Debar (Macedonian: Дебaр; in Albanian; Dibër/Dibra or Dibra e Madhe) is a city in the western part of the Republic of North Macedonia, near the border with Albania, off the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality. Debar has an ethnic Albanian majority of 74% (2014) and is the Republic of Macedonia’s only city in which ethnic Macedonians do not rank first or second demographically. The official languages are Albanian and Macedonian.
Debar, North Macedonia
The earliest recording of Debar is under the name of ‘Deborus’ on a map drawn by the astronomer and cartographer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The Byzantine emperor Basil II knew of its existence, and Felix Petancic referred to it as Dibri in 1502. After Samuel of Bulgaria was defeated in 1014 by Byzantine emperor Basil II, Debar was administered under the Bishopric of Bitola.
Debar, Nordmakedonien
Дебар, Северная Македония
After World War I Debar was was then handed over to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes as a reward for helping the Allies. Debar was annexed, along with most of Western Macedonia, into the Italian-controlled Kingdom of Albania on 17 April 1941, following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia during the Second World War. Greater Albania was officially a protectorate of Italy and therefore public administration duties were passed to Albanian authorities. Albanian-language schools, radio stations and newspapers were established in Debar.
Debre, Kuzey Makedonya
When Italy capitulated in September 1943, Debar passed into German hands. In 1944, after a two-month struggle for the city between the communist Albanian National Liberation Front and German forces holding the city, including the SS Skanderbeg division, the communists led by Haxhi Lleshi finally secured Debar on August 30, 1944. After the cessation of hostilities with the end of WW2 and the establishment of communism in both Albania and Yugoslavia, Debar passed into Yugoslav hands.
Dibër, Maqedoni Veriore
When Italy capitulated in September 1943, Debar passed into German hands. In 1944, after a two-month struggle for the city between the communist Albanian National Liberation Front and German forces holding the city, including the SS Skanderbeg division, the communists led by Haxhi Lleshi finally secured Debar on August 30, 1944. After the cessation of hostilities with the end of WW2 and the establishment of communism in both Albania and Yugoslavia, Debar passed into Yugoslav hands.
Debar, Sjeverna Makedonija
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