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Operation VARAŽDIN

(Operacija Varaždin)

History

At the end of June 1943, 12th Slavonian division received orders from 1st Slavonian Corps to advance from area of Voćin near Daruvar to Kalnik mountain in northwestern Croatia. Its task was to liberate around 200 political prisoners in Lepoglava and allow defection of Croatian Home Defense artillery battalion in Jalkovec under command of major Demetar Varda. This forced Germans to halt and cancel operation IVAN and move troops in a failed attempt to halt division advance.

On 14 July 1943 Germans begun their assault on 12th and 16th Slavonian brigades of the 12th Division and local Kalnik partisan detachment. While Germans had initiative in the morning and with tank and aircraft support made some progress but in the afternoon 12th Brigade made maneuver over Lobor, capturing Ustasha garrison in Trakošćan along the way, in direction of Slovenia which at the time was part of the Third Reich. In order to ease mobility, brigade fired last 24 shells at territory of the Third Reich before destroying 100mm howitzer which was taken in Jelkovac. On the following day 12th brigade continued to fight with parts of German 187th division supported by 20 tanks and 7 aircraft.

12th Brigade while carrying out fighting retreat on 16 July attacked coal mines Novi Golubavac and Radoboj capturing 50 and destroying installation and burning mines.

Heaviest combat come on 20 July with 12th Brigade suffering 150 casualties out of which 40 killed. By 21 hours on 20 July encirclement around 12th Brigade was finally completed with brigade surrounded on southern slopes of Kalnik mountain on space of only 2-3 square kilometers cut off from 12th Division and Operative HQ of 2nd Operational Zone. Most of the night was spent in failed attempts to breakout until in early morning near Carevdara tanks left leaving only dug in infantry allowing 12th Brigade to breakthrough but quick German reaction by tanks managed to cut off brigade rear guard 1st battalion which took two more days before it escaped further north.

Aftermath

While quick German reaction and pursuit managed to halt Partisan advance and inflicted significant losses, defection of artillery battalion and liberation of Lepoglava prisoners made huge political victories for Partisans.

Reference

  • Josip Kokot: Dvaneasta proleterska slavonska brigada