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Operation EISBÄR

Unternehmen Eisbär / Operation Polar bear

Intro

German withdrawal of the 3rd Battalion from 738th Regiment 118th Jager Division from Supetar on Brač island.

History

With Romanian capitulation and expected Bulgarian withdrawal of German forces from Greece and Albania begun, abandonment of Dalmatian island was next step carried out by 2nd Panzer Army in order to secure more troops for upcoming battle in Serbia against approaching Red Army and Tito's main group.

Original plan to abandon Brač, Hvar and Korčula islands was reduced to only Mljet and Korčula with small garrison staying on part of Brač. Mainland coastal defense were continued to be reinforced with 12 guns 76mm arriving on 18 September and were deployed in Dugi Rat, Split and Cavtat.

In August Yugoslav Partisan Supreme Headquarters issued order to 26th Dalmatian Division to capture Brač island as part of operation RATWEEK and as opening move in liberation of entire Dalmatia.

Prior to withdrawing Germans sent from Šibenik to Split a force of 450 Brandenburg Coastal Jagers in 5 assault landing crafts to clear Brač and Hvar islands of expected stronger Partisan forces in hiding which could threaten withdrawal. Landing on Brač on 3 September found no Partisan forces same as landing on Hvar operation SEYDLITZ on 6/7 September instead they triggered Partisans to send large force which smashed Coastal Jagers on Hvar.

Partisan planed assault on 18 September but with Germans starting withdrawal on 11 September 12th Dalmatian Brigade was immediately sent from Vis island reinforced with battery of mountain guns and platoon of tanks from 1st Tank Brigade landing at 02:00 on 12 September. Next day two more battalions from 1st Dalmatian Brigade, another gun battery and tank platoon were sent together with one British Commando unit and with gun battery.

Advance of 12th Dalmatian Brigade towards Supetar which was defended by 3rd Battalion reinforced with one battery from the 668th Artillery Regiment also come under heavy fire from three German coastal artillery batteries from the mainland covering withdrawal and during night 12/13 September Germans troops retreated towards Supetara where they boarded landing crafts which took them to Makarska leaving Sumartin only German stronghold on the island.

12th Brigade suffered 2 killed and 12 wounded while capturing 4 artillery pieces, 2 anti-tank guns and large quantities of ammunition.

Attack on Sumartin begun at 20:00 on 14 September which fell on 18 September resulting in destruction of the 2nd Battalion which was to be evacuated in operation KRANICH.

Orders of Battle

Casualties

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Aftermath

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Sources