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Despite this, the government still scrambled to retain order, and between July and December of 1921 the premiership was switched at least five times.
Finally, in 1924, Ahmed Bey Zogu victoriously defeated the current Prime Minister Fan Noli with the help of the Yugoslav military, and was elected president for a seven-year term. Zogu was given dictatorial powers, formed an alliance with
Italy, and established good relations with Benito Mussolini.
Albania's parliament shifted in 1928, becoming a Kingdom with Zogu as appointed King. King Zog I, as he was henceforth referred to as, still held onto his dictatorial powers.
As Albania's alliance with
Italy crumbled, and the country failed to make interest payments on loans to
Italy, Mussolini’s army invaded Albania, eradicating King Zog.
This put Albania as one of the first nations occupied by the Axis Powers during World War II, and what ensued was a tug-of-war between
Italy,
Germany and
Greece.
Unfortunately this spelled disaster for the Albanian's, and by the wars end some 30,000 residents were dead, 200 villages totally destroyed and around 100,000 left homeless.
In their weakened state, Communists quickly invaded Albania, and isolated them from the rest of the noncommunist world. This lasted until the early 1990's when the most of Communist doctrine collapsed across
Europe.
Albania took this moment to completely abandon its long-time Communist rule in favor of democracy and a move into the 21st Century.
Blessed with many natural resources, Albania has (for the most part) remained somewhat isolated from the world because of its mountainous topography and the policies of its former hard line government.
In recent times the country has suffered economic hardships because of the onslaught (into Albania) of thousands of ethnic Albanian Muslims exiting the former Yugoslavia.
However, in 2009 the country joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and is currently applying for EU membership.
Tourism to Albania has increased in recent years, and this comes as no surprise due to the country's pristine beaches, impressive mountain ranges, delicious cuisine, and genuine hospitality.
Albania’s capital, Tirana, is host to a vibrant nightlife, while the countryside has become a growing Mecca for backpackers.
