Forty years ago today, on April 11, 1985 (February 22, 1985 in the lunar calendar), Albanian leader Enver Hoxha died. Enver Hoxha (1963) April 11, 1985, Hoxha, the Albanian leader who had been in power for nearly 40 years, died in the early hours of this morning. The name Enver-Hoxha is hardly a household name in the West. He himself would probably like that. Albania is the smallest communist country in the world. Hoxha, a government bulletin described him as a "beloved and brilliant leader". Hoxha's funeral did not require foreign leaders to attend. Hoxha once said, "Don't worry about what happens outside our country. The Albanian form of government is the only best form." In 1946, Hoxha took office as the leader of what he called the People's Republic. The only one he loyally trusted was Stalin. He turned Albania into "the only true communist country". Hoxha came from a wealthy and extremely devout Muslim businessman family. After he finished his studies in France, he abandoned his father's faith and the autocratic regime of the country. During the war, Hoxha forcefully resisted Mussolini and Hitler and became an underground hero. After taking office, Hoxha issued a decree saying that God was dead, so he turned mosques and churches into warehouses. Mao Zedong met with Hoxha in Beijing (1956.9)