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7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen

7. SS Freiwilligsten Gebirgsjägerdivision Prinz Eugen

History

  • SS-Freiwilligen Gebirgs Division
  • SS-Freiwilligen Division Prinz Eugen
  • SS-Freiwilligen Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen
  • 7. SS-Freiwilligen Gebirgs Division Prinz Eugen

Division carried out numerous anti-partisans operations, it was probably most often used German division since it was only mobile reserve available.

Operation WEISS

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Operation SCHWARZ

Division received task to move through Italian zone in order to block possible advance of Partisans towards Adriatic sea and Albania, to close south-east part of encirclement and then advance north over mountains terrain to crush enemy but by the time most of the division arrived to the right Sutjeska river most Partisans have either escaped or were already destroyed in breakthrough attempts.

After main group with Tito already escaped two battalions moved to cover left bank of Sutjeska and block escape route were surprised by attack of three battalions of 1st Dalmatian and one from 5th Montenegro Brigade at Tjentiše pushing them back and losing 200 horses from supply column to Partisans. They recovered their positions during night battle and decimated most partisan units.

Mutiny

During August and September group of 206 later 173 soldiers, Volksdeutsche from Croatian refused to obey orders claiming poor knowledge of German and constant harassment from their NCO's as well as fear of reprisals against their families by Partisans and requested to be transferred to Croatian Home Defense (Domobranstvo). Group was disarmed and escorted to Mostar, leaders were allegedly shot but exact faith is unclear.

Operation ACHSE and GEISERICH

After Italian capitulation division received task of securing coastline. Group Petersen advanced from Sinj towards Split but was cut-off and surrounded on Klis mountain for the next 17 days until reinforcements arrived. In battle for Split division suffered 726 casualties.

Officers NCO Soldiers Total
Killed 3 9 79 91
Wounded 16 43 491 550
Missing   4 81 85
Total 19 56 651 726

Operation HERBSTGEWITTER

During first phase two reinforced battalions cleared Peljesac peninsula.

In February 1945, division was reinforced by personnel from disbanded 21st SS Regiment Skenderbeg.

...

On 1 April 13th SS Regiment begun its attack from Vareš against 4th and 10th Krajina division at Kakanj in order to halt advance of the 5th Krajina Corps towards Sarajevo. Battle ended around 23 April with complete defeat of the 13th SS Regiment suffering 762 killed, 581 wounded and 140 captured making it worst defeat of the division since its formation. Regiment managed to break contact with enemy and retreat thanks to activity of 81st Landschütze Regiment and 1st Battalion of the 17th Croatian Home Defense Brigade.

War crimes

Besides being feared by Partisans for its combat effectiveness in mountainous terrain division become infamous for atrocities making little difference between hostile, neutral or potentially friendly population.

During its advance towards Split in 1943 in villages between Klis and Split division executed 102 civilians found in their homes and further 10 caught running away. Later division took part in abduction of civilians which were sent to Germany as forced labor where many died from disease and poor working conditions.

Execution of Italian prisoners by order from Adolf Hitler for surrendering to the Partisans:

  • 7 officers from division Emilia on 19 September 1943
  • Major Generals Pelligara, Felgosi and Poticardi on 1 October
  • 45 officers from division Bergamo on 2 October
  • 9 officers from division Bergamo on 3 October
  • colonel Verdi from division Bergamo on 5 October

On 16 December 1943 one battalion shot or burned alive 83 civilians from villages Luga, Kuka and Letke near Tomislavgrad/Duvno after receiving intelligence that villagers were supplying Partisans with food which was forced on them beacuse none of them wanted to join Partisans.

On 28 and 29 March 1944, 3rd Battalion/14 burned and killed around 1800 civlians in villages Otok, Ruda, Podi, Krivodol, Rože, Ljut, Voštane near Sinj even though very few persons from those villages joined Partisans and most served in Croatian Home Defense or Ustashe units and even German-Croatian Legionary divisions resulting in protest from Croatian official and show trial of unit commander but no sentence was carried out.

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