Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)
The Italian protectorate of Albania, also known as the Kingdom of Albania or Greater Albania,[3][4] existed as a puppet state and protectorate of Fascist Italy. It was practically a union between Italy and Albania, officially led by Italian King Victor Emmanuel III and its government: Albania was led by Italian governors, after being militarily occupied by Italy, from 1939 until 1943. During this time, Albania ceased to exist as an independent country and became an autonomous part of the Italian Empire. Officials intended to make Albania part of a Greater Italy by assimilating Albanians as Italians and colonizing Albania with Italian settlers from the Italian Peninsula to transform it gradually into an Italian land.[5]
"Italian occupation of Albania" redirects here. For the military act of occupation, see Italian invasion of Albania. For the earlier period of occupation in 1917–1920, see Italian protectorate over Albania.
Kingdom of Albania
In personal union with Fascist Italy (de jure)
part of the Italian Empire (de facto)
12 April 1939
10 July 1941
8 September 1943
28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi)
52,667 km2 (20,335 sq mi)
1,063,893
1,701,463
Franga (1939–1941)
Italian lira (1941–1943)
In the Treaty of London during World War I, the Triple Entente had promised central and southern Albania to Italy as a reward for fighting against the Central Powers.[6] In June 1917, after Italian soldiers seized control of substantial areas of Albania, Italy formally declared a protectorate over central and southern Albania; however this was overturned in September 1920 when Italy was pressured to withdraw its army.[6] Italy was enraged with the minimal gains that it received from peace negotiations, which it regarded as having violated the Treaty of London. Italian Fascists claimed that Albanians were ethnically linked to Italians through association with the prehistoric populations, and that the major influence exerted by the Roman and Venetian empires over Albania gave Italy the right to possess it.[7] In addition, several hundred thousand ethnic Albanians had already been absorbed into southern Italy, which was used to justify annexation as a measure that would unite all Albanians into one state.[8] Italy supported Albanian irredentism, directed against the predominantly Albanian-populated Kosovo in Yugoslavia, but also against Epirus in Greece, particularly the border area of Chameria, inhabited by the Cham Albanian minority.[9]
Persecution[edit]
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.[39] This was seen as a better alternative to the repressive measures instilled by Serbian politicians during the interwar period.[40] In June 1942 Prime Minister Mustafa Kruja stated that Serbs would be sent to concentration camps or killed.[41] Between 70,000 and 100,000 Kosovar Serbs were transferred to concentration camps in Pristina and Mitrovica or expelled to Serbia proper, in order to Albanianize the province.[40] During the occupation, the population was subject to forced labour, torture, destruction of private property, destruction and damaging of cultural and historical buildings and graveyards.[42] The expulsion of Serbs proved problematic, as they had performed important functions in the region, and been running most of the businesses, mills, tanneries, and public utilities, and been responsible for most of the useful agricultural production.[43] According to Serbian sources, it is estimated that the Vulnetari and other paramilitaries murdered up to 10,000 Serbs and Montenegrins in Kosovo.[44][45]
One of Mussolini's plans with the Italian protectorate of Albania was to Italianize its citizens.[46]
