At different times, we have discussed the relative merits of Albanian Carcanos. Typically, they are all beat to heck and have been SOAKED in cosmolene. These came into the country in the 80s & were imported by Century Arms.
But how did a tiny country like Albania come to possess so many Carcanos?
Glad you asked! It's quite a story and gets rather involved, so I'll try to stick to the basics. In 1939, Mussolini served notice Albania would come completely under Italian control. King Zog & Queen Geraldine thought that a very bad plan & fled the country, taking most of the gold reserves with them.
Italy invaded Albania on April 7, 1939 and had the entire country under their control by April 10. Italian forces then consolidated their positions and in Oct, 1940, they used Albania as a springboard to invade Greece. Bad move! The Greeks counter-attacked and occupied the majority of Albania. Kicked some serious butt, they did!
Mussolini pleaded to Hitler for help, and Hitler was not pleased but sent divisions he had planned to send into the Eastern Front. By April, 1941, the Germans had re-taken Albania and also occupied Greece.
WW2 continued on other fronts, and in Sept, 1943, the Italian king surrendered. Germany took over Albania.
Accounts vary at this point. I have just read that Italian divisions who no longer needed to fight or occupy Albania made arrangements with the partisans to simply go home and leave their weapons.
Another account goes on to say the communist partisans "overwhelmed" five Italian divisions and "siezed" all weapons.
Strictly my own opinion, but I am prepared to believe the former account. Why would the communists continue to fight the Italians when all the weapons would just be handed over bloodlessly?
A "significant number" of Italian soldiers joined the communist partisans in their fight against the Germans.
But the fierce fighting in Russia was taking a severe toll on the Germans, and divisions were taken from Albania and Greece for that front.
By Nov, 1944 communist partisans had expelled the dwindling German forces from Albania.
It very much appears the Albanians came into enough Carcanos & other arms to equip five full divisions. Which amounts to a LOT of rifles! Which explains why we see so many of them.
Attached are a few period photos of the Albanain conflict.
Here are Germans with an Italian tankette. I believe this was taken after Italy surrendered.
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Here is a partisan with Carcano and Russian DP light MG.
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Female partisans.
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In the center of this group is a Brit officer.
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Notice the mixed equipment of these soldiers on parade. Carcanos and Mausers can easily be seen.
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Firing practice. I hope this is a staged pic - doesn't look all that safe! "Don't raise your head, Enver!"
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