Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

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Ivan Ž.
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Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

#1

Post by Ivan Ž. » 08 Nov 2018, 15:21

[Split from Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos and recaptioned by this moderator - DT.]
balkanguy44 wrote:
08 Nov 2018, 15:10
Hello,

I have found something interesting. This photo shows (future) members of the SS "Skanderbeg" Division performing a traditional dance, but do you see the soldier (Gebirgsjäger) behind them? His collar tabs look like he is one of the Albanians who served in the Handschar.
image.jpg
Source: https://www.kriegsberichter-archive.com ... ategory/38
Correct. That's a former member of the 13th SS Division's Albanian Battalion, a unit that formed nucleus of the 21st SS Division.

Cheers,
Ivan
Last edited by Ivan Ž. on 09 Nov 2018, 04:03, edited 2 times in total.

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Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

#2

Post by balkanguy44 » 08 Nov 2018, 17:02

Ivan Ž. wrote:
08 Nov 2018, 15:21
Correct. That's a former member of the 13th SS Division's Albanian Battalion, a unit that formed nucleus of the 21st SS Division.

Cheers,
Ivan
Hello, Ivan

Do you know any “famous” Albanian NCO or officer of the Albanian Battalion of the Handschar Division?
Cheers,
BG44


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Ivan Ž.
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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#3

Post by Ivan Ž. » 08 Nov 2018, 18:24

Hello, balkanguy44

I don't know anyone famous, but perhaps our fellow-member DFrolov1992 might fill you in regarding some interesting ones, since he's been researching the unit for quite a while now. But - bare in mind that that would be a topic for a new thread...

Cheers,
Ivan

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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#4

Post by balkanguy44 » 08 Nov 2018, 19:58

Hello, Ivan

Thanks anyway.:)

DFrolov1992,

Do you know anyone?
Cheers,
BG44

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FransN
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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#5

Post by FransN » 09 Nov 2018, 00:13

Hello BalkanGuy & Ivan
I./Rgt. 28 was called the "Albanerbataillon". It did not have a 1. Kp. It formed part of the "Handschar" Division until 13.04.1944. From 01.05.1944 it formed III./Rgt. 51 of the new "Skanderbeg" Division.
I have the following names in my archive:
Hstuf. Walter Bormann (* 05.08.1897), CO of I./28 01.08.1943 - 13.04.1944
Ustuf. Alfred Schrader (* 16.05.1907), IIa/Btl. iV. 03.1944 - 04.1944
Ostuf. Wilhelm Pöhlmann (* 06.02.1910), IVa/Btl. in 09.1943
Ostuf. Günther Jahn (* 24.01.1903), IVa/Btl. until 13.04.1944
Ustuf. Dr. Alexander Haeffner (* 25.06.1918) in 03.1944
Ustuf. Karl Lehmann, Chef 2./28 in 10.1943
Hstuf. Heinz Driesner (* 21.11.1916), Chef 2./28 in 1944
Ostuf. Hans Lösch (* 26.07.1915), Chef 3./28 in 01.1944
Ostuf. Heinz Weiss (* 15.07.1910), Chef 4.(MG)/28 until 13.04.1944
Ostuf. Walter Schaumüller (* 06.08.1920), Chef 5.(s.)/28 on 12.04.1944
Ostuf. Fritz Haug (* 17.05.1920), Chef 6.(Streif)/28
Ustuf. Dr. Hans Friesenhahn (* 25.09.1914), unknown position in the Btl.
Ostuf. Heinrich Gaese (* 02.01.1907), if at all, unknown position in the Btl.
Ustuf. Erich Hümmer (* 24.05.1917), unknown position in the Btl.
Ustuf. Walter Katzke (* 02.02.1922), unknown position in the Btl.
@ DFrolov1992: Please check these names and add more if you know them.
Regards,
Frans

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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#6

Post by FransN » 09 Nov 2018, 00:15

I forgot: Haeffner was the IVb of I./28
Frans

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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#7

Post by Ivan Ž. » 09 Nov 2018, 00:21

A note to the host / moderators: posts from #219 (post by balkanguy44 » 08 Nov 2018 17:02) onwards should be split into a new topic (named, for example, "Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs" or something similar). As I already noted, but I was ignored, the discussion is off-topic in this (photo) thread.

Cheers,
Ivan

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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#8

Post by DFrolov1992 » 09 Nov 2018, 01:42

balkanguy44 wrote:
08 Nov 2018, 17:02
Ivan Ž. wrote:
08 Nov 2018, 15:21
Correct. That's a former member of the 13th SS Division's Albanian Battalion, a unit that formed nucleus of the 21st SS Division.

Cheers,
Ivan
Hello, Ivan

Do you know any “famous” Albanian NCO or officer of the Albanian Battalion of the Handschar Division?
Hello

If you create a separate discussion, I can give you the necessary information.

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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#9

Post by balkanguy44 » 09 Nov 2018, 06:52

Ivan Ž. wrote:
09 Nov 2018, 00:21
A note to the host / moderators: posts from #219 (post by balkanguy44 » 08 Nov 2018 17:02) onwards should be split into a new topic (named, for example, "Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs" or something similar). As I already noted, but I was ignored, the discussion is off-topic in this (photo) thread.

Cheers,
Ivan
Hello, Ivan

I’m sorry for my mistake.
Cheers,
BG44

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Re: Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

#10

Post by balkanguy44 » 09 Nov 2018, 06:54

Hello, FransN

Thank you.

DFrolov1992,

Do you know an Albanian one?
Cheers,
BG44

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Re: Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

#11

Post by DFrolov1992 » 09 Nov 2018, 09:41

balkanguy44 wrote:
09 Nov 2018, 06:54
Hello, FransN

Thank you.

DFrolov1992,

Do you know an Albanian one?
Hello!

In the Albanian battalion only one Albanian SS officer served - SS-Untersturmführer Suleiman Daса. He was the son of the district commander in Novi-Pazar and was among the first volunteers of the Albanian battalion. In May 1944 he was transferred to Scanderbeg. It is known that Daса was among the units of the Bormann SS combat group who fought on the Albanian-Montenegrin border in mid-June 1944. It is also known that he was the commander of a special company created from among former soldiers (Muslim Slavs of the Dezhivsky srez) in the Tutin area. Another Albanian SS officer was a volunteer from southern Albania, the personal translator of SS-Staf. August Schmidhuber SS-Hauptsturmführer Thela Dezg, who had a university degree. In addition, among the Albanians were NCOs and soldiers awarded with German military awards.

KWK II Kl. mit. schw.

1) SS-Sturmann Mustafa Trtovac and SS-Jager Mustafa Zelman (Former albanian battalion in division "Scanderbeg" III./2)

2) SS-Uscha. Husnu Mustafa Yusuf and SS-Jager Ali Ibrahim (1. San. Kp)

3) SS-Oscha. Mustafa Grdzo (1. Kr.Tr. Kp)

Eisener Kreuz II Kl.

1) SS-Sturmann Nazir Hodic (I./28)

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Re: Some SS "Handschar" photo-infos

#12

Post by DFrolov1992 » 09 Nov 2018, 10:49

FransN wrote:
09 Nov 2018, 00:13
Hello BalkanGuy & Ivan
I./Rgt. 28 was called the "Albanerbataillon". It did not have a 1. Kp. It formed part of the "Handschar" Division until 13.04.1944. From 01.05.1944 it formed III./Rgt. 51 of the new "Skanderbeg" Division.
I have the following names in my archive:
Hstuf. Walter Bormann (* 05.08.1897), CO of I./28 01.08.1943 - 13.04.1944
Ustuf. Alfred Schrader (* 16.05.1907), IIa/Btl. iV. 03.1944 - 04.1944
Ostuf. Wilhelm Pöhlmann (* 06.02.1910), IVa/Btl. in 09.1943
Ostuf. Günther Jahn (* 24.01.1903), IVa/Btl. until 13.04.1944
Ustuf. Dr. Alexander Haeffner (* 25.06.1918) in 03.1944
Ustuf. Karl Lehmann, Chef 2./28 in 10.1943
Hstuf. Heinz Driesner (* 21.11.1916), Chef 2./28 in 1944
Ostuf. Hans Lösch (* 26.07.1915), Chef 3./28 in 01.1944
Ostuf. Heinz Weiss (* 15.07.1910), Chef 4.(MG)/28 until 13.04.1944
Ostuf. Walter Schaumüller (* 06.08.1920), Chef 5.(s.)/28 on 12.04.1944
Ostuf. Fritz Haug (* 17.05.1920), Chef 6.(Streif)/28
Ustuf. Dr. Hans Friesenhahn (* 25.09.1914), unknown position in the Btl.
Ostuf. Heinrich Gaese (* 02.01.1907), if at all, unknown position in the Btl.
Ustuf. Erich Hümmer (* 24.05.1917), unknown position in the Btl.
Ustuf. Walter Katzke (* 02.02.1922), unknown position in the Btl.
@ DFrolov1992: Please check these names and add more if you know them.
Regards,
Frans
Dear Frans

Heinrich Gaese was an officer of the division headquarters (Abt. VI - Div.-Propagandazug) and had no relation to the Albanian battalion. On April 16, 1944, Sauberzweig informed Berger of his intention to appoint Gaese the commander Abt. VI. The battalion veterinarian (IVc), according to Mr. Lepre, was Dr. Noll (title unknown). Walter Katzke was a platoon commander in the battalion. I also recommend that you see the name of SS Untersturmführer Julius Kaesdorf.

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Re: Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

#13

Post by FransN » 09 Nov 2018, 11:25

Thanks!
The reason that I mentioned Heinrich Gaese in my list is an entry in John P. Moore's "Führerliste der Waffen-SS", showing him as in I./28 in February 1944.
I forgot to list Noll in my list, but do have him in my archive. The source is again Moore: Ustuf. Peter Noll (* 13.05.1908, St. Andres/Banat) in I./28 (without further specification of his position) in June 1944. Since the "Albanerbataillon" left the "Handschar" Division already in April 1944, this may imply at least two things: Either Moore is inaccurate with the June date and Noll was indeed in the "Albanerbataillon". Or Noll served in the resurrected (new) I./28.... Maybe George Lepre can tell us? Anyway Peter Noll is also listed with the "Prinz Eugen" Division in February 1945. BTW Moore also lists an Ustuf. Fritz Noll (* 31.07.1921) in the "Handschar" Division (no further subunit specification) in June 1944....
Moore also lists Ustuf. Julius Kaesdorf (* 10.11.1914, Németfölg/Ungarn) in the "Prinz Eugen" Division in June 1943, but remains silent about his alleged role in "Handschar", or I./28 in particular. Zvonimir Bernwald mentions Kaesdorf as Gräberoffizier in Abt. VI of the divisional staff. Any source that links Kaesdorf to I./28?
Regards,
Frans

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Re: Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

#14

Post by balkanguy44 » 09 Nov 2018, 11:32

Hello, DFrolov1992

Thank you ver much again.

I never heard of any of them except Nazir Hodic.
The interesting thing about Nazir is that his last name sounds very Bosnian.
Cheers,
BG44

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Re: Albanian Battalion officers and NCOs

#15

Post by DFrolov1992 » 09 Nov 2018, 13:42

balkanguy44 wrote:
09 Nov 2018, 11:32
Hello, DFrolov1992

Thank you ver much again.

I never heard of any of them except Nazir Hodic.
The interesting thing about Nazir is that his last name sounds very Bosnian.
This is not surprising, his surname probably simply serves as the definition of Нodic in the title nation where he was born and lived. The names of the Albanians became recognizable only after the Second World War. Prior to that, they were driven by the name of the “titular” ethnic group. Thus, in the territory of the former Yugoslavia and Albania (in Golobord, for example) one and the same person, a Muslim Slav from Golobord, could have the surname Osmanovich under the Serbian authorities, under the influence of the Republic of Macedonia on this territory Osmanovski, and in the Republic of Albania Osmani . And he seems to be the name that he considers the most prestigious at this particular moment of communication.

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