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15th (Slovenian) Division
(Petnaesta slovenaÄka divizija)
History
Formed on 13 July 1943 from 4th Matija Gubec, 5th Ivan Cankar and from August 6th Brigade Slavko Å lander. In September newly formed 12th, 14th (ŽelezniÄarska) and 15th become part of Division while 6th Brigade left. From October 1943 to the end of the war it is part of 7th Corps and participated in fighting's for defence of liberated area in Dolenjsko and Bela krajina, liberation of Ljubljana region and Ljubljana itself.
Formation
In June 1943 after Axis defeat in North Africa favorable conditions offered Slovenian Partisans a chance to reform existing brigades into divisions which would have much needed assault strength. Divisions could be formed either in Ljubljana region or Slovenian Littoral which was annexed by Italy after World War I. Since Ljubljana region had lesser concentration of enemy troops it was chosen as best area of operation for newly formed divisions.
On 19 June Eduard Kardelj sent report on situation in Slovenia to Josip Broz Tito asking him if it was necessary to form divisions because Operational zones become pointless due to the constant moving of units. Tito respond with order on 28 June 1943 to form two Slovenian division from existing brigades.
General Staff of Slovenia issued order for formation of I and II Slovenian division with proper numerical designation arriving from Yugoslav Partisans Supreme Headquarters in early August - 14th and 15th divisions. Official date become 13 July 1943. Kardelj also managed to persuade British military mission to supply Slovenian Partisans with their first first artillery piece in a form of four Italian 47mm guns with 300 rounds, two for each division.
1943
It was decided that both newly formed division would make joint attack on Žužemberk which had mixed garrison of White Guard, Carabinieri, part of 98th CCNN Legion and others under command of captain Rafael Rosana. Simultaneously Italians planed to attack 13th Proletarian Brigade which arrived from Croatia to Gorjanci region completely missing large concentration of Slovenian Partisans preparing to attack one of their garrisons allowing Partisans to carry out their assault for three full days before pulling back.
On 30 July disaster struck when divisional HQ in Gornji PodÅ¡umberk was hit by Italian shell while virtually entire staff was gather as well as members of General Staff. Instantly killed were political commissar of General Staff Ivan KauÄić Nande and division commander Jevtić, while chief of General Staff Milovan Å aranović was mortally wounded. Several brigade commanders were also wounded.
At the beginning of August division had around 1400 fighters armed with 687 rifles, 39 light and 10 heavy machine guns, 5 mortars and 2 anti-tank guns.
Italian capitulation allows division to greatly increase its strength thanks to captured weapons of the Isonzo division and form divisional artillery with two battalion, first with three 100mm M.17 howitzers and two 20mm Flak 38 anti aircraft guns, second with two 100mm M.17 howitzers, two 75mm M.27 field guns and two 47mm M.38 anti-tank. Also formed was armored platoon.
Division strength in early October reached 5628 fighters armed with (estimated):
- 3730 rifles
- 14 submachine-guns
- 145 light machine-guns
- 123 heavy machine-guns
- 36 light mortars
- 23 heavy mortars
- 22 artillery pieces
Staff
- Commander
- Predrag Jevtić-Dragan from forming to 30 July 1943, killed
- Rajko Tanasković from
- Pero Popivoda
- Frac KoÄevar-Ciril
- Janez Hribar
- Milan Tominec
- Political Commissar
- Viktor Avbelj
- Jože Borštnar
- Chief of Staff
- Rade PehaÄak
Battles & Campaigns
- Žužemberk operation
- Operation WOLKENBRUCH
References
- Vojni leksikon
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