King Zog and the Jews in Albania before World War II

Ahmet Zog was the "King of the Albanians" from September 1928 until April 1939, when the country was invaded by fascist Italy. During his reign Albania experienced an unprecedented period of relative stability and progress. Zog's government took the first small steps towards the creation of a modern European country. King Zog developed a strong economic dependence on Mussolini's Italy, but he did not implement fascist ideas and policies. Albania welcomed and assisted persecuted Jews since 1933, when Hitler came to power as chancellor of Germany. Zog's attitude towards Jewish immigration was strongly influenced by Herman Bernstein, United States Ambassador to Albania during the years 1930-1933. Prior to Italian occupation, Albania was considered a safe transit point for Jewish refugees seeking to reach prosperous and stable destinations.