12th Infantry Division 'Sassari'

12th Infantry Division 'Sassari'

12a Divisione di fanteria "Sassari"

History

VjeÅ¡tiÄ‡a Gora

During operation against 1st Dalmatian assualt and "Starac Vujadin" battalions which begun on 10 July 1942 division suffered 2 officers and 19 soldiers killed, 3 officers and 42 soldiers wounded and 47 soldiers missing in area of Kazanci (Split UF-DE).
Operation WEISS

Italian High Command lacked enthusiasm for such massive operation also Sassari division was planed to start its withdrawal to Italy on 13 February along with other divisions and further reduce territory held by 2nd Army not increase it since that would require new troops.

Sassari division was given task of advancing from GraÄac with group around 152nd Regiment staring first and other units to be sent into combat as they arrived. Division was reinforced with battalion from Bergamo division, 300 Chetniks of MomÄilo ÄuijiÄ‡. Second group with 151st Regiment was under command of Re division advancing RaduÄ - Udbina - Korenica.

On the first day division only made contact with Yugoslav Partisan 1st Lika Brigade, 893 strong, which held high ground north of GraÄac basin and barely moved until 24 January when it managed to take some hills. It was only on 25 January when Partisans left single battalion holding the line withdrawing other three for rest thinking Italian attacks were only minor attempt that division managed to take dominant peaks and advance into Bruvno. Partisans fell back to mountain pass between Bruvno and Mazin but still held dominant hill east and west of Bruvno, heavy fighting lasted for two next days until on 29 January division finally entered Mazin.

Italian attacks next days were repulsed, during attempts to break out of Mazin basin towards Gornji Lapac only several peaks were taken for cost of around 250 soldiers, losses for Å koriÄ‡ hill alone were 10 killed, 51 wounded and 3 tanks destroyed. Finally on 3 February division halted its attacks. 151st Regiment was moved from Udbina to join rest of division at Mazin on 9 February. Division was also reinforced with Blackshirt battalion, tank company and artillery battery.

Despite first phase of operation WEISS being officially completed not all objectives were achieved by Italian 2nd Army and under pressure from Germans division was given a task of capturing Gornji Lapac and advancing to Kulen Wakuf where it would link up with German 7th SS Division. Starting its attack from Mazin on 11 February supported by Re division on the left and column of 2700 Chetniks with two Bersaglieri battalions from Bergamo division advancing from Srb on the right.

During 13 February all air force support for the 5th Corps was directed to support advance of Sassari division with 13 bombers and fighters constantly attacking Partisan positions. Initial attack made progress by Sassari division since Yugoslav Partisan formations moved in preparations for their own attack on Italians planed by General Staff of Croatia leaving only 2nd Battalion of 1st Lika Brigade blocking the road allowing division after 25 days to finally capture Gornji Lapac with loss of 3 killed, 70 wounded and one tank destroyed.

On 15 February 16th Banija and 1st Lika brigades were order to smash right column joined parts of 10th Krajina this was quickly accomplished and taking Srb Partisans secured their left flank. Same day Italian units linked up with Germans at Kulen Vakuf.

After link up Italian command considered their task over and begun general pull out from recently taken territories in Lika, this left reinforced 151st Regiment from Sassari division isolated between Kulen Vakuf and Gornji Lapac. One battalion was sent first, it managed to avoided Partisan ambushes and reach burned village of BoriÄ‡evac where they could be supported by artillery from Gornji Lapac and supported by another battalion managed to retreat with Partisans capturing 20114 rounds of ammo, 632 hand grandees, 2 radio stations, 35 mules, 720 blankets, 100 tents and destroying one tank, 4 trucks, 30 mules etc.

Next day rest of the regiment attempted to join rest of the division in Gornji Lapac but was quickly blocked by 1st Brigade of the 6th Lika division and 15th Brigade of the 8th Kordun division losing its artillery (two mountain guns) and supply column during first Partisan attack. Encirclement attempts continued into the night but Italians managed to avoid them by moving to Lisac hill south of village BoriÄ‡evac where they could be supported by artillery from Gornji Lapac. Next day attack by the rest of the division from Lapac allowed them to retreat and rejoin the division. Regiment suffered 36 dead and 103 wounded.

On 17 February retreat of Italian 5th Army Corps was in full gear with Re division pulling back to Udbina and with her parts of Lombardia division from Zavalja, south of BihaÄ‡. Only Sassari division beacuse of large amount of supplies it had to carry was making slow withdrawal. In these circumstances General Staff of Croatia ordered general attack by four available brigades to surround and destroy Sassari division.

By evening of 18 February encirclement was complete and division cut into two groups. For the next two days heavy fighting raged with Re and Bergamo division advancing from south and Germans from east in order to rescue Sassari division forcing Italians to abandon most of divisional equipment and withdraw disorganized and in panic personnel on foot. In four days of encirclement division suffered further 109 killed and 358 wounded.

According to Italian sources division casualties were 53 officers and 858 soldiers, 3 tanks, 5 artillery pieces, 6 heavy mortars,60 motor vehicles, 250 pack animals, several thousand artillery and mortar shells, 6 radio stations, over 5500 blankets, tents etc.

In total for operation WEISS, according Italian reports from 20 January to 22 February 1943 Sassari division suffered 233 killed and 800 wounded, another Italian report list casualties at 212 killed and 699 wounded.

War crimes

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Order of battle

Staff - Knin

151st Infantry Regiment - Knin

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

Mortar Company 81mm

Support Battery 65mm

152nd Infantry Regiment - Knin

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

3rd Battalion

Mortar Company 81mm

Support Battery 65mm

34th Artillery Regiment - Å ibenik

1st Battalion, 100/17mm - Knin

2nd Battalion, 75/27mm - Knin

3rd Battalion, 75/13mm - Skradin

Anti-aircraft Battery, 20mm - Å ibenik

12th Mortar Battery - Å ibenik

12th Company 47/32

42nd Carabinieri Section

73rd CCNN Legion

Commanders

Riccardo Balocco

Michele Scaroina

Giacomo Castagna

Furio Monticelli

Paolo Berardi

Ettore Giannuzzi

Francesco Zani

Battles & Campaigns

Operation WEISS

References