Lleshi, Haxhi

Born May 1, 1913. Albanian statesman; major general.

In 1943, Lleshi joined the Communist Party of Albania (which was known as the Albanian Workers Party after 1948). In the same year he became a member of the general staff of the National Liberation Army. Lleshi served as a member of the

Anti-Fascist National Liberation Council of Albania and of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Committee (which became the Provisional Democratic Government on Oct. 20, 1944). From 1944 to 1946 he was minister of internal affairs in the Provisional Democratic Government. From 1946 to 1950, Lleshi was minister without portfolio, and in 1948 and 1949 he simultaneously served as acting chairman of the Commission of State Control. In 1948 he became a candidate member and in 1956 a member of the Central Committee of the Albanian Workers Party. In 1950, Lleshi became a member of the Presidium of the Popular Assembly of the People’s Republic of Albania, and in August 1953 he became chairman of that Presidium.