Uprising in Dibra (1920)

War in Dibra
Part of Albanian–Yugoslav border war (1921)
Date July 1920 - September 1920 ( 2 months ) Location Diber, Debar, Albania, North Macedonia, Kingdom of Yugoslavia Result Albanian victory Yugoslavia fails to invade Albania Albanians capture Peshkopi and Dibra Serbian and Greek troops reateat from Dibra due to resistance Yugoslavia fails to invade Diber
Belligerents
Albanian highlanders Guerrilla units	Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes Greek volunteers
Commanders and leaders
Elez Isufi Bajram Curri Hysni Curri Prenk Pervizi Ali Riza Kolonja Mujo Ulqinaku	Petar Živković Dragutin Milutinović
Strength
4,000	10,000
Casualties and losses
200-300 killed and wounded	around 1,000

The War in Dibra, also known as the Dibra Uprising, was an armed conflict which occurred from July to September 1920 in the Dibra region, located in what is now northern Albania and southern North Macedonia. The uprising took place in the turbulent period following the end of World War I and was part of the broader resistance of Albanians against the territorial claims and military incursions by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) into Albanian lands.

The conflict was a critical episode in the larger struggle of Albania to assert its independence and protect its territory. It highlighted the complexities of Balkan politics and the ongoing struggle for national identity and territorial integrity in the post-World War I era. The conflict was part of a series of regional disputes that defined the geopolitical landscape of the Balkans in the early 20th century.

Background

After World War I, the political landscape of the Balkans was in flux. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Kingdom of Serbia created a power vacuum and led to significant territorial realignments. The Treaty of London (1913) and subsequent agreements sought to address the territorial disputes in the region, but these settlements often left national borders contested and unresolved.

Albania, having declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, was struggling to solidify its sovereignty. The country faced considerable external pressure and internal instability. Albania’s borders were not clearly defined, and its territorial claims were challenged by neighboring states, particularly Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece, who sought to expand their territories.

Serbia, having emerged from World War I as part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia), aimed to consolidate its territorial gains and secure its borders. The Serbian government was particularly interested in areas with significant Albanian populations, including the Dibra region, which was strategically important due to its location and resources.

The Dibra region, located in northern Albania and extending into what is now North Macedonia, was a key area of contention. The region had a mixed population with a significant Albanian ethnic presence, and it was strategically valuable due to its geographical position. Serbian forces aimed to assert control over this area to consolidate their influence and secure their territorial claims.

Conflict

In response to the Serbian occupation, local Albanians began organizing resistance. The resistance was composed of local tribal leaders and fighters who were determined to protect their homeland from foreign control. This resistance was characterized by guerrilla tactics, leveraging the difficult terrain of the Dibra region to their advantage.

Impact

The Conference of Ambassadors, held in 1921, was a significant event where the borders of Albania were discussed and recognized by the international community. The Albanian resistance, including the War in Dibra, played a role in shaping these negotiations and the eventual recognition of Albania’s sovereignty.

Bibliography

• Pollo, Stefanaq (1981). The history of Albania: From its origins to the present day. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 978-0710003652.
• Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania (Volume 75). Historical Dictionaries of Europe. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810861886.
• Vickers, Miranda (1999). The Albanians: A Modern History. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1780766959.