Editing Axis powers (section)

====Albania (Albanian Kingdom)====
{{Main|German occupation of Albania}}
After the Italian armistice, a vacuum of power opened up in [[Albania under Italy|Albania]]. The Italian occupying forces were rendered largely powerless, as the [[National Liberation Movement (Albania)|National Liberation Movement]] took control of the south and the National Front ([[Balli Kombëtar]]) took control of the north. Albanians in the Italian army joined the guerrilla forces. In September 1943 the guerrillas moved to take the capital of [[Tirana]], but [[Fallschirmjäger|German paratroopers]] dropped into the city. Soon after the battle, the [[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht|German High Command]] announced that they would recognize the independence of a [[greater Albania]]. They organized an Albanian government, police, and military in collaboration with the Balli Kombëtar. The Germans did not exert heavy control over Albania's administration, but instead attempted to gain popular appeal by giving their political partners what they wanted. Several Balli Kombëtar leaders held positions in the regime. The joint forces incorporated Kosovo, western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, and Presevo into the Albanian state. A High Council of Regency was created to carry out the functions of a head of state, while the government was headed mainly by Albanian conservative politicians. Albania was the only European country occupied by the Axis powers that ended World War II with a larger [[History of the Jews in Albania|Jewish population]] than before the war.{{sfn|Sarner|1997|p={{page needed|date=March 2012}}}} The Albanian government had refused to hand over their Jewish population. They provided Jewish families with forged documents and helped them disperse in the Albanian population.<ref name="Yad Vashem: Albania">{{cite web|url=http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031127122807/http://www.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-11-27| title=Shoah Research Center – Albania}}</ref> Albania was completely liberated on November 29, 1944.