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27th Eastern Bosnian Division
(Dvadesetsedma istoÄno-bosanska divizija)
History
Newly formed division was sent over Kladanj, Vlasenica and Han-Pijesak towards Sokolac and Rogatica with task of clearing Romanija from Chetniks and destruction Sarajevo - Višegrad railroad.
After Italian capitulation Germans moved their troops towards coast leaving only weak militia and Croatian 6th Home Defense Regiment holding the area. Under pressure from British, Chetniks broke agreements they had with NDH authorities and overrun Višegrad and Rogatica garrisons totaling some 230 soldiers and repeated their atrocities of 1941 against Muslim population (which would happen again in 1992). Their advance also broke link between Partisan 2nd and 3rd Bosnian Corps.
Not waiting for 17th Majevica Brigade, division commander decided to launch two attacks on 22 October at Chetnik Cer Corps. First with 2nd Krajina Brigade without 2nd Battalion at Chetniks in Rogatica and second with 2nd Battalion and Romanija partisan detachments Chetnik Azbukovica brigade in Sijercima which inflicted 150 killed including staff, capturing 2 mortars, 1 light machine-gun, around 70 rifles and large amount of ammo. In Rogatica Chetniks resistance was weak allowing Partisans to take 41 prisoners plus 26 Croatians Home Defense soldiers previously captured by Chetniks along 2 guns, 1 machine-guns and lot of shells and other ammo. This caused Cer Corps to withdraw.
Chetnik Romanija Corps attempted counterattack with its Sarajevo and Rogatica brigade during night 23/24 October but were repulsed and with arrival of 17th Division on the 25 October behind it caused Chetnik rapid withdrawal. This freed 17th and 27th Division to concrete their strength at Sokolac held by Ustasha 1st Brigade which after defeating two attacks made successful breakthrough to Pale by order from German 369th Division following failed attempts to break encirclement.
Division strength mid November 1943:
- Division staff - 211
- Divisional hospital - 65
- 2nd Krajina brigade - 1092
- 17th Majevica brigade - 861
- 19th Birc brigade - 651
- 18th Croatian brigade - 564
- Romania partisan detachment - 500
- Italian battalion - 180
- Total - 4124
In October 1944 situation changed drastically, liberation of Belgrade cut main retreat route of Army Group E forcing it to withdraw through Bosnia. As part of plan to prevent this 27th Division was tasked with holding and destroying road Višegrad - Sarajevo. Division strength at that time was 2000 soldiers and in the following days was raised to 2500 before Battle Group Scheurlen started its advance from Višegrad.
Division carried out one of the most successful ambush during the war on Rogatica - ViÅ¡egrad road at SjemeÄ. Counting on lack of flank security division HQ decided to launch night attack against German troops moving from ViÅ¡egrad since during daylight Allied air force prevented any major German movement. Task fell to five battalions of 16th Muslim and 20th Romania brigade, taking food for two days moved during night 27/28 and continued during 28 November 1944, moving through forest, 15-20 cm of snow and night battalions took their ambush positions at 1 a.m. on 29 November. As predicted German column 8-9 km long lacked flank security and had only two flak guns for defense. Combat lasted little more then one hour with Partisans taking only 15 prisoners, flak guns were last to be neutralized with hand grandees, also Partisans used up 120 PIAT rounds during combat.
Most of captured equipment and trucks had to be burned since there was no possibility to evacuate them. Army Group E lost 96 trucks, 26 cars, 62 motorcycles, 2 tractors, 2 flak guns, around one million rounds and other supplies were burned with Partisans taking with them 87 rifles, 3 light machine-guns, 5 MG-42, 21 pistol, around 5000 rounds of ammo, some clothing, cigars, tobacco, sugar etc. German casualties are claimed at around 500 out of which 300 killed which is probably overstatement while Partisans had 10 killed and 21 wounded. Wreckage of destroyed vehicles remained visible along the road for several years after the war.
Division continued to be a threat to German traffic until main Chetnik group under Mihailović retreating from Serbia launched their offensive into Eastern Bosnia pushing it back and threatening Tuzla. This time Chetniks acted with full German approval who counted on Chetniks to ease Partisan pressure from their troops and allow then to open new retreat routs.
Staff
- Commander
- Pero Kosorić from October 1943 to September 1944
- Miloš Zekić from September 1944 to May 1945
- Political Commisar
- Hasan Brkić from October to November 1943
- Pavel Goranin from November 1943 to January 1944
- Zarije Škerović from March 1944 to May 1945
- Deputy Commander
- Ratko Perić
- Chief of Staff
- Rudolf Petovar
- Vojislav Ilić
- Jakob Vodušek
- Assistant to Political Commisar
- Asim Hodžić
- Intelligence officer
- Zvonko Grakalić
- Slobodan Bobar
- Logistics
- Veselin RadojÄić
- Džemal Fejzo
- Medical
- Borka Pihler
- dr. Stojanka Äurić
Battles & Campaigns
- Operation KUGELBLITZ
- Operation SCHNEESTURM
- Operation FLIEGENFÄNGER
- Operation Röslein
- Operation HACKFLEISCH
- Operation VLAÅ KA MALA
Reference
- Ahmet Äonlagić: 27. istoÄnobosanska divizija
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