Operation OSTERN

Operation OSTERN

(Easter)

History

Operation was part of larger German plan HERBSTGEWITTER (1944) for withdrawal from Dalmatian coastline towards line Green (GrÃ¼n), OSTERN was part related to German 891st Grenadier Regiment from 264th Division which was located in Zadar and surrounding area. Regiment commander received initial instructions to prepare for withdrawal on 12 October 1944 and when orders come to break through Smilcic towards Obrovac or through Biograd, Pakostane, Pirovac, Vodice, Bribirskih Mostina and Roski Slap to Drnis gathering local garrisons along the way, as last resort there was sea route to Senj or Sibenik.

Successes of Yugoslav partisans 19th Dalmatian Division in Northern Dalmatia blocking first two land routes forced regiment to chose withdrawal route by sea through Vodice towards Å ibenik where it would link up with 892nd and 893rd Grenadier Regiment before finally joining 264th division staff in Knin. Kampfgruppe (Combat group) Strecker was formed from regiment and naval personnel in Zadar for this task.

Sea transport was carried out successfully during night of 30/31 October from Zadar to Å ibenik and from there to Knin just two days before Partisans assault on Å ibenik which cut off KG Allermann which was badly mauled during retreat.

German navy 2nd escort flotilla and 2nd anti-submarine flotilla carried out 37 patrols without problems.

Corvette UJ 202 10 times

Corvette UJ 208 10 times

Torpedo boat TA 20 (ex Italian destroyer Audace) 6 times

Torpedo boat TA 21 (Ex Italian torpedo boat Insisioso) 4 times

Minesweeper R 187 5 times

Afterwards in operation Wikinger, naval evacuation from Sibenik to Rijeka (Fiume) fleet was intercepted by Royal Navy which launched its own operation Exterminate resulting in sinking of UJ 202, UJ 208 and TA 20.

Order of Battle:

Axis Order of Battle

References

Todor RadoÅ¡eviÄ‡: Ofanziva za osloboÄ‘enje Dalmacije

Jovan VasiljeviÄ‡: ObraÄun na Jadranu