Скачать или смотреть Italy Invades Albania: Part 4

Italy Invades Albania: Part 4 #history #albania #italy #balkans #1939 #invasion #militaryhistory

The Italians planned to use 100,000 men in the invasion, though only 22,000 would take part. They also had 400 planes along with dozens of warships and naval vessels.

The Albanian army was woefully equipped and amounted to around 15,000 men. King Zog planned to withdraw his troops to the mountains to mount a prolonged resistance.

This would nullify the advantages Italy had in armor and ships. Also this was their home so the Albanians would know the land better than the invaders and could in theory wage a long and costly guerilla war.

But many of the officers, who as previously mentioned were Italian, fled and Italian agents sabotaged the artillery.

This meant that the defense of the country was left to the Gendarmes and small groups of patriots.