Knin operation 1944

Knin operation

(Kninska operacija)

Intro

Knin operation in 1944 was launched by Yugoslav Partisans 8th Corps from 7 November to 9 December 1944 with purpose of destroying German, Ustasha and Chetnik formations in the area of Knin. It is often refereed to as much larger Partisans offensive which liberated most of Dalmatia covering all operations from Zadar to Dubrovnik.

After difficult withdrawal from Dalmatian coastal areas during operation HERBSTGEWITTER (1944), headquarters of German 15th Mountain Corps (which was based in Knin until 19 November when it moved to OstroÅ¾ac near BihaÄ‡ transferring defense of Knin to commander of the 264th Division) was ordered to hold Knin at all costs. German units were ordered to defend Knin to the last round and to the last men in order to stop advance of 8th Corps towards Lika and Bosnia. Knin was strategic point in defensive plans of German high command as part of the line going from Srymia over Sarajevo and Mostar holding the end of that line.

History

Operation can be divided into three phases:

7 November to 25 November - Initial battles on approaches to Knin

26 November to 4 December - Main battle and liberation of Knin

5 December to 9 December - Finishing battles and pursuit of retreating Germans to liberation of OtriÄ‡ in Lika

At the beginning defenses of Knin consisted of some 14000 German soldiers and sailors (264th and 373rd division), some 1500 NDH soldiers and around 4500 Chetniks under command of MomÄilo ÄujiÄ‡.

Initial battles - 7 November to 25 November

On 7 November, after two day rest following liberation of Å ibenik and destruction of German Combat Group Allerman, Yugoslav Partisans 26th Dalmatian Division begun its advance towards Knin attacking German defenses south of Knin having little information of on its strength thinking they were fighting only strong rear guard covering German retreat towards BihaÄ‡. Initial plan called for surrounding Germans at Kosovo polje but this was quickly thwarted by German reinforcements sent from Knin to boost its southern defensive line which come under heavy pressure from 26th Division pushing Germans back to Kaldrma and Lisnik.

20th Dalmatian Division reached GolubiÄ‡ cutting communication Knin - Strmica defend by Chetniks Bosnian and Dalmatian Corps while 19th Dalmatian Division fought off German attacks along Knin - Zrmanja road.

Following two weeks both sides spent on preparations, 26th Division was further reinforced by disbandment of numerous Partisan detachments which previously fought behind enemy lines and received around 3000 fighters brining its brigades strength over 2000 fighters each.

On 12 November Germans withdrew to BihaÄ‡ demoralized remains of 6th and 7th Ustasha brigades and 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Croatian Home Defense Brigade. Few days later both 581st and 583rd Naval Infantry Battalions followed leaving some 10000 Germans soldiers and 4500 Chetniks.

Main battle - 26 November to 4 December

Begun by frontal assault of the 26th Division backed by artillery and armor against German 891st and 892nd Regiments but failed to breach it.

On 28 November Army Group E allowed 15th Mountain Corps to begun retreat from Knin to more defensible position north Knin which were to be held during the winter. Two days later Germans begun shortening their front by pulling back from OÅ¡tra glavica, BulajuÅ¡i and Lisnik, also fresh 847th Regiment from 392nd Division arrived in area of PaÄ‘ene to boost German defenses in that sector.

On 1 December new assault breaks Germans lines, successful morthen outflanking maneuver by 8th Brigade of the 20th Division attacks German forces in PaÄ‘ene area while 26th Division ties down most of Germans to the southern sector. Next day 14th Brigade of the 19th Division reaches Knin - PaÄ‘ene road and connects with 20th Division completing encirclement of German forces in Knin. 1st Dalmatian Brigade breaches German lines in the south advances towards Knin itself.

Between 2 and 3 a.m. on 3 December, 1st and 12 Dalmatian brigade arrived into Knin across demolished brigade over Krka river and by 4 a.m. linked up with 9th Brigade of the 20th Division liberating Knin. Most of German forces were cut off in several pockets, smaller one southeast of Knin was eliminated by 26th Division capturing 1200 German soldiers. Most of 264th Division was surrounded near Stara StraÅ¾a with only small group lead by division commander Alois Windisch managed to breakthrough during the night of 3/4 November. As a last act of desperation to prevent it from falling into Partisan hands Germans set fire to their ammunition and fuel depot stored in Stara StraÅ¾a railway tunnel killing around 600 of their wounded which were also located inside.

By 4 December most organized resistance ceased with Germans attempting to reach their lines in small groups, amongst captured was Konrad Wild, commander of the 383rd Regiment of the 373rd Division.

Pursuit - 5 December to 9 December

Pursuit was taken over by relatively fresh 9th Dalmatian division of which 13th Brigade was used to block German relief attempts from Mostar while its 3rd and 4th Brigade served as 8th Corps reserve and were thrown into battle only on 4 December against escaping Germans.

...

During final stages of Knin operation successful attack was launched against GraÄac garrison.

Order of Battle

Axis

Partisans

Casualties

The German 264th Division was almost completely destroyed (1526 soldiers left) and was removed from active divisions list by German high command. 373rd Infantry division suffered heavy losses and had to be reorganized. 847th Regiment was no longer combat formation. Most of Chetniks were pulled out to the North and with help of German units moved to Karlovac area. Total Germans and chetniks losses during the operation were 6555 killed or wounded and 4258 captured.

Units of 8th Corps of NOVJ had 629 dead and 2275 wounded and 125 missing.

Axis losses reported by 15th Mountain Corps on 10 December

4488 casualties

1058 wounded evacuated

700 wounded captured by Partisans

2730 killed or missing

41

57 AA Flak 20mm (3 quad)

6 anti-tank guns

Aftermath

During Knin operation units of 8th Corps captured large booty, 82 heavy and light artillery pieces many in working condition, 25 heavy mortars, 500 machine-guns, 5000 rifles, 200 vehicles and around 150 wagons of ammunition and other war material. Also many POW belonging to Croatian Home Defense took opportunity of Tito's amnesty to join Partisans ranks. This together with supply of aid by the Allies from Italy allowed rapid transformation of 8th Corps from guerrilla force to conventional army.

Consequences for German 15th Mountain Corps were nearly disastrous leaving it split into two formations each defending narrow corridors extending deep into Partisan held territory, it was only saved by events on other fronts and political events. While 8th Corps carried out its reorganization in order to resume offensive British intervention against communist in Greece panicked Tito into ordering several divisions to be redeployed as coastal defense while Operation BORA showed that the Mostar garrison still posed a serious threat to the rear of the 8th Corps forcing it to commit its main formations to Mostar operation.

Huge gap in 15th Corps line left by Knin operation together with battle for GraÄac also allowed Partisans for the first time to move supplies by the road GraÄac - Udbina - Korenica - Plitvice - Rakovica - Slunj to Yugoslav Partisans 4th Corps located in Banija and Kordun which until then was only being supplied by air drops. From there supplies would be delivered to other units located behind enemy lines 11th Corps in Gorski Kotar and 7th Corps in Slovenia. This situation would force Germans to launch several operations in order to close this gap and flow of supplies with it.

Reference

Kninska operacija, Beograd, 1985