ABSTRACT

Greece had come out of the First World War technically victorious at first, until she disastrously failed to achieve her great extra-Balkan dream. Ravaged and looted by enemies and allies, both losers and winners in the Balkans were exhausted by war, most of all the old kingdoms of Serbia and Romania. Although the powers had recognized Albania's independence in 1913, the First World War had enabled Serbian, Montenegrin, Greek, Italian, Austro-Hungarian and French troops to occupy parts of her territory for stretches of time. Albania was then admitted to the League of Nations. Greece had emerged from the First World War as an Allied power; her Great Idea had almost come true, as Greek troops camped around Constantinople and controlled the coast of Asia Minor. Bulgaria was the only truly defeated state in the Balkans. As a result of defeat, Bulgaria, Greece, lost its king, but managed to retain its political system, in spite of much tension, radicalism and violence.