Zaim Qyteza

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2008/post-679-1222859155.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_10_2008/post-679-1222859167.jpg

Strange (rare!) variation... bigger than a lapel pin, smaller than the common medal... quite heavy... not clear why this exists!

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

Hello Artan!

It´s really nice to see photographs of this great quality!

I wound´t mind at all if you would post some more!

Greetings

Péter

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

Did the Albanian army have collar patches on their field uniforms or were they left plain? Also what type of helmets were worn 1970s-80s? Ranjit.

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

Just trying to keep the thread going here.

Any opinions on pricing these days? What would be a good estimate for a nice 2nd or 3rd class award?

Is there a way to tell the differences between, say a 1950 vs 1970 or later made piece?

Can anyone post some shots of the differences between Soviet made and Albanian made pieces?

Thanks!

Tim

Here's the only one I currently have; 1st class:

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

Pictures not seen

I want to see,please!

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

Recently sold at auction (Andreas Thies)

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

http://www.forum.uniforminsignia.net/viewt...445b7cfabd5773b

A useful site for Albanian unifirms plus some nice pics!

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

Hi Bob:

That's a fantastic mini set you have there. The Skanderbeg with the maker's plaque makes it all the better! Thanks for sharing! As a side note, where are Skanderbeg's arms/helmet displayed?

Faleminderit, Artan!

That list is very useful - thank you for sharing with us. Do you have any of those medals or photos of them in wear?

Cheers,

Eric

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

Hello,

back to the Albanian Orders awarded under the Italian rule, I need to remember that their position in the Royal Italian system of honour is completely different from that of France and its "Ordres Coloniaux". Albania was not a colony, but a kingdom with the same ruler as Italy. Victor Emanuel III's title began like this:

"...Kingdom of Italy and Albania; Emperor of Ethiopia; (...)".

Our colonial possessions (besides small "bureaus" and islands from Greece to China) actually were Somalia and Erithrea only, since Lybia, after WW1 had the status of a region of Italy, with a governor, because of the Mediterranean dividing it from the Continent and Ethiopia, remained with its status of Empire, but under Italian rule.

The only state, maintaining a proper system of honour was Albania and, all Albanian Orders were awarded from Victor Emanuel as "King of Albania", in no way as Italian "colonial" awards.

Maybe, papers and statistics could still be preserved somewhere at our State Archive in Rome. It's an enormous site and part of it is organized as huge vaults: surprises can happen, because more or less 8 years ago in one of the safes, a group of orders belonged to Mussolini was found. This group was considered as lost since 1943. Among them, the German Eagle with brilliants and a Grand Cross of the Besa, also with brilliants.

Best wishes,

Elmar Lang

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

The Albanian government awarded a small campaign badge to Italian troops who participated in the Greek & Yugoslav campaigns. Examples of that badge as well as authorization to wear documents can be found here: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=16967

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

Picture with ranks, as Artan requested:

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

Some interesting Yugoslavia partisan pictures

Dear SasaYU,

Very interesting pictures. Can you furnish their dates? 1942? 43? 44? Do you have pictures of Yugoslavian partisans with the ranks. In this period (second part of 1944), the Albanian partisans has the same rank system with them. Here attach some photo of Albanian partisans, 1944.

The first is an Captain. He wears a recycled jacket M.36 of ex Albanian Army of King Zog period, with the ranks M.44 of partisan Army.

The second is an second lieutenant in summer uniform M.44.

Regards,

Artan

Artan

I have been looking closely at your very useful "collage" of photographs.

It looks like the eagle suspended from the collar being worn by King Zog and the badge in the illustration of the "collar of Albania" are quite different.

The illstrated eagle is much more like the black eagle of the Albanian national coat of arms. However, the eagle suspended from the King's collar is very much like the badge of the Order of Scanderbeg. The wing feathers of are all close together and upward sloping.

The enamelling of the eagle also looks to be a lighter colour rather. Look, for instance, at the difference in shade between the king's uniform collar and the enamelling on the badge. Clearly the eagle is not in black enamel.

Are there any statutes available for the "collar of Albania" with an official description?

Sincerely,

James

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.

Regards,

Artan

Dear James,

The order of precedence was:

1. Collar of Albania (only for the King and, in theory, for foreigner chiefs of state).

2. Order of Bravery (maybe never conceded, except the King Zog piece).

3. Order of Fidelity (maybe less 10 pieces conceded).

4. Order of Skanderbeg (normally conceded).

Dear Mr. Wood,

When the Italians occupied Albania. they find in Tirana all the stock of Orders produced and either non awarded (I have the documents and the inventory of this). I have seen some copies of diplomas of S.O. conceded from King Zog in exile, but I think that he gave only the diploma w/o the award in this period.

Attention (!!!): I have seen some fakes in circulation, bought or sold as original in different serious auctions, but only the eye of an expert can distinguish them.

Regards,

Artan

E e e e e j j j j j !

Nobody else has anything to add on the Black Eagle Order topics?

Regards,

Artan

Many thanks Artan and 922F

I guess the Carol I badge must be partly hidden under the lapel in the b/w photo that I posted.

He wears the star of the Order of Fidelity on his left breast, but below the Order of Bravery. So I guess the Order of Bravery must have had the most senior rank amongst all the orders??

Do you have any more details about this order, e.g. Albanian name, classes and conditions of award?

Cheers,

James

Dear James,

I resend to you the same photo, with the names of the decorations.

Regards,

Artan

Dear Taras,

Thank you for the pictures. Can you postpone all these, to this address:Gentleman's Military Interest Club > European (Non Communist States): Medals & Militaria > Central & Eastern European States: Non Communist Era > COLLAR OF ALBANIA and ORDER OF SKANDERBEG.

Best Regards,

Artan

Sorry. Wrong Message. Exact mesage:Dear Taras,

Thank you for the pictures. Can you postpone all these, to this address:Gentleman's Military Interest Club > European (Non Communist States): Medals & Militaria > Southern European & Balkan States: Non Communist Era

Best Regards,

Artan

#3

Dear Taras,

Thank you for the pictures. Can you postpone all these, to this address:Gentleman's Military Interest Club > European (Non Communist States): Medals & Militaria > Central & Eastern European States: Non Communist Era > COLLAR OF ALBANIA and ORDER OF SKANDERBEG.

Best Regards,

Artan

Dear all,

I saw that the speech has become only about the COLLAR OF ALBANIA and ORDER OF SKANDERBEG. For these reason I think to transfer it, to " type="#_x0000_t75">European (Non Communist States): Medals & Militaria > Southern European & Balkan States: Non Communist Era> COLLAR OF ALBANIA and ORDER OF SKANDERBEG.

I do this, with the hope to not annoy the friends of the forum. Thank you all.

Dear 922F,

Very interesting your information about the Collar of Albania piece of king Albert I.

Dear James,

I think that the Collar of Skanderbeg Order (S.O.), does not exist.

SO was created with law dt. 03.12.1925. In this Statute (article 3) was planned a 5 classes order, with another special class of Collar (the Collar for Zog and other chiefs of state) and with a Skanderbeg Medal in three classes:

Collar of the Order

Grand Sash

Grand Officer

Commander

Officer

Knight

Gold Medal

Silver Medal

Bronze Medal

In fact, then, the collar and the medals, was never produced.

The same President Zog (1925-1928) and later King Zog I (1928-1939), has always worn the grand sash of SO.

Regards,

Artan

Dear all,

I saw that the speech has become only about the COLLAR OF ALBANIA and ORDER OF SKANDERBEG. For these reason I think to transfer it, to " type="#_x0000_t75">European (Non Communist States): Medals & Militaria > Southern European & Balkan States: Non Communist Era> COLLAR OF ALBANIA and ORDER OF SKANDERBEG.

I do this, with the hope to not annoy the friends of the forum. Thank you all.

Dear 922F,

Very interesting your information about the Collar of Albania piece of king Albert I.

Dear James,

I think that the Collar of Skanderbeg Order (S.O.), does not exist.

SO was created with law dt. 03.12.1925. In this Statute (article 3) was planned a 5 classes order, with another special class of Collar (the Collar for Zog and other chiefs of state) and with a Skanderbeg Medal in three classes:

Collar of the Order

Grand Sash

Grand Officer

Commander

Officer

Knight

Gold Medal

Silver Medal

Bronze Medal

In fact, then, the collar and the medals, was never produced.

The same President Zog (1925-1928) and later King Zog I (1928-1939), has always worn the grand sash of SO.

Regards,

Artan