Operation BERGWIND

Operation BERGWIND

(Mountain wind / Planinski vjetar)

Description

Anti-partisan operation of German 69th Army Corps from 8th to 15th March 1945 directed against partisans held territory in region of Moslavina and 10th Zagreb Corps of JA which was moving towards Podravina by orders of 3rd Army to ease the pressure on 12th Vojvodina Corps and 1st Bulgarian Army which was fighting German bridgehead over Drava at Valpovo and Donji Miholjac in Operation WALDTEUFEL. Operation caught 10th Zagreb Corps by surprise and forced it to retreat from Moslavina region.

Orders of Battle

Axis ORBAT

Yugoslav army ORBAT

Casualties

32nd Division reported its losses at 79 dead, 383 wounded, 51 missing and 2 captured, also lost 8 light machine-guns and 62 rifles while 2 light machine-guns and 11 rifles where destroyed. Ammunition used: 246000 British rounds, 70000 Mauser rounds, 2800 Italian, 2490 mines for heavy mortar, 1000 for light mortar, 74 PIAT mines and 530 hand grandees. It claimed 497 dead, 691 wounded and 7 captured enemy soldiers also captured from enemy: 2 heavy mortars, 14 rifles, 37000 rounds, 157 mortar mines and two radio stations.

33rd Division reported its losses at 11 dead and 88 wounded. 2 light machine-guns and 3 rifles where lost. Expended during fighting 53605 Mauser rounds, 46000 and 8910 sub-machine guns rounds, 744 mines for heavy mortar, 196 mines for light mortar and 57 mines for PIAT. It estimates enemy losses at 181 dead, 99 wounded and 10 captured. 2 light machine-guns, 3 heavy mortars with 135 mines, 42 rifles with 20000 rounds and other equipment was captured from enemy.

Aftermath

After 10th Zagreb Corps was pushed out of Moslavina region detailed search discovered hidden partisan ammunition and food bunkers.