Operation WOLF

Operation WOLF

(Unternehmen Wolf) (Kordun-Banija-Pokupo-Turopolje operation / KordunaÅ¡ko-Banijsko-Pokupsko-Turopoljska operacija)

Operation Wolf was planed in three phases on territory of Kordun, Banija, Turopolje and Pokuplje from 7 December to 29 December 1943 with goal of destroying units of NOVJ representing threat communictions between Sava valley and Adriatic sea. Operation was directed against following NOVJ units:

4th Yugoslav partisans Corps (NOVJ)

7th Division

8th Division

1st Kordun partisan detachment

Banija partisan detachment

Cazin partisan detachment

28th Division

Units of Zumberak-Posavina sector

"Joza Vlahovic" Brigade

Zumberak-Pokupsko partisan detachment

Turopolje-Posavina partisan detachment

NOVJ strength is estimated at around 13,000 men.

Germans plan is carried out in three phases:

Unternehmen Wolf, attack of 15th Mountain Corps on Kordun, planed to take 5 days;

Unternehmen Panther, attack of the same corps on Banija, planed to take 7 days;

Unternehmen Weihnachtsmann, actions in Pokupje, planed to take 4 days;

Order of Battle

Axis Order of Battle

Starting positions for this operations where along the lines Ogulin - Karlovac - Bosanska Krupa - Bosanski Novi and Kostajnica - Sisak - Petrinja - Glina.

Unternehmen Wolf

Germans started phase one on 7 December by advancing one reinforced regiment from the 371st Infantry Division from Karlovac in direction of Vojnic - Vrginmost - Glina and second regiment from same division advancing from Ogulin across Ostarije and Slunj towards Velika Kladusa with goal of destroying the 8th Division NOVJ and surround it in encirclement on Banija. Also, interestingly, Germans openly mention need to destroy supply bases of 4th Corps NOVJ in that area.

Simultaneously, 1st Cossack Cavalry Division and 373rd Infantry Division tied 7th Division NOVJ with attacks along the line Glina - Sunja - Bosanski Novi - Bosanska Krupa. Main part of 8th Division NOVJ was (Abwehr failure) outside encirclement attacks of 371st Infantry Division but in path of German advance on the first day was Kordun partisan detachment and parts of the of 2nd Brigade 8th Division NOVJ. On 9 December right wing column of 371st Infantry Division captures Slunj and Velika Kladusa, and left wing column captures Vojnic on 7 December and Vrginmost on 10 December. By now operations seems to be staled. 371st Infantry Division stops clearing of Petrova Gora on 11 December and cancels planed clearing of area between Petrova Gora and Samarica and regroups in area of Glina on 15 December instead on 11 December as planed.

On the night 9/10 December strongholds of 1st Cossack Cavalry Division in villages Panjani, Majur and Stubljani are attacked by 1st and 3rd Brigade of the 7th Division NOVJ. On 11 December they repeated theirs attacks and started attacking stronghold in village Grabostani.

Unternehmen Panther

Second phase of operation starts on 12 December by advance of main part of 1st Cossack Cavalry Division from Petrinja, Kostajnica and Kozibroda and 373rd Infantry Division, parts of 2nd Home Defence Jager Regiment and Muslim militia:
- from line Bosanski Novi - Gvozdansko towards Samarica,
- from Otoka over Buzima to North-East and
- from Cazin towards Velika Kladusa.
These movement are being carried out in cooperation with 371st Infantry Division to destroy 7th Division NOVJ and destroy its supply bases in Samarica. Germans admitted that planed advance was significantly slowed down because of destroyed bridges and numerous obstacles set on communications.

Especially bitter fighting's were on the direction Bosanski Novi - Dvor na Uni - Beslinec. On 16 December (with 4 days delay) forces of 371st Infantry Division start advance from area of Glina towards Zirovac and Samarica; 7th Division NOVJ moves main part of its forces west over communications Glina - Klasnic - Zirovac. On 17 December Germans close their encirclement around Samarica and start clearing of terrain. Same day start and on the following (18 December) complete retreat from Banija: 373rd Infantry Division returns to its barracks and stronghold in valley of Una river and 371st Infantry Division and 1st Cossack Cavalry Division to area of Glina and Sisak. These movements make intro into third phase of operation.

In the mean time, the 8th Division NOVJ is clearing the area between Velika Kladusa and Cazin with one and from 22 and 23 December with three brigades and Cazin partisan detachment from smaller German-Home Defence garrisons and Muslim militia. Although results weren't very significant, terrain which was two weeks ago staging area for offensive is now patrolled by entire partisan division. During night 18/19 December Turopolje-Posavina partisan detachment carried out very successful attack on stronghold in village Sopnica capturing garrison and destroying warehouse with aircraft bombs and ammunition for anti-aircraft guns. Part of the same detachment together with 28th Division NOVJ carried out successful attack on airfield Kurilovec near Zagreb.

Simultaneously, by orders from higher HQ to ease the pressure on 4th Corps NOVJ, units of 13th and 18th Division NOVJ attacked Ustashe in Vrbovsko on 15 December, bitter fighting's lasted until 23 December when Ustashe retreat to Ogulin.

Unternehmen Weihnachtsmann

Third phase of operation starts on 26 December. Reinforced regiment of 1st Cossack Cavalry Division starts advance from area of Sisak along direction village Letovanic - village Poljanek - village Gajec. Reinforced regimental group of 371st Infantry Division advance direction Glina - village Stari Farkasic - village Hotnja - village Gladovec, while second regimental group (also reinforced) of the same division advance along the direction of Glina - village Pokupsko - village Cerje - village Gradac (na Kupi). Goal is to destroy 28th Division NOVJ and units of Zumberak-Pokupsko sector in area of Turopolje and Posavina which where constant threat to road and railway Zagreb - Karlovac and Zagreb - Sisak and to airfields south of Zagreb. Also to destroy warehouse and ammo dumps of NOVJ in area between Sava and Kupa rivers.

Parallel with these actions parts of 371st Infantry Division and 1st Sector are starting advance from Karlovac over village Donje Kupcine towards village Gradac to prevent retreat of NOVJ units in the area across Kupa river to south. By know Partisans had enough, to avoid encirclement 28th Division NOVJ crossed to left bank of Sava river during night of 28/29 December and retreats towards Moslavina. Units of Å½umberak-Posavina sector at same time move to Å½umberak. Following German actions found nothing, after roaming terrain between Sava and Kupa operation is stooped on the evening of 29 December (after reports of retreat of main force of NOVJ). Heaviest price was paid by civilian population, large number of stores was destroyed or confiscated, Germans also requisitioned 4,500 head of larger livestock.

Losses

Killed Wounded Missing

German 91 332 40

4th Corps NOVJ 81 215

Also 4th Corps NOVJ inflicted following damaged on Germans:

5 trucks (destroyed)

4 cars (destroyed)

2 tanks (destroyed)

116 horses (captured)

certain amount of light armament