A friend of mine asked me to post this p37 for him. It has an insignia on the holster, and we believe it may be the notorious skanderbeg 21st ss div from albania.
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can anyone verify this insignia to be that division?
I thought the star might be italian, but the star is attached to the other insignia on top, and doesn't appear... now that i look at it, to be italian, as they are different.. Heres a closer shot...
Also a little information about them to peruse....if the insignia belongs to that division. Any help if known would be appreciated.I believe the animal is sitting on the helmet like vlad the impaler wore, is the same animal is on the collar tab, unsure what the animal is called.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_Wa...st_Albanian%29
I am also unsure if this holster is the issue holster for the p37, as i had one long ago, but have forgotten. This one has been with the gun since the war. This was a vet captured item. Thanks.Last edited by juoneen; 01-13-2010, 01:44 PM. -
The insignia is Italian for the Cacciatori di' Albania (Hunters of Albania) units who were raised in 1941 from Albanians for Italian Service. It was also worn by the Albanian Royal Guard also in Italian Service. The differences were the cloth collar tabs they were affixed to. The Albanians in both units wore Italian uniforms and Italian M33 helmets.Comment
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Thanks for the response dennis S. I am assuming some of these italians were attached to ss italian units or attached to ss albanian SS? I read there history, and it was some brutal stuff.Comment
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They were Albanians in Italian Service that wore these. If any Albanians from these units went over to Skanderbeg after the Sept 8 1943 Armistice I don't know. I believe a unit of Fascist militia went over to Prinz Eugen at that time.
There were no Italian SS Legione units in the Balkans . Some individuals that enrolled in other SS Divisions were sent back to help form the Italiane SS Legione in ItalyComment
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