From the 18th century, Vis has been ruled by Italians, French, English and the Habsburg monarchy. The English confirmed their presence on Vis when they defeated the navy of the ruler of the island, Napoleon, in the Battle of Vis in 1811. After the victory, they became the governors of the island, built a series of forts and introduced a cadastre.
The 20th century on Vis was also turbulent. After World War I, Vis was under Italian rule and then under the rule of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1941, the Italians again occupied Vis, but after capitulation they abandoned it. In October 1943 the entire island came under the rule of the Yugoslav partisans. It also housed an Allied airport that served as a base for attacks on areas under German occupation.