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Operation NIBELUNGENFAHRT

(Unternehmen Nibelungenfahrt / Operation Voyage of Nibelung? / Operacija putovanje Nibelunga)

Intro

Initially on 2 January 1944 it was planned for 114th Jäger Division to travel to Istria to replace 71st Infantry Division (HQ in Opatija, deployed in Rijeka, Trieste and Postojna) was to march by route Obrovac — Sinj — Drniš — Knin — Lapac — Bihać — Slunj and then board trains from Karlovac and Zagreb. But on 8 January it was deiced to send division to march directly to Istria in order to clear Partisans (13th Division and Operational HQ for Lika) in Lika and Croatian Littoral.

15th Mountain Corps wanted to used division for secondary operation of sweeping Krbava field (Unternehmen 'Krbavsko polje') but this was denied by 2nd Panzer Army.

History

Advance begun on 13 January with attack on Partisans 2nd Brigade of Operational HQ for Lika around Budak. In order to secure right flank of advance towards Perušić, Germans wasted entire day attempting to push two battalions of 1st Brigade from Široka Kula supported by artillery battalion of Operational HQ for Lika. Germans finally managed to push Partisans from Široka Kula to Ljubovo taken on 15 January after Ustasha column advanced into Vrebac and Barlete exposing left flank of 1st Brigade. Advance now switched back to 2nd Brigade and Perušić was secured on 16 January.

For next two days front slowly crawled north over mountains terrain. Knowing that once Lešće pass falls German motorized units will quickly advance into Gacka river valley with Partisan Operational HQ for Lika suggested evacuation of Otočac which was location of General Staff of Croatia, ZAVNOH and other Partisans institutions and rear area units.

Lešće fell around noon on 18 January and Germans arrived in Otočac in the evening of the same day. Partisan Artillery battalion was moved from Ljubovo over Korenica and Vrhovina to Zalužnica from were it could shell German columns around Otočac. On 19 January Reconnaissance battalion of 114th Division overcome resistance of 3rd Brigade of 13th Division in area if Brlog - Žuta Lovka and advanced over Vratnik pass taking control of Senj on Adriatic coast. 3rd Brigade reported destroying 3 trucks, 1 car and several horses. As division advanced 1st Brigade launched its attacks reporting 1 truck destroyed and 50 horses killed capturing 10 rifles, 15000 rounds of ammo.

By 23 January most of 114th Division was already in Italy on its way to Anzio with only regimental sized group remaining behind to support operation DREŽNICA which was started on the same day by 392nd Division advancing from Ogulin on axis - Ogulin - Jasenak - Drežnica - Jezerane - Brinje. Attempt to advance from Žute Lovke towards Brinje on 23 January was halted by 3rd Brigade, link with 392nd Division near Drežnica was finally established on 25 January. Operation finally ended on 30 January.

Average German advance during operation was around 5 km a day.

Orders of Battle

  • Axis ORBAT
    • 114. Jäger Division
    • Most of NDH group Zapoli (ZAPanda LIka - Western Lika)
  • Yugoslav Partisans ORBAT
    • General Staff of Croatia
      • Operational HQ for Lika
        • 1st Brigade - around 1068 fighters
        • 2nd Brigade - former 4th Brigade of 13th Division
        • Artillery Battalion
      • 13th Division
        • 3rd Brigade - sector Brlog - Žuta Lokva - Vratnik tasked with slowing down enemy advance and blocking advance towards Brinje and Krivi Put
        • 1st Brigade - sector Krivi Put - Novi Vinodolski, same task as 3rd Brigade
      • 2nd Brigade of 13th Division - in village Glavace, NW of Otočac, blocking advance towards Dabar, under direct command of GS Croatia

Casualties

.

Aftermath

Advance of 114th tied down most of Partisan 13th Division leaving only 1st Partisan Detachment with parts of 8th Kordun division to oppose advance of 392nd Division.

With start of operation Shingle, Allied landing in Anzio on 22 January, 114th Division was transferred to Army Group C in Italy resulting in Otočac being abandoned to Partisans and further operations against Partisans put on hold until more troops could be gathered. This give Partisans in Lika and Gorski Kotar brief respite during which their forces were reorganized into 11th Corps with 13th and 35th divisions.

Failure to secure Krbava field also left Partisans with strong logistical base and improvised airfield through which supplies from Italy could be brought in and badly wounded Partisans evacuated.

Reference

  • Petar Kleut: Jedanaesti korpus NOVJ, pages 30-35
  • Zbornik dokumenta, Tom XII, knjiga 4, page 59