Operation STURM

Operation STURM

(Operation Assault / Operacija JuriÅ¡)

History

Yugoslav Partisan Second Banja Luka operation overran most of the Axis garrison in the city leaving only old fort KaÅ¡tel still holding. In sector Banja Luka - Bosanska GradiÅ¡ka, Germans gathered 3rd and 4th Cossack Regiment from 1st Cossack Cavalry Division, group of Police battalions, German-Croat mobile Police battalion from Zagreb and armored detachment from Osijek under command of general Helmuth von Pannwitz.

Before relief force could even be organized on 21 September Partisan attack pushed it back towards Bosanska GradiÅ¡ka and Sava river. In ensuing panic drastic measures were taken to halt the retreat including firing in front of retreating troops and aided by arriving Ustasha battalion from Jasenovac concentration camp lead by Maks LuburiÄ‡ who shot one Croatian Home Defense NCO, order was restored and defensive line established.

Need for large scale operation was realized by German 69th Army Corps and begun to reinforce exiting units with 6th Cossack Regiment, German-Croatian Home Defense training battalion from Zagreb and from Samobor arrived Mobile Battalion of the 6th Police Regiment. Reorganized into two battle groups "Pannwitz" which was to attack frontally from Bosanska GradiÅ¡ka towards Banja Luka and "Rudo" which was to carry out flanking maneuver from Derventa over Prnjavor and KlaÅ¡nice. Operation begun on 25 September.

Battle group "Rudo" easily pushed weak Motajica partisan detachment taking Prnjavor on the 26 September. Next day around 7 a.m. without resistance from Partisan Central Bosnian division, reconnaissance section and vanguard arrived about a kilometer from bridge over Vrbas river in KlaÅ¡nica. Staff of 6th Krajina Brigade after pulling back advance guard of 3rd and 4th Battalions back decided blow up the bridge before Germans could cross it. Both battalions opened sudden heavy fire at battle group "Rudo" when it arrived in front of the destroyed bridge not giving it time to organize for attack. Germans lost two armored scout vehicles, 4 trucks, 2 guns, 1 mortar and were forced to pull back.

In order to take KlaÅ¡nice and force Vrbas river Germans begun reorganized their forces and begun artillery preparation supported by 7 aircraft first attack begun around 14:00, and second later but both were repulsed. Another reorganization come with group being reinforced with assault boats and pontoon bridges and around 22:00 massive artillery and mortar barrage begun in preparation for new assault.-Thinking that main attack would come in the morning 6th Krajina brigade decided to withdraw its two battalions to avoid unnecessary casualties leaving only pickets guarding the river bank. Heavy artillery fire pinned down these pickets preventing them from noticing first wave of Germans crossing the river. Once artillery barrage moved on Partisan pickets realized they were surrounded by Germans and had to breakthrough back to their lines.

By morning of 28 September Germans have secured bridgehead at KlaÅ¡nice and begun to move heavier weapons across pontoon bridge. Around 11:00 battle group "Pannwitz" managed to link up with "Rudo" in KlaÅ¡nice pushing back Partisan 11th, 8th and 13th brigade. By 13:00 vanguard reinforced by tanks begun advancing towards Banja Luka followed by main force of around 100 motor vehicles. This column come under flanking attacks from 6th Brigade forcing Germans to deploy strong security along the road.

German column finally arrived to Banja Luka on 29 September rescuing garrison in KaÅ¡tel fort.

Order of Battle

Axis ORBAT

NOVJ ORBAT

Casualties

Germans

killed

a

Yugoslav Partisans

killed

wounded

.

Aftermath

While relief operation was a success it was of little comfort to the Germans, Partisans managed to take 4000 prisoners including general Karl-Krebs von Dewitz while further 3000 soldiers were killed or wounded, capture large amount of war material including 3 tanks and several aircraft.

Sources