The CIA's First Paramilitary Strike Against the Iron Curtain

Operation Valuable Fiend: The CIA's First Paramilitary Strike Against the Iron Curtain

by Albert Lulushi

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6896 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	353 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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In 1949, the CIA launched its first paramilitary strike against the Iron Curtain, sending a team of agents into Albania to topple the communist government. The mission was a disaster, and the agents were captured and executed. But the story of Operation WAShtub is a fascinating Cold War tale, and it sheds light on the CIA's early efforts to contain communism.

The Background to Operation WAShtub

After World War II, the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe established a communist bloc that posed a major threat to the United States and its allies. In response, the United States launched a series of covert operations to undermine the communist regimes. One of these operations was Operation WAShtub, which was aimed at overthrowing the communist government of Albania.

Albania was a small country on the Balkan Peninsula that had been ruled by a communist government since 1944. The Albanian government was closely allied with the Soviet Union, and it was a major source of support for communist insurgencies in Greece and Yugoslavia. The United States was determined to prevent Albania from becoming a Soviet satellite, and it saw Operation WAShtub as a way to achieve this goal.

The Planning of Operation WAShtub

Operation WAShtub was planned by the CIA's Special Activities Division, which was responsible for conducting covert operations. The plan called for a team of Albanian exiles to be trained and equipped by the CIA and then infiltrated into Albania. The team's mission was to link up with anti-communist resistance groups inside Albania and to launch a series of attacks against the communist government.

The CIA recruited a team of 13 Albanian exiles to carry out the mission. The team members were all volunteers, and they were all highly motivated to overthrow the communist government of Albania.

The Execution of Operation WAShtub

The team of Albanian exiles was trained and equipped by the CIA at a secret base in Italy. The team members were trained in guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and communications. They were also equipped with weapons, explosives, and other supplies.

In November 1949, the team of Albanian exiles was infiltrated into Albania by submarine. The team made contact with anti-communist resistance groups inside Albania, and they began to launch a series of attacks against the communist government.

However, the communist government of Albania was quick to respond to the attacks. The government sent troops to suppress the resistance groups, and it also launched a propaganda campaign to discredit the exiles.

The Failure of Operation WAShtub

The communist government of Albania was able to crush the resistance groups, and it captured and executed the team of Albanian exiles. The failure of Operation WAShtub was a major setback for the CIA, and it led to a reevaluation of the agency's covert operations.

The Legacy of Operation WAShtub

The failure of Operation WAShtub was a major setback for the CIA, but it also served as a valuable lesson. The CIA learned that it was difficult to overthrow a communist government by force, and it began to focus on other methods of covert action.

The story of Operation WAShtub is a fascinating Cold War tale, and it sheds light on the CIA's early efforts to contain communism. The operation was a failure, but it taught the CIA valuable lessons that would be applied in future covert operations.

Operation Valuable Fiend: The CIA's First Paramilitary Strike Against the Iron Curtain

by Albert Lulushi

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6896 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	353 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE