15th Serbian Brigade

15th Serbian Brigade

(Petnaesta Srpska Brigada)

History

Formed on 2 June 1944 in village Repkocer (Gornja Jablanica) from Gornjojablanicki NOP Odred. It had three battalions with about 350 men. On 10 June 1944 it was incorporated in village Pustoj Reci into 24th Serbian Division NOVJ. It was engaged in battles in Jablanica, especially outstand this brigade in battles for liberation of Leban on 18-20 August 1944 and in battles against Chetniks in Gornja Jablanica. At the end of July it had more than 1000 men and in September around 2000 men. Again outstand this brigade in battles in village Pukovec, against forces of Serbian Volunteer Corps, which tried to break from Leskovac towards Nis. On 1 October 1944 it was incorporated into 47th Division NOVJ. It took part in battles for final liberation Leskovac area and on 11 October they liberated also town Leskovac. During Nish operation was this brigade engaged in battles against main units of 7th SS Mountain Division Prinz Eugen in direction Nis-Prokuplje. They managed to capture about 700 German SS men, but they also suffered great casualties-about 300 killed, wounded etc. After they liberated Morava valley, the Main Serbian Partisan HQ send this Brigade in Homolje where it was engaged in battles against small groups of Chetniks which still fought there. In December 1944 they were again in ''cleaning'' actions, this time around Kragujevac and Kraljevo. At the beginning of 1945 it was engaged in battles against Chetniks in West Serbia and in April 1945 most of its men were incorporated into People's Police (Narodna milica), so that Brigade was disbanded.