Area: 11,057 square miles                                                  Population: 3,000,000

After a long struggle under the leadership of the national hero Prince Skanderberg, Albania fell under Turkish domination in the 15th century. The country did not regain its independence until November 28, 1912. Even then, it was dominated by warring parties and did not really regain independent political life until after World War I. In 1925 Ahmet Zogu founded a dictatorship with himself as President. On September 1, 1928 he proclaimed himself King as Zog I. Italy occupied the country militarily in April, 1939, and then Albania was linked to Italy in a close union. After the War of Liberation, successfully fought first against the Italian domination, and then from 1943 against the German occupation, the new People’s State was formed on May 24, 1944 with a provisional Government under Enver Hodja, which was able to exercise full control over the whole nation from November 29, 1944 onward. On January 11, 1946 a People’s Republic was proclaimed.

Monetary System

100 Qindarka Leku = 1 Lek, 100 Qindarka Ari = 1 Franka Ari, 5 Lek

= 1 Franka Ari; since 1939-1944: 1 Lek = 1 Lire; since 1947 only Leke;

since 1964: 100 Qindarka = 1 Lek

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