Royal Albanian Army

The Royal Albanian Army (Albanian: Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare) was the army of the Albanian Kingdom and King Zog I of the Albanians from 1928 until 1939. Its commander-in-chief was King Zog; its commander was General Xhemal Aranitasi; its Chief of Staff was General Gustav von Myrdacz. The army was mainly financed by Italy from 1936 to 1939.[4]

Royal Albanian Army
Ushtria Mbretnore Shqiptare
Flag of the Albanian Royal Army
Founded1928 (1928)
Disbanded1939 (1939)
Service branches
HeadquartersTiranë, Albania
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefMarshal Zogu[1]
Minister of DefenceXhemal Aranitasi[2]
Chief of the General StaffGustav von Myrdacz
Personnel
Military age18–36
Conscription18 months
Reserve personnel29,860
Deployed personnel15,600
Expenditures
BudgetFr 21.3 million (1938 est.)
Industry
Foreign suppliers Kingdom of Italy[3]
United Kingdom
Related articles
HistoryInternational Gendarmerie
Italian invasion of Albania
RanksMilitary ranks of the Albanian Kingdom
Royal Albanian Army with Zogu

List of weapons

Artillery

Machine Guns

Guns

Pistols

Manpower and Equipment
Honour guard of the Royal Albanian Army around 1939.

Army
  • 780 officers + 13,200 soldiers + 1620 NCOs
  • Around 43,960 conscripts (1939)
  • 9 military districts
  • 12 infantry battalions
  • 2 motorized infantry squadrons
  • 9 engineering companies
  • 1200 tribal officers + 29,860 tribal militia
  • 204 HMG
  • 10,700 carbines (Carcano M1891, Mannlicher, Mosin)
  • 1,104 revolvers (Glisenti M1889)
  • 16,196 rifles (Beretta Model 38 &1918)
  • 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 Durres
  • 3 AA artillery batteries
  • 2 Fiat 3000B tanks
  • 6 Ansaldo CV.33 tankettes
  • 8 armored cars: 2 Bianchi, 6Lancia IZM
  • 158 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 Italian MAS boats
    • Built & bought in 1928 in Venice
    • 46 t, 17 kn., 76 mm gun, 2 MG
    • Tirana, Saranda, Durres, Shengjin
  • 1 Royal Yacht "Ilirja".

Air Corps
  • 5 Albatros L.47s (de-militarised C.XV) 2 airworthy in April 1939

Gendarmerie
  • 131 (officers) + 440 (NCO) + 3,206 (soldiers)
  • 6 battalions (every battalion had 500–600 men)
  • Behind vehicles are the numbers that were in use by the Albanian army

See also

References
  1. Balliu, Julie. "King Zogu – Albanians in Exile". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  2. Kujtim Halili: Fjalor biografik ushtarak . Tirana: 2006, p. 16 ISBN 99943-849-2-9 . ( alb. )
  3. "LIFE Vol. 6 No. 16". Life. Time Inc. 17 April 1939. p. 20. ISSN 0024-3019.
  4. "7 prill 1939, Udhekryqet e mbreti Zog".
  5. Kidd, R Spencer (October 2013). Military Uniforms in Europe: 1900–2000. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781291187441.

Bibliography
  • Piero Crociani, "Gli Albanesi Nelle Forze Armate Italiane (1939-1945)", Roma 2001
  • Bernd Fischer, "Albania at War, 1939-1945", London, 1999
  • Patrice Najbor, Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes), JePublie, Paris, 2008, (ISBN 978-2-9532382-0-4).
  • Patrice Najbor, La dynastye des Zogu, Textes & Prétextes, Paris, 2002
  • 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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