Operation WALZERTRAUM

Operation WALZERTRAUM

Operation Waltz Dream

History

Following operation Morgenwind, on 19 January 1944 the Germans carried out landing on Hvar island, which NOVJ already decided to abandon and retreat 11th Brigade NOVJ to Vis (Lissa) island, codename Operation WALZERTRAUM with two landing detachments:

1st landing detachment: 2 landing barges, 2 landing-assault crafts with departure from Korchula island landed 700 soldiers from 750th Regiment at 04.20 hours on southern coast of Hvar island, one nautical mile west of Kozja cove (seven nautical miles west of Sucurja);

2nd landing detachment: 2 landing barges, 5 landing-assault crafts, 2 motor sail boats and two armed ships with departure from Povlja landed 860 soliders from 2nd and 3rd battalion of 738th Regiment at 04.30 hours east of Vrbovska.

Landings were supported by artillery batteries from BraÄ and cape LoviÅ¡Ä‡e (PeljeÅ¡ac). Part of the 2nd landing detachment were also members of coastal jager Brandenburg battalion and during landing one of their landing crafts hit anti-tank mine in cove near Jasla on which occasion 21 solider was killed. Pressure anti-personnel and anti-tank mines NOVJ received from Allies and were placed, or more correctly buried in sand or mud in shallow sea in several coves on the northern coast of Hvar island. First news of German landings on Hvar was received by phone at 04.10 hours when Germans ships approaching the shore opened fire on landing beaches. After landing German units continued advanced towards SuÄ‡urje and ZastraÅ¾iÅ¡Ä‡e, Stari Grad and Hvar. Patrolling around Vis island was carried out along northern, eastern and southern coast. In the evening from Vis to Hvar island sailed out NB-9 "Biokovac" and launch with task of picking up remaining NOVJ soldiers. During the night at Vis from Hvar island arrived motor sail boat "Deva" escorted by patrol boat of Hvar fleet, transferring truck and last remaining company of 11th Brigade NOVJ. On Hvar island remained only Partisan detachment with 37 soliders.

Aftermath

Walzertraum ended series of German operation which had goal of recapturing coastline and Adriatic islands, planed operation FREISCHÃœTZ to capture Vis island was postponed because of lack of resources until finally cancelled leaving Yugoslav partisans and Allies with excellent base from which to launch assault along German occupied coastline and islands.