THE ALBANIAN ARMY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R002000840007-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 1, 2001
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: November 18, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

CLASSIFICATION CONFID AL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
COAEREM82-0045PRO0200081A
IN FOR MATION RPORT
CONSIDIENr*
Approved For Rejoaslea
COUNTRY Albania
SU BJ ECT The Albanian Army
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PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE orfl
'THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT SD
IL $, , 31 AND 32. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION on THE REVELATION
ItY ifs CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO-
MkBITED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED Mt:M-
ATER. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN BODY OF THE FORM MAY BE UTILIZED
A, ._ats tc! nvissany BY THE RECEIVING AGENCY
neral Military Information
-
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DATE DISTR. 18 November 1948
\-t
NO. OF PAGES 4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION FOR THE RESEARCH
USE OF TRAINED INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS
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This document is he7eby regraded to
CONFIDENTIAL in acco:dance with the
letter of 16 October 1c.73 from the
Director of Central Inte gence to the
Archivist of the United f.3tatcl3.
Next Review Date: 2008
The organization of the Albanian infantry is as follows:
a. The squad consists of 8-10 riflemen, 6 mortar men with one 82 ram
1Ortar, 6 machine gunners with one "Max" machine gun weighing
kilograms, of which 4 kilograms are water. The total strength
- is 2042 men.
b. The platoon consists of two squads, total strength 40-44 men.
c. The company consists of 60 riflemen, 36 mortar men, and 36 machine
gunners, six 82 mm mortars, six %lax.' machine guns. Total strength
is ,132 men. Comment: Evidently the company consists of
'three platoons. 25X1A
L. The battalion 00n#Otte or three companies of riflemen, one company
of Mortars, one company of heavy machine guns, one anti-tank platoon,
platoon of sub-machine gunners, and one platoon of transport.
battalion will number 150 ri4pmen, 36 mortar men, 36 machine
bft, 12 men with six anti-tank rifles, 12 men with 12 sub-
ne guns, 12 men carrying a portable wireless and telephone,
the total strength is about 300 men.
14 The z-eiment consists of three battalions. In addition to the
Orem h of three battalions, each regiment includes 100 other men,
?? *PPm Our pieces of mountain artillery and four mortars of 103
n 0
-de a 10 or 107 mm.
1( 8 4 4
grI
0
3
2. All the old armament of the Albanian Army consisted of weapons of varying3
origin (Italian, Greek, British or German). It has been replaced with '1
new and uniform weapons of Russian manufacture. 4
3. That this rearmament has been completed is confirmed, at least for the
units of the Albanian Army in the regions south o?lbasan. The mortars
the machine guns, the anti-tank cannon, and the antiaircraft guns also z
are of Soviet manufacture,
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L. The Army rifles rust easily. The slightest moisture will cause rust in
the barrel- After five to eight shots these rifles have to be cleaned
_because of oxidation, Regulations require the soldier to clean
le twice a day.
The ArWhae Portable wireless seta only at the battalion bases. Com-
tnniCatdOns between companies are carried by messengers.
aari Army is not supplied with a uniform style of clothing. The
' are, supplied with Yugoslav uniforms of poor quality; they are
rn because they have not been replaced for more than a year.
officers have uniforms or the same type and of good quality.
f TWelaY VanufaCtUrOLUexe been repaired and are used as shoes.
and other ertiOles sent by UNRRA into Albania were never dis-
c the,people but are being used to fill the needs of the Army;
of the border-guard are still using UNRRA. supplies.
4, ratiqrL of the soldier at present is 700 grams of bread and 20
of meat per dAy, The bread iu a Mixture of corn, barley, rye and
to flow. The ration of 20 grams of meat was established after the
nia.Qn" of liveste0c an 11 May 1948. Before relations were
Offeen Tito and Hoxba# 1000 grams of bread were given daily.
after the break the, ration droPped to 600 grams, but has since
/00 grams. The enlisted men are becoming dissatisfied, be-
cause the officers eat very well.
8. The proport4onof Co nit in the Albanian Army does not exceed 10 percent.
The mgority of the officers, however, are members of the Communist Party.
There are, however, officers, especially in the lower ranks, who are not
Communists.
9- The ArzW-ie confined to barrack enclasu
Sun dAY and for two hours only.
. Fraternizing of soldiers with civilians, particularly near the borders,
is forbidden.
and leave is granted only on
-spite the terrorism practiced by the convinced Communists in the Am,
majority of the troops succeed in avoiding them; within their barracks
ceMMent adversely on the regime and on their Communist officers. A
effort 14 being made by the officers to persuade the Army to fight
n caSe of an a-01,4-.441, uGrcaL lig:011.1-cho-fasoistl#*
12. Recently- Albanian soldiers have been fleeing into Yugoslavia, which they
no longer Consider to be A Communist country but rather as friendly to the
Western powers. This is the result of the propaganda of the Albanian
Govermmt which represents Tito as a traitor sold out to the Anglo-American
Imperialists'
13. The Albanian Army does not have its own means of transportation, but it
weep the automobiles which Were "nationalized" and taken from private
citizens. It 41O0 uses those furnished by UNRRA which are exploited by
a State service under semi-military regulations. There is a great shortage
of tires giad ?10-re ku't4-*
Loc15. Milt& 'Informat
lb, A division Of the Albanian Army is based in Korce. This division consists
of three infantry regiments and one artillery regiment. The Con4er is
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Colonel Netzil Meltsani; the Commissar is Elaftherios Kasnetsis, who has
the rank of Lt. Colonel and who is the liaison of the Albanian Government
with the Headquarters of the Greek guerrillas*
15. The regiments and units belonging to the division at Korce are the following:
a. 26 Infantry Regiment, based at Pogradets and designated as military
unit no, 511.
b. 14 Infantry Regiment, permanently based at Korce; designated as military
unit 570..'
-9 Infantry Regiment, permanently based at Korce; designated as military%
unit 569*
d. Regiment of mountain artillery, permanently based at Korce.
e. Unit of engineers.
f. Transportation unit based in the brewery at Korce (outside the city of
Korce on the road towards the village of Boria).
16. All the strength of the division at Korce, except 26 Regiment, has been
spread along the Greek-Albanian border from,Leskoviki to Lake PresP4 to
reinforce the Greek-Albanian border but hvt been moved towards the Albano-
Yugoslav border to reinforce the Albanian border guard there. These move-
ments were made after the Greek AMY began its attack against the guerrillas,
particularly during the month of Augusto
17. The '9 Infantry. Regiment has been spread out in the Sinitsa,Ereeka sector
and has its base in the of Flioki. The 9 Regiment consists of three
ttalione., 25, 38 and 75.- The regimental commander is Lt. Colonel MUharem
OcUX44 the Commissar is Major F. Themelko, brother of General Hristo
Themelko. The 38 Battalion is commanded by Major Midat kodin (or Kontia),
and its Cc:Masser is Masa Repo. The battalion is encamped on the heights
of the village of Dards.,
18. The base of the regiment of mountain artillery at Korce until 30 September
1948 was at the village of Bobositsa.
19. Fortifications are being,constructed all along the Greek-Albanian border.
The work is being done by the troops spread along the border. These forti-
fications =mist of trenches and dugouts covered with tree trunks* These
tree trunks are placed in layers crosswise; the number of layers depends on
the thickness Of the trees, i.e. 2 to 4 layers. In places Willch can be
seen front Greek_guard.rposts occupied by Greek national forces, the work is
carried on, at night, bymonnlight when there is any; in other places which
cannot be seen by the Greek troops the work is done in the daytime.
k -
20. Fortifications are also being constructed in the pass of Tsakoni. This work
is being done by the "volunteer labor" of hundreds of Worthern-Epirotes from
Korce. 'Headquarters of those working on the fortifications of Tsakoni is the
village of Zimblak.
21. Ammunition dumps are located at:
church of Agia Triada (outside Korce, near the barracks).
Church of Agios Athanasiosjen the height above Korce).
b.
c. House below the Korce brewery, to the left as one goes up to the village
of Byria.
d. Church of Agios Petros in the village of Darda. This is the regimental
WiltrAttom, store,
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. House located above the village of Darda, on the road toward the
village of Bobuitsa.
f. At a distance of 50-100 meters from the last house in the city of
aKorce and on the right of the highway to Viglista is a gasoline
dump. It is below the hill called Malli i Thate" (sic).
g.'To the right of the village of Vithkuki and at a distance of five or
six %ilometers is an ammunition dump and also a hospital for Greek
guerrillas.
22. The military hospital of Korce is located on the road to Pogradetz, to
the ie.ttL as one goes from Korea towards the sugar refiner.
23. The hospital built by the Italians and used by the Italian troops during
theocoup 4
ation and located to the right as one goes up towards the village
of Boris., and below the Korce brewery, is now used as a civilian hostilltal.
24. In the civilian hospital above Korea, near the Korce gymnasium, Greek
guerrillas receive treatment.
25. Anti-aircraft guns are Iodated as follows;
Outside the Korce barracks on the road to Erseka and in an qpple,orchard,
there are four anti-aircraft gannon.
On the hill of the Cher& of Prophet Elias (above Korce) there is one
antiaircraft cannon,
. On the hill called Malli i Thated, there is one anti-aircraft cannon.
26. In the city of Elbasan a regiment of field artillery is based.
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