ABSTRACT
Albania achieved independence from Ottoman rule in 1912, but Italian forces occupied the country from 1914 to 1920. Albania became a republic in 1925 and a monarchy in 1928. The ruler from 1928 to 1939 was King Zog I (Ahmed Zogu). During the Second World War Albania was under Italian and German rule. A republic was proclaimed on 12 January 1946. The effective ruler until 1985 was Enver Hoxha.
