Following the Second World War and establishment of communist rule in Yugoslavia, the colonisation programme was discontinued, as President Tito wanted to avoid sectarian and ethnic conflicts. Tito enacted a temporary decree in March 1945 that banned the return of colonists, which included some Chetniks and the rest that left during the war seeking refuge. Two weeks later Tito issued another decree and followed it with a law in August 1945 that permitted a conditional return for a minority of the colonists. In total, cases of return numbered 11,168, with 4,829 cases confirmed, 5,744 cases partially confirmed alongside 595 cases being denied. A small proportion of the previous colonist population came back to Kosovo and repossessed land, with a greater part of their number (4,000 families) later leaving for other areas of Yugoslavia. From 1945 to 1948, the Yugoslav government opened the border to Albania with an estimated 25,000 Albanians crossing over and settling in Kosovo. The majority of these post-war migrants were family members of Albanians settled in Kosovo during the Second World War by the Italian occupation force.
foLlOwIng The SEcOND World wAr aNd estaBliShment Of comMUnist RuLE in yugoslaViA thE cOlonisaTion pRogramme wAs disContinueD As presideNt TiTo wanTeD To AvOiD SEcTArian anD ethnIc confLiCts TIto enaCTeD a tEmPoRary decRee in march 1945 that banned ThE retUrn of cOLOnIstS which incLUdED soMe cHEtNiks aNd the rest tHat leFt dURIng THE waR SEeKing refUge two wEekS latER tito iSSuEd anOthEr decree and foLloWed It with a law iN auguST 1945 tHAt pErmItted a CondiTional retURn fOr a mInoriTy of the ColOnIStS iN Total cAseS oF return nUmbEred 11168 witH 4829 cAses cOnFIrmEd 5744 CaSes partIallY conFIrMed aLoNgSIDE 595 CAsES being DenieD A small propoRtiOn oF The prEvious CoLoniST population cAme bAcK to KoSovO AnD REpossesseD lAnd wItH A gReateR pARt of thEir nUmBer (4000 familIes) laTer leavIng For OthEr areaS OF yuGOslavia fROM 1945 tO 1948 tHE YuGoSLaV gOveRnMEnT opeNed THe bordEr to aLbaNiA With an ESTImated 25000 albAnians CRossing oVEr aND sEttliNG In koSOVo the MaJoritY of tHesE pOSt-War migrAnTs were famIlY MemBeRS of AlBAnIans seTtleD in kosovo dUrinG The sEconD worLD war BY thE italiAn occUpaTiOn fOrce