MILITARY INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R005800190019-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: June 8, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

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INTELLOFAX 23
;II
16019-2
CLASSIFICATION SE COLTROL ? U. 3. OFFICIALS ONLY
CENTRAL TELIIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Albania
SUBJECT Military Information
25X1A
PLACE
ACQUIP.ED
DATE OF
INFO.
REPORT NO.
CD NO.
25X1A
DATE DISTR. 8 Jtine 1951 25X1
NO. OF PAGES 13
Albanian VilitarEjnformation
The Deputy Minister, of War and Chief of the General Staff is GeneralBeeir
Balluku from Tirane'.
The present total strength of the Allem:Lan Army is estimated at 30,000 men.
Together with the Security Corps (Police, Security Police, B4rder-Guards?
Special Brigades), the number of the armed forces is at most 50,000 men.
25X1 3,, I 'Parliament had discussed redwing the period of
service to the infantry and 24 months for the Border-Guardr,
This has not yet been applied,.
4.. The most recent release of men in the Border-Guard was made on 20 February
1950, when those who had completed 36 months of service were released.
Their places were filled by new recruits taken from the Independent Bri-
gade of Vlone.
5, Three infantry divisions are under the control of the Ministry of War (Gen-
eral Staff), and so are various independent units.. These forces constitute
the purely military forces of the country.
6. All (sic) the present officers of the Albanian Army are Communist Party
members and ex-partisans. There are no officers remaining from the period
prior to the Communist regime, The majority of the present officers gradu-
ated only from the elementary schools and were then trained in the Commun-
ist rall3itary schools. Touegofficer candidates not drawn from the ranks
of former partisans are now studying in theladeMilitary School, but they
have not yet graduated.
25X1
STA
7. 55 percent of the officers are fanatical followers
of the Party; 40 percent are nominal followers of the Party without having
been imbued with Communist ideology and without any significant Communist
activity, while five percent are indifferent to the regime.
8, Only 15-20 percent of the enlisted men are fanatical Communists; the other
80-85 percent are op nts of the regime._
INFEDENTIAL
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platoon of 25 meta only five were fanatical Communists. 25X1A
9. The majority of the dissatisfied soldiers talk about escaping as soon as a
suitable opportunity offers itself. They are held back only by the thought
of the fate of their families and by Communist propaganda which represents
life in the neighboring countries as miserable in the extreme.
/0. There are two military academies in Albania. One is the Zuver School at
Tirane, where frau 1945 to 1948 officers of the partisans, as well as
Political Commissars vere given training for a period of three months. In
the year 1948 regular officers studied there. On 4 Zanuaey 1949.000 regular
and 100 reserve officers graduated. Since 1949 the course of training has
been based on a two-year period. Today the only students are officers
from the rank of warrant officer up to captain, who are attending courses
to further their knowledge of militaey scienoe. All officers have to go
through this school.
11. The instructors are Albanian officers who were trained during 3.945 and /946
in Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union.
22. The aelleats taught are:
a. Political instruction (History of the Soviet Communist Thrty, Internal
and International Situation, Communist Theory in 12 chaptere).
Militaey tactics (individual, squad, platoon, company).
c, Svedish gymnastics,
d, Technical training in modern weapons.
ea, Topography
f. Military regulations.
g, Athletics
Ii, Cammunications (for officers of field grade)
I., Fortifications (tor officers of the engineers)
J. Since 1950 the study of the Russian language has been obligatory, and
is taught by a senior Soviet officer.
19. Officers froza the rank of major and up are sent to the Soviet Union for
further trainiag, Cnly those who are trusted, relatively vell educated
(graduates of the intermediate school), atmolutely healthy and able to
stand the cold are selected, The selection in maw cases was unsuccessful,
particularly as regards trustwortleiness, since a number of officer* were
sent back to Albania under guard before their period of training vas com-
pleted. Same of them were imprisoned, and others were dismissed from the
Army. Informants say that this happened because these officers found the
situation different in the 'OMR from what had been described to them, and
therefore changed their minds and deviated frau the Party line,
ThetadseSohool is located in Tirane where it was established at the be-
ginning of 1947, It has nine grades: four of the elementary school, three
of the intermediate school, and two of the gymnasium. Subjects of element.
m7 and intermediate education are taught during the morning hours, and
military courses are given in the afternoon. The teachers are public school
teachers, gymnasium professors, and officers trained in the Soviet Union.
This school admits those boys who are going to follow a military career,
preferably the children of war casualties, heroes, the poor, and officers.
At present thre are about 1200 students. The graduates are sent to military
schools in the =R and Rumania, and a very smell number vill stay at the
Enver School. After this training they will be appointed officers. At
the establishment of the school, young former partisans and graduates of
the elementary and the intermediate school were admitted,. They studied
for two years in this school, during which time they vent through the sub
-
3"U ?fdFela2gletheffitt4t4AtlitiNogiti0ciginktl36**YbOWI20f 1948
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.ire sent to MU:tug schools in Macau from which they have not yet me
turned.
25X1A
15. In Albania there are no epecial basic training centers for the Army. Re-
cruite vho are called up report to their local recruiting offices vhich im-
mediately send them to the various unite. Those selected as communioatione
troops are sent directly to the Communications Regiment of Tirane; those
selected for the heavy- artillery are sent to the Heavy Artillery Regiment
at Elba:gen. As soon as they Joie the units their training begins, and it
lasts about a year. At the end of the year new recruits Join the unit and
the same train/rig starts all over again for both the old troops and the
new recruits. -Usually about the middle of the period of basic training a
number of enlisted men are selected on the basis of ability or of the Party's
confidence in them to become non-commissioned officer candidates, and they
are sent to the traleing battalions for non-commissioned officers which are
attached to the divisions; after mix vontha'training, when the training of
the less favored enlisted men has been completed, the candidates are ap-
pointed nonecommissioned officers or infantry, =tars, or heavy machine.
gum, and they return to their units.
16. The year is training course for enlisted men is divided into quarters as
follows;
a. First three months: Swedish gymnastics, pildtary courtesy, firing
six cartridges from a distance of 100 meters.
b. Second three months* Battle eeeroises for the squel without artillery,
firing six cartridges from a:distance of 200 meters.
e. Third three maths: Battle emnrcises for the platoon, firing six
cartridges from a distance of 300 meters.
d, Yburth three months: Battle exercises for the company and battalion,
firing six cartridges from a distance of 400 meters. Also during this
three months' period, there are maneuvers of the whole regiment for two
or three dam
During the battle exercises real fire or even blank caetridees are never used.
The training continues regardless of weather conditions for eight hours i
dey. Three tiros a week for tuo hours there are political lectures by the
Commlsears of the battalions. Every day during the school hour there is come
pulsoey teaching of reading and writing for two hours to the miterate sol-
diers.The teaching is done by educated soldiers.
17. In February 1950, there was an increase in the salaries of government em-
ployees, workers, and soldiers, but at the same time the family allowances
and the hardship allowance for officers of the Border-Guard were reduced.
As a result they omne to about the same level (sic). The present pay of the
Border-Guard troops is as follows:
Private: 150 lek
Sergeant: reserve--250 lek, regetlare-2500 lek
First sergeant: 2700 lek
verse sergeant. Class A Narshal: 3790 lek
Warrant Officer; 3900 loks
Second Lieutenant: hem lok
25X1A First Lieutenant: 4100 lek
Captain: 4200 lek
25X1A
la.
19,
the salaries of the senior officers. Whenever a
Junior officer ho/ds a position higher than his rank (e.g, a second lieutenant
commands a compage). he receives a correspondingly higher pay,
the pay scal of the regular Army.
In December 1949 uniforms and shoes for the Amy and Border-Guard arrived from
the WeSR and Czechoslovakia, and distribution of these began immediately. The
clothing from Czechoslovakia included tunics and Erglish-type trousers, which
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25X1A
were issued to the Border-Guard. The shoes yore generally Of poor enerity
and now are worn out. At the same time overcoats of Soviet manufacture
mere distributed to the infantry. The Border-Guard received overcoats of
Czechoslovak and American manufaceure. The American coats had to have
their insignia and buttons removed.
Crejamiti. ?treo h and Armament of_anrW_rtan mpireistiorra
20, The infantry division has Staff mhich =mists of the Commanding Officer,
Commissar, Chief of Staffs Director of the Political Office of the Commun-
ist Party of the Division, Director of Transport and Supply, Director of
Training and Operations, Director of Permonnel, Director of Press and Propa-
ganda, Director of the Security Section of the Division, Director of Engle
peering, Director of Communicatione, Director of Hrgieee, Army Physician
and Director ot Reconnaissance.
21, The division command includes the following:
a, Headouarters Company (clerks, messengers, medical corpsmen, etc).
A physician from the military hoapital at the Division base is
detached to the Headquarters Company.
c. Engineers Company, consisting of four platoons of about twenty-five men
each (total 110 men),
d. Communications Company, divided into two sections: w/i operators and
telephone operators. Each section has three platoons of about 20 men
each (total 130 mon). A Division has eight to ten wireless Betel in-
\
e. Reconnaissance Compeer, consisting of four platoons of about 25 men
each (total 110 men). All of them carry Soviet sub-machine guns with a
drtm magazine holding 72 cartridges, Their mission is the reconnais-
sance of the terrain during the movement of the Division anctalso the
penetration of the area behind the enemy for purposes of reconnaissance.
f, Infantry Company for the security of the Division. It consists of
three platoon, of 25 men each (total of SO Den, including administra-
tive personnel).
g. Battery of A/T artillery, with a strength of about 70 men. It has
four cannon of Soviet type, 45 am., 1942 issue. This battery was added
to the Divisional Command in 1949.
h. School for training select scouts, of unknown strength, They use rifles
of Soviet Moein (sic) type, 18900 issue, with a nagamine holding
five cartridges. Cm of these scouts is assigned to each infantry squad.
Battalion for training non-commissioned officers. This has four COD
panies: two rifle companies, one heavy'Maxim machine-gun compeer,
one mortar company (82 mm. Soviet type mortars). The battalion also
has one platoon of six anti-tank rifles of Simonav type, The total
strength of the training battalion is about 360 men.
j. Band with a strength of 40 men.
22. The division consists of three infantry regiments and one regiment of moun-
tain artilleey.
23. The infantry regiment has its own staff, which has the same composition as
that of the Divisional Staff. The regimental staff has the following mites
a. Headquarters Platoon
b. Transport Platoon. This has one truck, one ambulance, And six two-
wheeled carte,
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e, Engineers Platoon
d, Comunications Platoon, The regiment has three wireless vete and an
unknown number of telephones,
e. Reconnaissance Platoon, assigned in each cane from the Reconnaissance
Company of the Division.
f. Infantry Platoon for the security of the regiment.
. Battery of mountain artillery, with four mountain guns of Italian
types 75133.
Ii,. Battery of mortars, with four mortars, 1071mm. of Soviet type.
le Battery of anti-tank artillery with four guns of Soviet type, 45 mm?,
1942 issue, This was added in 1949.
j. Platoon with six anti-tank rifles of Simonet, type,
24. The infantry regiment has three infantry battalions.
25. Each infantry battalion has a staff composed of theeeementUng Officer,
Commissar, Chief of Staff, Secretary of the Political Office of the Com-
munist Party of the Battalion Officer for Transport and Supply, Officer
of the Security Section Cmominications Officer, and non-commissioned offi-
cer who is chief medical corpoman4
264 The infantry battalion command has the following units:
a. Headquarters Platoon consisting of sub-machine gunners (Soviet type sub-
machine guns with magazine holding 72 cartridges). They are used for
the security of the battalion and also as messengers.
b4 Transport platoon with two two-wheeled carts and seven pack animals,
c. Comuunications Platoon with one wireless set assigned by the regiment
and several telephones.
25X1A
d, Platoon with six anti-tank rifles of Simonov type.
27 The infantry battalion consists of five infantry companies, i.e., three com-
panies of riflemen, one mortar company, one heavy (Maxim) machine-gun con-
28, Each rifle company consists of three platoons and each platoon of three
squads,
29. The composition and armament of each squad is as follows:
a, Sergeant (squad leader) armed with a rifle of Soviet type with a short
barrel and a magazine holding five cartridges.
b. Private, observer armed with a rifle of Soviet type (sate as a, above).
c. Private, sub-machine gunner, with a D.R. (sic) subemachine gun of Soviet
type with a drum holding 25 cartridges.
d.. Private, sub-machine gun loader, carrying a rifle of Soviet type, with
a short barrel and a magazine holding five cartridges,
Private, select scout, with a rifle of Soviet type, Mein (sic),
1891.30 issue, with telescopic sights.
f. Private, carries supplies and ammunition; has a rifle of Soviet type,
(like a, above).
a. Private, liaison, with rifle (like a, above)
h. Private, rifleman, with rifle (like a. above).
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25X1A
In time of emergency each soldier carries 10 cartridges and two hand-grenades
(one defensive and one offensive type); there are 12 drums for the sub.
machine gun.
30. Including the commanding officer the platoon has a total strength of 25 men.
31. The command of the company includes the Commanding Officer, the Commissar,
a non-commissioned officer who serves as aide, one enlisted_ man as aide, and
one enlisted man as messenger,
32. The rifle company has a total strength of 80 men.
33. The mortar company consists of three platoons and each platoon consists of
three "elements". The composition and armament of a mortar "element" is the
following:
a. Sergeant (leader of mortar "element"), carrying
short barrel, magazine holding five cartridges;
b. Private, mortar after; carries barrel of mortar
type,
Private, assistant aimer; carries biped of mortar and a rifle of Soviet
type (like a. above).
0,
a rifle of Soviet type,
also carries binoculars.
and a pistol of Soviet
d. Private,
supply a'
(like a. above).
e. Private,
supply
(like a, above),
f. Private, supply cl, carries box of ammendAlonamd rifle of Soviet type
(like a. above).
g. Private, supply dD, carries box of ammunition and rifle of Soviet type
(like a, above),
h. Private, mule delver, carries rifle of Soviet type (like a, above),
In time of emergency those men carry the same number of cartridges and hand-
renades as the non of the rifle 63/C11.161
34. The mortar platoon has three mortars, 82 nem Soviet type. The mortar com-
pany has a total of nine mortars and a total of nine mules. The mortar
company has a total strength of 80 men.
35. The machine gun company consists of three platoons, and each platoon of
three squads. The composition and armament of the machine gun squad is as
follows:
carries base of mortar and a rifle of Soviet type
carries box of ammunition and rifle of Soviet type
Sergeant (squad leader), carrying rifle of Soviet type with short bar-
rel and magazine holding five cartridges
b, Private, aimer of machine gun, carries barrel and pistol of Soviet type.
c. Private, assistant aimer, carries base with 'wheels and a rifle of Soviet
type (like a, above).
d. Private, assistant after, carries shield and a rifle of Soviet type
(like a, above).
e, Private, supply al, carries box of ammunition and rifle of Soviet type
(like a, above).
f. Private, supply bl, carries box of ammunition and rifle of Soviet type
(like a. above).
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g. Private, supply cl, carries boot of ammunition and rifle of Soviet type
(like a, above).
h. Private, mule driver, carries rifle of Soviet type (like a. above),
These men carry the same number of cartridges and hand-grenades (as mentioned
above), and the machine gun has ten belts of 250 cartridges each. The pla-
toon has three Soviet type Maxim machine guns, and the machine gun company
has a total of nine machine guns and a total of nine mules. The machine gun
company has a total strength of SO men.
36. The total strength of an infantry battalion is 510 men, of an infantry regi-
ment, 1940 men.
25X1A
37. The regiment of mountain artillery has a staff with the same composition as
that of the infantry regiment. The command of the mountain artillery regi-
ment has the following units:
a. Battery Headquarters with two mountain guns and two 107 mm. mortars.
b. Transport Platoon with one truck and eight pack animals,
c. Communications Company with a strength of 50 nen. It has two or three
wireless sets and an unknown number of telephones.
d. Battery for training mon-commissioned officers; this has two mountain guns
and two 107 mm. mortars,
e. Platoon for training in direction finders (sic - direct plotting?)
38. The battalion of mountain artillery has three qloira" (units). One of these
has mountain guns of Soviet type, 76.2 mm., 1938 issue, and there are two
"Nara" of 107 mm. mortars of Soviet type.
39. The artillery "Moira" has a staff composed of the Commandiqg Officer, the Com-
missar Chief of Staff, Supply and Transport Officer, Security Officer, and a
non-commissioned officer who is chief medical corpsman. The Moira" head-
quarters consists of the following unite:
a. Squad of ten men, for using direction finding instruments.
b,. A communications platoon with one wirelest set and a number of telephones.
40. The "Noire has three batteries. A battery has two"Oulamoil and the "Oulamos"
consists of two "elements". The composition and armament of the "element" is
as follows:
a, Non-commissioned officer (leader of "element"), carries a rifle of Soviet
type and binoculars).
Private, aimer, carries rifle of Soviet type.
Private, operates breach, carries rifle of Soviet type,
d. Private, loader, carries rifle of Soviet type.
Private, handles projectile, carries rifle of Soviet type.
Private, supply, carries rifle of Soviet type.
Private, mule driver, carries rifle of Soviet type,
Private, mule driver, carries rifle of Soviet type.
Private, mule driver, carries rifle of Soviet type.
Private, mule driver, carries rifle of Soviet type.
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b.
e.
0.
f
E.
h.
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25X1A
The "element" has four peak animals. The 10? mm, mortar is broken down and
loaded on three peek animels. The fourth pack animal carries a number of
shells, or the mortar may be drain by the animals.
42. The mountain gun of 76.2 ma, is drawn by four enieels. The shells are loaded
on a small tuo-wheeled cart which is drawn behind the gun.
42. In case of emergency the artillerymen carry 100 cartridges and two hand-
grenades (defensive-offensive).
43. The "Oulamos" including its commanding officer has a strength of 21 men; it
has two guns or mortars and a total of eight pack animals.
The command of a battery includes the Commanding Officer, the Commissar, and
a non-commissioned officer aide with a private for his assistant. The 6om-
nand is folloved by an "Oulamos" of 15 communications non Oa small wireless
set with ,a range or 25 kilometers and telephones) and 7 direction finders
together with the officer commanding the "Oulmnos".
44.
45. The battery has a strength of 70 men; it has four guns or four mortars, and a
total of 16 animals..
46. The total stength of a "Moira" is 250 nen twelve mountain guns or mortars,
forty-eight animals. The total strength :at a regiment or mountain artillery
is 900 men, twelve mountain guns, twenty-four mortars, 152 animals.
47, The total strength or an infantry division is 7400 men under ordinary circum-
stances, In case of necessity it can be increased.
48.
Battle Order
a. The 1 Division is based in Tirane.
b. The 5 Division is based in Gjinokaster. Its commanding officer is Vasko
Gjini, a major from Korce. The 5 Division has its units located as fol-
lows:
(1) The 18 Infantry Regiment I I is based in Delvire, Its Chief 25X1
of Staff is Teki Luarasi, a Captain 106 from Norco.
(2) The 7 Infantry Regiment is based in Fermat with one battalion in
Leskovik. From time to time it moves from Permet to Gjinokaster
and back again.
The 31 Infantry Regiment is based in Gjinokaster,
An unknown Mountain Artillery Regiment is based in Gjinokaster.*
(3)
(4)
Cc. The 8 Division is based in Korea. Its commanding officer is Petrit Dime,
a colonel from Norco. Its units are located as follows:
(1) The 26 Infantry Regiment
(2)
(3)
(4)
is based in Pogradec.
The 14 Infantry Regiment is based in Korce.
The 9 Infantry Regiment is based in Korce.
The 7 Regiment of Mountain Artillery is based in Rome,
d. An Independent Infantry Brigade is based in Vlone.
e. Coast Defense Headquarters is located in Durres.
f. A. unit of automotive vehicles is based in Durres.
g. The Naval Comma is based in Durres.
. A unit of twill= is based in Kavaja. It has medium tanks of Soviet
type T-34-43 and light tanks probably type S.Y. 76.
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i. A Communications Regiment is based in Tirane. It has two sections:
Wireless Telegraph Operators and Telephone Operators. This regiment trains
the enlisted nen selected for communications work.
j. A regiment of anti-aircraft artillery is based in Tirane.
k. A company of the Governmental Guard is based in Tirane (strength of 100
1. A repair shop for automotive vehicles is based in Tirane.
M, A regiment of heavy artillery is based in Elbaaan.
N. A brigade of engineers is based in Shkoder. It consists probably of the
following battalions: Pioneers, Bridge-Builders, Nina Group.
Border-Guard
49. In October 1949 the "Directorate of the Border-Guard" was established with
its base in Tirane1. At the same time the Peoples Security Division was abol-
ished.
50. The Directorate of the Border-Guard is not subordinate to the Albanian Gen-
eral Staff, but to the Ministry of Interior. It is the third Directorate of
the Ministry of Defense (sic - presumably "Interior" is meant), because it is
considered to be the Security Corps of the State.*
51. The reasons for the change were the following:
a. To speed up the transmission of service documents by getting rid of the
bureaucracy (i.e. chain of command from battalion to regiment to People's
Security Division to Albanian General Staff.)
eam4tation of military expense by abolishing luxury (personnel of the
Headquarters of the People's Security Division and of its Regiments).
b.
Exclusive occupation of the Border-Guard Units to be on the border and
not in the pursuit of guerrillas. Special units were organized for the
latter purpose in the hope that they would be able to act more decisively
and effectively.
52. Now there are only border-guard battalions communicating directly with the
Headquarters of the Border-Guard. Troops assigned to the Border-Guard must
have previous training in another unit for four months at least. The longer
period of service in the Border-Guard is justified by the fact that it is re-
garded as a "Specialty", and the veteran soldiers are required to train the
new soldiers for a long period of time. Great care is taken that *reaction-
aries* shall not be assigned to the Border-Guard.
53. The Commanding Officer of the Border-Guard is Nkqo Como, a colonel from Kemp.
The Deputy Commander is Mehemet Prodani, a lieutenant colonel from Kolonjaa
Other senior officers are Sotir Fiiko, a lieutenant colonel from Karroo, Baki
Starjo, a lieutenant colonel from Staria near Kolonja, Sotir !Oro, a major
from Rome.
54, The Directorate of the Border-Guard is divided into three sectors:
a. Northern Sector - Inspector Sotir Filko
ta Western Sector - Inspector Baki Starjo
c. Southern Sector - Inspector Sotir Nero
55, The Northern Sector covers the Albanian-Yugoslav border with five or six bat-
talions, of which one is based at Peshkopi, another at Prenjes, and a third
at Kukes. Informant does not know the location of the other battalions.
56. The Western Sector covers the Albanian coast from the village of Pikerasi
(P. 24/e.961) up to the Yugoslav border (at the coastline) with two battalions.
One Of tirffickatt3019iteUet428611/031/0P61060111/2-COMeCt5E16Mbff-21"h?
avomulmirmamnivr_
-- n Q riMITOTATQ nova.
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57. The Southern Sector covers the GreekaAlbanian border from the trianation boun-
dary point to Pikerasi (P. 244,-961) with four battalions, as follows:
a. One battalion based at Bilisht. This is estimated to have a larger
strength than usual because of the military importance of that locality.
b. Another battalion is based at_teskovik
58.
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Cf The Sixth battalion is based in Gjorgucat? Its commanding officer is 25X1
Capt, gerian (tau). 1
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d. Another battalion is based in Sopik (P. 402-688).
this battalion which mas called 241 Battalion of the Border-Guard
The Staff of 10 Battalion of the Border-Guard consisted of the following;
Cammandimg Officer Ali Shtina Captain 2efe from Gjinaleatter'3 Depute
Commander Bashi. Go;o? lieutenant .from Delvine; Commissar Skender Alikaj
lieutenant from Tepelene; Assistant Commissar Wita41 Teznenft-71 second lieutenant
rrom Bilishte; . a warrant officer ; Officer in
charge or the Political Office of an_ --....asa ams-v UU. WO Regiment, Itc.
Sukjo Pojiani from Korea; Supply Officer Lt. Birbills; Communications Of-
ficer, Nnharem Sate, second lieutenant from Luarash, near Zolonja; Warrant
Officer in charge of the Youth Organization of the Battalion Nezir Bibs.
from Neker; Warrant Officer of the Health Squad, Haki Pashal:tri.
59. The security agents of 20 Battalion of the Border-Guard are: Director of
the 3ecurity Section of the Battalion, Lt. Eadri(hau) from Vlome;Warrant Ofr-one
Hoc? from hOrsi; a second lieutenant from Sarande who is occupied with the
security of the company there; First Sgt. Niko Lufl from Deropolislmho is
concerned with the company at Theologce; and another first sergeant who han-
dles the: company at Salce.
60., The Battalion Headquarters) has the following units attachedg
a, Protection platoon with a strength of 35 men.
b. Communications squad of 10 men, with one wireless set and telephone cen-
ter for oommunication with the companies and platoons,
c. Health squad consisting of a warrant officer and two nem-commissioned
officer medical corpsmen. There is also a non-commissioned officer medi-
cal cornemwattached to each company.
61. 10 Battalion of the Border-Guard has the following units
25X1 - The I Company based at Thoolonoe 483-703) with a strength
of 135 mem. The Commanding Officer was kristo Besan a second lieutenant
from Pogoni near Gjinokaster; Commissar Abdi Senka, a second lieutenant
from Bilishte; Commander of the protection platoon was a second lieutenant
who had just arrived. There mas also a first sergeant acting as sergeant
major whose name is Raid Rushani,
62. The Company Headquarters has a security platoon with a strength of 30 mon,
including'S communications men and the non-commissioned caticea, medical corps-
man,.
63. The 1 Company or the Border-Guard has four platoons as fellows:
The 1 Platoon based at K. Leohnice (R. 55-75) with a strength of 17 men.
The Cammuidirg Officer is Enver Stropani, a warrant officer from Home.
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b. The 2 Platoon based at SmIneci (M, 541-675) uith a strength of 32 men;
the Commanding Officer is Ibraia Rapushie a varrant officer from Fier.
One squad is at Smineci, another at Vertop? and a third squad at the
Monastery of the Virgin (P. 552-643).
The 3 Platoon bLd at Perdikari (P. 562.563) with a strenath of 25 Ten
The platoon had two squads at Perdikari, and one squad at (P. 54)-605).
The security agents of this platoon were Sgt. Vesel Bali, Deputy Cammander
of the platoon who came from Lumohnja; Sgt, Rexhep Zenum (squad leader)
from Beret; Pvt. Abedin Zyka from Berat; Pvt. Fadil Bajram from Vlone;
Pvt. Beikuran Shaban from Luahnja.
d, The 4101atoon based at Nbranka (R. 562-632) with a strength of 25 nen;
the Commanding Officer is Sate laical, a warrant officer from Rurvelesh.
The platoon has two squads at Merankan? and one squad at Vuliatra (Ra 55-61).
The 2 Company is based at Sales. (a. 439-607) vith a strength of 185 wen.
The Commanding Officer is Suraip Biba, a lieutenant from Koreas The Commis-
sar is one saber, a second lieutenant. The Commander of the security pla-
toon was Islan Alipaj, a warrant officer from Skrapari. There was a first
sergeant acting as sergeant najor. The protection platoon had a strength of
30 men. The company had six platoons as follows:
a. The 1 Platoon based at Sanjar (R. 528-584) with a strength of 25 men;
the Commanding Officer was one Ibraim, a warrant officer. The platoon
had two squads at &ajar and one squad at (IR. 533-589).
b, The 2 Platoon based at Verva (R. 480465) with a strength of 22 men,
The Commandi Officer was a first sergeant lie"
64.
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c. The 3 Platoon based at Jaykojani (R. 468-530) with a strength of 25 men;
the Commanding Officer was Jani Rupi, a warrant officer.
The 4 Platoon based at Rata Botes (R. 429-545) with a strength of 22 men;
the Commanding Officer was a warrant officer, but informant does not re-
member his name, The platoon had two squads at (R. 429-545) and one squad
at (R. 410-546). The first sergeant of the platoon was Abdi Hyska, who
was also secretary of the Communist Party of the company.
e. The 5 Platoon based at Ciflik (Ra 402-576) with a strength of 25 neml
the Commending Officer was Maro Vangjeli? a warrant officer from Koree.
The platoon had two squads at its base, and one squad at (R. 398-565)a
f. The 6 Platoon based at angel (R. 348-593) with a strength of 32 men;
the Commanding Officer was Nhmut Peza? a warrant officer from Peza near
Tirane. The platoon had two squads at the base, and one squad at Orlia
(R. 375-580).
65? The 3 Company is based at Sarande with a strength of 130 nona? The Commanding
Officer is Melt Sinani, a second lieutenant from Gjinokaeter. The Commissar
is Bita, a second lieutenant from Vithkuq, near Rorce. The Cammander of the
protection platoon Is Islam Dervishi, a 'arrant officer.
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66,
The Headquarters of 3 Company has a elatoon for protection with a strength
of 30 men, The company has five platoons; three Commanders of these platoons
are warrant ceficers, one a second lieutenant and one a first sergeant,
not know the locations and strength of these five platoons?
67. Total strength of 10 Battalion of the Border-Guard at Sopik is 515 men.
68. The armament, ammunition and supgy of the BorderanWard are as follows:
a, The platoon has one heavy machine gun of Italian Breda tape at the pla-
toon base; it has 3.500 cartridges for immediate .use and 3000 In reserve.
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It also has a sub-machine gun of German Dodaetype or a German light
machine gun fpr each squad; there are 700 eartridger for immediate use
and 1400 in reserve. It also has a German Steier sthemachine gun,
which is carried by the commanding officer and the deputy commander,
and there is one for each of the squad leaders; there are 120 cartridges
for immediate use and 300 in reserve for each weapon. The soldiers
carry rifles of German Nauser type uith 120 cartridges for immediate use
and 240 in reserve. Each nan also carries four hand-grenades (two of.
fensive and two defensive), The platoon also has two pistols of Soviet
type and two Very pistols.
The platoons for protecting battalions and companies have similar arma-
ment.
c. The officers of the battalion and company commando carry German slip-
machine guns and pistols.
d? At battalion headquarters there are also two 82 mm. mortars and six anti-
tank rifles of Simenov type in reserve.
S . Battalion headquarters has eight millet and two horses for the officers.
Company headvarters has five mules and each platoon has one mule and
one donkey. These are used for auppiying units of the Border-Guard at
intervals depending on their requirements.
69. The mission of the guard-post of the Border-Guard is as follows:
a. Guarding the border area to prevent the entrance or exit of persons from
Anenia. The arrest of such persons is sought, and if this proves im-
possible they try topshoot them on the spot.
b. Observation of the disposition and movenenta of Greek Arpy units.
c. Sometimes the Company or Battalion Command issues special orders to the
guard-posts providing for a. close watch on certain points in a region,
where there is information or definite suspicion that refugees from some
Albanian village will pass or Greek agents will try to pass during their
25X1 entrance into Albanian territory or their return to Greek territory, In
this case the strength of the guard-posts may be increased.
d. Sometimes special orders are issued to facilitate the movement of seen
groups of agents
e. In order to fulfill its principal mission the guard-post from 4 a.m. to
7 p.m, sends out two static observation parties of three soldiers each
to high points where they use binoculars. If the terrain is suitable the
observation team mey be mobile, but if the country is bare and exposed
the team stays absolutely stationary.
f. During the night at 7:30 p.m, two mobile patrols of three men each go
out untilinkkdght? then they return and are relieved by two other mobile
patrols until 4 a.m. During the changing the patrols meet and are recog-
nized at a certain point half mey between the guard-post and the border.
The patrols which are out afteraddniglA meet once at a specified point
and exchange views on what they have observed. During the night the
squad leaders are obliged to make rounds,
g. During the entire day and night there is a roving gentry below the guard.
post. Thiel sentry is relieved every three hours.
h. The static observation teams alld the patrols at night may move to a die.
tance of one or two kliameterv at most from the guard-post. Whenever they
see anything unueual they fire two Verv
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1. In exceptional circumstances, such as a "Bloke* the entire strength
of the guard-post goes out in three-member patrols and only two Or
three soldiers stay at the base. At 4am. the patrols return, and the
men of the guard-post go out to the observation post. The platoon com-
mander makes rounds during the entire night.
j. Once a month the company commanders are summoned to Battalion Headquarters,
where for three days they are given instruction in military tactics
with practical examples. The same thing is done for the platoon com-
manders but, they go on a different day, The nen-commissioned officers
of the platoons get their training at Company headquarters for one day
every two weeks,
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$11 mentions the Special Brigade (also known
as pursuit Brigade) as being the third branch or Directorate of the
Security Corps which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of In-
terior (the Ordinary Police and the Security Police being the other
two Directorates), It appears that the Minstry of Interior, in addl.-
tion to exercising jurisdiction over the Security Corps, also has
jurisdiction over the Border-Guard; but it is not clear whether the
Special Brigades are a sub-division of the Border-Guard.
Comment: Probably refers to the surrounding of an area to
prevent anyone from escaping or advancing* i.e., a "block."
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