Skanderbeg’s Dream: a Greater Albania timeline

Just as a warning this is my first alt history I’m writing for the forum and I’m not a expert in Albanian history especially in the complex faction politics of this time so if you guys have any criticism or notice any inaccuracies please let me know so I can improve and make edits.

Part1:A united front


Autumn of 1943, Albania. The Wermacht had occupied all of Albania and resistance by the Balli Kombëtar had been pushed back to the mountains. The sole leader of the Balli Kombëtar Ali Këlcyra(Pod) saw the Germans with great disgust just as he saw the Italian occupiers and refused collaboration with the Germans even though factions in his party saw it as a opportunity to persevere greater Albania.

January of 1944, Balli forces had liberated much of Southern Albania where most of their support had been based and secured their position from Greek aspirations to annex the area. The Balli forces numbered 10,000 while outnumbering the NLM they were still being pushed by the Germans in some areas. The communist role in the national liberation front had been greatly diminished due to the support they needed from Yugoslavian partisans and lack of support to fight for Kosovo, they would be labels by most Albanians as “Tito’s dogs”. A meeting was held in the city of Vlorë and Abaz Kupi was appointed regent of Albania in a comprise with the strong royalist factions, during the meeting communist representatives stormed out officially ending there cooperation with the nationalist. By the end of 1944 many Wehrmacht deserters mostly Turks and Armenians had formed there own battalions in the Balli resistance bolstering support. In November Tirana had been taken by Balli forces and a new Albanian government was proclaimed. In Kosovo Balli forces while cut off from the main forces in Tirana still waged war with the aspirations of liberating Kosovo from the Yugoslav Communist.

The pod for this timeline is that
Midhat Frashëri never goes back into politics and becomes the leader of the Balli Kombëtar. Midhat Frashëri was the main orchestrator of the collaboration between the Balli Kombëtar and the Germans.
 
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Part 2:All for one

By January of 1945 Germany had completely fled Albania in retreat. The Balli dominated government continued to launch incursions into Kosovo but the Yugoslavs had been firmly intrenched in the area with the Backing of the soviets.

February 4th. The Albanian question was brought to the table by Churchill after pleading from the Albanian government. Churchill was quick to endorse and recognize the new government, Roosevelt seeing that he had no other choice even if it meant supporting a authoritarian regime recognized the new government. Stalins only demand was that Albania fell in Soviet influence. Roosevelt and Churchill agreed.

With recognition from the big 3 and Këlcyrë under pressure from the royalist factions, the kingdom of Albania was restored and Zog,once again king of Albania, boarded a British escorted flight.

King: Zog I
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Prime minister: Ali Këlcyrë
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Part 5: Albania for Albanians

Albania had found itself in a new world order power struggle with the soviets claiming the Albanians to be in there sphere of influence. The new Albanian military now stood 50,000 men strong but lacked mobilized equipment and tanks. Most equipment came from captured Wehrmacht units. With Germany defeated and the soviets now dominant in Eastern Europe, American and British interest was now in Soviet containment. Albania still fearful of a attempted joint Yugoslavian Soviet invasion quickly turned to the west and welcomed the American aid from the marshal plan.

1945 under pressure from the west Albania announced elections in December. In November Albania was admitted into the un. The king was now a puppet in this theater of politics as Ali Këlcyra had hoped to sideline the king all together. Thanks to the royalist factions however the king still had the power to veto government legislation.

The 140 seat parliament was voted on in December with the Balli Kombetar still holding a majority but some other party’s were able to make their way into government.

Legality(royalist): 26 seats
Balli Kombetar(nationalist): 78 seats
Agrarians(Socdem): 36 seats

The agrarians led by the young and up and coming Abas Ermenji looked to dismantle the feudal system still prevalent in Albanian society while also advocating for land redistribution. Both royalist and nationalist party’s saw the agrarians as communist in all but name.

The legality led by Abaz Kupi looked to restore the military dictatorship of the 30’s and return the kings absolute power. While able to cooperate with the Balli Kombetar they are always looking for opportunities to destroy the republican faction in the party. Legality draws there main support from the nobles and land owners.

The triumphant Balli Kombetar are known throughout Albania as the grand liberators but weather or not they can hold that position is yet to be seen. The lack of social reform in the party has saw many members flea to the agrarian party, coupled with the failure to achieve victory in Kosovo the Balli popularity held by the military is fragile. The republicans in the Balli Kombetar also weaken the unity in the everyday inter party politics.
 
I'm actually surprised you had Ali work with Zog given their history during the 1920s and the fact Zog had a "execute on sight" order for him. Still, kudos for giving something new a look; Albanian TLs are among the rarest ideas of all. I hope you exploit Albanian Oil and avoid the Bunker Madness that defined Albanian greatness.

Also pretty tickled you brought Zog back despite this; I always enjoyed Parvenu dynasty building.
 
I'm actually surprised you had Ali work with Zog given their history during the 1920s and the fact Zog had a "execute on sight" order for him. Still, kudos for giving something new a look; Albanian TLs are among the rarest ideas of all. I hope you exploit Albanian Oil and avoid the Bunker Madness that defined Albanian greatness.

Also pretty tickled you brought Zog back despite this; I always enjoyed Parvenu dynasty building.

I’m trying to rework the timeline to go more in-depth and detailed about the balli actions during the war and in that rework I’m probably going to go more into the infighting between the royalist and republican factions.
 
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