albania

hi I have one second class type 1 var 1 but is missing the screw. it is a little smaller than the other versions isnt it Eric? regards

the person in the picture wearing hero of people is Spiro Kote a navy officer, I have his other medals they were in his museum in the navy district were I work, but I dont have the hero of people one. I have explained earlier how he got that medal hero of people.

hello! this is the link on my ebay shop http://stores.ebay.com/ALBANIA-SOUVENIR

hello! this is the cap star worn by albanian army during communism. Both field (exercise cap and visor cap) carried the same emblem for officers petty officers and soldiers. navy and air force had slite difference, navy had one anchor and leaves and air force had a thin eagle. this star has three different versions. i have a supply in my shop of only one version, the one in the picture and in the meanwhile looking hard for the two other versions used early in the communist time. they are larger better quality. i also have one visor officer hat plus star and a soldier exercise hat plus star.

hi everybody! Lets see about enver hoxha. I know he was entitled twice hero of peple and twice hero of socialist labor. I have seen him wearing the order of scanderbeg the first version first page in Erics Book. seen photos of him wearing medal of liberation and understandably all medals given to those who participated in antifacist war WWII. I wish had more time and skills to show photos of enver hoxha Wearing medals. I have one album for sale that has most of him wearing military uniforms. but not many left. But my biggest concern is where are his medals and nobody knows it. I had a meeting with his successor Ramiz Alia early in semptember 06 but at that time I was too stupid to understand what important role do awards play in the history of a country.

hello!Finally I chose the rebus. this helmet is original WW2 german helmet. During communism in Albania the kinostudio or the movie production studio did a lot of movies with ww 2 theme. This helmet was in a very bad condition so they took it and restored it to look good for the movie, but still remain authentic. isnt it? anyways thanks because most of your comments fit the truth. quality thread and quality detectives. best regards albania

hello again! I am located in Albania and I have come accross hundreds of medals and havent found any fakes yet. some of the socialist awards were made in artistike migjeni factory but that factory stopped existing when communism fell, so albania cant produce any fakes because all models were destroyed. ikom and pravema are prestigous companies so they wouldnt continue to produce. best regards elvis cenka

I have one and I will scan and put the photos shortly

well as the saying goes: search and you will find. When the person who told me he had smth like a mother carring a baby, I just had to leave my duty and run. I wasnt disappointed though. hunting for medals is fun. looking at this medal is quite interesting to notice that there is no socialist symbols to it, meaning no star, no red colors, to me looks with strong patriotic tones not usual for albania communist times (internationalism), and probably thats why they replaced it. It has a fascinating design and as you say eric is well made. The baby is naked another thing not so appropriate for communist times. I am new in this field so dont let me write rubish. this medal is in almost perfect condition.

july 1943 is related to one main event and probably that is the reason. on 10th of july 1943 it was created General Staff of National Liberation Army, meaning the formation of a structured and organized armed force. in order not to leave out those that fought from july 1942 when real organised resistance started they made this medal. regarding medal of rememberance I have a meeting with one veteran who has one of the later types of medal and listen to his story he had a lot of other medals.

I came accross this very rare medal, which is made by real silver and with a blue suspension. It is very rare and not included in any catalogs or books. I am researching on the origin and description. The blue suspension is very strange because it matches the color of papper money produced by communist albania in 1945. [attachmentid=62948]

this looks to me like an original that has been restored later [attachmentid=62677] [attachmentid=62678]

the three class orders and the medal. [attachmentid=61817][attachmentid=61818]

The first one in the list is Ismail Qemali the person who declared the independance of Albania from Ottoman empire on 29 th of November 1912. Of course this title was given later. Many of them received titles after death especially during WWII who fought against fascism and nazies. members of communist cells who assasinated important fascist and nazist occupators. Enver Hoxha himself was entitled twice hero of people and hero of socialist labor One of them is Qemal Stafa who was the actual founder and the most important element of communist party. He was killed during WWII by fascists but there are rumors that his hiding place was givento fascists by enver hoxha who saw Qemal Stafa as his greatest rival at the same time before his death. I am sure each one has a story unique in that kind of regime everything was possible

Shyqyri Ishmi Fran Ivanaj Shenjaze Juka Mustafa Ka?a?i Xhemal Kada Dino Kalenja Hysni Kapo Kajo Karafili Ali Kelmendi Myslym K?ta Hasan G?rxhaliu Persefoni Kok?dhima Tom Kola Teki Kolaneci Emine Metaj Rahman Parllaku (hequr titulli) Hekuran Pobrati Vehbi Hoxha Vangjel Argjiri Branko Kadia Hito ?ako (hequr titulli) Petrit Dume (hequr titulli) Abdyl Elmazi Jordan Misja Jorgo Sulioti Hajredin Bylyshi Hiqmet Buzi Muhamet Prodani Ndreko Rino Rexhep Kolli Sadik Bekteshi (hequr titulli) Veli Dedi Xhoxhi Martini Zija Kambo Tuk Jakova Mehmet Shehu Emin Duraku Spiro Kote Asim Aliko as you can see some of the names under have in brakets the words (hequr titulli) meaning title later removed. these were people who once were entitled hero of people but later suposedly betrayed socialism and executed by communist party, they actually were rrivals of Enver hoxha.

Dervish Hekali Sado Kosheno Vojo Kushi Vasil La?i Zigur Lelo Hydajet Lezha Mbrik Lokja Dede Gjoluli Nuri Lu?i Haxhi Lleshi Misto Mame Dile Marku Theodhori Mastora Mustafa Matohiti Ndoc Mazi Kanan Maze Ram Metaliaj Memo Meto Pal M?lyshi Fejzi Micoli Kastriot Mu?o Maliq Mu?o Sali Murati (Vranishti) Selam Musai Kozma Naska Kozma Nushi Estref Osoja Hibe Palikuqi Shefqet Pe?i Mine Peza Myslym Peza Nimete Progonati Llazo Palluqi Fahri Ramadani Avni Rustemi Nazmi Rushiti Mumin Selami ?elo Sinani Mic Sokoli ?ybra Sokoli Sadik Stavaleci Vasil Shanto Myslym Shyri Hajdar Tafa Lefter Talo Marte Tarazhi Prenda Tarazhi Bajo Topulli ?er?iz Topulli Bajram Tusha Margarita Tutulani Mujo Ulqinaku Ramiz Varvarica Themi Vaso Zylyftar Veleshnja Asim Vokshi Sulejman Vokshi Mitro Xhani Mustafa Xhani (Baba Faja) Ajet Xhindolli Asim Zeneli

the list of Hero i Popullit 154 total Ismail Qemali Qemal Stafa Perlat Rexhepi Zaho Koka Ali Demi Qeriba Derri Abaz Shehu Avni Rustemi Alim Xhelo (T?rba?i) Beqir Balluku (hequr titulli) Koci Bako Manush Alimani Llambro Andoni Enver Hoxha Ramiz Aranitasi Bule Naipi Muzafer Asqeri Fuat Babani Shyqyri Alimerko Memo Bejko Xheladin Beqiri Fato Berberi Bardhok Biba Ylbere Bylybashi Isa Boletini Hyqmet Buzi Hajredin Bylishi Shkurte Cara (Skuraj) Riza Cerova Bajram Curri Sk?nder ?a?i Hysen ?ino Reshit ?ollaku Zonja ?urre Ilia Kici (Dashi Ndoc Deda Nik Ndreka Rexh Delia Gjok Do?i Inajete Dumi Mihal Duri Hajdar Dushi Laze Ferraj Abdyl Frash?ri Musa Fratari Shote Galica Liri Gero Meleq Gosnishti Mihal Grameno Luigj Gurakuqi Jaho Gjoliku Naim Gjylbegu Met Hasa Ahmet Haxhia

Hi! Nice collection. I took a look at your medal photos they look great. do you have any from albania? The suspensions for the two medals For Bravery and 10th Anniversary of Albanian Army are plastic and the order of red star 2nd class is cloth. The suspension is one body. best regards elvis cenka sub lutenant, albanian navy

This is in brief the story of Spiro Kote. In the King Zogu time he was a coal seller, when Albania was occupied in 1939 by fascists, he joined the communist groups and later the communist party. He worked in the Durresi port or on ships. At the end of WWII an Britanic ship that had come with the allies troops to help Albania against the nazis as it was turning back to Britain falls under water mines at the entrance of the ports, is destroyed and sinks and a big number of crew drawns. The mines were layed with the order of Enver Hoxha, the cruelst of communist dictators in Eastern Europe in collaboration with the yugoslav communist regime. This of course led to a cort case at the Hage Tribunal. In 1947 there were three Albanian witness that were sailing from Albania to Italy to testify against Hoxha to the Hage Tribunal about the sank British ship. At this time with his own information or sent by the intelligence still not known Spiro Kote joined their trip on the same ship and killed all three of them thus leading in a failure of this cort case. After this he is entitled hero of people and appointed as officer in the Albanian Navy where he ended his carier as Commandant of 1st naval district base. These medals I got from his own family but I couldnt get he mos important one hero of people. Because it has 18 gr of gold many were melted and turned into rings or they were buried with the holder. I am still searching one of those. In fact in my family I have one Hero of Socialist Labor Hysen Cenka next time I will tell his story if interested.

this set of medals belonged to hero of people Spiro Kote. This medals and orders are tied in one, never seen one like this and the medals bar are not cloth but some other shiny material. tomorrow comes the story how he got the title hero of people. [attachmentid=61687]

hey Lukasz! indeed a very nice presentation. congrat

[attachmentid=61275] this is the ribon bar I just got this morning

Erich thank you for your quick answer! I have started using your descriptions on my sales for albanian medals. I mentioned your book to a merchant in Kruja and he asked me to have one copy, so i will print one and give it to him if that is ok. It started as a job for some pocket money for me but I am fascinated by the interesting subject and I have the urge to start one collection myself. Since a kid under communism I used to collect coins so I guess is in me somehow. I love history and is there any better way to learn and teach history than this? I am already shipping to Israel, france germany and usa that means that there is a modest but interesting geographic dispersion of people interested. Being a officer in the navy (ensign) I have some access to gov offices. if you need any info pls let me know. Second topic is communist pins and badges which I have access to a large quantity. What do you think about those? is there a market. they have an interesting make, design, and meaning. As far as your book: there will be a day when pupil will be better than his teacher but until that day I remain your pupil. best regards thank you again