Liberation of Serbia, Albania and Montenegro (1918)

The Liberation of Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro in 1918 refers to the period following the end of World War I when these territories were freed from Austro-Hungarian and, in some cases, Bulgarian occupation.

Serbia: After enduring significant losses and occupation during the war, the Serbian Army, significantly aided by Allied forces, launched a successful offensive in September 1918 that pushed back Austro-Hungarian and German forces. Belgrade, the Serbian capital, was liberated on November 1, 1918. This liberation paved the way for the creation of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia).

Albania: Albania's situation was complex. During the war, various powers, including Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Serbia, occupied different regions. The collapse of the Central Powers in 1918 created a power vacuum. The liberation involved the withdrawal of foreign troops and the re-establishment of Albanian self-governance, albeit within contested borders. The Albanian provisional government sought to assert its authority and prevent partition by neighboring states. The country's future borders and status remained a subject of intense negotiation at the Paris Peace Conference.

Montenegro: Montenegro had been occupied by Austria-Hungary since 1916. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Serbian forces entered Montenegro in 1918. A controversial assembly in Podgorica subsequently voted for unification with Serbia, effectively ending Montenegro's independent status. This unification was contested by supporters of Montenegrin independence ("Greens") who resisted the Serbian-backed union. The status of Montenegro within the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes remained a point of contention for many years.

The liberation of these three territories was a complex process involving military action, political maneuvering, and the reshaping of national identities. It marked the end of World War I for these regions and ushered in a new era of political and territorial reorganization in the Balkans, ultimately leading to the formation of Yugoslavia and the redrawing of Albania's borders.