Editing Albania (section)

=== First Republic ===
{{Main|Albanian Republic (1925–1928)|l1=First Republic of Albania}}
{{See also|World War I in Albania|World War II in Albania|l1=World War I}}

[[File:Fan Stilian Noli.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Fan Noli]] played a significant role in the 20th century, advocating for Albanian independence and cultural revival, while also serving as [[Prime Minister of Albania|Prime Minister]] in 1924 and later as the head of the [[Albanian Orthodox Church]].]]

The [[interwar period]] in Albania was marked by persistent economic and social difficulties, political instability and foreign interventions.<ref name="Zickel/Iwaskiw">{{cite book |editor1-last=Zickel |editor1-first=Raymond |editor2-last=Iwaskiw |editor2-first=Walter R. |title=Albania country study |publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]] |url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/frd/frdcstdy/al/albaniacountryst00zick/albaniacountryst00zick.pdf |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911125032/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/frd/frdcstdy/al/albaniacountryst00zick/albaniacountryst00zick.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Vickers">{{cite book |last=Vickers |first=Miranda |title=The Albanians: A Modern History |date=29 November 1999 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury Academic]] |isbn=978-1-86064-541-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IzI0uOZ2j6gC |access-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913115455/https://books.google.com/books?id=IzI0uOZ2j6gC |archive-date=13 September 2023 |page=118}}</ref> After [[World War I]], Albania lacked an established government and internationally recognised borders, rendering it vulnerable to neighboring entities such as Greece, Italy, and Yugoslavia, all of which sought to expand their influence.<ref name="Zickel/Iwaskiw"/> This led to political uncertainty, highlighted in 1918 when the [[Congress of Durrës]] sought [[Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920)|Paris Peace Conference]] protection but was denied, further complicating Albania's position on the international stage. Territorial tensions escalated as Yugoslavia, particularly Serbia, sought control of northern Albania, while Greece aimed dominance in southern Albania. The situation deteriorated in 1919 when the Serbs launched attacks on Albanian inhabitants, among others in [[Gusinje]] and [[Plav, Montenegro|Plav]], resulting in [[Plav–Gusinje massacres (1912–1913)|massacres and large-scale displacement]].<ref name="Zickel/Iwaskiw"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=Norman |date=2011 |title=Vanished Kingdoms: The History of Half-Forgotten Europe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4G_Cz9TF88C&q=Serbian+atrocities&pg=RA4-PR26 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Penguin Group|Penguin Books Limited]] |isbn=978-0-14-196048-7 |page=17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913120242/https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4G_Cz9TF88C&q=Serbian+atrocities&pg=RA4-PR26 |archive-date=13 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Pettifer |first1=James |last2=Buchanan |first2=Tom |date=2015 |title=War in the Balkans: Conflict and Diplomacy before World War I |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g7eKDwAAQBAJ&q=Gusinye+massacre&pg=PA32 |access-date=13 September 2023 |url-status=live |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-0-85772-641-4 |page=32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913120417/https://books.google.com/books?id=g7eKDwAAQBAJ&q=Gusinye+massacre&pg=PA32 |archive-date=13 September 2023}}</ref> Meanwhile, Italian influence continued to expand during this time, driven by economic interests and political ambitions.<ref name="Vickers"/><ref name="Gerwarth">{{cite book |last1=Gerwarth |first1=Robert |date=2007 |title=Twisted Paths: Europe 1914-1945 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ts4SDAAAQBAJ |access-date=13 September 2023 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-1992-8185-5 |pages=242–261 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913120715/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ts4SDAAAQBAJ |archive-date=13 September 2023}}</ref>

[[Fan Noli]], renowned for his [[idealism]], became prime minister in 1924, with a vision to institute a Western-style constitutional government, abolish feudalism, counter Italian influence, and enhance critical sectors, including infrastructure, education and healthcare.<ref name="Zickel/Iwaskiw"/> He faced resistance from former allies, who had assisted in the removal of [[Zog I of Albania|Zog]] from power, and struggled to secure foreign aid to implement his agenda. Noli's decision to establish diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union, an adversary of the Serbian elite, ignited allegations of [[bolshevism]] from Belgrade.<ref name="Zickel/Iwaskiw"/> This in turn led to increased pressure from Italy and culminated in Zog's restoration to authority. In 1928, Zog transitioned Albania from a republic to a monarchy that garnered backing from [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Fascist Italy]], with Zog assuming the title of King Zog I. Key constitutional changes dissolved the Senate and established a unicameral National Assembly while preserving Zog's authoritative powers.<ref name="Zickel/Iwaskiw"/>

In 1939, Italy under [[Benito Mussolini]] launched a military invasion of Albania, resulting to the exile of Zog and the creation of an [[Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)|Italian protectorate]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keegan |first1=John |last2=Churchill |first2=Winston |date=1986 |title=The Second World War (Six Volume Boxed Set) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e0_3Nrc8D0wC&pg=PA314 |access-date=13 September 2023 |url-status=live |location=[[Boston]], United States |publisher=[[Mariner Books]] |isbn=0-395-41685-X |page=314 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913121029/https://books.google.com/books?id=e0_3Nrc8D0wC&pg=PA314 |archive-date=13 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="isbn0-8240-7029-1">{{cite book |last=Zabecki |first= David T. |title=World War II in Europe: an encyclopedia |publisher=Garland Pub |location=New York |year=1999 |pages=1353 |isbn=0-8240-7029-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYDN-UfehEEC&q=albania+%22Italian+protectorate%22&pg=PA1353}}</ref> As [[World War II]] progressed, Italy aimed to expand its territorial dominion in the Balkans, including territorial claims on regions of Greece ([[Chameria]]), Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo. These ambitions laid the foundation of [[Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)|Greater Albania]], which aimed to unite all areas with Albanian-majority populations into a single country.<ref name="BogdaniLoughlin2007">{{cite book|last1=Bogdani|first1=Mirela|last2=Loughlin|first2=John|title=Albania and the European Union: The Tumultuous Journey Towards Integration and Accession|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=32Wu8H7t8MwC&pg=PA230 |date=15 March 2007|publisher=I.B. Tauris|isbn=978-1-84511-308-7|page=230}}</ref> In 1943, as Italy's control declined, [[Nazi Germany]] assumed control of Albania, subjecting Albanians to forced labour, economic exploitation and repression under [[German occupation of Albania|German rule]].<ref name="Morrock2010">{{cite book|last=Morrock|first=Richard|title=The Psychology of Genocide and Violent Oppression: A Study of Mass Cruelty from Nazi Germany to Rwanda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZtnAbKkOmIC&pg=PA55 |date=11 October 2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-5628-4|page=55|quote=The nationalist Balli Kombetar, which had fought against Italy, made a deal with the German invaders, and formed a "neutral" government in Tirana which&nbsp;...}}</ref> The tide shifted in 1944 when Albanian partisan forces, under the leadership of [[Enver Hoxha]] and other communist leaders, successfully liberated Albania from German occupation.<ref name="Albanian Nationalism">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Albanian Nationalism|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Albania/Albanian-nationalism|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
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