Operation KEULENSCHLAG (1944)

Operation KEULENSCHLAG

(Unternehmen Keulenschlag / Operation Crushing Blow)

Intro

During operation WALDLAUF, Yugoslav Partisans 13th Division attacked garrisons along Ogulin-Brinje-Senj road, this along with knowledge of large Partisans warehouses which were missed during operation DREÅ½NICA forced general Mickl to plan operation to remove threat to his main supply line.

History

Carried out by German 392nd Infantry Division from 14 to 22 April 1944 in DreÅ¾nica region.

During operation large Partisan infrastructure which was created in the area after Italian surrender including hidden warehouses of weapons and ammo taken from Italian 5th Corps was destroyed or captured.

.

Orders of Battle

Axis ORBAT

Reconnaissance detachment (without 2nd Company) of the 392nd Division - advancing Senj - TuÅ¾eviÄ‡ - DreÅ¾nica

3rd Battalion of the 846th Regiment with 2nd Recon Company - advancing Brinje - Å kaliÄ‡i

2nd Battalion of the 847th Regiment - advancing Senj - village Alan - Stalak - Jasenak

3rd Battalion of the 847th Regiment - advancing Novi - Breza - MoÅ¡une

2nd Battalion of the 846th Regiment - advancing Brinje - Gustovo Polje - ZrniÄ‡

33rd Ustasha Battalion - advancing Ogulin - Brezno

NOVJ ORBAT

13th Division

Casualties

Germans claimed 86 killed Partisans, 2 Political Commissars, 1 officer and 18 captured.
Captured by Germans:

93 tons of ammunition

3 howitzers 105mm (Italian)

4 guns 75mm (Italian)

2 anti-tank guns 47mm (Italian)

30 submachine guns (Italian)

2 light machine-guns (Italian)

1 mortar (Italian)

130 rifles (Italian)

1,8 cbm Otto

1,9 cbm Diesel

1

3

30 trucks (partial, probably cannibalized for spare parts by Partisans)

various military instalations

Aftermath

.

Reference

Antun Giron: Zapadna Hrvatska u Drugom svjetskom ratu

Franz Schraml: Hrvatsko ratiÅ¡te : njemaÄko-hrvatske legijske divizije -369., 373., 392. pjeÅ¡. div. (hrv.)