Operation MORGENWIND

Operation MORGENWIND

Operation Morning Wind

History

Operations Morgenwind I and II belong to series of German operation with goal of recapturing Dalmatian islands which were taken by Yugoslav partisans after Italian capitulation. After heavy losses suffered in HERBSTGEWITTER II Partisans decided to abandoned rest of Dalmatian islands and retreat to Vis since there defense would require much larger forces and there was serious lack of transport capacity in case retreat across the sea would be need.

MORGENWIND I

Landing of 118th Jager Division on BraÄ island was suppose to be carried out at same time as landings on Solta codenamed Morgenwind II but with Allied action damaged ships in Makarska area operation was delayed for two days. By that time Brac was abandoned and Yugoslav partisan 26th Dalmatian Division pulled back all its forces back to Vis island.

MORGENWIND II

On 12 January 1944 German reinforced battalion from 892nd regiment of 264th Infantry Division totaling around 480 soliders took off from Trogir and landed on Solta island.

Landing was carried out in two waves on northwest coast of Solta and in Maslinica at 3:25 and 4 a.m. with one landing barge, two landing boats, two motor sailboats and one armed vessel. Support was provided by mobile 100mm battery on Ciovo island.

After capturing Maslinica Germans cautiously advanced towards Grohotoe, Gornje Selo and Stomorska fighting rear guards. At 17:30 Partisans decided to abandoned the island and at 18:00 all soldiers and material was evacuated for Vis island.

Aftermath

Last German landing operation was on Hvar island codenamed operation Walzertraum which also found no resistance.

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