In Western Macedonia , when it was a part of the independent state of Albania , the German and Ballist forces had occasional skirmishes with Yugoslav partisans . Kicevo , which remained in the hands of Macedonian and Albanian Partisan units following the capitulation of Italy , was attacked by the Ballists of Xhem Hasa in early November 1943 . After 7 days of fierce fighting , the Partisans were defeated and forced to retreat from the city . Fiqri Dine , Xhem Hasa and Hysni Dema , as well as three German Majors , also directed military campaigns against the Albanian and Yugoslav partisans . When Maqellarë , midway between Debar and Peshkopi , was recaptured by the Fifth Partisan Brigade , the Germans with the assistance of the Ballist forces of Xhem Hasa launched an attack from Debar , defeating the partisans . The main centres of the Balli Kombëtar in these regions were Kosovska Mitrovica , Drenica and Tetovo . It was noted that the Balli Kombëtar in these regions were more aggressive than the Ballists of Albania . With the tables now turned in their favour many Ballists saw an opportunity to take their revenge upon their Serbian neighbours for the suffering they had endured over previous two decades ( Massacres of Albanians in the Balkan Wars ) , burning perhaps as many as 30,000 houses belonging to Serbs and Montenegrins . Most vulnerable to these attacks were Serbs who had settled in Kosovo in the interwar period
Massacres of Albanians in the Balkan Wars
Massacres of Albanians in the Balkan Wars
Balli Kombëtar