18th (Croatian) Eastern Bosnian brigade
Operation ZIETHEN
Soviet 236th Rifle Division
Hellgate: London
France Pirc (1899 - 1954)
36th Vojvodina Division
(Tridesetšesta vojvođanska divizija)
Organization
Formed on 3 March 1944 in Bijelo on the Majevica Plateau in Eastern Bosnia, the division consisted of the following brigades:
- 3rd Vojvodina Brigade
- 5th Vojvodina Brigade
- 6th Vojvodina Brigade
Of the 6th Vojvodina Brigade only the 1st Battalion was physically with the division. The rest remained in Syrmia (Southern Vojvodina) until October 1944. On the day of formation, the division consisted of 2620 soldiers.
During first half of March 1944 the 18th Croatian Brigade, Posavski-Trebavski and Tuzlanski partisan detachments temporarily joined division. On 17 March the divisional hospital was formed.
On 7 May the Podrinjski NOP detachment joined the division, communications company of the division was formed on 27 October and on 23 November the 11th Vojvodina Brigade joined the division.
On 1 December the division strength was up to 6366 soldiers. Medical battalion joined the division on 12 December, followed by Artillery Brigade on 12 December.
On 16 February 1945, division had 9218 soldiers and on 20 March the Osijek Brigade temporarily joined the division bringing its strength to 9378 soldiers on 22 March. 11th Vojvodina Brigade was disbanded on 3 April 1945.
Also during 1945, escort company, communications and engineer battalion were established in the division. At the end of the war on 1 May division had 7792 soldiers.
Artillery Brigade of 36th Division
It was formed on 16 December 1944 in Novi Sad with:
- Artillery Company of 45mm guns ( 12 guns)
- Artillery Company of 76mm guns ( 12 guns)
- Mortar Company with 120mm mortars ( 10 mortars)
- Heavy Company with one battery of 122 mm howitzers and two batteries of 76mm guns)
- AA Company with 25mm guns
It numbered around 850-1400 men. In January and at the beginning of February 1945 they took part in liquidation of Virovitica bridgehead, than they were engaged in battles south of Darde and in April / when it was reorganised into 3 companies) it took part in crossing Drava river near Valpovo and than in liberating of Nasice, Virovitica, Osijek, Podravska Slatina, Koprivnica and finally in battles around Dravograd.
Battles & Campaigns
Sources
- Klemen
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