Italy invades Albania

PIC: Benito Mussolini. (Credit: AFP)

TODAY IN HISTORY

April 8, 1939

On this day in 1939, Italy, under Fascist dictatorship led by Benito Mussolini, seized the country of Albania. The Albanian parliament voted to unite Albania with Italy; King Zog fled to Greece. Under Mussolini's totalitarian rule, Italy embarked on expansion and military conquest.

Ethiopia fell victim, conquered by Italy in 1936. Italy's foreign policy co-operation with Germany began in 1936 and both joined forces to intervene in the Spanish Civil War on the side of Francisco Franco's rebel forces. Italy's military alliance with Germany was struck in 1939.

Source: http://www.timelines.ws/