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TheBulgarian occupation of Albania was anoccupation of the eastern parts ofAlbania by theKingdom of Bulgaria's army duringWorld War I. It lasted from December 10, 1915, when theBulgarian army afterhad occupied then Eastern Serbia, crossed theDrin river and enteredAlbania,[1] until September 9, 1917, when French troops capturedPogradec from the Bulgarian army.[1]
During theFirst World War the territory ofAlbania was fragmented by several countries that occupied various parts of Albania. TheKingdom of Bulgaria used its army to occupy the eastern part of Albania, whileAustria-Hungary occupied the northern and western parts.[2][3] After the beginning of the Bulgaria's engagement inFirst World War on the side of theCentral Powers in autumn 1915, many ethnicAlbanians joined Bulgaria in their fight against Serbia, and were given arms.[4] Among them wereSali Butka, a south Albanian guerrilla leader,[1] Hysejn Nikolica[1] andThemistokli Gërmenji (until December 1916).[5]
On December 10, 1915, theBulgarian army crossed theDrin river, enteredAlbania, and attacked the positions of the retreatingSerbian army.[1] On the same day, nearDibra, the Bulgarian army advanced into the valley of riverMat, threatening to captureShkodra andLezhë.[1]
A company from the twenty-thirdinfantryregiment of the Bulgarian army under the command of captain Serafimov occupiedElbassan on January 29, 1916.[1]
There was a rivalry between theKingdom of Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary in establishing their influence inAlbania.[1] Attempting to establish its influence in Albania, Bulgaria allowedAhmed Zogu to establish his administration in Elbasan and supported him in his attempts to revive support for the regime ofWilhelm of Wied.[1]
The double invasion by Austria-Hungary andKingdom of Bulgaria and a lack of support by theKingdom of Serbia orItaly, forcedEssad Pasha Toptani to leave his proclaimedSenate of Central Albania on February 24, 1916, when he againdeclared war against Austria-Hungary.[1]
In March 1916 the army of Austria-Hungary took over control ofElbasan[1] from the Bulgarian army which then headed towardBerat.[6] Bulgaria had an idea to persuade Albanian leaders to electPrince Kiril, second son ofFerdinand I of Bulgaria, for their king (mbret).[7]On August 18, 1916 theBulgarian army, joining the Austrian forces inAlbania in a combined attack against the Italian army, expanded their occupied territory as far asKorçë ejecting the Greek garrison from that territory.[8]
Sali Butka, the south Albanian guerrilla leader who had joined with his lot the invading armies of Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria, burnedMoscopole, nearKorçë, on October 16, 1916.[1] At that time the Bulgarian army heldPogradec under occupation, together with thearmy of Austria-Hungary.[citation needed]
Shortly after, theItalian army advanced, taking overNorthern Epirus from the Greeks, and theFrench army occupiedKorçë. On October 25, 1916, it was announced that the Italians were now in touch with theallied left wing in Macedonia.[9]
In September 1917, French GeneralMaurice Sarrail undertook an action against the armies of Austria-Hungary andBulgaria in Albania. Together with the armies of Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary, there wereAlbanians, led by Hysejn Nikolica, which fought against the French.[1]But without success: On September 9, 1917 French troops capturedPogradec, ending the Bulgarian occupation of Albania.[1]
December 10–11th; The Bulgarians crossed the Drin into Albania and attacked Serbian positions along the crest of Jablanica mountain range
while South Albania was being oppressed by the Greeks, Valona by the Italians, the east by the Bulgarians, and the rest of the country by the Austrians.
Bulgarians were pushing into Albania from the East.
The beginning of the German-Austro-Hungarian offensive against Serbia in autumn, 1915, Bulgaria's engagement in war on the side of the Central Powers and its attack on Serbia, ... Masses of ethnic Albanians recruited into the Serbian army became deserters, and many joined the Bulgarians who gave them arms...Essad Pasha ... fought ... against Albanian companies that joined Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian troops.
... ce personnage alla dans le sens d'une cooperation avec les Bulgares....
Akif Pasha, actually set up a Provisional Government, though apparently with Austrian approval, in Elbasan. The Bulgarians shifted their centre of intrigue – farther south to Berat.
About this time they seem to have been coquetting with the idea of persuading certain of the Albanian leaders to elect Prince Cyril, second son of Tsar Ferdinand, Mbret of Albania.
In their invasion of August 18 the Bulgarians had pushed west as far as Koritsa (S.W. of Lake Prespa), whence they ejected the Greek garrison.
Italian Expeditionary Force made its way through the broken country of Northern Epirus. and on October 25 it was announced that it was in touch with the Allies'" left wing, where, about the same time, the French occupied Koritsa.