Albanian National Awakening: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:42, 14 March 2006

Revision as of 06:02, 30 March 2006

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Political chaos engulfed Albania after the outbreak of World War I. Surrounded by insurgents in Durrës, Prince Wilhelm departed the country in September [[1914]], just six months after arriving, and subsequently joined the German army and served on the Eastern Front. The Albanian people split along religious and tribal lines after the prince's departure. Muslims demanded a Muslim prince and looked to Turkey as the protector of the privileges they had enjoyed. Other Albanians became little more than agents of Italy and Serbia. Still others, including many beys and clan chiefs, recognized no superior authority. In late 1914, Greece occupied southern Albania, including [[Korçë]] and [[Gjirokastër]]. Italy occupied [[Vlorë]], and Serbia and Montenegro occupied parts of northern Albania until a [[Central Powers]] offensive scattered the Serbian army, which was evacuated by the French to [[Thessaloniki]]. [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian]] and Bulgarian forces then occupied about two-thirds of the country.

Under the secret [[Treaty of London, 1915|Treaty of London]] signed in April [[1915]], thee [[Triple Entente]] powers promised Italy that it would gain Vlore and nearby lands and a protectorate over Albania in exchange for entering the war against Austria-Hungary. Serbia and Montenegro were promised much of northern Albania, and Greece was promised much of the country's southern half. The treaty left a tiny Albanian state that would be represented by Italy in its relations with the other major powers. In September 1918, Entente forces broke through the Central Powers' lines north of Thessaloniki, and within days Austro-Hungarian forces began to withdraw from Albania. When the war ended on [[November 11]], [[1918]], Italy's army had occupied most of Albania; Serbia held much of the country's northern mountains; Greece occupied a sliver of land within Albania's 1913 borders; and French forces occupied Korçë and Shkodër as well as other with sizable Albanian populations, regions such as [[Kosovo]], which were later handed over to [[Serbia]].

==Reference==