Battle of Knin
Battle of Knin | |||||||
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Part of World War II in Yugoslavia | |||||||
Partisan artillery during the battle | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Axis: | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Units involved | |||||||
6th and 7th Ustasha Brigade, 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Croatian Home Defense Brigade | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
35,000 troops, 80 artillery guns, 25 tanks and 11 armored vehicles | 20,000 troops, 75 field guns and 30 AA guns | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
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The battle of Knin (
Background
Following the liberation of
The motivations to capture the town of Knin was fourfold for the Partisans. By capturing Knin, the Partisans would ensure that:[4]
- The Dalmatian region would be liberated.
- Partisan forces in Dalmatia would be able to link up with forces in Istria and Slovenia.
- Any withdrawal of Axis forces to Bihać would be prevented.
- Final remnants of Ustaše and Chetnik forces in Northern Dalmatia would be destroyed.
Order of battle
Allies
- 9th Division
- 19th Division
- 20th Division
- 26th Division
- Artillery Brigade of 8th Corps
- Northern Group of 1st Tank Brigade
- 1st and 2nd Air Force Escadrille (air support and protection from its base in southern Italy and Vis)
- Balkan Air Force
- Yugoslav Navy transferring arms and ammunition from Italy to Dalmatia.
Axis
- 264th Infantry Division
- 392nd (Croatian) Infantry Division
- 373rd (Croatian) Infantry Division
- 944th Coastal Artillery Regiment
- 29th Fortress Pioneer Regiment
- 581st Naval Infantry Battalion
- 583rd Naval Infantry Battalion
Dinara Division, around 4,500 Chetniks of Momčilo Đujić.[1]
Initial battles
The first attacks began on 7 November and were directed to
As soon as the German attacks were repulsed, there was a small stalemate on the front. The plan of the 8th Corps Command to take Knin quickly was not achieved. Initial attacks of the 20th and 26th Divisions gave no significant results, and the idea that the 20th Division could take Knin alone was unrealistic. Both sides have taken advantage of the two-week stalemate following the 20th Dalmatian Division failure to take Knin. The German XV Mountain Corps tried to organize a better defense of Knin, building fortifications and making some minor changes in the operating schedule. 583rd Naval Infantry Battalion was withdrawn, while the demoralized remains of the 6th and 7th Ustasha brigades and 3rd Croatian Home Defense Brigade were sent to Bihać on 12 November, leaving around 10,000 German soldiers and 4,500 Chetniks in the Knin area.[2][5]
Battle for Knin
The attack on Knin itself began on 25 November with a two-pronged attack on the city of Knin. From the west, the 20th Dalmatian Division was able to take a number of localities overlooking Knin with ease. However, from the south, the 26th Dalmatian Division met stiff resistance from the 264th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht). Final preparations to evacuate Knin had not been agreed upon and thus, the 264th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) was ordered to fight to the end and make a last stand to ensure troops in Knin could evacuate.[6]
The 19th Dalmatian Division overran the village of Oćestovo and with additional gains, encircled the town of Knin with the 20th Dalmatian Division. Axis troops within Knin attempted to break out of the encirclement to the village of Pađene in order to open up an escape corridor to the village of Otrić. Axis forces managed to open up a corridor, albeit barely a kilometre wide.[7]
Final phase
At approximately 3:00 on the night of 2/3 December, the 26th Dalmatian Division reached the entrance of Knin at the bridge over the
Aftermath
The
References
- ^ a b c d e Nikola Anić: Povijest Osmog dalmatinskog korpusa Narodnooslobodilačke vojske Hrvatske : 1943.-1945., page 161-162
- ^ a b c Knin operation
- ^ Mirko Novović, Stevan Petković, Prva dalmatinska proleterska NOU brigada, p. 361-362
- ^ Bogdan, Ante (2014). Kninska Bitka 1944 (Diploma thesis). University of Zagreb. p. 47. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ a b Nikola Anić: Povijest Osmog dalmatinskog korpusa Narodnooslobodilačke vojske Hrvatske : 1943.-1945., p. 169-171
- ^ Bogdan, Ante (2014). Kninska Bitka 1944 (Diploma thesis). University of Zagreb. p. 67-68. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Bogdan, Ante (2014). Kninska Bitka 1944 (Diploma thesis). University of Zagreb. p. 68-69. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Bogdan, Ante (2014). Kninska Bitka 1944 (Diploma thesis). University of Zagreb. p. 69-70. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Nikola Anić: Povijest Osmog dalmatinskog korpusa Narodnooslobodilačke vojske Hrvatske : 1943.-1945., p. 190-191