Royal Guard of Albania

Royal Albanian Guard
Garda Mbretërore
The guard in 1936.
Active1928 — 1939
Disbanded1939
Country Kingdom of Albania
Allegiance HM The King of the Albanians
BranchRoyal Albanian Army
TypeDefence force
RoleProtection of the King
Size112 officers, 14 NCOs and 800 soldiers
HeadquartersTirana
EngagementsItalian Invasion of Albania
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Captain Hysen Selmani
Military unit

The Royal Guard (Albanian: Garda Mbretërore) was from 1928 till 1939 and was part of the Royal Albanian Army.

History

Kingdom of Albania

On 1 September 1928, President Ahmet Zogu became Zog I, King of the Albanians and the Republican Guard changed its name to the "Royal Guard of Albania", with Captain Hysen Selmani appointed as its first commandant.[1][2][3]

While half the army was deployed around the capital to protect the central government from civil unrest, the Royal Guard was to protect the King from assassination and military coups.

Exile

Exiled members of the former Royal Albanian Guard fought with the Rhodesian security forces during the Bush War under Leka, Prince of Albania, in the 1970s
Albanian soldier of King Zogu's Albanian Royal Guard during the Rhoedesia Bush War

During The 1970's Hundreds Former Members of The Albanian Royal Guard Would go on to fight in the Rhodesian Bush War on the Rhodesian side Under King Zog's Son Leka Zogu.[4]

It’s believed that Leka Zogu asked Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Prime Minister, for help in staging a Coup to take back power in Communist Albania. Smith declined as the last thing he needed was being accused of financing a likely disastrous military coup in the highly militarized country of Albania.[4]

The guard would later form what is now the Republican Guard.

Structure

In April 1939 this reportedly had a strength of 926 officers and men:

  • HQ
  • Ceremonial Company
  • Infantry Battalion (21 Officers; 37 Sub-Officer; 412 Guards)
    • HQ
    • 4 Rifle Companies
  • Artillery Battery (4 Officers; 8 Sub-Officer; 140 Guards, 59 horses)
  • Cavalry Squadron (71-91 Officers)
    • HQ
    • 3-4 Troops
  • Royal Guards Band (34 musicians)
  • Depot (1 Officer; 39 Guards)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Historiku I Shkurter I Gardes se Republikes" [Brief History of the Guard of the Republic] (PDF). garda.gov.al (in Albanian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Ministri i Brendshëm takim me drejtues të Gardës së Republikës" [The Minister of the Interior meeting with the leaders of the Guard of the Republic]. World News Network (in Albanian). 27 August 2020.
  3. ^ Ramolli, Safet N. (24 June 2015). "A është 24 Qershori i 1928-s data e krijimit të Gardës së Republikës?" [Is June 24, 1928 the date of creation of the Guard of the Republic?]. Tirana Observer (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 28 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b Batya (2020-06-07). "Armed Albanians in Rhodesia and an Exiled King in Brushstroke Camo". Retrieved 2024-05-29.