1. DEPLOYMENT OF ARMY CORPS 2. 22 INFANTRY REGIMENT, KUKES 3. KUKES AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004800870007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2007
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 1, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET - U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SUBJECT Order of Battle
1. Deployment of Army Corps
2. 22 Infantry Regiment, Kukee.
3. Kukes Airfield
This. material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Ispionege Laws. Title 18. U.S.C. Secs. 70$
and IN. the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner-t an-unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 5: October 1954
NO. OF PAGES 5
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
u i Army Corps of Southern Albania
r y an Army Corps of the South was' established with Headquarters
in Elbasan. The new Army Corps has subordinate brigades in Elbasan and Korce and sub-
ordinate regiments in Ereeke and Pogradec.f*
2. The Korce Brigade is commanded by Major Muharrem Kokomani, who was transferred to
Korce from the Shkoder Brigade in January 1954. The Korce Brigade has three infantry
battalions, an artillery group, an anti-aircraft artillery battery, a signal company, and
an NCO training battalion. During the winter the units of the Korce Brigade are stationed
in the barracks located south of Korce. During the summer they usually move to Voekope and
Vithkug.
3? the Korce Brigade had received
orders xrom, tne Eaean Corps to carry our military training and maneuvers along the Greek
border and to repair the border defenses in that area during the summer of 1954.
u i Army Cores of Northern Albania
4. The Headquarters of the Army Corps of Northern Albania was established in Kruje in
early 195, and.a few months. later it was transferred to Shkoder. The Army Corps consists
of the following units: 22 Infantry Brigade of Shkoder; 21 Infantry Brigade of Burrel; 25
Infantry Regimnt of Kukes (also known as the 5013 Infantry Regiment); and a signal company
and Zbulimi (combat intelligence) company attached to the Headquarters of the Army Corps in
Shkoder.
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STATE X ARMY Fr X NAVY X AIR X !t1
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5? staff sections and offices.=OS the Army Corps of the
North:
Commanding Officer General Arik Askojor 8asko)2
Commissar: Lt. Col. Strato Satoberda
Chief of Staff: Lt. Col. Xhemal Pendavinje
Chief of Operations : Headed by a Major
Commander of Ar,:llery
Chief of the Engineers
Chief of the Signal Section
Chief of the Food Supplies
Chief of Clothing
Chief of Armament
Chief of the Finance Section
Chief of the Zbulimi (combat intel]i&'ence)
Chief of Provieione and Services
Chief of the Sigurimi Section
Agitprop Section
Officer in Charge of the Politburo
Personnel Officer
6. The 22 Infantry Brigade of Shkoder was commanded by Major Muharrem Kokomani until'
January 1954, when he was transferred to Korce. The brigade is made up of three infantry
battalions,,. one artillery group, an anti-aircraft artillery battery,'a NCO training battalion,
and a signal company. During the winter the above units are stationed in the Army barracks
located northeast of Shkoder. During the summer they move to a location about.
north of Shkoder of the right aide of the road leads from Shkoder
should be about
strength of the brigade
3,500 officers and men.
To _;The`Burrel Brigade has the same organization as the Shkoder Brigade. During the {
winter the units of the Barrel Brigade are housed in barracks located in Barrel. During the
summer they move to the Qaf a Stanes area.
Organization of 22 infantry Regiment, Kukes
8. Tae 22 Infantry Regiment has the following units: 12, 93, and 107 infantry battalions;
NC0 training battalion; a 75 mm mountain artillery battery; a 107mm mortar'battery; a signal
company; services (carpenters, tailors, shoemakers, etc.) company; an anti-tank artillery
platoon; a Zbu_ platoon; and a medical section.
The organization of the staff of the 22 Infantry Regiment is as follows:
a. Commander: Major Nebi Malaj3
b.. Commissar: Captain First Class Sotir Peci4
c. Chief of Staff: First Lieutenant Tefik Rues
d. Chief of Operations: Vacant
e. Shef of Artillery.77: First Lieutenant Milto Beleri
f. Commander of Artillery: First Lieutenant Sefer Muca
g. Chief of the Sigurimi: First Lieutenant Josif (lnu
no Officer in Charge of Food Supplies: Unknown
i. -Officer in Charge of Clothing: Second Lieutenant a nu
k. Chief of the Engineers: Captain Second Class Ferit Myftaraj
1
A
.
rmament Officer: First Lieutenant Basri Mengulli
m. Signal Officer: Second Lieutenant Tosun Serani
no Secretary of the Politburo: Captain Kico Ciei
0. Chief of Agitprop: First Lieutenant Viktor Kola
p. Youth Organization Officer: Second Lieutenant Kovi (lnu)
~q. Officer in Charge of the Arms Depot: A Second Lieutenant
r. Personnel Officer: Second Lieutenant Nexhip Bregu
s. Officer in Charge of Provisions and Services: A major
v. Officer in charge of the Club: Second Lieutenant Sherif Malesio
t. Housing Officer: A Captain second clasu
u. Transportation Officer: A Second Lieutenant
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armed with a revolver, but there are none in the Kukee Regiment..
g p
n an
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mm
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ny,
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two companies (recruits) consist of draftee.e serving their time of service, and' the infantry
company (reserve)consiets of reservists ca4ted u ar..two months training.
iri Each of the infantry companies has three infantry platoons and a machine gun platoon.
The strength of the company is 108 men,' 6 officers (commanding officer, commissar, and the
four platoon commanders),, 11 noncommissioned officers, and 91 other enlisted men.
12. Each infantry platoon has three squads, each of which is made up as follows:
a. Squad leader NCO, armed with a sub-machine` gun' or., rifle.
b. Observer vroituse) armed with a cul~-machine gun or rifle
c. Machine gun operator. According to tjrmy regulations he was supposed to be
10. The 12, 93 and 107 Infantry battalions have the following unite: Two infantry
companies (recruits), one infantry company (reserves), one heavy machine gun company, one
ineer latoon The
ta
lat
aka
latoon
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d. Assistant machine gun operator, armed with a rifle
e. Sniper
f. An ammunition bearer
g. Three riflemen
13. The squads were not always complete as described in paragraph 12, but according to
organizational plane,,that ie the way they would be in the event of war.
14. The machine gun platoon of an infantry company has two squads and has the following
personnel: 1 officer, 2 noncommissioned officers, and 10-12 soldiers:.' The platoon' aleoahas
.two Russian Maxim caliber 7.62 machine guns and two mulet Each squad was made up as
follows: A squad leader NCO armed with a sub-machine gun, rifle,, or revolver; machine gun
operator armed with a revolver or sub-machine gun; assistant machine geni operator &*i d with
a"rifle; two ammunition bearers; and a soldier to take care of the mule.
15. The heavy machine gun company of an infantry battlion is made up of three platoons,
each of which has two squads. The company strength is as follows: officers (commanding
officer, commissar, and thred.platoon leaders); 6 noncommiegApfled officers (leader. of the
six squads); and 30 soldiers. The company has six machine guns of Russian make and six
mules. Each squad is made up an follows: Squad leader, armed with a rifle or revolver;
machine gun operator, armed with a revolver; assistant machine gun Operator, armed with a
rifle; two ammunition bearers; and a soldier to take care of the mules'.
16. The 82mm mortar company of an infantry battalion has three platoons, each of which
has two squads. The company has 5 officers (commanding officer, commissar, and three platoon
leaders), 6 noncommissioned officers (squad leaders), 30 soldiers,'6 Russian 82mm mortars,
and 6 mules. Each squad is made up of a squad leader, mortar'operator, assistant mortar
operator, two ammunition bearers, and a soldier who taken care of the mules.
17. The anti-tank platoon of an infantry battalion has one officer, two noncommissioned
officers (squad leaders), eight soldiers, and two anti-tank gunslThe platoon has two
Russian anti-tank guns, but informant cannot describe them.
18. The signal platoon of an infantry battalion has two squads, each' of which has a
squad Ieader (noncommissioned officer) and four soldiers (messengers). The platoon is
commanded by an officer.
19. The engineer platoon of an infantry battalion is, made up of two squads, each of
which has an NCO squad leader and four soldiers. Their equipment consists of shovels,
axes, and virecutters, and they are trained to lay and remove barbed wire obstacles and mines.
20. The NCO training battalion has the following units: Two infantry companies, a heavy
machine gun" company a 82nm mortar company, and a Seekksioni Z arri (Firinggection) made up of
topograpberi, signal personnel, and others. The organization of this battalion resembles that
of the infantry battalions, but it has fewer personnel.
21. The 75mm mountain artillery battery is made up of two artillery platoons (called
eeksion) each of which has two squads. The battery has 4 officers (commanding officer,
commissar, and 2 platoon leaders), 4 noncommissioned officers (I for each of the squads),
30 to 40 soldiers, 4 75mm guns, and 12 mules. Each squad has a leader (a NCO armed with a
sub-machine gun, a gun operator armed also with a rifle, an assistant gun operator armed
with a rifle, and six to eight soldiers to handle ammunition and take care of the mules.
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2Z.. The 107i;'m mortar battery has three platoons (called seksion) each of which has
two squads. The company hag 5 officers (commanding officer.,
g , commissar and: 3 platoon leaders)
6 noncommissioned officers (s d leaders), 36 soldiers, 6 107mm Russian mortars, and 12
mules.
men. The telephone platoon lays the wire for and maintains all the telephones of the
23'. The signal company has a wireless platoon and a telephone platoon. It hag~,1 o'ticers
(commanding officer, commissar, and 2 platoon leaders), 6 noncommissioned officers,"30 to 35
soldiers, and 4 wireless sets. The wireless platoon has 4 portable wireless sets and 15
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reinvent and Operates he telephones are of Soviet
24..'The anti-tank artillery platoon has 1 officer, 2 noncommissioned officer (squad
leaders),15 soldiers, 2 anti-tank guns and 2 GM trucks. The guns are of Russian mapufacture
and informant estimates that they are larger than 45mm caliber, and estimates that the barrel
is about three meters long.
25. The Zbulimi platoon is a special unit trained in the techniques of capturing
prisoners, using a knife to kill, etc. The platoon is made up of an officer platoon leader,
three squad leaders, and 18 men. The men of the Zbulimi platoon must be of good physique and
loyal to the Communist regime.
26. The services RbrapaviJes - behind the lines (rear area?] company ~. has six drivers,,
three or four shoemakers, two tailors, eight musicians (theregimental band), two b~'lacksmiths,
and five horse cart drivers.
27. The engineer platoon 2 officers} 3 noncommissioned officers (squad leaders),
and 16-18 soldiers. Each of the three squads has 5-6 men., The platoon has supplies of mines,
28. The anti-tank rifle platoon has 1 officer, 3 noncommissioned fficers (leaders of
th
-
e threes uade
l2-l1 soldiers, and 3 anti-tank rifles. the rifles
were brought from the Soviet Union.
29. The anti-aircraft machine gun platoon has 1 officer, 3 noncommissioned officers
(leaders of the three squads), 18 soldiers, 3 anti-aircraft machine guns`, and 3 mules. The
unit was armed with Russian machine guns until 1952, when they re replaced with German
machine 'guns.
30.I the medical section
has one doctor.
31. Until September 1953 there was one Russian officer, a mayor, assigned as an advisor
to the Headquarters of the Kukes Regiment. In September the number of Russians was
increased to five, two assigned to he Headquarters and one to each of the battalions.
Kukes Airfield
32. The airfield of Kukes consists of a portion of the plain which has not been
cultivated. The field has no runways or any other installations. During the winter of 1952,
when General Petrit Dume was on an inspection trip in the Kukes area. re bl.ked
with snow and Dume was not able to return to Tirana by car. he cabled
Tirana for a plane to bring him back, but the plane was not sent because the field could not
be used.
1. There have been several sporadic and unconfirmed reports from border crossers on
the existence of corps headquarters in the Albanian army. This is the first
relatively complete report received on the disposition and composition of army corps.
2. General Asko (or Hasko) was reported in 1952 as a colonel who was formerly
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commanding officer of the 8 Infantry Division in'Korce. on 24'Fbbruary 1954,
radio Tirana announced his promotion to the rank of major general. Be atteaded
military courses in Tirana under the direction of Soviet officers for a perio
of 4 years.' There have been no reports on his attending military'veboole in the
Soviet Union.
According to Source "shef" is the training and planning officer of a particular
gtaff section While the "commander" directs the troops.
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