Albanian–Yugoslav border conflict (1948–1954)
1948–1954: A period of tension and disputes between Albania and Yugoslavia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Albanian–Yugoslav border conflict, was a period of armed confrontations between the armed forces of Albania and Yugoslavia between the years 1948 and 1954. This period of heightened tensions between Albania and Yugoslavia stemmed from territorial disputes and ideological divisions between the Yugoslav Leader Josip Broz Tito and Albanian Leader Enver Hoxha.[11] During the Cold War period, the border between Albania and Yugoslavia became one of the most contentious in the Eastern Bloc.[12]
The conflict also encompassed contentious issues, including the status of Kosovo, with its significant Albanian population. Hoxha's regime regarded Kosovo as part of its historical and ethnic territory, further fueling the tensions between the two nations.
The Sigurimi, Albania’s secret police, played a significant role in fomenting separatism in Kosovo and advocating for the idea of a "Greater Albania".[13] The Sigurimi actively supported early planners in exile, working to cultivate support for an independent Kosovo among Albanians in Yugoslavia. It was reported that Hoxha brought Albanian separatists into Yugoslavia to advance his aim of supporting separatism in Kosovo and implementing the Greater Albania project, as asserted by authors and the Yugoslav government.[14][15]