After WW II
After Albania was liberated from the German occupation (November 1944), Shehu became the deputy chief of the general staff and, after he studied in Moscow, became the chief of the general staff. Later, he was also a lieutenant general and a full general.
In 1948, Shehu "expurgated" from the party the element who "tried to separate Albania from the Soviet Union and lead her under Belgrade's influence". This made him the nearest person to Enver Hoxha and brought him high offices. However, he remained in Hoxha's shadow.
From 1948, he was a member of the Central Committee and the Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania, and, from 1948 to 1953, he was a secretary of the Central Committee. He lost the latter position on June 24 when Enver Hoxha gave up the posts of Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs, remaining the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Hoxha was probably not willing to yield too much power to him.
From 1948 to 1954 he was the deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers and the Minister of Internal Affairs (and the chief of the secret police). From 1954 to 1981 he succeeded Enver Hoxha as the chairman of the Council of Ministers. From 1974 he was also the Minister of People's Defence while from 1947 to his death Shehu was a deputy of the People's Assembly.
Read more about this topic: Mehmet Shehu