In reading about the Macedonian Front recently I came across the fascinating and complex topic of the air war in Albania. The following is a summary of what I have gleaned in my research. My goal is to turn some of these into playable solo and multiplayer scenarios. I hope you learn something new and I hope you, like me, are inspired to play some Albanian scenarios on the gaming table…
The Albanian Front is a relatively unknown corner of the relatively unknown Macedonian Front, especially in the English speaking world. It did not experience the level of combat or horrendous casualty rates of other fronts during the Great War. However, there is an interesting history waiting to be explored, including the aviation aspects, of which I will just scratch the surface in this four part summary.
Part 1 - Background and opposing forces
Albania was a neutral country during the Great War, yet it was trampled on by the troops of Greece, Serbia, Italy, France, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria, who were all hoping to gain territory or influence in the area in the postwar world.
At the start of the War, Albania was in a state of political anarchy. In response to this situation, Greece occupied the south of the country, a province called Northern Epirus, which had a strong Greek minority. Italy then sent troops the coastal city of Valona (Vlorė), seeking to limit Greek influence. In the winter of 1915/16 the Serbian army, having been threatened by an overwhelming Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian invasion, retreated west into Albania to the Adriatic coast, to be evacuated by Italian, French and British ships.
These early operations saw some limited activity in the air, mainly reconnaissance and light bombing. The Austrians attempted to disrupt the evacuation at San Giovanni di Medua in December 1915 by dropping small bombs from aircraft. In 1916 Austro-Hungarian aircraft began to appear over Valona, bombing the Italian forces and the port. In one notable action the Austro-Hungarian ace Julius Arigi, flying a Lohner B.VII two seater, sank a ship in Valona harbour with a bomb.
Following the evacuation of the Serbian army, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria were left in control of most of Albania, with only Valona in the hands of Italy. The Italians, fearful of the Greek king's sympathy for the Central Powers at this point, sent troops south from Valona to oust the Greeks from Northern Epirus. With their rear thus secured, the Italian garrison of Valona dug in on the south bank of the river Vojusa (Vjosė) and prepared to meet an Austro-Hungarian attack. The Austro-Hungarians established their presence on the north bank of the river but did not press the attack against the strong Italian positions.
The front also began to stabilise inland from Valona, although the terrain in this area was rough and inaccessible. To the east the French were seeking to establish a continuous front in Macedonia. The Bulgarian forces facing the French in Macedonia had advanced into eastern Albania and taken control of Pogradec, at Lake Ohrid. France then sent troops to occupy Koritza (Korēė), south of Pogradec, which had been under Greek control. Greek rule was unpopular and, concerned that this could fuel local support for the Central Powers, the French ousted the Greeks and proclaimed the Autonomous Republic of Korēė. When Italian and French forces came in touch with each other in Albania, a continuous front had been established from the Aegean Sea in the east, through Macedonia and Albania to the Adriatic Sea in the west.
The aircraft flying over this diverse front ranged from ancient Farman aircraft used for reconnaissance in 1916 to state-of-the-art Hanriot fighters being deployed towards the end of the war. The area saw two seaters used for reconnaissance and light bombing raids, scouts dogfighting, multi engined bombers and seaplanes. Whilst the aviation action in Albania did not compare with the intensity and high casualty rates on the Western Front or even elsewhere on the Macedonian Front, the air crews were by no means inactive, as we shall see…
Bookmarks