As the largest port city in Albania, Durrës was also the only decent seaport of the Ottoman Empire on the Adriatic Sea. The Ottoman Empire stationed a regiment of troops here. However, as relations with Italy deteriorated, the Ottoman Empire sent The 21st Army Division was stationed there.
The main soldiers of this division come from the Levant region, and its officers and soldiers are all staunch YSL believers. In addition, the people in this region are very loyal to the empire. Therefore, although they are not as good as the troops composed of native officers and soldiers from the Asia Minor Peninsula, they are still in the Ottoman Empire. The army can also be called the backbone.
Therefore, placing it in Durrës also serves as a first-line defensive force. After all, it is just across a strait from mainland Italy, which is a bit too dangerous.
Of course, it is impossible to defend the entire Albanian region with the 21st Division alone. There are reinforcements behind it. The Second Macedonian Army, which has arrived in Albania for three days, is its strong backing. In addition to the 21st Division, the group army also has the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 31st Divisions, with a total strength of 81,000. In addition, there are two garrison divisions in Albania.
With nearly 100,000 troops, I hope it will make Italy give up its attempt on Albania.
This is an idea within the Ottoman Empire, but no one knows whether it will work.
Of course, in addition to the Second Macedonian Army, the First and Third Macedonian Armies are also stepping up preparations for war. Not only to prevent the Albanian region from being invaded by Italy, but also to look in other directions. The surrounding small Balkan countries are not peaceful either.
But these are all far away. For Major General Atatürk, the commander of the 21st Division of the Ottoman Army, who is currently the defense officer of Durrës, these have little to do with him. The most important thing is to strengthen the defense of Durrës. strength.
But speaking of defense power, this made him feel a little annoyed, because he didn't know until he arrived in Durrës that there was a lack of sufficient coastal defense artillery. Of course, if you count the coastal defense artillery that is older than Atatürk, and the fort officers and soldiers who are more like coolies than soldiers, then Durrës is not lacking in coastal defense power.
But whether this thing is reliable or not, God bless it, it doesn’t matter.
Therefore, on the first day after taking over Durrës, Major General Atatürk asked for advanced coastal defense artillery from the rear, at least to be able to deter the enemy when he came.
It was a pity that Major General Ataturk could not wait for the arrival of the coastal defense artillery, and he was notified of the declaration of war between the two countries as soon as possible.
This made Major General Atatürk extremely angry, because it meant that the port defense of Durrës could not be strengthened. Of course, if Italy does not come to Albania for two or three months, then its plan can still be implemented.
But just think about it, there is no possibility of implementing it.
Didn't you see that Italy wanted the empire's territories in North Africa and Albania? This is enough to illustrate the problem.
But being upset doesn't solve the problem? So he has to do the same thing as setting up defenses. Of course, this doesn't trouble him. Among them, the most important fort on the north shore of the port? He had already dispatched his own artillery unit to take over. Relying on those wastes of the original fort? He would not be at ease at all.
On the fourth day after the two countries declared war, Major General Ataturk had just walked out of his headquarters and planned to go to the city to check how the army's fortifications were being built.
But before he could get on his horse, he suddenly heard an emergency bell ringing. This made him react immediately? This was the siren sound of an enemy attack. Was this something he set himself? A bell to remind soldiers and civilians to pay attention.
After hearing the ringing of the bell, he immediately returned to the headquarters without caring about other things and climbed to the observation deck on the third floor of the headquarters. His headquarters was set up on a hill to the north of Durrës, which is a good place to observe the movements of the sea.
Is the weather good today? He took a telescope and observed the specific situation.
Where the sea and the sky meet, several ships appear
As the largest port city in Albania, Durrës was also the only decent seaport of the Ottoman Empire on the Adriatic Sea. The Ottoman Empire stationed a regiment of troops here. However, as relations with Italy changed, the Ottoman Empire dispatched The 21st Army Division was stationed there. The main soldiers of this division come from the Levant region, and its officers and soldiers are all staunch YSL believers. In addition, the people in this region are very loyal to the empire, so although they are not as good as the troops composed of native officers and soldiers from the Asia Minor Peninsula, in the Ottoman Empire The army can also be called the backbone.
Therefore, placing it in Durrës also serves as a first-line defensive force. After all, it's just across a strait from mainland Italy? It's a bit too dangerous.
Of course, it is impossible to defend the entire Albanian region with the 21st Division alone. There are reinforcements behind it? The Second Macedonian Army, which has arrived in Albania for three days, is its strong backing. In addition to the 21st Division, the group army also has the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 31st Divisions, with a total strength of 81,000. In addition, there are two garrison divisions in Albania.
With nearly 100,000 troops, I hope it will make Italy give up its attempt on Albania.
This is an idea within the Ottoman Empire, but no one knows whether it will work.
Of course, in addition to the Second Macedonian Army, the First and Third Macedonian Armies are also stepping up preparations for war. Not only to prevent the Albanian region from being invaded by Italy, but also to look in other directions. The surrounding small Balkan countries are not peaceful either.
But these are all far away. For Major General Ataturk, the commander of the 21st Division of the Ottoman Army, who is currently the defense officer of Durres, these have little to do with him. The most important thing is to strengthen the defense of Durres. strength.
But speaking of defense power, this made him feel a little annoyed, because he didn't know until he arrived in Durrës that there was a lack of sufficient coastal defense artillery. Of course, if you count the coastal defense artillery that is older than Atatürk, and the fort officers and soldiers who are more like coolies than soldiers, then Durrës is not lacking in coastal defense power.
But whether this thing is reliable or not, God bless it, it doesn’t matter.
Therefore, on the first day after taking over Durrës, Major General Atatürk asked for advanced coastal defense artillery from the rear, at least to be able to deter the enemy when he came.
It was a pity that Major General Ataturk could not wait for the arrival of the coastal defense artillery, and he was notified of the declaration of war between the two countries as soon as possible.
This made Major General Atatürk extremely angry, because it meant that the port defense of Durrës could not be strengthened. Of course, if Italy does not come to Albania for two or three months, then its plan can still be implemented.
But just think about it, there is no possibility of implementing it.
Haven't you seen that Italy wants the empire's territory in North Africa and Albania? This is enough to explain the problem.
But being upset doesn't solve the problem, so he has to do the same thing as setting up defenses. Of course, this doesn't trouble him. Among them, the fort on the north shore of the most important port had already been taken over by his own artillery troops. He wouldn't be at ease with the trash from the original fort.
On the fourth day after the two countries declared war, Major General Ataturk just walked out of his headquarters and planned to go to the city to check how the army fortifications were being built.
