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World War One, 1914-1918, occurred between the three-partyAlliance
Germany and Austro-Hungary and the Antanta's powers,England,
France nand Russia. The Albanian state did not take part in
this war, but it had grave economic consequences for
thecountry. This endangered the existence of the Albanian
nationalstate. Both fighting blocs used Albanian territories
andtransformed them in 1916 into battlefields where
Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian troops were deployed while
they were advancing inthe war against Serb-Montenegrins and
Italian forces in retreat.With the approval of both Powers
in 1914, Greece invaded Southern Albania, Italy invaded
Vlora, whereas in 1915, Antanta's Powerssigned with Italy
the secret London treaty.
London Secret Treaty signed betwen Antanta's powers and
Italy in1915. Referring to point 5 of this treaty, the
Albanian coastline from Buna's outfall in North, to Drini's
outfall in Southincluding Shengjin, would go to Serbia and
Montenegro, referringto point 6 Vlora and Sazan island would
go to Italy. Referring to point 7, Italy was not obliged to
go against the eventual wish of France, England and Russia
that the southern and northern partsof Albania be devided
among Montenegro, Serbia and Greece,whereas the autonomous
Albanian state be founded in CentralAlbania, under Italy's
protectorate. This treaty was rejected byLushnja Congress in
1920.
The Peace Conference 1919-1920 was organized by World War
Iwinning countries to dictate to the defeated states the
peaceconditions to redivide colonies and the spheres of
influence.Even though Albania adopted a neutral stand
regarding this worldconflict, the Conference planned its
division. It considered theclaims of the three neighbouring
monarchies which won against our country, Italy, Greece and
Yugoslavia and not the demands ofAlbanian delegation to
protect the independence and territorialintegrity of the
Albanian state, to reconsider the borders in its favour and
to include withim them those Albanian territories that were
separated.
The Lushnja Congress was held on January 28-31, 1920. A
nationalcongress, attended by 50 independent
representatives, whichturned down the anti-Albanian plans of
the Peace Conference anddeclared the defence at any cost of
the territorial integrity ofthe Albanian state and for the
complete independence of Albania.Along with the plans of the
peace conference, this congress alsorefuted the decision of
the Ambassadors Conference in 1913 whichhad placed the
Albanian state under the collective control of the big
European powers.
The World War 2, 1939-1945 burst from three states,
Germany,Italy and Japan. During this war, Germany and Italy
invaded anumber of West European countries, the Balkans and
in June 1941,Germany occupied the Soviet Union as well. The
Albanian peopletoo, with their National Liberation Army
consisting of up to 70thousand people, also took part in the
war alongside theantifascist coalition. The World War Two
ended with the victoryof the antifascist coalition. The
triumph over fascism in Albania led to the creation of the
People's Republic of Albania.
The Antifascist National Liberation War of the Albanian
peoplestarted with the people's resistance against fascist
aggressionon April 7, 1939 and ended on November 29, 1944.
During theantifascist national liberation war, the Albanian
people foughtagainst Italy and Germany, which occupied our
country one afterthe other. In 1939-1941 period, the
antifascist resistance wasled by communist groups and later
by the Communist Party.
Albanian constitution is first endorsed in the People's
Assembly, and afterwards it is known on November 28, 1998 by
the President of Albania's Republic.
Source: Albanian Government
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