was tense and unstable. Albania itself was falling under Italy's sphere of influence and Italy was presenting itself as the champion of Albanian national rights. In this political context, documents from the British Foreign Office describe a situation where, from Hoti and Grude in what used to be Montenegro, right along the Yugoslav frontier down to Dibra and Ochrida, no inconsiderable area and population await the crusade of an Albanian or Italian Liberator.. Yugoslavia's capitulation to Germany in WWII led to a reshaping of borders and Hoti became a part of Albania under Italian and later German hegemony in 1941–4 to win support for the Axis among Albanians. In 1945, the Yugoslav Partisans got control of Hoti and Gruda again. December 15 is the official date for the state celebration of the "day of liberation" of Tuzi. After 1948, the border between Albania and Yugoslavia closed and became heavily militarized. Border regions like Hoti suffered in particular as family members became isolated from one another. In the 1990s, the collapse of the economy led to heavy migration throughout Hoti, Gruda and the northern highlands as was happening throughout the Balkans. In Literature The Highland Lute by Gjergj Fishta In the English Translation (Robert Elsie, Janice Mathie-Heck) of the Albanian National Epic "The Highland Lute" by Gjergj Fishta, the Hoti Tribe, as well as other northern tribes, is mentioned frequently. The glossary entry for Hoti is written as: "Northern Albanian tribe and traditional tribal region. The Hoti region is situated in the District of Malesia e Madhe along the road from the Albanian-Montenegrin border-crossing Han i Hotit ('The Inn of Hoti') and Bajza, up the valley to the northeast to Rapsh-Starja, leading towards Vermosh. It borders on the traditional tribal regions of Gruda to the north, Kelmendi to the northeast, and Kastrati to the south. the name Hoti was recorded in 1330. In 1474, the region was mentioned as montanee octorum, montanea ottanorum (Mountain of the Hotis). The Hoti tribe, traditionally Catholic, had a population of about 4,000 in 1842. The Hotis were well respected among the other tribes and had the right to march first into battle. The Great Powers decided that the lands of Hoti and Gruda were to be handed over to Montenegro on 22 April 1880. Ottoman forces withdrew from the region on 22 April, but advancing Montenegrin troops were met with fierce resistance from the Albanian