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392nd Infantry Division

392. (Kroatische) Infanterie-Division / 'Blue division' (Plava divizija)

History

  • Formed: 17 August 1943 - Dollersheim, Germany
  • Commander : Lt.-General Hans Mickl, colonel Reindl

To aid escape of German troops retreating from Knin division sent 1st Battalion from 846th and parts of 847th Regiment but few survivors reached them and had to retreat suffering heavy losses.

End

Initial phase of Lika-Primorje operation was directed at 373rd Division in area of Lapac while 392nd Division was still stretched out in coastal defense from Crikvenica to Karlobag from were front was held through Gospić all the way to Bihać beside numerous garrisons guarding communications in the rear. Orders by 15th Mountain Corps also demanded that no stronghold can be abandoned blocking any idea of concentrating division on critical sectors. General Mickl decided to switch his main supply line towards Rijeka (Senj-Novi-Crikvenica) instead of Karlovac (Oštarije-Jezerane-Krišpolje) not believing in Army Group E plan that withdrawal will be possible by that route although Josipdol remained main divisional base and supplies were still being transferred when Yugoslav army attacked.

On 1 April attack begun in area of Gospić, 1st Battalion/846 was pushed out from Ramljane towards Lešće loosing 6 guns. In Lički Osik, three companies of the 3rd Battalion/846 were cut off and destroyed, killed included captain Kutzner, 1st Lieutenant Platzer and 2nd Lieutenant Buhr. Remains of 3rd Battalion retreat towards Velebit with only 80 gathering at Krasni and reaching Vratnik pass above Senj. 1st and 2nd battalions of the 846th Regiment attempted to hold Otočac but were pushed out on 4 April and after failed attempt to retake it also pulled back to Vratnik pass which was to be defended under command of 847th Regiment but barely 200 soldiers were available. Action of 104th Jager division which was suppose to come to the aid of 392nd Division was stopped and division was moved north towards Karlovac to join 91st Army Corps. 15th Corps ordered division to defend and denied general Mickl request to withdraw north and join 97th Army Corps.

After fall of Jablanac, Senj was lost on 9 April, along Vratnik pass stared which fell on around 11. General Mickl who on day before gathered around 800 retreating soldiers in Novi personally lead counterattack around noon to regain Vratnik but was hit in the head and badly wounded, finally giving order for retreat around 15h. Mickl was quickly transported by armored vehicles to Rijeka military hospital but was again wounded in lungs during transport and died on the following day and is buried in Rijeka. During retreat division lost most of its heavier equipment and suffered heavy losses with staff of 847th Regiment including commander captured in Senj. Remains of division finally gathered at Crikvenica forming new 847th Regiment with two battalions under captain Wittmuetz who killed few day later near Bakar.

Staff

Heinnrich Kruger - battalion commander 846th Regiment

Organization

Division was part of 15th Mountain Corps with remains joining 97th Army Corps.

Division Headquarters - Brinje, eary April temporarily in Otočac, Brinje to 29 May

  • 846. Infanterie-Grenadier Regiment
    • I. battalion
      • 1. Company
      • 2. Company
      • 3. Company
      • 4. Company
    • II. battalion
      • 5. Company
      • 6. Company
      • 7. Company
      • 8. Company
    • III. battalion
      • 9. Company
      • 10. Company
      • 11. Company
      • 12. Company
    • Infantry Headquarters Company
    • 14. Anti-tank Artillery Company
    • 15. Company
      • Signal platoon
      • Pioneer platoon
      • Cavalry platoon
  • 847. Infanterie-Grenadier Regiment
    • I. battalion
      • 1. Company
      • 2. Company
      • 3. Company
      • 4. Company
    • II. battalion
      • 5. Company
      • 6. Company
      • 7. Company
      • 8. Company
    • III. battalion
      • 9. Company
      • 10. Company
      • 11. Company
      • 12. Company
    • 13. Company
    • 14. Company
    • 15. Company
  • 392. Reconnaissance Section
    • 1. bicycles
    • 2. bicycles
    • 3. motorized
    • 4. motorized
  • 392. Artillery Regiment
  • 392. Pioneer Battalion
  • 392. Liaison Battalion
  • 392. Reserve Field Battalion
    • 1. Company
    • 2. Company
    • 3. Company
    • 4. Company
    • 5. Company
  • 392. Medical Company

Battles & Campaigns

Known members

  • Panzerjager 1. batl / 846 Regiment, defected from garrison in Novi to Partisans on 26 February 1944 with personal armament and two machine guns
    • Fadil Borić
    • Anton Zvanović
    • Meha Budja
    • Mate Bilić
    • Petar Babić
    • Selim Kurtović
    • Ilija Rukavina
    • Mrag Sakić
    • Karlo Topalović
    • Ivo Medinić
    • Josip Pavun
    • Tode Halilović
    • Albin ÄŒakarić
    • Nasuf Kartić
    • Franjo Pavlinić
    • Josip Klančić

Reference

  • Antun Giron: Zapadna Hrvatska u Drugom svjetskom ratu
  • Franz Schraml: Hrvatsko ratiÅ¡te : njemačko-hrvatske legijske divizije -369., 373., 392. pjeÅ¡. div. (hrv.)

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