The Royal Guard (Albanian: Garda Mbretërore) was from 1928 till 1939 and was part of the Royal Albanian Army.
| Royal Albanian Guard Garda Mbretërore | |
|---|---|
 The guard in 1936. | |
| Active | 1928 — 1939 |
| Disbanded | 1939 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Albania |
| Allegiance |  HM The King of the Albanians |
| Branch | Royal Albanian Army |
| Type | Defence force |
| Role | Protection of the King |
| Size | 112 officers, 14 NCOs and 800 soldiers |
| Headquarters | Tirana |
| Engagements | Italian Invasion of Albania |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Captain Hysen Selmani |
History
editKingdom 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
During The 1970's, hundreds of former members of the Albanian Royal Guard would go on to fight in the Rhodesian Bush War for Rhodesia 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
editIn 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Batya (2020-06-07). "Armed Albanians in Rhodesia and an Exiled King in Brushstroke Camo". Retrieved 2024-05-29.