Fascist Italy increased pressure on Albania in the 1930s, and on April 7, 1939 invaded Albania, five months before the start of the Second World War. The Albanian armed resistance proved ineffective and, after a short defense, Italy occupied the country. On 9 April 1939 Albanian King Zog fled to Greece, and Albania ceased to exist as an independent country. The Balkan country became a component of the Italian Empire and was turned into an Italian puppet state. Albania was designed for eventual colonization and Italianization.