12th Serbian Brigade

12th Serbian Brigade

(Dvanaesta Srpska Brigada)

History

Formed on 18 May 1944, near Ostrazuba in the vicinity of Vlasotinaca. The Brigade was comprised from Babicka partisan detachment and men of Crnotravsko Military District. It had 3 battalions with about 800 men. In Nis (Serbia), on 22 October the brigade was supplemented with new men and than it had 4 battalions, one anti-tank company and platoon. Since it was formed, this brigade was a part of 22nd Serbian Division and it was involved in all major battles in which this division was involved in. For example: on 14/15 June in attack on Leskovac, in the night of 18/19 June attacked together with Bulgarian partisan battalion Georgi Dimitrov German-Bulgarian garrisons at railway station in Grdelica and on bridges near Grdelica and village Kopasnice; in the night of 14/15 July participated in attack on Leskovac and Vucje; in the night of 25/26 August attacked together with Serbian 10th Brigade Bulgarian garrison at railway station in village Predejane and with railways security forces on railway between Leskovac and Vladicin Han; on 3 September captured the entire Chetnik 3rd Niska Brigade (180 men) at Babicka gora. brigade also took part in liberation of Nis. During Kosovo operation the brigade liberated on 22 November Kosovska Mitrovica and later also took part in liberating Novi Pazar (30 November) and Sjenica (14 December). At the beginning of February 1945 the brigade was securing the right coast of Drina river near Koviljace. In Loznica, on 15 March 1945 the brigade was again reduced to 3 battalions. At the beginning of April it was send together with 22nd Division to Srem Front, where it was later, at the end of April send back to hinterland because of heavy casualties that it has suffered in battles.