List of Chiefs of the Albanian General Staff
The Chief of the General Staff (Albanian: Shef i Shtabit të Përgjithshëm) is the chief of the General Staff and Albanian Armed Forces. The chief of staff is appointed by the President of Albania, who is the commander-in-chief. The position dates back to the Provisional Government of Albania. The current Chief of the General Staff is Major General Jeronim Bazo.
List of chiefs of the general staff
# | Name | Image | Born–Died | Rank | Start | End | Notes & Citations |
1 | Ali Shefqet Shkupi | 1883–1953 | Lt. Colonel | 4 May 1913 | November 1920 | Date of term's end based on start of successor's term.[1] | |
2 | Ali Riza Kolonja | 1880–1930 | Brigadier General | November 1920 | December 1921 | Date of term's end based on start of successor's term.[1] | |
3 | Xhavid Leskoviku | 1882–1945? | Major | December 1921 | June 1923 | Date of term's end based on start of successor's term.[1] | |
4 | Bajram Fevziu | 1884–1928 | Major | June 1923 | 24 December 1924 | Term ended with dissolution of the Ministry of War.[1] |
The Albanian Republic and the Albanian Kingdom
In 1925, Prime Minister Ahmet Zogolli created a new constitution for Albania, forming the Albanian Republic. On 1 September 1928, Zogolli amended the constitution, dissolved parliament, and proclaimed himself King, creating the Albanian Kingdom. The Kingdom collapsed following the Italian invasion of Albania.
# | Name | Image | Born–Died | Rank | Start | End | Commander-in-Chief | Notes & Citations |
Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian National Army | ||||||||
5 | Gustav von Myrdacz | 1874–1945 | Divisional General | 18 January 1925 | 1 September 1928 | Ahmet Zogolli (as Prime Minister and President) | [1] | |
Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Albanian Army | ||||||||
5 | Gustav von Myrdacz | 1874–1945 | General | 1 September 1928 | 7 April 1939 | Zog I of Albania (as King) | Term ended with the Italian invasion of Albania.[1] |
Communist Era
The following individuals served during the era of communism in Albania, serving the National Liberation Movement, the Democratic Government of Albania, and the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. In this time, the powers of Commander-in-chief were held by the First Secretary of the Party of Labour.
# | Name | Image | Born–Died | Rank | Start | End | Commander-in-Chief | Notes & Citations |
Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian National Liberation Army | ||||||||
6 | Spiro Moisiu | 1900–1981 | Major General | 10 July 1943 | 24 May 1944 | Enver Hoxha (as First Secretary of the Party of Labour of Albania) | [1] | |
Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces | ||||||||
6 | Spiro Moisiu | 1900–1981 | Major General | 24 May 1944 | August 1946 | Enver Hoxha | Became Chief of the General Staff following the Congress of Përmet.[1] | |
7 | Mehmet Shehu | 1913–1981 | Colonel General | August 1946 | 28 January 1948 | Date of term's end based on start of successor's term.[1] | ||
8 | Beqir Balluku | 1917–1974 | Lt. General | 28 January 1948 | 1952 | Executed for high treason in 1974.[1] | ||
9 | Petrit Dume | 1920–1975 | Lt. General | 1952 | 1954 | 1st Term | ||
10 | Arif Mema Hasko | Lt. General | 1954 | 1956 | [1] | |||
11 | Petrit Dume | 1920–1975 | Lt. General[2] | 1956 | July 1974 | 2nd Term. Dismissed and executed for high treason in 1975.[1] | ||
12 | Sami Meçollari | 1937– | July 1974 | December 1974 | [1] | |||
13 | Veli Llakaj | 1935– | 1974 | 13 October 1982 | [1] | |||
14 | Kiço Mustaqi | 1938– | 1982 | February 1991 | Enver Hoxha (until 24 July 1997) Ramiz Alia (from 24 July 1997) | [1] |
Republic of Albania
The following indivuduals served following the fall of Communism in Albania and the formation of the Republic of Albania. The new Albanian constitution shifted the powers of Commander in Chief to the newly formed office of the President of Albania.
# | Name | Image | Born–Died | Rank | Start | End | Commander-in-Chief | Notes & Citations |
Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces | ||||||||
15 | Halim Abazi | 1944– | Colonel | February 1991 | June 1991 | Ramiz Alia (as President of Albania) | [1] | |
16 | Kostaq Karoli | 1945– | General | June 1991 | August 1992 | Ramiz Alia (until 3 April 1992) Kastriot Islami (3 to 6 April 1992) Pjetër Arbnori (6 to 9 April 1992) Sali Berisha (from 9 April 1992) | ||
17 | Ilia Vasho | 1944– | General | 1992 | 1994 | Sali Berisha | ||
18 | Sheme Kosovo | 1949– | General | 1994 | 2 March 1997 | Sali Berisha | Dismissed following the Albanian Rebellion of 1997.[1] | |
19 | Adem Çopani | 1944– | Major General | March 1997 | August 1997 | Sali Berisha (until 24 July 1997) Rexhep Meidani (from 24 July 1997) | Served during the Albanian Rebellion of 1997.[1] | |
20 | Aleks Andoni | 1956– | Brigadier General | September 1997 | 2000 | Rexhep Meidani | [1] | |
21 | Pëllumb Qazimi | 1957– | General | 2000 | 2006 | Rexhep Meidani (until 24 July 2002) Alfred Moisiu (from 24 July 2002) | [1] | |
22 | Luan Hoxha | 1960– | Lt. General | October 2006 | June 2008 | Alfred Moisiu (until 24 July 2007) Bamir Topi (from 24 July 2007) | [1] | |
23 | Maksim Malaj | 1958– | Major General | June 2008 | 8 August 2011 | Bamir Topi | [1] | |
24 | Xhemal Gjunkshi | 1963– | Major General | 8 August 2011 | 8 November 2013 | Bamir Topi (until 24 July 2012) Bujar Nishani (from 24 July 2012) | [1][3] | |
25 | Jeronim Bazo | 1960– | Major General | 8 November 2013 | Present | Bujar Nishani | [4] | |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Former CHODs". Albanian Armed Forces. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ↑ On 1 May 1966, military ranks were abolished in the Albanian Armed Forces, following the example of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. In 1991 the rank system was reestablished under President Ramiz Alia.
- ↑ "Presidenti Nishani dekreton lirimin nga detyra të Shefit të Shtabit të Përgjithshëm të Forcave të Armatosura të Republikës së Shqipërisë, Gjeneral Major Xhemal Gjunkshi" [President Nishani decrees the dismissal of the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania, Major General Xhemal Gjunkshi] (in Albanian). President of Albania. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ↑ "Chief of General Staff of Albanian Armed Forces". Albanian Armed Forces. Retrieved 15 July 2016.