Operation FREISCHÃœTZ

Operation FREISCHÃœTZ

(Marksman?)

History

The capture of the island of Vis (Lissa) off the Dalmatian coast was planed for 21 February 1944 but lack of available troops postponed it until it was finally cancelled by Hitler.

Vis was defended by three brigades of 26th Dalmatian Division of NOVJ plus British commandos and other smaller units.

Plans were made by HQ of 118th Jager Division and HQ of the 5th SS Mountain Corps. During the night four battalions from 750th Regiment were suppose to land on the south to the island and advanced towards the city while Brandenburg commandos would disguise them selves as Partisans and enter into harbor and create chaos in the city itself. In the morning 360 paratroopers would jump on the island followed by 200 more in gliders.

This would have made very interesting battle since neither Germans nor British had absolute air or sea superiority and Yugoslav division was fully equipped by British unlike partisan formation inland.

There seems to have been another proposal operation WIGAN at the end of March for a night para-drop.

Order of Battle

Axis Order of Battle