The Balkans Campaign was the Axis Powers' invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia during World War II. It began with Italy's failed invasion of Greece on 28 October 1940 and ended with the capture of Crete by German and Italian forces on 1 June 1941.
After World War I, with the complete collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Albanians looked to the Kingdom of Italy for protection against her enemies.
In 1919, Albania's terr...
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The Balkans Campaign was the Axis Powers' invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia during World War II. It began with Italy's failed invasion of Greece on 28 October 1940 and ended with the capture of Crete by German and Italian forces on 1 June 1941.
After World War I, with the complete collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Albanians looked to the Kingdom of Italy for protection against her enemies.
In 1919, Albania's territorial integrity was confirmed at the Paris Peace Conference after United States President Woodrow Wilson dismissed a plan by the European powers to divide Albania amongst its neighbours.
However, after 1925, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini sought to dominate Albania.
In 1928 Albania became a kingdom under Zog I. Zog was a clan chief and former Prime Minister. Zog failed to stave off Italian ascendancy in Albanian internal affairs.
On 7 April 1939, Mussolini's troops occupied Albania, overthrew Zog, and annexed the country to the Italian...
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