A forgotten airborne operation

[beef_supreme]

During the defection of the italian army, the wehrmacht had to secure albania, because it was mostly occupied by italian forces. Several wehrmacht units got the order to march to Albania.
On 10.09.1943
the 15. ( paratrooper) Company of Regiment Brandenburg 4 and the 2. and 4. Company of the Fallschirmschule III got the order to secure the airfield of Tirana. Both units were stationed in Kraljewo and were the nearest airborne units.
They landed on the 10. and 11. september in Tirana. ( parajump and plane landing)
The Brandenburger captured the harbor of Durazzo ( 10km west of Tirana) and the 2. and 4. company of Fallschirmschule III secured the capitol.
This operation was fullfilled without bigger combat actions and the next day the first motrized Wehrmacht units arrived Tirana.
A few days later , on 22.09.1943 the 2. company of the Fallschirmschule III got the order to disarm an italian unit near Kruja.
On the way to it, the convoy got attacked by albanian partisans.
The paratrooper of the Fallschirmschule III fought against them until more wehrmacht units arrived. The company was a "Training " unit and had low skills in combat. So they had heavy losses on this day. Also the company leader Oberleutnant Dencker died.
Because of the little paratrooper unit, which was used in albania ( not more than 160 men) this action never became much public.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G903F mit Tapatalk

[Hans Kristian]

Thanks for presenting this, and I must agree, I had no idea of this operation.

really nice WP and letters.


Cheers
Hans Kristian

[oberst40]

Very interesting

[werner p.]

nice

very nice grouping indeed.
Sad story for this young man.

[Gustav 43]

Never heard of that action in Albania,thanks

[senders221]

Great grouping!! Interesting story

[Willi Z.]

I too had never heard of this action. Thanks!

[Schuasta]

Great Set..never hear from this Mission !

[lgdsjmi]

Very great grouping and thank you for this little story lesson unknown to many people, I think!

[Ian Jewison]

The paratrooper of the Fallschirmschule III fought against them until more wehrmacht units arrived. The company was a "Training " unit and had low skills in combat. So they had heavy losses on this day. Also the company leader Oberleutnant Dencker died.

"Herr Dencker was killed in action 22.9.1943 as Kp.Fhr. 2 Kompanie, Fallschirmschule III in combat with Partisans in Cruja, Albania. Many soldiers from 2 and 4 Kompanie were killed on this day."

[Willi Z.]

Amazing contribution Ian!

[naxos]

Superb documents!

[peterm]

Very interesting contribution! Thanks for showing!

Best, Peter

[aleks123]

Albanian side story

They were attacked by three partisan companies, company Kruje-ishem, company Mati and the company Dajti the 22 September 1943. Some days before, the partisans entered in the liberated city of Kruja (historically considered as a symbol of resistance from the Albanians) after the surrender of Italian troops. The germans wanted to take possession of the city of Kruja and take control of the 800 Italian soldiers still in the city.
In red, Albanian partisans, in black German forces.

[muno11]

Very interesting part of FJ-history. Thanks to all of you.