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Royal Albanian Army

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Royal Albanian Army
Ushtria Mbretërore e Shqipëris
Insignia of the Albanian Royal Army
Insigna
Flag of Albanian Royal Army
Founded1928
Current formAlbanian Army
Disbanded1939
Service branchesRoyal Infantry
Royal Artillery
Royal Engineers
Royal Navy
Royal Gendarmerie
Royal Guard
Royal Border Guard
HeadquartersTirana
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefZogu[1][2]
Marshal of AlbaniaZogu
GeneralsXhemal Aranitasi
Gustav von Myrdacz
Personnel
Military age18 - 50
Conscription18 month
Reserve personnel29.860
Deployed personnel15.600
Expenditure
Budget21.3 million Franga in 1938
Industry
Foreign suppliersUnited Kingdom
Italy
Related articles
HistoryInternational Gendarmerie
Italian invasion of Albania
RanksRanks (1929–36)
Ranks (1936–39)
Royal Albanian Army with Zogu

The Royal Albanian Army (Template:Country data Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare) was the army of Albanian Kingdom and King Zogu from 1928 until 1939. Its commander-in-chief was King Zog; its commander General Xhemal Aranitasi; its Chief of Staff was General Gustav von Myrdacz. The army was mainly financed by Italy during period 1936–39.[3]

Ranks

There were two rank systems, the first was replaced in 1936. The new ranks were used until 1939.

Ranks (1929–36)

Main article: Ranks of the Royal Albanian Army (1929–1936)
Rank General Lieutenant-General Major-General Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel Major
Royal Army File:General Royal Albanian Staff.jpg File:Lieutenant-General Royal Albanian Staff.jpg File:Major-General Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Colonel Royal Albanian Army Infantery.jpg File:Lieutenant Colonel Royal Albanian Artillery.jpg File:Major Royal Albanian Guard.jpg
Albanian title Gjeneral Gjeneral-Leitenant Gjeneral-Major Kolonel Nënkolonel Major
Captain 1st Lieutenant Lieutenant Staff Sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private
File:Captain Royal Albanian Infantery.jpg File:Lieutenant Royal Albanian Engineer.jpg File:Staff sergeant Royal Albanian Artillery.jpg File:Sergeant Royal Albanian engineer.jpg File:Corporal Royal Albanian Guard.jpg File:Soldier Royal Albanian Army.jpg
Kapiten Toger Nëntoger Rreshter Tetar Ushtar I Parë Ushtar

Ranks (1936–39)

Main article: Ranks of the Royal Albanian Army (1936–1939)
English name General Lieutenant-General Major-General Captain 1st Lieutenant 2nd Lieutenant Seregant Corporal Soldier

Royal Army 		File:Gjeneral (General) Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Gjeneral-Leitenant Lieutenant-General Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Gjeneral-Major Major-General Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Kapiten Captain Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Toger 1st Lieutenant Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Nëntoger Lieutenant 2nd class Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Rreshter Seregant Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Tetar Corporal Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Ushtar I Parë Private 1st Class Royal Albanian Army.jpg File:Usthar Private Royal Albanian Army.jpg
Heads
Albanian title Gjeneral Gjeneral-Leitenant Gjeneral-Major Kapiten Toger Nëntoger Rreshter Tetar Ushtar I Parë Ushtar

List of weapons

Artillery

Machineguns

Guns

Pistols

Manpower and Equipment

Army

Albanian soldiers move through a northern village during the Italian invasion.
  • 780 officers + 13,200 soldiers + 1,620 NCOs
  • Around 15,000 conscripts (1939)
  • 9 military districts
  • 12 infantry battalions
  • 2 motorized infantry squadrons
  • 9 engineers companies
  • 1,200 tribal officers + 29,860 tribal militia
  • 204 HMG
  • 10,700 carbines (Carcano M1891, Mannlicher, Mosin)
  • 1,104 revolvers (Glisenti M1889)
  • 16,196 rifles (Beretta Model 38 &1918)
  • 12 batteries of 65 mm Italian
  • 6 batteries of 75 mm Skoda
  • 2 batteries of 105 mm Italian
  • 2 batteries of 149 mm Italian (8 guns)
  • 1 coastal artillery battery in Durrës
  • 3 AA artillery batteries
  • 158 personnel
  • 2 gunboats (ex-German minesweepers type FM=Flachgehende Minensuchboote)
  • 170 t, 43/6/1.7 m, 14 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
  • Built in 1918/19, bought c. 1925.
  • Shqipnja (ex-FM 16) & Skanderbeg (ex-FM 23)
  • 4 Italian MAS boats
  • Built & bought in 1926 in Venice
  • 46 t, 17 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
  • Tirana, Saranda, Durres, Shengjin

Air Force

  • 5 aircraft (Albatros-Fokker L45),
  • Unknown number of personnel (some sources estimate around 15)

Gendarmerie

  • 131 (officers) + 440 (NCO) + 3,206 (soldiers)
  • 6 battalions (every battalion had 500 - 600 men)
  • Behind vehicles are the numbers that were in use by the Albanian army.

See also

References

  1. ^ Balliu, Julie. "King Zogu - Albanians in Exile". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.royalark.net/Albania/albania.htm
  3. ^ http://pashtriku.beepworld.de/files/Histori/Histori_09/hazis_gjergji_7prill1939ahmetzogu_6.4.09.htm?id=FEkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20&dq=King+Zog&hl=nl&ei=qjHuTavcEsftOaC8rZII&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=King%20Zog&f=false
  4. ^ Kidd, R Spencer. Military Uniforms in Europe: 1900-2000. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781291187441. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

Bibliography

  • Piero Crociani, "Gli Albanesi Nelle Forze Armate Italiane (1939-1945)", Roma 2001
  • Bernd Fischer, "Albania at War, 1939-1945", London, 1999
  • Patrice Najbor, Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes), JePublie, Paris, 2008, (ISBN 978-2-9532382-0-4).
  • Patrice Najbor, La dynastye des Zogu, Textes & Prétextes, Paris, 2002
  • Time Magazine, April 17, 1939 (article "A Birth and a Death") & Albania: Zog, Not Scanderbeg (Monday, Jun. 17, 1929)
  • "Jane's Fighting Ships", London, various years
  • "League of Nations Armaments Yearbook", Geneva, various years 1924-1938
  • e-archives of Korrieri, Tiranë Gazeta and other Albanian newspapers
  • on-line articles of the Albanian Headquarters and General Staff website
  • on-line articles of Ushtria Gazeta (Army Gazette)
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