СПОЉНА ПОЛИТИКА АУСТРОУГАРСКЕ И КНЕЖЕВИНА АЛБАНИЈА (1914–1915)
FOREIGN POLICY OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY AND THE PRINCIPALITY OF ALBANIA (1914–1915)

Summary/Abstract: In the period between the escape of Wilhelm of Wied and the entry of the Kingdom of Italy into the First World War, Albania represented an important point in the strategic plans of decision-makers in Austria-Hungary. During the first months of the war, its representatives tried to maintain their influence, which was undoubtedly the highest during the first years of Albania’s existence. The importance of Albania was primarily reflected in the strategic significance of its Adriatic coast, crucial in understanding Austro-Italian rivarly. Austro-Hungarian representatives tried to organise the remaining supporters of the Dual Monarchy in Albania and oppose them equally to the leaders of the Central Albanian Muslims who overthrew Wilhelm of Wied, but also to Essad Toptani, a protégé of the Kingdom of Serbia and an advocate of cooperation between the Albanian state and the Entente Powers. The main obstacles in achieving Austria-Hungary’s goals in 1914 and 1915 were the defeats in two offensives against the Kingdom of Serbia, which put its representatives in Albania in the unenviable position of only observing the occupation of Vlorë by an official ally in an unequal struggle to suppress Italian influence. Albania was also important during the negotiations between Austria-Hungary and Italy about the latter’s entry into the war on the side of the Central Powers. During the negotiations, Vienna rejected the possibility of renouncing its influence in Albania until the last possible moment.

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