Zaim Qyteza

Here's another Albanian King you may not be aware of yet: http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Otto_Witte

Bob,

I think the story of Otto Witte is an invention of foreign journals with the complicity of Witte fantasy. To the Albanian journals of Durres of that time, does not exist any word for his arrival in Durres and, if he was arrived to Durres, this would have been impossible !!! Please Bob, the story of my poor Albania is so full of tragedy, that there is no space for him.

Regards,

Artan

From Borna Barac's catalogue (he borrowed scans from auctions as I understand) - Albanian Knights of Malta Order.... a mystery.

Has anybody gotten it confirmed by... the Knights of Malta?

Hi Bob,

I think this is a modern production (possibly post WW2). The red enamel eagles of the trophy ate taken from the grand star of Scanderbeg Order Italian period (1940). The four eagles between the cross arms are taken from the grand star of the Besa Order Italian period (1940). Albania do not use decorations of cross shaped, because is a many-religious country.

Regards,

Artan

Hi to all,

Help me, what the hell is this badge. I find it in South Albania, but independently of its colors (red and black), I think it isn’t for Albanian use. It has a D.31 mm. From his quality, I deduct it is not Albanian production also.

Thanks,

Artan

p.s.

Tito and Hrusciov were not heroes but not stupid. They did not sent back to our Hoxha the Albanian decorations received from him during the love days.

Thank you for another outstanding picture Artan!

Is there any clarity on where Enver Hoxha's awards are now? Obviously that would be interesting to know (even if held in a vault) as it would potentially provide an opportunity to get some research on the Soviet Suvorov (?) which would be numbered!

Thanks,

Bob

Bob,

Comrade Hoxha was an hero and a stupid man in the same time. After the crash with Yugoslavian, he send back to Tito all Yugoslavian decorations in signum of protest. He did the same after the crash with comrade Hrusciov, with the soviet medals.

regards,

Artan

Hi Bob:

That certainly looks to be the case here: the Bulgarian order around his neck and the two old style hero decorations.

As a side note, I am very amused Hoxha has a Facebook page

Hi to all,

Yes, Comrade Enver was twice “Hero of the People” (one for his leadership during the WW2 and the second for his struggle to defend the Socialism) and one “Hero of the Socialist Labor” (for his role to construct the Socialism).

Regards,

Artan

Hi Bob:

The Order of the Black Eagle was created by Wilhelm of Wied in March 1914 in 5 classes (Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight) and three classes of an adjunct medal in gold, silver, and bronze. The order was made by the German jeweller Paul Telge (if I recall correctly), while the medal was struck by Arthus Bertrand et Cie in Paris. I was talking to someone about this order and the original purchase orders still exist for the medal. 250 of the silver class were prepared, however only some 14 are believed to have been awarded. It should be noted that Wilhelm continued to assert his claim to the Albanian throne up until Ahmed Bej Zogu became president (and later king), and, in the capacity of a monarch in exile, Wilhelm may have continued to hand out the order and medal. Interestingly, the silver class is the more common of the three classes - bronze medals show up from time to time, but I've not seen a gold medal.

Oh, to bring this a litle more on topic , the second edition is complete, so look for it here sometime real soon! I will add this comment: in the short time since I wrapped up the 2nd edition, I did get a few more pictures and some additional info that I'll include for the next version which I may actually submit for publishing. More on that later...

Cheers,

Eric

Dear Eric,

Is impossible for Paul Telge to be the author of the Medal of the Black Eagle. Telge dead in 1909, instead the Black Eagle was produced in 1914.

Besides this, I thing that this medal is not struck in “Bertrand et Cie Paris”, because the box of this medal has the stamp of “Willibald Kluge Berlin”.

Regards,

Artan

Hi to all,

I I bought this badge today a Tirana. It is a arm badge of Albanian Fascist Militia (1939-1943). Attach a photo of an Albanian Milite with this badge.Regards,

Artan

heres mine

Dear Andyg,

My compliments. Very beautiful pieces. Can you tell me, if this kind of epaulettes have been used even during first period Tito? Or, at least, in the same time with the Albanian using of them (1947-1952).

Attach an Albanian Mod.47 epaulette of a police lieutenant. Those epaulettes were Yugoslavian furnished.

Besides this color, this kind of epaulettes, exist also with black and green color. They were used untill 1952.

Artan

Dear sirs,

Your interpretation is very interesting to me, because for our official history (based in this picture), Zog has the rank of colonel in A-H Army. I think to write an article for this argument.

Here attached, is another example of militia officer during A-H occupation of Albania (1916-1918). He is Leon de Gilardy an ex mobilized in A-H Army. When the A-H Army entry in Albania he passed (with the “ok” of the Austrians)on the service of Zog with the rank of captain. After the war he remain in Albania and continued his career until the rank of general (1934). Is this another case of fantasy uniform, or an Austrian standard for the local militias under their service?

Regards,

Artan

Hello Artan,

I am sure that the uniform shown in the picture is not austrian. I think it could be Rumanian.

Best wishes,

Enzo (Elmar Lang)

Dear Enzo.

This picture dated 1916, is taken from an Albanian publication dated 1928. The person is the future King Zog. In that time (1916), he was a war lord in north Albania. During the Austrian occupation of Albania (1916-1918), with the excuse of the funeral of Kaiser F-J I, Zog (age 21) was stopped in Vienna from the Austrian authorities in a “golden prison” for two years. There he has the honor rank of colonel, or something similar. He return in Albania, only after the fall of the A-H Empire. All this history is a 1928-es official version, but you must understand, that in Albania the official story, only rarely is friend of the truth.

Now, how is possible Zog in a Romanian uniform!!! Perhaps an auto-created Austrian uniform? Perhaps an ex Prince Wied period uniform?

Regards,

Artan

Hi to all,

Can anyone help me to identify the uniform of this officer. The photo is about 1916-1918.

Thanks in advance.

QUOTE (Artan Lame @ Mar 20 2009, 23:32 ) Dear Hoard,

The color of great eagle of the Collar is black, you must be sure for this. Klietmann on his Ordens Lexicon descript very well this decoration. Does not exist a statute for the Collar. A part of the comments that we have done for inaccurate during the period of Wied, we can apply for Zog period. See attach a photo of Zog as President in 1926, when he wear together, the neck badge of SO, the star of SO and the grand sash of SO !!! Real ridiculous.

Dear Artan,

The photograph of Zog seems to date from a period just before the creation of the other orders, when the SO may have been the only decoration. Hence, he wears neck badge, sash badge and breast star. It isn't all that rediculous. I have seen other people similarly attired from other countries.

You do not comment at all on my observations on the appearance and shape of the eagle, so I take it that you agree, yes?

From what we have seen in the various exchanges recently we can summerise as follows:

1) a statute for the Order of Sanderbeg mentions a collar for that order.

2) there are no statutes for the so-called 'Grand Collar of Albania'.

3) the only available records of a prominent recipient of the collar (King Albert of Belgium) say that he received the Collar of Honour of the Order of Scanberbeg in two different references.

4) the collar worn by King Zog includes a badge almost identical to the badge of the Order of Scanderbeg, the apparent difference being that the outline of the central medallion is in the shape of a shield not a circle.

This all sounds to me very much like we have a Collar of the Order of Scanderbeg.

There may or may not have been a Grand Collar of Albania, but that is unlikely to be the same as the collar worn by King Zog or received by King Albert. Quite possibly it fell into disuse within a very short space of time or morphed into/was superceded by the Collar of Honour of the Order of Scanberbeg.

What are the sources for the "Grand Collar of Albania" independent of Kleitmann?

Cheers,

James

Dear Hoard

You said: “What are the sources for the "Grand Collar of Albania" independent of Kleitmann?”.

The Law dated 14.05.1930, said:

“Article 24

The Collar of Albania and the “Medal to my friends” is not accorded after this date”.

The Regulation dated 26.11.1930, said:

“Article 21

Order of precedence of the Albanian decorations is the follows:

1. Collar of Honor of Kingdom Of Albania.

2. Order of Courage, I.

3. Order of Courage, II.

4. Order of Courage, III.

5. Order of Fidelity, (grand cordon).

6. Order of Skanderbeg, (grand cordon).

7. Etc, etc”.

The Law dated 02.03.1939, said:

“Article 1

The article 24 of the Law dated 14.05.1930, is abrogated for the Collar of Albania”.

This is to say, that with this last law, the Collar of Albania was restored (only one month before of the occupation of Albania from Italy!!!).

Those are some official acts of the Collar of Albania.

From an Albanian Magazine dated 1938:

“His Majesty the King, has these decorations:

Collier of Albania, Order of Courage, Grand Cordon of Order of Fidelity, Grand Cordon of Order of Skanderbeg, Etc, etc”.

Regards,

Artan

I did a bit of research and found that it's a Bulgarian postal service cap badge from the 50's.

Dan

Thanks to all, especially to Hauptman for the help.

Regards,

Artan

Hello.

Original 41-45 partisan insignia is very hard to find. If you have anything to offer or to show me from your collection we can continue this debate over the private messages. I am willing to trade for a kidney. My ranks were found here in Slovenia and are 100% original worn by Slovenian in partisan army. Rank: lieutenant. Albanian ranks are quite simmilar and I'm positive some were made in Yugoslavia since many Albanian orders were also made in IKOM and some even in Russia if I remember correctly. Just like Yugoslav ww2 orders who were also made in USSR. Cockades were also shipped from USSR and so on...Do you have any uniform in your collection? Regards.

Dear Explorer,

Unfortunately, till now, I have not find any original piece of the Mod.1944 uniform of the Albanian Partisan Army. The oldest uniforms of the communist period I have, are the uniforms of the Mod.1945.

Do you know, the material of the jackets and trousers of your ranks, is Yugoslavian or British production? From the color of your photos, I think that is British furniture.

I send you another photo of Albanian lt/col. in Mod.44 uniform. You can see that the piece of material, under the rank bands, is in color (perhaps red?). Exist this type of colors ranks on the yugoslavian system?

Regards,

Artan

3

2

Small part of my partisan collection. For my soul - only 41-45 period. If anyone has anything to offer we can trade for a kidney.

Some add-ons...

My room is finally getting the real looks...

One small part of the showcase...

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Some other stuff including Yugoslav orders/medals and other I'll post some other day. Perhaps.

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

Is it a cap badge?

The traditional European postal service horns were not used in the Soviet Union.

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

Just in, nr 423 and nr 915

That puts

- highest number seen 915

- lowest number seen 378

No need to post pics I guess. Continues to support believe by some that max 1.000 of these numbered Skanderbegs were produced/issues.

Hi all,

Here attach one of my exemplares.

Artan

A

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