Liberation Day in Albania is a national holiday celebrated every year on the 29th of November. It marks the day in 1944 when Albania was freed from the control of Nazi Germany during World War II. After Italy's surrender to the Allies in 1943, Nazi Germany established control over Albania. After a year of violent confrontations, following the Sazan Island terrain capture, the German forces started to retreat, marking Albania as the first country to be liberated during World War II.
This event has considerable significance in the history of Albania, marking the end of a very challenging and tumultuous chapter in the nation's past. The day is often characterized by numerous commemorative events across the country. Citizens, especially war veterans, participate in parades and ceremonies held in honor of those who lost their lives fighting for the freedom of their country. Monuments and cemeteries are visited, wreaths are laid, speeches are delivered, and the Albanian flag is proudly flown across the country.
In more recent times, Liberation Day is often coupled with reflections on the country’s communist past, which followed the liberation. It has become a day where Albanians not only remember the joy of being freed from German occupation but also consider the impact of the subsequent regime on the country's history. Despite these reflections, the central theme of Liberation Day remains the celebration of freedom and the expression of gratitude for those who sacrificed their lives to attain it.