Zaim Qyteza

Hi Bob, II think there is no connection between this object (I can't call it a "decoration") and Marshal Tito. Tito was decorated by General Hoxha with the People's Hero, during Hoxha's visit to Belgrade in 1946. At that time, the first type of People's Hero decoration was produced and it was not necessary for Hoxha to give Tito such a primitive product. , as this one is appearing at auction. I believe that this object is a fantasy production with a distant resemblance to the Collar of Albania, made by a private person. Regards, Artan

Hi all, There is a list of 170 decorations of "Hero i Popullit" and another of about 485 decorations of "Hero i Punes Socialiste". There is no "depot stock" for these decorations. From those data, a discount of about 20% should be made, which is given only the diploma not accompanied by the respective medal. Another discount of about 20%, must be made for melted medals. Thus, I believe that there should be about 100 People's Hero and about 350 Socialist Labor Hero. Regards, Zaim (ps. attach the collection of a friend of mine)

O Kallarati, me ndje, por po ja fut kot. Mos u perzje ne nje fushe qe nuk e njeh. Ajo qe ke sjelle ti, eshte gjimnastorka standart qe e njeh gjithe dynjaja. Ajo qe kam sjelle une, ka xhepa oficeri, pra te jashtem, dhe jake oficeri, pra pa kopsa. Z.

Hi to all, After 57 views, and no help, even from forumist experts in soviet militaria?!! Zaim

Hi to all, In my collection I have this strange jacket. It has the body structure of a gymnastorka, and the details (collar piping, cuffs) of an officer jacket. At first I thought it might be a manufacturer mistake, but there's slight fraying in the middle area, indicating that it was worn with a belt. It is obvious this jacket was already produced to be like this, as it does not look like an artisan modification. The collar piping is deep blue, though the shoulder boards are put there by me. I have however found no answer as to what this might be, does anyone have any idea what it might be? Regards, Zaim

Dear Dave and Elephant, Although during the WW2 Albania was united with Kosovo, creating the Great Albania, the response to the German occupation especially during the last year was different and distinct. The Kosovo Albanians were anti-communist, and in Kosovo there is no real communist force. The Albanians of Albania (or diferent called Old Albania) were divided into at least 4 different formations: Governatice forces, Communist partisans, Nationalist forces (National Front) and pro Monarchist forces (Legality). The Allies had representation in all these formations, except the Governative ones. All these formations, more fought against each other, then the germans. Of course the most powerful were the Partisans. So when the Allies talk about North tribes, they are referring to the North of Old Albania, In fact Luma and Lura are tribes of northern Albania. In this case, we are talking about tribunes that were anti-communist but also against the government of Tirana. For all of the above, I will make a clear distinction between situations, forces and uniforms between Albania and Kosovo. Regards, Zaim Local irregulars of Kosovo mobilized w/o uniforms from their government to fight against communists (serbs or albanians). Zaim

Dave, They are not gendarmes, but policeman. The Gendarmerie was part of Army and, as such, it held the Scanderbeg helmet on their hat. The police force held the eagle on their hat. Regards, Zaim

The ones in these pictures are not Albanians from Albania but Albanians from Kosovo. In general, the population of Kosovo was deeply anti-communist, as it linked communism with Bs and Serbs. The Germans exploited much of this fear of the Kosovars from the Communists, to use them by mobilizing many under them, though without any real combat effectiveness. For these reasons, the persons depicted in these photos have little to do with the Albanian Army at the time. Among them, there is only one uniformed person, since in Kosovo there was a civilian and military administration formally subordinate to the Government of Tirana. Zaim The militias seen in this photo are not Albanian Army personnel, but municipal police in a comune of Kosovo. Zaim

Hi to all, As Puma77 requested, I brought some pictures from Albanian Army, model 1943, during German occupation. Tirana, october 1943. Military oath ceremony. September, 1943. Albanian officer with Italian model hat and badge of German period. Mixed patrol in Tirana streets, 2 Albanian gendarmes and two German feldgendarmerie. Albanian officer with Italian model hat and badge of German period. Hat badge model 1943, Italian production stamped aluminum and local production melted bronze. Tiranë, November 1943. Headquarters of the Albanian Army and Gendarmerie, in a meeting organized in the Royal Palace (today the Palace of Brigades). 1. Major Muharrem Liku. 2. Colonel Sami Koka, Commander of the Gendarmerie Department and later Commander-in-Chief of the Border Guard. 3. L/Col Faik Quku, Senior Gendarmerie Officer. 4. General Preng Pervizi, National Defense Commander. 5. General Gustav von Myrdacz, Chief of Staff of the Albanian Army. 6. Colonel Baron von Kirchner, Inspector General of the Albanian Army. 7. L/Col Hysni Dema, Commander-in-Chief of the Gendarmerie. Regards, Zaim

Dear Puma77, Since you requested, I opened a new topic dedicated to ALBANIAN ARMY DURING GERMAN PERIOD. Regards, Zaim

Thank you Mr. 922F, for the detailed and rare information, about this "mysterious" medal. Regards, Zaim

The gold class is gilded silver, but exist rare exemplars in solid gold. Regards, Zaim

The official ribbon of Courage medal, is full red for the three classes, but for convenience or fantasy exist exemplar with different combinations of black and red. The Trim class of the order of Courage is the same with the gold medal of Courage, but with a green ribbon. Regards, Zaim

Dear all, The Albanian officer on the second photo, is general Prenk Pervizi at that time commandant of the Albanian Army. Albania at that moment was theoretically "neutral state" with an own government and army. General Pervizi receive the rank of general during the Italian period, in 1940. Incognito hi was in contact with the British missions to find an personal solution for the post war period. After the war hi was sentenced to death by the communist government, but he escape first in the mountains and after that on Italy. During the German period, the Albanian army return to the king Zog period uniforms. Regards, Zaim

HI to all, I think the price 585 E (~650 USD) is out of the logic. This is one from my collection. Regards, Zaim