Invasion of Albania

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Marcus Wendel
Webmaster
Posts: 757
(11/18/00 4:41:51 pm)
Reply Invasion of Albania
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I am interested in info on the Italian invasion of Albania and it seems to be ignored in most books.
Any info at all would be great, for example, a short background to the invasion, order of battle, losses, actions etc

Thanks in advance.

/Marcus

Lupo Solitario
Unregistered
(11/18/00 5:31:04 pm)
Reply Albania
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Well, it was something of chaotical and made with extreme improvisation. The Chief of staff knew of the invasion eight days before and the designed commander (gen Guzzoni) two days after. By a political point of view, all the affair was managed by Ciano and fellows with their typical love for underdesk manouvres. I need some research to tell more.
I've never seen a real OB and the only unit I know certainly partecipated was the 3rd Grenadier Regiment.
However invasion happende in three days, from April 7th to 10th, 1939. The expeditionary corp had a strenght of 22000 personnel, 64 cannons, 125 light tank, 860 autovehicles, 1200 motorcycles, 5500 bycicles, 2500 animals. The attack plan is to land four columns at Lezhe, Durazzo, Valona and Saranda and advance towards interior. The action is a chaos.
At last, Italian had lost 12 dead and 88 wounds, Albanese unknown (but not many more....).
I'll write you more after some research

bye

Lupo

Comando Supremo1
Member
Posts: 11
(11/18/00 5:33:44 pm)
Reply Re: Invasion of Albania
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In the early 1900's, Albania was swept in political and social instability. Albania's King Zog was in need of financial aid and economic support to get his country back on track. In order to help his country, King Zog signed a number of accords with Italy, which had a long standing political and financial interest in Albania. Mussolini used this debt as a reason for annexation. In March of 1939, Mussolini sent foreign Minister Ciano to Albania to meet with King Zog and review a list of demands made by Mussolini. This list, according to Ciano, was impossible to accept. Not suprisingly, King Zog reviewed these demands and denied them. Rome then sent King Zog an ultimatum to accept those demands by 12:00 PM April 6, 1939.

On Friday, April 7, 1939, the Italian fleet was off the coast of Albania. By the end of that day, 2 divisions of 4 Bersaglieri regiments and a battalion of tanks led by General Guzzoni land throughout the coast of Albania. Resistance was weak and sporadic. On April 8, 1939, King Zog along with his wife and son escape to the Greek authorities in Florina and granted asylum by Athens. Albania then surrendered to Fascist Italy and on April 16, 1939, King Victor Emmanuelle III united the crown of Albania to that of Italy and the Ethiopian Empire.

The OOB, losses and actions are hard to come by. I am in the process myself of trying to get that information. I don't think there was much fighting since the Italian influence in Albania was so great. It practically was a satellite of Italy prior to the invasion.



Andy Hill
Unregistered
(11/19/00 2:37:01 am)
Reply Italian annexation of Albania
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Hello Marcus

The following extraxt is from The Italian Order of Battle 1940-44 by Victor Madeja
Ref: 3rd JULIA Alpine Division-"Sent to Albania at the time of the annexation it formed part of the Scutari garrison in April 1939"
Ref: 19th Venezia Infantry Division-"Mobilised for the Alabanian crisis and sent there Stationed in the Koritzia area as one of four divisions".
Ref:23rd Ferrara Infantry Division-"Sent there during the take over".
Ref:53rd Arezzo Infantry Division-"Sent to Albania at the time of the invasion, as one of the four original divisions".

Hope this is of some help

Marcus Wendel
Webmaster
Posts: 763
(11/19/00 9:51:22 am)
Reply Re: Invasion of Albania
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Thanks to all three of you for the info.

If you come across more info, please let me know, thanks.

/Marcus

Lupo Solitario
Unregistered
(11/20/00 1:53:46 pm)
Reply Julia
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I'm certain that "Julia" landed in Albania over a week after invasion. Other divisions I know nothing about

bye

Lupo

Blood and Honour Albanian Divison
Visitor
(4/2/01 7:02:16 pm)
Reply Invasion Of Albania- (Seen from the Albanian end)
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Before the actual invasion, Albania had strong ties with Italy, not only ecconomically but Militarily as well. Our King (king Zog) signed various contracts with Italy, in one of which, Italy would equip the Albanian Army with Italian small fire arms.
When it came to the actual invasion, and Albania opened it's ammunition depots to issue the "italian" fire arms to its soldiers, they found out that most guns were lacking vital parts in them. Therefore were rendered useless. This reduced significantly the number of the Albanian Soldiers that could fight.
Despite this on the 7th of April the Albanian Ground troops did try to put up a stand under the command of gnrl. Selam Musai. The defence was then (presumably) strengthened by two Albania's Air Force air craft.
The Italians landed in 4 ports and shores....Lezha, Durazzio, Valona and Saranda. The Defence was put down quicly (within 10-12 hours) in Lezha and Saranda. In Durrazio 3 brigades resisted in the shores for 2 days...and then their resistance was broken. Despite that, this resitance gave time to King Zog to make his way outside Albania.
In Valona, 4 divisions of Albanian Army held their positions for 3 days and eventually gave up when gen. Selam Musai was killed in battle. The next person in the chain of command, gave the order of retreat.
All in all the Albanian Army lost 11 men and one airplane during the invasion.
The Albanian Army became after that a Guerilla Force and in 1940 was part of the Albanian Partizans.
(If u need any other info from the Albanian Perspective..pls post it on the room)

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement........................

The Operation O.M.T. - Oltre mare Tirana- The occupation of Albania in April 1939.

On April 7, 1939 Italian troops landed at four points on the Albanian coast: Santi Quaranta, Valona, Durazzo and San Giovanni di Medua. The resistance was quickly overcome and soon the small Adriatic Kingdom of Albania was annexed by Italy. King Zog who crossed to Greece with most of his government officials later sought refuge in Turkey.

The troops were to form the Expeditionary Corps were ordered to concentrate on the ports of Brindisi, Taranto, Bari. The expeditionary force was divided into three echelons with a total of 22,000 men, 64 guns, 125 light tanks, 860 vehicles, 1,200 motorcycles, 5,500 bicycles and 2,500 quadrupeds. However only was engaged the first echelon, divided into four columns:

- Column 1 (Coronel Scattini-San Giovanni di Medua; Objective: Scutari)
3rd, 5th Battalion. (8th Regiment.), 28th Bersaglieri Battalion of the 9th Regiment.
Two companies of the Battalion of Marina "San Marco"

- Column 2 (General Messe - Durazzo; Objective: Tirana)
2nd, 17th Battalion. (2nd Rgt.), 10th (7th Rgt.), 14th (5th Rgt.), 27th Bersaglieri Battalion (11th Rgt.)
1st Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment
8th Battalion of light tanks
10th Battalion of light tanks
1st Battalion Grenadier (Tirana airborne after the conquest of the city)
2nd Battalion Grenadier (as the 1st Battalion)
A battery of 65/17mm, an antiaircraft battery.

- Column 3 (Colonel Bernardi - Valona; Objective: Fieri)
1st (1st Rgt.), 16th Bersaglieri Battalion (10th Rgt.)
40th, 76th Battalion of Blackshirts.

- Column 4 (Colonel Carasi - Santi Quaranta; Objective: Argirocastro)
20th (3rd Rgt.), 33 Bersaglieri Battalion (11th Rgt.)
3rd Group fast tanks "San Giorgio".

On April 6, 1939 began the operation O.M.T. and since 11:00 hours sailed the convoys bound for Valona and Santi Quaranta; at 18:30 hours sailed the convoys bound for San Giovanni di Medua and Durazzo.

On April 7, 1939 at 05:00 hours sailed the escort cruisers and the staff of the Expeditionary Corps embarked on the cruiser "Fiume".

At 04:50 hours on April 7, 1939 the second column ships anchored in the port of Durazzo; at 09:00 hours the city was occupied after a weak resistance from the Albanians.

On April 7 in the evening of that day, the HQ of the Expeditionary Force arrived in Durazzo. On April 8, 1939 at 09:30 hours, the first units entered in Tirana. Shortly afterwards landed in the airport the first units of grenadiers which were airborne.

Sources: Military News Around the World. Military Review. June 1939.
http://digilander.libero.it/lacorsainfi ... lbania.htm
Das Interessante Blatt. 13 April 1939.

Any idea about the naval units which took part of the operation? TIA. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more........................

The Operation O.M.T. - Oltre mare Tirana- The occupation of Albania in April 1939.

Sources: Das Interessante Blatt. 13 April 1939.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more........................

The Operation O.M.T. - Oltre mare Tirana- The occupation of Albania in April 1939.

Sources: Das Interessante Blatt. 13 April 1939.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more........................

The Operation O.M.T. - Oltre mare Tirana- The occupation of Albania in April 1939.

Sources: http://www.finn.it/regia/html/seconda_g ... iale03.htm.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little more........................

The Operation O.M.T. - Oltre mare Tirana- The occupation of Albania in April 1939.

Sources: http://www.akg-images.com/archive/-2UMDHUFS4WYJ.html.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Idomeneas]

Hi guys,
I have a question regarding the 131 Centauro division in Albania.
Is there any knowledge of the distribution of units of this division by 28 October 1940, when Italy attacked Greece?
I think not all of tank battalions participated in the attack and they were equipped with CV33 tankettes.
Later on February 1941 the first M13 tank were detected in the battlefield.
So is there any info about the order of battle of this division and if M-13 tanks were stationed in Albania before 28 October 1940?

Thank you in advance
Idomeneas

[Dili]

No M13-40 at 28 October 40. IV Battaglione Carri M arrived in Albania in 15 November 40, was being trained for Africa deployment. Then was attached to Centauro but it is unclear when, i have some information of only in February 41. Anyway the division after the invasion debacle seems to have been employed split with units - tankettes - reinforcing the front where it was needed so it makes sense that was only in February when it was reorganised and at that got that IV Battalion. So the IV battalion was also probably independent until February.

Initially it seems to have been emplyoed in atack against Kalibaki(sp.?) with only tankettes. Why it wasn't employed in litoral group is for me very strange since it would been much more mobile and probably more effective.

Centauro maybe with that M13-40 battalion later made a good job attacking Yugoslav defensive positions.

[Idomeneas]

Thank you Dili for your information.
Do you know the exact disposition and order of battle of 131 division by 28 October 1940, because according to some Greek sources not all battalions were deployed in the Greco-Albanian borders.

Idomeneas

[Kelvin]

What was the reaction of Britain and France on this invasion ? As they were just suprised by German occupation of Czech territories and establishment of Slovak republic in March 1939 and then, German ally did the same thing in next month.

[Dili]

Unfortunately no detail, disposition from the Coast: Littoral cavalry group and then Corpo d'Armata Ciamura(Renamed XXV Corpo 17 November) with Ferrara and Siena Divisions, it seems Centauro was in this Corps but apparently behind not in front of them.

This is a map from 18 November so more than 2 weeks later.

[Idomeneas]

Thank you Dili.
Regarding the case of British and French reaction that Kelvin asks, after a few days (13th April if I remember well), both British and French governements provided guarantees to Romania and Greece to prevent a potential axis action in the region.

Idomeneas

[Kelvin]

Hi, Idomeneas, thank for your answer. Given geographic location, Greek safety was threatened. But Romania was too far for Italy or Germany.

[jwsleser]

Centauro on 28 October 1940.

The Centauro was assigned to the corpo d’armata Ciamuria. In the corps plan, Centauro was in the second line (reserve) and was responsible for supporting the divisione Ferrara and for seizing the Perati Bridge by coup de main. The main part of the division was staging in the Drino valley, with a part in the Vojussa valley.

The division formed the colonna Solinas in the first line. The colonna was on the extreme left of the corps. This column would seize the Ponte di Perati. The column consisted of:
-Comando 5° bersaglieri
-XIV btg. bers. autoporto
-III/31° carristi
-II/1a legion cc.nn. albanesi
-cp. del XXII btg. bers. motociclisti
-I/131° artigieria da 75/27
-btr. 20mm c.a.
-XIX gr. da 149/35 from the 26° artiglieria
-268a btr. da posizione da 149/35

Colonna centrale had a cp. del XXII btg. bers. motociclisti.

The remainder of the unit remained under the command of the division in the second line.

Pista! Jeff

[Idomeneas]

Thanks jwsleser for the info about Centauro,

Do you have any details about action of limited number of Italian L3/33 the first days of war against (I think) Ponte of Perati?

Idomeneas