Abstract
In 1912 Albania became an independent state after 500 years under the Ottoman Empire occupation. The new Albanian state lost large areas to the neighbourly countries and mostly to those countries, which would later be a part of Yugoslavia. Albanians in Yugoslavia continued to preserve their national identity in despite of great challenges. This study deals with Albanian national symbols and the effect they had on Albanians preservation of their national identity in Yugoslavia.
To reveal connection between national symbols, Albanian identity and Albanians in Yugoslavia and to get understanding of this study in its entirety, I used the hermeneutic circle. This means that entirety is understood from the parts and parts from entirety in a continual interaction. This study is therefore divided in parts that deals with Albanian nationalism and nation building, Albanian identity, Yugoslavia and Albanians situation there, traditions with symbol value and Albanians national symbols which are: flag, national anthem, national day and individuals as national symbols.