; a more.................The Yugoslav guerrilla war.
The German offensives.
The Germans could not passively watch as the Yugoslav army took the initiative and secured the solid base of the Adriatic coast for widespread offensive operations. They also feared an Allied landing on the free Adriatic coast in Dalmatia. For these reasons, the Germans gathered all their available forces and in September began their sixth offensive against the partisan army, which at that time already numbered nine army corps or 27 divisions, 8 independent brigades, 13 battalions and 123 partisan detachments with a total of 300,000 men .
The occupying powers operated in this offensive with 21 German divisions (250,000 men) and 3 1/2 Hungarian divisions (27,000 men). Although the partisans had to abandon the major ports on the coast under this strong pressure, they managed to keep their forces intact in this offensive; They made major offensive advances before the end of this offensive.
In November 1943, as a result of the successes achieved in the struggle for liberation, the second session of the Anti-Fascist Council was held and the National Committee was created, which already exercised the functions of a government. The National Committee ordered general mobilization to hasten the country's definitive liberation.
In May 1944, the occupying forces carried out their last major offensive. They increased their troops to 24 German, 9 Bulgarian, 1 complete and 5 incomplete Hungarian divisions. At that time, the Yugoslavs had to confront the enemy with 13 army corps (38 divisions as well as 20 independent brigades and 107 detachments). The offensive began with a surprise landing from the air in the strength of a parachute regiment. The attack was directed against the headquarters of the high command in Drvar with the aim of destroying or capturing the top leadership headed by Tito.
The German regiment was destroyed in fierce fighting in hand-to-hand combat. 120 paratroopers were able to save themselves because German armored troops had broken through and their action was coordinated with the air attack. Tito and the high command were saved. This German offensive was also crushed in major battles fought throughout the country. The enemy lost 20,500 dead and 6,500 prisoners.
In this offensive, the partisan troops captured 96 guns, 19 tanks, 3 aircraft, 16,000 rifles, 160 wagons of war material, etc. Furthermore, 175 guns, 250 mine throwers, 108 tanks, 37 aircraft, 700 wagons, 96 ferries, etc. were destroyed.
Sources: Der jugoslawische Partisanenkrieg. Von Generalleutnant Dusan Kveder, Ausbildungschef der jugoslawischen Armee. ASMZ: Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift. Band (Jahr): 119 (1953) Heft 7
Cheers. Raúl M
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