21. horská divize Waffen-SS Skanderbeg (albánská č. 1) [1944-1944]

21. Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS Skanderbeg (albanische Nr. 1)

The order to establish this division was issued in April 1944 and stipulated that recruits be recruited in the Albanian area of Kosovo. A shortage of German cadres, coupled with the poor standard of volunteers, lack of weapons and equipment, delayed plans to establish this division. In the end, only 6,500 of the 9,275 volunteers could be recruited in September 1944.

The increase in guerrilla activity in the formation of the "Skanderbeg" division caused its individual parts to be frequently sent into anti-partisan actions. The value of these patrols as well as the reliability and combat value of Albanian soldiers in general were often questioned. It is a fact that the "Skanderbeg" division lost 3,500 soldiers through desertions during the short period of its existence.

Due to the disbandment of a number of German units in the autumn, the division "Skanderbeg" at that time already referred to as the 21st Mountain Division of the SS weapons "Skanderbeg" (Albanian No.1), from the Army Group "E" to three thousand men as reinforcements, mainly members of the kriegsmarine. The division, now with a larger percentage of German soldiers, participated in the retreat through the Balkans, during which the remaining local soldiers were demobilized.
The 21st SS Mountain Division (Albanian in name only) was then disbanded due to insufficient numbers and the troops transferred to the 7th SS Mountain Division "Prinz Eugen" The coach was sent to the newly formed 32nd SS Volunteer Division "30. January".

The division consisted of the 1st and 2nd Mountain Hunters Regiments, later renumbered the 50th and 51st (disbanded in December 1944). Each had three battalions, while the artillery regiment had four sections.

Membership in the division was marked by an emblem in the shape of Skanderbeg's historic helmet on the collar and a badge with a black Albanian eagle on a red background on the arm.The Muslims wore the traditional Albanian white cap made of lamb's wool and the obligatory SS badge and skull and crossbones. As members of the mountain division, they were entitled to a symbolic badge with an alpine crossbow, which was worn on the right arm and on the right side of the mountain cap.

STRUKTURA DIVIZE:


Waffen-Gebirgs Division der SS 50
Waffen-Gebirgs Division der SS 51
Waffen-Gebirgs Artillerie Regiment 21
SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 21
SS-Oanzerjäger-Abteilung 21
SS-Pionier-Bataillon 21
SS-Versorgüngs-Abteilung 21
SS-Gebirgs-Nachrichten-Abteilung 21
SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 21

It consists of:
50th Mountain Regiment Waffen-SS
51st Mountain Regiment Waffen-SS
21st Mountain Artillery Regiment Waffen-SS

photo

Collared outlays of the division





Source: http://fremd.sweb.cz/o3.htm