tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195924825846968819.post931240495801958690..comments2024-02-21T04:25:02.102-08:00Comments on Όριον μηνιαίο περιοδικό: Η συμμετοχή της Αλβανίας στην επίθεση κατά της Ελλάδας την 28η Οκτωβρίου 1940περιοδικό Όριονhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15467991850769754590noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9195924825846968819.post-57764644308362238832014-11-02T09:41:13.521-08:002014-11-02T09:41:13.521-08:001. At the beginning of the Italian invasion, 6 Alb...1. At the beginning of the Italian invasion, 6 Albanian Regular Army Battalions (Battaglioni Regolari) invaded Greece, attached to various Italian divisions:<br />-Infantry battalion "Tomori" (15 officers and 636 soldiers) attached to infantry division "Parma"<br />-Infantry battalion "Kaptina" (20 officers and 708 soldiers) attached to Alpini division "Julia"<br />-Infantry battalion "Korata" (28 officers and 732 soldiers) attached to Alpini division "Julia"<br />-Infantry battalion "Tarabosh" (20 officers and 513 soldiers) attached to High Command Albania<br />-Infantry battalion "Grammos" (22 officers and 706 soldiers) attached to infantry division "Ferrara"<br />-Infantry battalion "Daijti" (20 officers and 669 soldiers) attached to infantry division "Ferrara"<br />-Arty battery "Drin", attached to infantry division "Ferrara"<br />-The Albanian Blakshirt Legion (of two blackshirt battalion comprised of three companies each), attached to the Ferrara infantry division. <br />During the first Italian offensive (October 28-November 13) the Albanian battalions saw very little action. Inf.Btn. "Tomori" engaged the Greeks for the first time on November 3. It was literally thrashed and many soldiers deserted. On November 14 (the day the Greek major counter-offensive began), two btns ("Grammos" Btn stationed at Mavrovouni & "Daijti" Btn) took the full blow of the Greek offensive, which brought them to disorder (200 Albanians defected). Italian High Command questioned the reliability of the Albanian troops & ordered them to deploy at Shjak, thus forming the Gruppo Battaglioni Albanesi "Skandenberg" ("Skandenberg" Albanian Battalion Group). They never saw any more action. This Skandenberg Group was the progenitor of the SS-Skandenberg Division. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com