Zaim Qyteza

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Dear Explorer, My compliments for your pieces. The Albanian Partisan Army, adopt the Yugoslavian rank system, on the period May 1944 - May 1945. I have many photos of Albanian officers wearing this type of uniform, but I have never seen original rank pieces. I am interested to see other material of this period. I don’t know where was product this type of ranks, but now I think that those were product in Yugoslavia. What do you think. Regards, Artan

Dear Rick, Here attach the retro of the badge. Regards, Artan

Hallo to all, I bought today this badge in Tirana market. Can anyone help me to identify it. It is not albanian. Possibly is Soviet or yugoslavian. regards, Artan

Hi all, Here attach one of my exemplares. Artan

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This is an albanian navy oficer in M.75 uniform, with the Order "40 Years of the PPSH" on his breast.

Dear Bob, Your piece is a prototyte. Exist two type of prototypes of this medal. See the attach. No.183 is the comon medal. No. 183/1 is a prototype silver plated. No.183/2 is a prototype gold plated. Regards, Artan

Dear Peter, The models of the military uniforms of the Albanian Army, during the communist period, are the following: Mod.44: Yugoslavian rank system. Mod.45: Local rank system and uniforms (something similar to the A-H uniforms). Mod.47: Soviet rank system and soviet model uniforms (bronze epaulets). Mod.52: -“-. Closed collar. (soviet production epaulets). Mod.56: -“-. Closed and open collar. Mod.66: W/o ranks. A mix soviet-chinese model uniforms. Mod.75: W/o ranks. Chinese model uniform. I am interested to any kind of materials about the Albanian military 1912-1991. Regards, Artan

Dear Elephant (strange name!!!) You are not clear with your question. You are interested in the collar patches of Albanian Army in the 70-80-ies? If it is so, during this period, 1975-1991, the Albanian army has the uniform Mod.75, with simple rectangular red patches of the same form, for officers and soldiers. Here enclosed a photo of mine, during my military service. The Helmets of our Army, have this development: 1944-1952: Helmets of ex Italian army and some Russian helmets 1952-1970: Russian helmets and occasionally even Italian. 1970-2000: Chinese helmets and occasionally even Russians. Attach a photo of Albanian soldiers in Mod.66 uniform, meeting an Chinese officer. Best regards, Artan

Dear Tim, Does not exist albanian production of the Partisan Star. It was produced perhaps only in Russia and in Yugoslavia. Anyway it was produced from 1945 to around 1960. After that year, was no more produced, because after that period was very rarely awarded. Here attached, a photo of a Silver Partisan Star, in its original box. This to help to find the period and place of the production. The stars were wrapped in a simple piece of semi-transparent paper. It is sure that the box is original, because I've seen different pieces and I have in my collection, some of them. Regards, Artan

Dear All, This is an albanian ex-general of Sigurimi (secret service, see the blue rectangular insignias) in Mod.66 uniform w/o ranks. He had I and II class of Partisan Star Order on his breast. Regards, Artan

Dear Anatoly13, Here attached the obverse = reverse of the Order of the National Hero of my collection. Regards, Artan

Dear All, Now we are sure that the photo is taken during the occupation of Albania from Italy in April 1939. The last situation of the officials, is the following: 1- German. 2- Turkish. 3- (?) 4- Italian. 5- Italian. 6- Bulgarian. 7- British (?) 8- Yugoslavian. 9- Italian. 10- Japanese. 11- American. 12- Romanian. 13- Swiss (?). 14- (?). The most important unknown, now remain the no. 14. Regards, Artan

Dear Bob, This is not a medal of Prince Wied, but the Medal ?TO MY FRIENDS?, created by Ahmed Zog as President of Albania in 1925 and given until 1930, in gold, silver and bronze. Here attached two pieces of my collection. Best regards, Artan

Dear all, To help you all, I attach here a part of the picture, but with a greater resolution. Dear Coldstream, I agree that nr. 7 maybe is a Greek officer. Herr Volkssturm, what the hell is this ?photoshock?? Best regards, Artan

Dear Bob, Thank you for your information. I know this site, but it is so ?superficial? for an Albanian. I am writing a book for the ?History of Albanian Uniforms 1912-1990?, but I thing to finish this book about the year 2050 (!!!). I prepared a great number of tables for this book. To give you an idea, I attach to you one of this tables. Regards, Artan

Dear Eric, I post here a photo of three Albanian carabineers decorated with the MEDAL AL VALOR MILITARE. Where is the third? The third carabineer is dead in action and the medal goes to his wife. Having regard to the dress of his wife, we can surely imagine that he was a Muslim Albanian. Photo of Greek-Italian War, 1941. Regards, Artan

Dear Lang, This is a very important and interesting information. Can you furnish some other information of this finding of Mussolini?s BESA Order. Thank you in advance, Regards, Artan

Dear Eric, I send to you my list of medals of Italian Army in Albania during WWI and WWII. Unfortunately the list is Albanian. Regards, Artan MEDALJE_ITALIANE.doc

Dear All, I need your help to identify some of the officers of this picture. The photo is doing in south of Albania, maybe during one of these two possibilities: I- During the occupation of Albania from Italy in April 1939; or II- During the attack of Italy against the Greece in October 1940. Some of officers, put in their hands maps of Albania. 1- German 2- Turkish 3- (?) 4- Italian 5- Italian 6- Bulgarian 7- British (?) 8- Yugoslavian 9- Italian 10- Japanese 11- American 12- Romanian (?) 13- (?) 14- (?) Regards, Artan

Hi SasaYU, This is (here attached) the rank system M.44 in the Albanian Partisan Army (may 1944 - junne 1945). This system was a copy of the yugoslavian system. I am interested to see some pictures of Yugoslavian officers of 1945-1948 period. Regards, Artan