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Operation OSTERN

(Easter)

History

Operation was part of larger German plan HERBSTGEWITTER (1944) for withdrawal from Dalmatian coastline towards line Green (Grün), 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 19th Dalmatian Division of Yugoslav partisans in Northern Dalmatia blocking first two land routes forced regiment to chose withdrawal sea route through Vodice towards Sibenik where it would link up with 892nd nad 893rd Grenadier Regiment and finally join 264th division staff in Knin. Kampfgruppe (Combat group) Strecker was formed from regiment and naval personell in Zadar for this task.

Sea transport was carried out successfully during night of 30/31 October from Zadar to Sibenik and from there to Knin just two days before Partisans assault on Sibenik 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 Radošević: Ofanziva za oslobođenje Dalmacije
  • Jovan Vasiljević: Obračun na Jadranu

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