Skanderbeg SS collar tabs

[Landstorm]

Hi, first I would like to say im new in the Axis History Forum and its my first topic and my english is not the best. I am very interested on the SS division Skanderbeg and their Insignia but my problem is I dont know which collar tabs they wore, did they wore the normal SS collar tabs or the collar tabs with the goat head made specially for the divison? There are only a few pictures of soldiers of this divison and on none of this pictures I can see which collar tabs they wore, I even saw a picture of a soldier who didnt wore a collar tab. Can anybody help me in this topic? And maybe someone had pictures of soldiers they wear the goat collar tabs?

[Ivan Ž.]

Hello, Landstorm, and

The known images of the "Skanderbeg" Division generally show men without collar tabs. There are several early images showing some of the men wearing 13th SS Division's collar tabs, and those were former members of the 13th SS Division's "Albanian Battalion" (which formed nucleus of the "Skanderbeg" Division). A special collar tab for the "Skanderbeg" Division (depicting Skanderbeg's helmet) was definitely made, but I've never found proof that it was actually issued to the troops and used. Some of the German personnel, as usual, wore Sigrunen tabs.

Examples: 1) field uniform with a 13th SS Division's collar tab (former member of the Albanian Battalion); 2) drill uniform without collar tabs (another former member of the Albanian Battalion); 3) field uniform without collar tabs; 4) camo uniform without collar tabs.

Skanderbeg.jpg

Photo sources: NARA, HGM, Sayer, ECPAD.

Cheers,
Ivan

[Landstorm]

Thanks for the answer, but I have a second question what for a collar tab wear the Sturmmann in the back of the picture? Its not the normal SS collar tab and not the collar tab of the 13th SS division Handschar. Source: Reddit

[Ivan Ž.]

That image has nothing to do with the "Skanderbeg" Division and it was originally posted 20 years ago on this very forum (here) by late Phil Nix. The corpulent officer in the foreground is Karl von Krempler (SSPF Sandschak) and the armed civilians are his militiamen (Krempler Legion).

The soldier in the background is a "Prinz Eugen" man, with an Odal rune collar tab.

PE.jpg

Photo source: O. Kumm, 7. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen" im Bild.

Cheers,
Ivan

[Ivan Ž.]

I forgot to mention that it wouldn't be strange if "Skanderbeg" men never received their collar tabs. For example, the previous Balkan SS division, "Handschar", received collar tabs eight months after its formation began. And the "Skanderbeg" existed for only six months, getting disbanded before its formation was even completed. So it's possible that the collar tabs were manufactured shorty before the unit was disbanded, thus never reaching the troops. Of course, this is still just a theory, based on the lack of opposing evidence.

Cheers,
Ivan

[balkanguy44]

Hello, Landstorm, and

The known images of the "Skanderbeg" Division generally show men without collar tabs. There are several early images showing some of the men wearing 13th SS Division's collar tabs, and those were former members of the 13th SS Division's "Albanian Battalion" (which formed nucleus of the "Skanderbeg" Division). A special collar tab for the "Skanderbeg" Division (depicting Skanderbeg's helmet) was definitely made, but I've never found proof that it was actually issued to the troops and used. Some of the German personnel, as usual, wore Sigrunen tabs.

Examples: 1) field uniform with a 13th SS Division's collar tab (former member of the Albanian Battalion); 2) drill uniform without collar tabs (another former member of the Albanian Battalion); 3) field uniform without collar tabs; 4) camo uniform without collar tabs.
Skanderbeg.jpg
Photo sources: NARA, HGM, Sayer, ECPAD.

Cheers,
Ivan

Hello, Ivan

Is it doable for you to share the whole images of 3 and 4 (beginning from the left)?

I would be grateful for it.

Best,

BG44