More historically correct, less opinionated with propagandistic overtones.
Okumaya devam et...
← Previous revision | Revision as of 19:54, 5 May 2024 |
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| In Durrës, a force of only 360 Albanians, mostly gendarmes and townspeople, led by [[Abaz Kupi]], the commander of the gendarmerie in Durrës, and [[Mujo Ulqinaku]], a marine official, tried to halt the Italian advance. Equipped only with small arms and three machine guns, they succeeded in keeping the Italians at bay for several hours. Then a large number of small tanks were unloaded from Italian ships and resistance crumbled. Within five hours Italian troops had captured the city.{{sfnp|Pearson|2006|p=444–445}} By 1:30 pm on the first day, all Albanian ports were in Italian hands. | In Durrës, a force of only 360 Albanians, mostly gendarmes and townspeople, led by [[Abaz Kupi]], the commander of the gendarmerie in Durrës, and [[Mujo Ulqinaku]], a marine official, tried to halt the Italian advance. Equipped only with small arms and three machine guns, they succeeded in keeping the Italians at bay for several hours. Then a large number of small tanks were unloaded from Italian ships and resistance crumbled. Within five hours Italian troops had captured the city.{{sfnp|Pearson|2006|p=444–445}} By 1:30 pm on the first day, all Albanian ports were in Italian hands. |
| Unwilling to become an Italian puppet, King Zog, his wife, Queen [[Geraldine of Albania|Geraldine Apponyi]], and their infant son Skander fled to Greece and eventually to London. On April 12, the Albanian parliament voted to unite the country with Italy.<ref name="Albania – Italian Occupation" /> The Albanian parliament voted to depose Zog and unite the nation with Italy "in personal union" by offering the Albanian crown to Victor Emmanuel III{{sfnp|Fischer|1999|p=36}} and the Italians set up a fascist government under [[Shefqet Verlaci]] and soon absorbed Albania's military and diplomatic service into Italy's.<ref name="Albania – Italian Occupation" /> On April 15, 1939, Albania withdrew from the [[League of Nations]], from which Italy had resigned in 1937. On June 3, 1939, the Albanian foreign ministry was merged into the Italian foreign ministry. The Albanian military was placed under Italian command and formally merged into the Italian Army in 1940. Additionally, the Italian [[Blackshirts]] formed four legions of [[Albanian Fascist Militia]], initially recruited from Italian colonists living in Albania, but later also from ethnic Albanians. | Unwilling to become an Italian puppet, King Zog, his wife, Queen [[Geraldine of Albania|Geraldine Apponyi]], and their infant son Skander fled to Greece and eventually to London. On April 12, the Albanian parliament voted to recognize the King of Italy, Viktor Emanuel III of Savoia as the King of Albania. Albania retained an autonomous government with a Prime Minister and a ministerial cabinet.<ref name="Albania – Italian Occupation" /> III{{sfnp|Fischer|1999|p=36}} and the Italians set up a fascist government under [[Shefqet Verlaci]] and soon absorbed Albania's military (Gendarmery) and diplomatic service into Italy's.<ref name="Albania – Italian Occupation" /> On April 15, 1939, Albania withdrew from the [[League of Nations]], from which Italy had resigned in 1937. On June 3, 1939, the Albanian foreign ministry was merged into the Italian foreign ministry. The Albanian military was placed under Italian command and formally merged into the Italian Army in 1940. Additionally, the Italian [[Blackshirts]] formed four legions of [[Albanian Fascist Militia]], initially recruited from Italian colonists living in Albania, but later also from ethnic Albanians. |
| Upon invading, [[Galeazzo Ciano]] tried to reinforce an impression of benevolence with a number of initial gestures aimed more at public relations than at addressing any of Albania's profound social and economic problems. One of Ciano's first moves was to distribute food and clothing in some of the poor areas and to release political prisoners. He personally distributed 190,000 gold francs to the needy in Tirana, [[Shkodër|Shkodra]], Vlora, [[Gjirokastër|Gjirokastra]], Saranda, [[Korçë]] and [[Kukës]]. Because the money was given directly to the poor, bypassing the usual bureaucracy, it did some good.{{sfnp|Fischer|1999|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} The Italians also contributed greatly to infrastructure, agriculture, and chrome and hydrocarbon exploration, in which Albania was rich. The Italians hoped that extensive investment in Albania would bring both economic and political benefits. Despite a weak domestic economy, Mussolini guaranteed the Albanians 22 million pounds over five years for economic development, considerably more than the 8.2 million Rome had spent since the early 1920s. Initial reports of Italian activity were quite favourable. Ruth Mitchell commented at the end of April 1939, "What a great improvement there is in the condition of the people already. The whole atmosphere had become brisker and more enterprising; now at least there is hope." Even the German minister {{ILL|Eberhard von Pannwitz|de}}, perpetually critical of the Italians, commented favorably on the Italian tempo, which he likened to the tempo in Austria after the ''[[Anschluss]]''. The new construction projects brought in large amounts of capital and employed many Albanians.{{sfnp|Fischer|1999|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ANCuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} The government began letting Italians take technical positions in Albania's civil service, and also began allowing Italian settlers to enter Albania. This largely affected the Albanians' attitude towards the Italian invaders and the locals greeted them with more respect and liking.{{cn|date=May 2023}} | Upon invading, [[Galeazzo Ciano]] established a policy to promote tge Qlbanian economy so it would be self sufficient. He aldo providee immediate relief with a number of initial gestures aimed at both public relations and at addressing Albania's profound social and economic problems. One of Ciano's first moves was to distribute food and clothing in some of the poor areas and to release political prisoners. He personally distributed 190,000 gold francs to the needy in Tirana, [[Shkodër|Shkodra]], Vlora, [[Gjirokastër|Gjirokastra]], Saranda, [[Korçë]] and [[Kukës]]. Because the money was given directly to the poor, bypassing the usual bureaucracy, it did some good.{{sfnp|Fischer|1999|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} The Italians also contributed greatly to infrastructure, land reclamation, draining of swamps, agriculture, and chrome and hydrocarbon exploration, in which Albania was ptesumed to be rich. The Italians hoped that extensive investment in Albania would bring both economic and political benefits. Despite a weak domestic economy, Mussolini guaranteed the Albanians 22 million pounds over five years for economic development, considerably more than the 8.2 million Rome had spent since the early 1920s. Initial reports of Italian activity were quite favourable. Ruth Mitchell commented at the end of April 1939, "What a great improvement there is in the condition of the people already. The whole atmosphere had become brisker and more enterprising; now at least there is hope." Even the German minister {{ILL|Eberhard von Pannwitz|de}}, perpetually critical of the Italians, commented favorably on the Italian tempo, which he likened to the tempo in Austria after the ''[[Anschluss]]''. The new construction projects brought in large amounts of capital and employed many Albanians.{{sfnp|Fischer|1999|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ANCuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 67]}} The government began letting Italians take technical positions in Albania's civil service, and also began allowing Italian settlers to enter Albania. This largely affected the Albanians' attitude towards the Italian invaders and the locals greeted them with more respect and liking.{{cn|date=May 2023}} |
| ==Italian puppet state== | ==Italian puppet state== |
Okumaya devam et...