Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)
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Kingdom of Albania | |||||||||||||
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1939–1943 | |||||||||||||
Motto: King | | ||||||||||||
• 1939–1943 | Victor Emmanuel III | ||||||||||||
Lieutenant-General of the King | |||||||||||||
• 1939–1943 | Francesco Jacomoni | ||||||||||||
• 1943 | Alberto Pariani | ||||||||||||
Prime Minister | |||||||||||||
• 1939–1941 | Shefqet Vërlaci | ||||||||||||
• 1941–1943 | Mustafa Merlika-Kruja | ||||||||||||
• 1943 | Ekrem Libohova | ||||||||||||
• 1943 | Maliq Bushati | ||||||||||||
• 1943 | Ekrem Libohova | ||||||||||||
Legislature | Parliament | ||||||||||||
Historical era | Interbellum · World War II | ||||||||||||
12 April 1939 | |||||||||||||
10 July 1941 | |||||||||||||
8 September 1943 | |||||||||||||
Area | |||||||||||||
1939[2] | 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
1940-1943 | 52,667 km2 (20,335 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
Population | |||||||||||||
• 1939[2] | 1,063,893 | ||||||||||||
• 1940-1943 | 1,701,463 | ||||||||||||
Currency | Franga (1939–1941) Italian lira (1941–1943) | ||||||||||||
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The Italian protectorate of Albania, also known as the Kingdom of Albania or Greater Albania,
In the
History
Pre-invasion: Italy's influence and aims in Albania
Prior to direct intervention in World War I, the Kingdom of Italy occupied the port of Vlorë in Albania in December 1914.[6] Upon entering the war, Italy spread its occupation to region of southern Albania beginning in the autumn 1916.[6] Italian forces in 1916 recruited Albanian irregulars to serve alongside them.[6] Italy with permission of the Allied command, occupied Northern Epirus on 23 August 1916, forcing the Greek Army to withdraw its occupation forces from there.[6] In June 1917, Italy proclaimed central and southern Albania as a protectorate of Italy while Northern Albania was allocated to the states of Serbia and Montenegro.[6] By 31 October 1918, French and Italian forces expelled the Austro-Hungarian Army from Albania.[6] After World War I ended, Italy withdrew its military forces on 2 September 1920 from Albania as a result of foreign pressure and defeat in the Vlora War.[6]
The Italian Fascist regime had politically and economically penetrated and dominated Albania during Zog's rule and was planning for annexation of Albania years prior to the event.[10] Albania came under strong Italian influence after the signing of the Treaties of Tirana of 1926 and 1927.[11][12][13] Under Zog, Albania's economy was dependent on multiple financial loans given from Italy since 1931.[14]
In August 1933, Mussolini placed stringent demands on Zog in exchange for Italy's continued support of Albania, including demands that all new appointments to leading positions in the Albanian government had to have received an "Italian education"; that an Italian expert was in the future to be in all Albanian government ministries; that Italy would take control of Albania's military – including its fortifications; that British officers that were training Albania's gendarmerie be replaced by Italian officers; and that Albania must annul all of its existing commercial treaties with other countries and make no new agreements without the approval of the Italian government; and that Albania sign a commercial convention that would make Italy Albania's "most favoured country" in trade.[15] In 1934 when Albania did not deliver its scheduled payment of one loan to Italy, Italian warships arrived off the coast of Albania to intimidate Albania to submit to Italian goals in the region. However, the British opposed Italy's actions and under pressure, Italy backed down and claimed that the naval exercise was merely a "friendly visit".[14]
On 25 August 1937, Italian foreign minister Count Ciano wrote in his diary of Italy's relations with Albania in the following: "We must create stable centres of Italian influence there. Who knows what the future may have in store? We must be ready to seize opportunities which will present themselves. We are not going to withdraw this time, as we did in 1920. In the south [of Italy] we have absorbed several hundred thousand Albanians. Why shouldn't the same thing happen on the other side of the entrance to the Adriatic.".[8] On 26 March 1938, Ciano wrote in his diary of annexing Albania like Germany did with Austria shortly prior: "A report from Jacomoni on the situation in Albania. Our penetration is becoming steadily more intense and more organic. The programme which I traced after my visit is being carried out without a hitch. I am wondering whether the general situation – particularly the Anschluss [with Austria] – does not permit us to take a step forward towards the more complete domination of this country, which will be ours." and days later on 4 April of that year wrote "We must gradually underline the protectorate element of our relations with Albania".[16]
Invasion and the establishment of the Italian regime
"The Kosovars are 850,000 Albanians, strong of body, firm in spirit, and enthusiastic about the idea of a Union with their Homeland. Apparently, the Serbians are terrified of them. Today one must ... chloroform the Yugoslavians. But later on one must adopt a politics of deep interest in Kosovo. This will help to keep alive in the Balkans an irredentist problem which will polarize the attention of the Albanians themselves and be a knife at the back of Yugoslavia..."
Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini's son-in-law, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaking of Albanian claims to Kosovo as valuable to Italy's objectives.[17]
In spite of Albania's long-standing alliance with Italy, on 7 April 1939 Italian troops
Albania became an Italian protectorate subordinated to Italian interests,
While Victor Emmanuel ruled as king, Shefqet Vërlaci served as the prime minister. Vërlaci controlled the day-to-day activities of the Italian protectorate. On 3 December 1941, Shefqet Vërlaci was replaced as prime minister by Mustafa Merlika-Kruja.[25] The country's natural resources too came under direct control of Italy. All petroleum resources in Albania went through Agip, Italy's state petroleum company.[26]
Albania was important culturally and historically to the nationalist aims of the Italian Fascists, as the territory of Albania had long been part of the
Italy also attempted to legitimize and win public support for its rule over Albania by supporting Albanian irredentism, directed against the predominantly Albanian-populated
Albania at war
Strategically, control of Albania gave Italy an important beachhead in the Balkans: not only did it complete Italian control of the
In 1939, Count Ciano spoke of Albanian irredentist claims to Kosovo as valuable to Italy's objectives, saying:
The Kosovars [are] 850,000 Albanians, strong of body, firm in spirit, and enthusiastic about the idea of a Union with their Homeland. Apparently, the Serbians are terrified of them. Today one must…chloroform the Yugoslavians. But later on one must adopt a politics of deep interest in Kosovo. This will help to keep alive in the Balkans an irredentist problem which will polarize the attention of the Albanians themselves and be a knife at the back of Yugoslavia.[30]
— Galeazzo Ciano, 1939
The Corporative Council of the Albanian Fascist Party, a quasi-statal organization, issued a directive on 16 June 1940, shortly after Italy's declarations of war against Britain and France, that stated that "The Kingdom of Albania considers itself at war with all nations against which Italy is at war – at present or in the future."[31]
In October 1940, during the
But, soon after the Italian invasion, the Greeks counter-attacked and a sizable portion of Albania was in Greek hands (including the cities of
After the fall of Yugoslavia and Greece in April 1941, the Italian government began negotiations with Germany, Bulgaria, and the newly established client state, the Independent State of Croatia, on defining their borders. In April Mussolini called for the borders of Albania to be expanded – including annexing Montenegro into Albania that would have an autonomous government within Albania, and expanding Albania's border eastwards, though not as far as the Vardar river as some had proposed – citing that Ohrid should be left to the Slavic Macedonians, regardless of whether Vardar Macedonia would become an independent state or be annexed by Bulgaria.[37] However the Italian government changed its positions on the border throughout April, later supporting the annexation of Ohrid while giving the territory lying directly outside of Ohrid (including the sacred birthplace of Saint Clement) to the Slavic Macedonians.[37] After a period of negotiations Italy's new Balkan borders – including Albania's new borders, were declared by royal decree on 7 June 1941.[37]
After the
Persecution
Around 200 Albanian Jews and 400 Jewish refugees resided in Albania proper prior to World War II. Albanian Jews were generally protected but faced some restrictions. Foreign Jews were placed into concentration camps. The Jewish population of Kosovo fared comparatively worse as Italian authorities turned them over to the Germans where they were murdered or sent to camps in Albania. Others were taken to Albanian cities where the local population protected them.[38] See The Holocaust in Albania.
Kosovar Albanians collaborated with the Axis powers who promised them a Greater Albania.
One of Mussolini's plans with the Italian protectorate of Albania was to Italianize its citizens.[46]
Economy
Upon the occupation of Albania and installation of a new government, the economies of Albania and Italy were connected through a customs union that resulted in the removal of most trade restrictions.[23] Through a tariff union, the Italian tariff system was put in place in Albania.[23] Due to the expected economic losses in Albania from the alteration in tariff policy, the Italian government provided Albania 15 million Albanian leks each year in compensation.[23] Italian customs laws were to apply in Albania and only Italy alone could conclude treaties with third parties.[23] Italian capital was allowed to dominate the Albanian economy.[23] As a result, Italian companies were allowed to hold monopolies in the exploitation of Albanian natural resources.[23]
In 1944, the number of companies and industrial enterprises reached 430, from just 244 in 1938 and only 71 such in 1922. The degree of concentration of workers in industrial production in 1938 doubled compared with 1928. At this time, Albania's economy had trade relations with 21 countries, but most developed were first to Italy and then to Yugoslavia, France, Germany, Greece, etc.
The country entered capitalist economic development much later than other European countries. Despite the presence of some foreign (mainly Italian) investment, Albania had made little move towards industrial development at the onset of World War II. Agriculture, which employed over 87% of the workforce, was the main sector of the economy and contributed 92.4% of the national income, with main outputs being wheat, maize and rye. Agriculture used primitive tools such as wood ploughs, whilst fertilisers were hardly known at all, and drainage poor. The level of productivity and level of organization and mechanization of agriculture in this period were very low.
Administrative division
The Italians adopted the existing Albanian system of prefectures (
Prefecture | Sub-prefectures | Municipalities |
---|---|---|
Berat | Fieri Lushnje Ballsh Skrapar |
Berat Fieri Lushnje |
Peshkopi | Burreli e Mat Zerqan |
Burrel
|
Durazzo | Kavaja Krue Shijak |
Durazzo Kavaja Shijak Krue |
Elbasan | Librazhd Gramshi |
Elbasan |
Argirocastro | Argirocastro Permeti Tepelena Porto Edda Delvina | |
Coritza | Bilishti Kolonjë Leskoviku Pogradeci |
None |
Kukesi | Lumë Malësi e Gjakovës |
Kukesi |
Scutari | Scutari | |
Valona | Himara | Valona |
Tirana |
None | Tirana
|
Debar | Rostuse Tetovo |
Debar Prizren |
Metohija | Gjakovës |
Peja
|
Kossovo | Rahovec Suva Reka |
Prishtina
|
See also
History of Albania |
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Timeline |
- Albanian Fascist Militia
- Albanian Fascist Party
- Balli Kombëtar
- Greater Albania
- Italian colonists in Albania
- Italian invasion of Albania
References
- ^ "Symbols of the Albanian Kingdom (1939–1943)". September 2022.
- ^ a b Soldaten-Atlas (Tornisterschrift des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht, Heft 39). Leipzig: Bibliographisches Institut. 1941. p. 32.
- ^ Micheletta, Luca (2007), "Questioni storiche: Italy, Greater Albania and Kosovo 1939–1943", Nuova Rivista Storica, 2/2013, Universita degli studi di Roma La Sapienza: 521–542
- ISBN 978-9612544010
- ^ ISBN 978-1584779018
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Nigel Thomas. Armies in the Balkans 1914–18. Osprey Publishing, 2001. p. 17.
- ISBN 9798216163312.
- ^ a b Pearson 2007, p. 389.
- ^ ISBN 978-1850655312
- ^ Pearson 2007, p. 378, 389.
- ^ Aristotle A. Kallis. Fascist ideology: territory and expansionism in Italy and Germany, 1922–1945. London: Routledge, 2000. p. 132.
- ^ Zara S. Steiner. The lights that failed: European international history, 1919–1933. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. p. 499.
- ^ a b Roy Palmer Domenico. Remaking Italy in the twentieth century. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2002. p. 74.
- ^ a b Pearson 2007, p. 378.
- ^ Pearson 2007, p. 351.
- ^ Pearson 2007, p. 396.
- ^ Zolo, Danilo. Invoking humanity: war, law, and global order. London; New York: Continuum International Publishing Group (2002), p. 24 [ISBN missing]
- ISBN 039541685X.
- ISBN 0824070291.
- ^ ISBN 978-0415216128
- ISBN 978-0198221142
- ^ "Zog I | king of Albania". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Raphaël Lemkin. Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. Slark, New Jersey: The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2005. p. 102.
- ISBN 978-8868128258.
- ISBN 1845111044.
- ISBN 978-1845111045.
- ISBN 978-0415216128
- ^ ISBN 0521845157.
- ISBN 978-1850655312
- ^ Danilo Zolo. Invoking humanity: war, law, and global order. London; New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2002. p. 24.
- ^ Angelo Piero Sereni, "The Legal Status of Albania", The American Political Science Review 35 2 (1941): 317.
- ^ Pieter Hidri, General Prenk Pervizi, Tirana, Toena, 2002.[ISBN missing]
- ^ Julian Amery, The sons of the Eagle, London, 1946, s. 302–306
- ^ ISBN 0521845157.
- ^ Martucci, Donato (2014). ""Le terre albanesi redente". La Ciameria tra irredentismo albanese e propaganda fascista" (PDF). Palaver. 3 (2). University of Salento: 168 – via CORE.
E così ovunque si recasse nella regione. Persino in Albania, a Delvino e Saranda, non erano convinti che fosse opportuno ingrandire l'Albania verso sud, con l'annessione di territori abitati nella quasi totalità da greci.
- ISSN 1360-2004.
- ^ a b c Davide Rodogno. Fascism's European empire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006 p. 79.[ISBN missing]
- ISBN 978-0190923068.
- ISBN 978-0816629473.
- ^ ISBN 978-0253346568.
- ISBN 978-1351374767.
- ISBN 978-8690632992.
- ISBN 978-1850655312.
- ISBN 978-2825111321. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
On estime que la milice volontaire albanaise Vulnetari (env. 5 000 hommes), assistee per diverses formations paramilitaires, assassina en quatre ans quelque 10 000 Serbs.
- ^ Antonijević, Nenad. Arhivska građa o ljudskim gubicima na Kosovu i Metohiji u Drugome svetskom ratu. p. 479.
Najrealnije procene, na osnovu dostupnih arhivskih izvora, ukazuju da je u toku Drugoga svetskog rata na Kosovu i Metohiji život izgubilo oko 10 hiljada Crnogoraca i Srba, među kojima su većina stradali kao žrtve terora i zločina albanskih kvislinga.
- ISBN 978-8868128258.
- ^ Great Britain, War Office; Italy OR 5301 (1943)
- ^ Great Britain, War Office; Albania OR 5824 (1943)
- ^ ""Historia e ndarjes administrative nga Ismail Qemali në '92" | Gazeta Panorama". Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ Davide Rodogno. Fascism's European empire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, p. 293.
Bibliography
- Pearson, Owen (2007). Albania in the Twentieth Century, A History: 3 Volume Set. I. B. Tauris. ISBN 9781845110161.
- Hibbert, Reginald (1991). Albania's National Liberation Struggle: The Bitter Victory. Pinter Publishers. ISBN 9780861871094.