| Royal Albanian Army | |
|---|---|
| Ushtria Mbretërore e Shqipëris | |
 Insignia of the Royal Albanian Army | |
|
Royal Albanian Guard | |
| Founded | 1928 |
| Current form | Albanian Army |
| Disbanded | 1939 |
| Service branches |
Royal Infantry Royal Artillery Royal Engineers Royal Navy Royal Gendarmerie Royal Guard Royal Border Guard |
| Headquarters | Tirana |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Zogu[1][2] |
| Marshal of Albania | Zogu |
| Generals |
Xhemal Aranitasi Gustaq Mirdaic |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 18 - 50 |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |
United Kingdom Italy |
| Related articles | |
| History |
International Gendarmerie History of the Royal Army |
| Ranks |
Ranks (1929 - 1936) Ranks (1936 - 1939) |
The Royal Albanian Army (Albanian language: Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare) was the army of King Zogu from 1928 until 1939. Its commander-in-chief was King Zog; its commander General Xhemal Aranitasi; its Chief of Staff was General Gustav von Myrdacz. The army was mainly financed by Italy.[3]
Ranks[]
There were 2 rank systems, the first was replaced in 1936. The new ranks were used until 1939.
Ranks (1929 - 1936)[]
Main article: Ranks of the Royal Albanian Army (1929 - 1936)
| Rank | General | Lieutenant-General | Major-General | Colonel | Lieutenant-Colonel | Major |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Army | File:General Royal Albanian Staff.jpg | File:Lieutenant-General Royal Albanian Staff.jpg | File:Major-General Royal Albanian Army.jpg | File:Colonel Royal Albanian Army Infantery.jpg | File:Lieutenant Colonel Royal Albanian Artillery.jpg | File:Major Royal Albanian Guard.jpg |
| Albanian title | Gjeneral | Gjeneral-Leitenant | Gjeneral-Major | Kolonel | Nënkolonel | Major |
| Captain | 1St Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Staff Sergant | Seregant | Corporal | Private |
| File:Captain Royal Albanian Infantery.jpg | 
|
File:Lieutenant Royal Albanian Engineer.jpg | File:Staff sergeant Royal Albanian Artillery.jpg | File:Sergeant Royal Albanian engineer.jpg | File:Corporal Royal Albanian Guard.jpg | File:Soldier Royal Albanian Army.jpg |
| Kapiten | Toger | Nëntoger | Rreshster | Tetar | Ushtar I Parë | Ushtar |
Ranks (1936 - 1939)[]
Main article: Ranks of the Royal Albanian Army (1936 - 1939)
List of weapons[]
Cannons[]
Machineguns[]
Guns[]
Pistols[]
List of equipments[]
Army[]
- 780 officers + 13200 soldiers
- 9 military districts
- 12 infantry battalions
- 2 motorized infantry squadrons
- 9 engineers companies
- 204 HMG
- 10700 carbines (Carcano M1891, Mannlicher, Mosin)
- 1104 revolvers (Glisenti M1889)
- 12 batteries of 65 mm Italian
- 6 batteries of 75 mm Skoda
- 2 batteries of 105 mm Italian
- 2 batteries of 149 mm Italian (8 guns)
- 1 coastal artillery battery in Durrës
- 3 AA artillery batteries
- Two tanks FIAT 3000B
- Six tankettes CV.33
- Few armoured cars: Bianchi, Lancia IZ
[]
- 141 personnel
- 2 gunboats (ex-German minesweepers type FM=Flachgehende Minensuchboote)
- 170 t, 43/6/1.7 m, 14 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
- Built in 1918/19, bought c. 1925.
- "Shqipnja" (ex-FM 16) & "Skanderbeg" (ex-FM 23)
- 4 patrolboats of Italian MAS class
- Built & bought in 1926 in Venice
- 46 t, 17 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
- "Tirana", "Saranda", "Durres", "Shengjin"
Air Force[]
- 5 aircraft, unknown number of personnel
Gendarmery[]
- 131 (officers) + 3000 (soldiers)
- 4-5 battalions
- Behind vehicles are the numbers that were in use by the Albanian army.
See also[]
- Zogu
- Zogist salute
References[]
- ↑ Balliu, Julie. "King Zogu - Albanians in Exile". http://www.albanians-in-exile.org/#/king-zog-i/4535223618. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ↑ http://www.royalark.net/Albania/albania.htm
- ↑ http://books.google.nl/books?id=FEkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20&dq=King+Zog&hl=nl&ei=qjHuTavcEsftOaC8rZII&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=King%20Zog&f=false
Bibliography[]
- Court of King Zog Research Society
- Piero Crociani, "Gli Albanesi Nelle Forze Armate Italiane (1939-1945)", Roma 2001
- Bernd Fischer, "Albania at War, 1939-1945", London, 1999
- Time Magazine, April 17, 1939 (article "A Birth and a Death") & Albania: Zog, Not Scanderbeg (Monday, Jun. 17, 1929)
- "Jane's Fighting Ships", London, various years
- "League of Nations Armaments Yearbook", Geneva, various years 1924-1938
- e-archives of Korrieri, Tiranë Gazeta and other Albanian newspapers
- on-line articles of the Albanian Headquarters and General Staff website
- on-line articles of Ushtria Gazeta (Army Gazette)
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The original article can be found at Albanian Royal Army and the edit history here.