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Questions about German occupation of Albania

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did Germany occupy Albania during World War II?

Germany occupied Albania between 1943 and 1944. The occupation began after the armistice between Italy and the Allied forces on the 8th of September 1943, when German military forces entered the country and replaced the previous Italian control.

What was the name of the German-controlled Albanian state during World War II?

The German-backed client state was called the Albanian Kingdom, known in Albanian as Mbreteria Shqiptare and in German as Albanisches Konigreich. It mirrored the structure of the earlier Italian protectorate and the pre-war monarchy.

What territories did Albania control during the German occupation?

Under German occupation, Albania retained the borders established during Italian rule, which included most of Kosovo, Western Macedonia, the town of Tutin in Serbia, and a strip of Eastern Montenegro. Total population across these territories was estimated at approximately 1,850,000 using Italian figures from July 1941.

What was the Balli Kombëtar's role in German-occupied Albania?

The Balli Kombëtar, or National Front, was the Albanian nationalist faction that Germany favored as a collaborating partner over King Zog's Legalists. They fought alongside German forces against Partisan units during the Winter offensive and participated in anti-Partisan military operations throughout the occupation.

What resources did Germany extract from Albania during the occupation?

Germany extracted chrome ore, magnesite, lignite, and oil from Albania. Between October 1943 and August 1944, a total of 42,902 tons of chrome ore were extracted, of which 28,832 tons were exported to Germany. The oilfields at Devoll processed roughly one million tons of crude oil after becoming operational in May 1944.

Who was Xhafer Deva and what did he do during the German occupation of Albania?

Xhafer Deva was a native Kosovar Albanian who served as Minister of the Interior during the German occupation, commanding the police and gendarmerie. On the 4th of February 1944, police units under his authority were implicated in the massacre of 86 residents of Tirana suspected of being anti-fascists, carried out in collaboration with the Gestapo.