Part Three
Memorie.al /The War Diaries of the Supreme Command of the German Armed Forces (Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht, KTB OKW), in the years 1940-1945, were kept by the National Defense Office at the Operations Headquarters of the German Armed Forces (Abteilung Landesverteidigung im Wehrmachtführungsstabamt). These war diaries describe strategies, battles, troop movements, front lines, objectives, operational decisions and war plans and assessments of combat situations by the highest leadership of the German military forces. The Secretary of the War Diaries at the Supreme Command of the German Armed Forces was Helmuth Greiner until March 1943 and then Percy Ernst Schramm. In the years 1961-1965 the war diaries were compiled by historians and published by the publishing house Bernard & Graefe Verlag für Wehrëesen, Frankfurt am Main. The chief historian was Percy Ernst Schramm and his assistant historians, respectively by volume, were as follows:
Continued from the previous issue
War Diary
Page 768 – 10.07.1943. The German Army Command Staff agrees with the command structure of the German troops in the coastal areas, still held by the Italians in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Rhodes….! The participation of a [German] Mountain Division in Operation “Delta” (the mopping-up operation in western Greece) is accepted, but it is not in the German interest to introduce that Mountain Division into southern Albania.
Page 786 – 14.07.1943. In order to achieve a central and effective military administration in the south-eastern area, it is proposed to establish a “south-eastern command headquarters”, at the level of an army command with a command and administrative headquarters, with the full rights of a territorial military command, for the south-eastern area. This headquarters will be placed under the command of the headquarters of southern Greece, the Salonika-Aegean area, Serbia, Croatia, Albania and Montenegro.
Page 822 – 23.07.1943. The high command for the south-east sends and agrees with an analysis of the situation, made by the command of the south-eastern air forces and presented to the Supreme Command of the Air Forces, regarding the possibility of an enemy attack against Albania. Albania, unlike Dalmatia and Greece, has an easily accessible coast and has many airfields, some of which are good. However, bringing German reserves from the rest of the Balkans to the border areas is difficult, especially in winter and spring.
Page 526 – 24.07.1943. (Due to developments in Italy, this order [of Hitler to move troops to Greece] cannot be implemented. The 92nd Grenadier Battalion will be moved via Albania to Northern Greece to operate on the Adriatic coast.)
Page 841 – 26.07.1943. New regulation for the command in the south-eastern zone: The German troops located on the Croatian coast, in Montenegro, Albania and the Aegean, are placed under Italian command. The Italian III Army Corps is moved to Albania, as soon as the German troops that will replace it arrive.
Page 842 – 26.07.1943. The final reply from the “Commando Supremo” [Italian] arrives on 26.07.1943, 14:50. It accepts the placement of the XI Army, under German command, the appointment there of a German chief of general staff, the transfer of the VII Army Corps to the north; the “Brennero” Division will also be transferred to Albania……! The German troops in Albania, Montenegro and in the Croatian zone occupied by Italy are under the Italian command of the East, namely the Italian II Army.
Page 857 – 29.07.1943. Southeast: The German troops currently located, or to be located in the future in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania, will be placed under the Italian command there.
Page 862 – 30.07.1943. Southeast: The German Army Command Staff, takes a position regarding the assessment of the situation over Albania (including Montenegro and Croatia), made by the South-Eastern Air Force and sent on 23.07.1943 by the South-Eastern High Command and comes to the conclusion that; based on the experience with the Italian troops, it is necessary to intervene with German troops, to protect the coastal border which will be limited to the protection of the ports. The German Army Command Staff puts the necessary forces on standby for this purpose.
Page 876 – 01.08.1943. The occupation of the airports in Albania has begun, through ground forces sent there by airplanes, paratroopers and a battalion named; “Brandenburg”.
Page 890 – 03.08.1943. Southeast: 2. The General Staff of the German Army requests that for now only the preparations ordered on 01.07.1943 be undertaken for Albania and Montenegro.
Page 894 – 04.08.1943. Revolutionary actions continue in Albania, with attacks on Italian garrisons. German forces are present at Albanian airports.
Page 908 – 06.08.1943. Italian-German talks in Tarvisio [Udine, Italy]: General Ambrosio wants to move the Italian III Army Corps from eastern Greece to Albania as soon as possible, where reinforcements are needed.
Page 910 – 06.08.1943. Gang activities continue, especially in Albania and Croatia.
Page 926 – 10.08.1943. K.S.F.A. has informed the South-East High Command that the Italian Supreme Command will relocate on 01.09.1943, the Italian III Army Corps, with two Divisions from eastern Greece, to Albania.
Page 952 – 15.08.1943. General Roatta announces that the Italian III Army Corps will relocate on 01.09.1943 from Thessaly to Albania and that 3 Divisions will return from the Italian II Army.
Page 959 – 16.08.1943. In Greece, our purges continue. In Albania, there are signs of the disintegration of the militia, gang activity in Tirana, crop sabotage in Serbia.
Page 996 – 23.08.1943. In talks in Tarvisio and Bologna [Italy], an agreement was reached with the Italians to move the IIIrd Army Corps to Albania in September.
Page 1002 – 24.08.1943. Hitler has ordered the reinforcement of the 92nd Grenadier Regiment, which will be stationed not in Crete, but in Albania.
Page 1009 – 25.08.1943. On 09.08.1943, the South-East High Command requests that in the event of reinforcements falling on the Dalmatian and Albanian coasts, engineer troops from military forts be put into action.
Page 1018 – 27.08.1943. The South-East High Command announces on 26.08.1943 that the Air Force Command in the South-East has requested the relocation of a guard battalion of the air force stationed in Crete, to ensure the protection of Greek and Albanian airports and on its cliff, it requests an infantry battalion.
Page 1022 – 28.08.1943. The Chief of the General Staff of Army Group ‘F’ announces that the Italians have requested that 1-2 German Divisions be moved to the Skopje-Elbasan area as a reserve for intervention in Albania and for securing the road to Tirana. The South-East High Command welcomes the opportunity thus created to introduce [German] forces into Albania now. On 29.08.1943, Hitler’s acceptance of this move is announced.
…..The South-East High Command undertakes the task of contacting the Bulgarian General Staff and asking [to provoke thought] whether the Bulgarians would be ready, in the event of an enemy landing and Operation “Achse” [the operation to disarm the Italian army, which was expected to capitulate], to extend their zone of occupation to Montenegro and Albania. The area of the invasion will depend on the situation in Serbia and on the plans for the deployment of Bulgarian artillery troops.
Page 1035 – 30.08.1943. In a conversation between Hitler and an expert of the Foreign Ministry on the Albanian issue, the possibilities of peace with Albania are weighed, in the event of a German invasion, following Operation “Achse”.
Page 1042 – 01.09.1943. For the march of German troops into Albania, for which the 100th Division of the Regional Air Force is foreseen, the written acceptance of the Italian Eastern Command has been requested; the verbal acceptance has been received.
Page 1051 – 03.09.1943. The South-Eastern High Command agrees with the withdrawal of the 1st Tank Division from the Peloponnese. But it must be taken into account, the weakening of the forces there for about 4 weeks. The South-East Command draws attention to the fact that; if this Division; will be used as a reserve army group, then the invasion of Albania; in the case of the “Achse” operation, for which that Division was foreseen, cannot be carried out.
Page 1055 – 04.09.1943. The South-East High Command announces that the occupation of the airports in Albania with one battalion each has begun and will end in mid-September.
Page 1058 – 05.09.1943. …. 4.1. The Italian Division “Brennero”, of the Italian III Corps, is being moved to Albania.
Page 1063_1064 – 06.09.1943. The High Command of the South-East announces on 05.09.1943 that the Italian Supreme Command has not yet accepted the entry of the troops of the 100th Division of the [German] Air Force and that the Italian High Command of the East will allow the entry of the Division into the area of Dibra, or Korça, but not into Elbasan. The K.S.F.A. agrees with the intention of the High Command in the South-East to leave the said Division, which is currently in the Ohrid-Bitola area, there. In the meantime, the roads are to be inspected, and contact is to be maintained with the troops securing the Albanian airports. The Italians are to be informed of this.
Page 1068 – 07.09.1943. [After the armistice between Italy and the Allies, signed on 03.09.1943, which was made known on 08.09.1943]: ….3. Is it necessary to appeal to the entire Balkans (Croats, Serbs, Albanians, and Greeks) against the Italians? In this way, hostility towards the Germans can be reduced. But in such a case, the necessary promises must be made (the Adriatic coast for Croatia, independence for Albania) and the necessary facts must be provided.
Page 1069 – 07.09.1943. [Describes the measures taken by the German headquarters, after the armistice of Italy with the allies]…..5. By giving up the Ionian Islands, a good opportunity to launch into Greece and Albania is given up.
Page 1072 – 07.09.1943. The High Command of the South-East is informed of the intentions of the Italian Supreme Command, for the relocation of the Italian III Corps to Albania, as well as the relocation of three Divisions from Croatia, to Italian soil. Instead of a Division located in Croatia, the “Forli” Division of the Italian III Corps will now be relocated to the homeland, so that Albania is reinforced, only by two Italian Divisions; (“Brennero” and “Pinerelo”).
Page 1082 – 08.09.1943. After being given the slogan; “Achse”, the [German] High Command in the South-East, announces verbally at 22:20, that the High Command of the Italian Army has accepted the surrender of heavy and immovable weapons, but has requested that the soldiers keep their handguns, taking into account the Bolshevik danger that threatens Italy. The High Command in the South-East has rejected this request. The situation in Albania is still unclear, because the Italian high commander is not present and in this way, he is hiding from his responsibility.
Page 1085 – 09.09.1943. The German Supreme Headquarters announces that it intends to recognize Albania as autonomous (under certain conditions together with Montenegro). The Foreign Ministry is to send a special force to clarify the situation on the spot. Until this is clarified, the executive power in Albania and Montenegro will be held by the 2nd Tank Army.
Page 1089 – 10.09.1943. In Rhodes, fighting with the Italians continues. The movements of our troops in Albania and Montenegro were carried out according to plan. The population of Greece, Albania, Serbia and Croatia is still calm. An Anglo-American attack in the southern Balkans is no longer expected, but the danger on the Adriatic front, in which Albania is the weakest point, is clear.
Page 1090 – 10.09.1943. The High Command in the South-East has summarized and presented anew the requirements for the defense of the South-Eastern area, also based on the report on the enemy situation, presented by the Department of Foreign Armies in the West. Among other things, it requested the clarification of command responsibility in the northern part of the south-eastern part, the rapid introduction of German forces to protect the coast of Croatia, Montenegro and Albania, the approach of the assault divisions, the reinforcement of the assault division in Rhodes, to create a full division with two regiments and the full equipment of the SS Division, “Nordland”, as well as the SS Brigade, “Nederland”, the increase in the number of security forces in the entire rear area, the transfer of coastal artillery to the Albanian-Dalmatian coast and its return to a coastal fortress.
Page 1095 – 11.09.1943. Fighting continues in Rhodes, where warships with troops have arrived. The movements of our troops in Greece, according to plan. The creation of a new government has begun in Albania. The 100th Rifle Division reached Vlora and occupied parts of Durrës, in cooperation with other forces under its command.
Page 1098 – 12.09.1943. In Rhodes, the Italian forces, numbering 40,000, capitulate. In Crete, the pro-German Italian forces join the German troops. In the northwest of Athens and on [the island of] Euboea, there are bandit movements. In Albania, the occupation of the coastal area progresses.
Page 1100 – 13.09.1943. [Describes the orders regarding the Italian officers and soldiers who express their willingness to fight on the side of the Germans]. There are several possibilities for using these troops: 1) as militia or police, in Italy, after being trained by the SS forces, or outside Italy, in fighting against gangs. 2) As construction battalions, in the German army. 3) As auxiliary troops, in the composition of German troops. The introduction of these troops into areas with a population of German origin, as well as into Croatia and Albania, is excluded.
Page 1102 -13.09.1943. The question of an Albanian-Montenegrin state is open, since those Albanian districts, with which connections have been established; since they are not sure how the war will end, do not accept autonomy, thanks to the mercy of Germany.
Page 1114 – 17.09.1943. The Albanian-Dalmatian-Montenegrin coast is gaining more and more importance, because there are suitable conditions for the enemy there, just like on the coast of the Channel [La Manche], from where an attack can be launched into the heart of Europe.
Page 1116 – 17.09.1943. The situation in Greece and Albania is satisfactory. After the first attempts to create a government in Albania have failed, (compare 13.9./6) efforts are being made in Kosovo, where locals have been found willing, to create a national government. If this is to succeed, then an administration must be established that appears from the outside as independent.
Page 1127 – 21.09.1943. K.S.F.A. recalls that according to the order dated 15.09.1943 only loyal Italian troops can be used for construction work, but only in Greece and not in Croatia, Montenegro and Albania, where local residents must be recruited for these works.
Pages 1134-1135 – 23.09.1943. The “Brennero” division, operating in Albania, has expressed its readiness to continue fighting on the German side. The South-East High Command has ordered its dispatch to the Rashka-Mitrovicë area, so that the troops can be checked and the part that will be judged reliable will be joined with the 999th infantry battalion. The German command staff does not want less reliable troops to be merged into the 999th battalion and proposes that those troops be used to provide rail transport. The troops thus released from there will be joined with the other battalions.
The Bulgarian General Staff has submitted a report on the situation of the Bulgarian minority on the eastern Albanian border. This report has been judged by the South-East Command as excessive. It has therefore proposed that the Bulgarian request for the occupation of this area be rejected and that Albanian militia troops be used there. This opinion was accepted on 20.09.1943 by the German commanding staff. The Foreign Ministry announced on 21.09.1943 that the Bulgarian envoy had requested that the Bulgarians occupy the border areas of Albania populated by Bulgarians, in order to protect the Bulgarian minorities from the Albanians.
K.S.F.A. informs the German military attaché in Sofia [Bulgaria] that the South-Eastern High Command. Assesses the situation on the border much more positively. than the Bulgarian General Staff. Therefore, local militia forces will operate there to maintain security. The occupation of that area, for the time being, is not necessary.
Page 1139 – 24.09.1943. The Central Army Headquarters has set the following points for the talks with the South-Eastern Command, which will take place on 24.09.1943, at Hitler’s headquarters. I. Development of the war: ….. The order of counterattacks and the troops to be used, the occupation of the islands in the Aegean and Adriatic, ……., the securing of the rear in Albania and Montenegro….
Page 1143 – 25.09.1943. The situation in the Balkans: In Euboea, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, gang activities continue and a purge operation has begun, on our part.
Page 1144 – 26.09.1943. The South-Eastern Command announces the securing of the Tetovo-Gostivar-Dibar-Struga-Kicevo area (eastern Albania), an area which the Bulgarians wanted to occupy. Memorie.al
Continues next issue
![“His capacity is quite low, he is not clear about the political situation, he only has two grades of school and has never held a book in his hand…”/The State Security document on Sulo Gradeci, Enver [Hoxha]’s escort, is revealed](https://memorie.al/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Me-Sulo-Gradecin-ne-Dajt-350x250.jpg)
