Russia) (former Marshal Voroshilov Military Academy of the USSR Army General Staff. In the first Congress of the Communist Party of Albania (1948) he was elected member of the Politburo and in 1952 he was named Minister of the Defense. One year later he took the military rank of general lieutenant. In the 1948-1974 period he was a Member of the Albanian parliament.

In July of 1974 he was accused as the instigator of a military coup d'etat, and high treason against his own country, and sentenced to death. He was executed by a firing squad on November 5, 1974. His remains were retrieved in the summer of 2001.

References

1. Communism in Eastern Europe By Teresa Rakowska-Harmstone ISBN 0253203257 Page 226
2. Communism in Eastern Europe By Teresa Rakowska-Harmstone ISBN 0253203257
3. Reflections on China: extracts from the political diary, Volume 1 By Enver Hoxha, Nesti Nase
4. The artful Albanian: memoirs of Enver Hoxha By Enver Hoxha, Jon Halliday

• 1917 births
• 1974 deaths
• People from Tirana
• Members of the Party of Labour of Albania
• Albanian military personnel
• Albanian soldiers