Italian invasion of Albania
The Italian Invasion of Albania Of 1939 (Italian ; Invasione Italiana Dell'Albania/Albanian ; Pushtimi Italian I Shqiperise) was a military campaign by Fascist Italy to Occupy Albania.
| Italian invasion of Albania (1939) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Interwar period | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Italy |
 Albania | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Alfredo Guzzoni |
Zog I Mujo Ulqinaku † | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
40.000 600 aircraft 52 warships |
5,000-8.000 +10.000 with civil support 5 aircraft 3 torpedo boats | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
700 killed ~1.000 wounded | 160 dead | ||||||||
Preparation
changeBenito Mussolini started the plan and began to build up armies on the Italian water border. Albania was aware of the invasion but did not Know when it would happen, Zog I the King of the Albanians ordered out his armies in defense in case.
Beginning
changeOn April 7, Mussolini launched a surprise attack on the Albanian coast. A fleet of Italian ships were ready and prepared to advance inland. The Italians then attacked the coast without any warning.
Surrender
changeOnly a day after they attacked they already controlled much of Albania but continued to fight the invasion ended on April 12, after Albania surrendered all of Albania was under Italian control by April 10 though.