Partisans in the Balkans.

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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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The Yugoslav guerrilla war.

The importance of Yugoslav operations.

After this offensive, the Yugoslav army set out to carry out major operations; It already had 17 army corps with 51 divisions, 23 independent brigades and 107 detachments. The influence that the strength of the Yugoslav army had on the world fronts at that time can be seen through a brief comparison.

At the end of 1944, the occupying powers were forced to deploy 40 divisions with about 580,000 men against the 51 Yugoslav divisions (about 500,000 men). At the same time, there were between 27 and 28 German divisions with around 350,000 men on the Italian front, compared to 24 Allied divisions. The Yugoslav front had decisive importance at that time.

After the seventh and final German offensive, the Yugoslav army finally took the initiative. From that moment on it dictated its will to the opponent. The major offensives began with the objective of the definitive liberation of Yugoslavia.

In mid-1944 Serbia became especially important. It was to be expected that the Soviet army would soon advance through Romania to the eastern borders of Serbia. The German army group stationed in Greece intended to lead the retreat through Serbia. The strategic task of the Yugoslavs was to finally liberate Serbia and prevent the retreat of the German army group, which numbered 350,000 men and 10,000 motor vehicles, towards Belgrade.

For this purpose, a strong operational group of nine divisions was assembled on the western borders of Serbia. This group stormed Serbia and, after several months of violent attacks and defense operations, liberated much of Serbia along with 5 Serbian divisions. When Soviet Army troops reached the border with Yugoslavia in September 1944, most of Yugoslavia had already been liberated.

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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The Yugoslav guerrilla war.

The Battle of Belgrade.

The great battle to liberate the capital Belgrade now began. On the Yugoslav side, eight divisions (1st, 5th, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st, 28th and 36th) were deployed for the attack. They were supported by a Russian mechanized corps. Nine other divisions (2nd, 17th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 45th, 46th and 47th), supported by Bulgarian troops who had defected to the Allied side at the time, held the front to the south against the strong pressure of the German Army Group "E".

Belgrade was liberated after six days of bitter street fighting. The Germans lost 25,000 dead and prisoners in the city and the surrounding area. The remnants of Army Group “E” fought their way west into Bosnia. After Serbia, Macedonia was also liberated by Macedonian divisions after fierce fighting.

At the same time, Yugoslav troops began the final liberation of the coast and all of Dalmatia. In mid-September 1944, the 26th Division carried out landings from its base of operations on the island of Vis (Lissa), liberated all the islands of central Dalmatia and then landed on the mainland coast with the support of the Navy.

Four divisions took part in the liberation of Dalmatia and, after two months of stubborn fighting, drove the occupier out of this country. In this way, the retreat through Dalmatia was made impossible for the German troops who were in Albania. Parts of the XXI. German Army Corps were destroyed by Montenegrin troops.

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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The Yugoslav guerrilla war.

The liberation of Yugoslavia.

With the definitive liberation of Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Dalmatia, a true Yugoslav strategic front was created, whose northeastern wing was based in the Third Ukrainian Front in Hungary.

Now the formation of large, modern divisions with heavy weapons was approaching. At the end of 1944 and beginning of 1945, 4 armies were formed, namely: I. Army with 10 divisions (130,000 men), II. Army with 12 divisions (100,000 men), III. Army with 7 divisions (95,000 men) and IV Army with 14 divisions (95,000 men). In the reserve of the high command there were 7 divisions. The first three armies held the front from the north of the Drava to the south of the Sava, while the Fourth Army operated along the Dalmatian coast in the direction of Trieste. All operations were carried out in close coordination with the Allied command in Italy and the Soviet high command.

The I. and the III. Armies broke the German front at Syrmia and, in rapid marches through the Drau, penetrated Carinthia ahead of the Germans, while the IV. Army crossed the front at Lika, advanced to Isonzo, liberated Trieste and joined the III. Army in the Klagenfurt Zone. In this way a large pincer was formed around the German Balkan Army, which, together with its commander, Field Marshal Löhr, was forced to surrender.

In these final operations 140,000 enemies were destroyed, 240,000 captured under Marshal Löhr, and 2,950 cannons, 180,000 rifles, 31,000 automatic firearms, 9,500 trucks, 480 tanks and 140 aircraft were captured, most eloquently demonstrating the scope of this operation and the power of the Yugoslav army, which at that time already numbered 800,000 men. Yugoslavia was finally liberated on May 15.

The Yugoslav people had to make great sacrifices in this war to fight for freedom and pay off their debt to the allies. Over the course of the war, the population of 15 million was reduced by 1.7 million, of whom 305,000 died on the front. During the war in Yugoslavia, the enemy lost around 450,000 dead and 559,000 prisoners.

During this time, Yugoslav troops captured or destroyed: approximately 4,600 cannons and 13,400 machine guns. 600,000 rifles, 7,100 mortars, 300 airplanes, 930 tanks, 20,000 motor vehicles, etc. Destroyed or seriously damaged: 153 factories, 72 power plants, 104 mines, 3,300 railway and road bridges, 840 railway stations, 90 tunnels, etc. After 1943, rail traffic was reduced by 16%. The Yugoslav peoples used their own forces to liberate their country and built a new state and a new army according to their wishes.

Sources: Der jugoslawische Partisanenkrieg. Von Generalleutnant Dusan Kveder, Ausbildungschef der jugoslawischen Armee. ASMZ: Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift. Band (Jahr): 119 (1953) Heft 7

That's all. Cheers. Raúl M .