Split operation 1943

Split operation 1943

(Splitska operacija 1943)

Intro

Split operation 1943 covers series of battles between Yugoslav Partisans and Axis forces for control of Dalmatian port city of Split.

History

Italian capitulation caught off guard everyone except Germans who were already moving troops towards coast to disarm Italian troops. In hopes of keeping armistice secret from Germans Italian high command decided to sacrifice troops in Yugoslavia and Greece and abandon them to their fate.

In order to reinforce insufficient strength of Yugoslav Partisan 4th Operational Zone, General Staff of Croatia requested at lest one division from Supreme Headquarters. On 13 September, Tito dispatched elite 1st Proletarian division from Kupres area together with British military mission and 4th Krajina division from Grahovo-ManjaÄa area to help with disarmament of Italian units.

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Fall of Split in operation GEISERICH removed immediate threat of Allied landings on Yugoslav coast but did little to improve German position in the area. Partisans were still holding islands around Split and with captured Italian coastal guns blocked any sea traffic towards city. Similarly most roads towards Split were either blocked or required heavy escort to pass by Partisans hiding in the surrounding hills and mountains making city almost under siege and could easily be cut off if Allies decide to land in substantial force.

It would take Germans several more offensive operations and weeks before Split would be secured.

Orders of Battle

Casualties

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Aftermath

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Reference

Split u NarodnooslobodilaÄkoj borbi i socijalistiÄkoj revoluciji 1941.-1945.

Dr. KaÅ¾imir PribiloviÄ‡: ÄŒetvrti pomorski obalski sektor Mornarice NOVJ