Dinko predoević oklopna vozila i oklopne postrojbe u drugom svjetskom ratu u hrvatskoj ii dio by Jozo Cavar

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Biblioteka HRVATSKA RATNA POVIJEST WARHSTORY BookSeries I CROATIAN Knjiga6 I BookNo 6 DinkoPredoevi( OKLOPNA VOZILAI OKLOPNE POSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKON/ RATUU HRVATSKOJ, II DIO Oklopna vozilasilaosovine od travnja1941. do rujna1943. ARMOUREDUNITSAND VEHICLES IN CROATIADURINGWW II, PART II Axisarmouredvehicles fromApril 1941to September 1943 Uredni5tvo biblioteke Editors: / BookSeries Danijel Frka, Vojislav Jereb, DinkoPredoevi( lzdavati I Publishers: Adamiid,oo Croatia, Rijeka, Zvonimirova 20 a t e l + + 3 8 55 1 6 5 01 4 5 w , wwadamic.hr Digitalpointtiskara d o o , Croatia, Viikovo,Marielji85 t e l .+ + 3 8 5 5 1 2 1 4 8 3 8w , w w . d i g i t ahl r Za izdavaie I Forthe publishers: Franlo Butorac Cedollii Prijevod na engleski by / Translated Vo|slavlereb, NenadSetina,SilvijaSetina,prof. (hrvatski Lektura i korektura language editingand )ezik)I Croatian correctton: DejanDurii Karte/ Lrneand colordrawings: BorisGreguri( Grafiikouredenje, kompjutorska obradai tisak/ GraphicandArt Desing,preparationandprint: pointtiskara Digital d o o.,Vi5kovo 02008 DinkoPredoevii Ail rghts reserued No paft of thtspublication maybe reproduced, storedin a retriva system or trasmtted in anyform by meanse ectrical, mechanical or otheryise, without w ' i r l e np e r ms s i o n o I r h ep u b r , s h e r .

Ukoljko imatezanimljivih materijala, slikovnih ili tekstualnih, iz bilokoleg ratnogperiodas ovih naiih podruija,zaito ne podijeliti s namate materilale r pomoiinamda objavimo ovakvuili joi bo{juknjiguo tome u buduinosti?Svakrmateljalkoji nam poial.Jete kopiratiemo t vratt u onginalnom oblikuAutorifotografila, dokumenata ili tekstova brt ce naznaieni ukoliko priloge seto objaviSvoje moieteslatina: Uredniitvo biblioteke HRVATSKA RATNA POVUEST

Na naslovnici: D a n a2 1 o Z u j k a19 4 3 g o d i n e n a a e r o d r o m uR a j l o v a kc r a j S a r a j e v sam o t r u n j e m a i k i hp o s t r o l b ki o j es u u d e s t v o v a lue p o t h v a t u" W e i s s "t z v r i i oj e d r Z a v n i t a j n i ku M i n i s t a r s t v d uo m o b r a n s t v a g e n e r aV l i l k oB e g i i U z g e n e r a l aB e r g i i a u v o z i l uH o r h 1 5 0 01 ei z a p o v j e d n i3k 6 9 l e g i o n a r s kdet v r z i j eM o t o r n av o z i l a l e g i o n a r s k i h v i z i j as u u o b i i a l e n on a . . Q l a t o b r a nvuo z i l ai m a l a h r v a t s k gi r b ( H P M ,Z a g r e \ On front page: On 21 March 1942 the NDH general Vilko Bdgi( reviewed units involved in the Operation "Weiss" ltned up on the RailoVacarrpoft near Sarajevo. He reviewed units from Horch 1500 that belonge( to the commander of 369th Legionary Division. Vehiclesof Legionary Divisrfinsusually had Croattan coat of arms painted on the mudguard (HPM Zagreb)

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lf you haveany material, photographic or textual,from any period concerning warevents intheseterritories, whynotshare themwlthusand helpusto makesimilar or evenbetterbook in the futureAny material sentto uswillbecopied andtheoriginal returned Thedonorwillbefully credjted for anymaterial usedPlease sendthemto: HRVATSKA RATNA POVUEST bookseries Adamitd o o , Zvonimirova 20a,Rijeka, Croatia, Europe t e l + + 3 8 5 5 ' 16 5 01 8 0 w , w w a d a m i ch r je prrkaziranlc Namjerai cilj izdavanlabibLloteke HRVATSKA RI\TNAPOVUEST povrjesnih irn;enica u riledii slici,vezanjhuz ratovei vojskeu kojimaje sudjelovao hrvatski narodil kqi su se doticalihrvatskih prostoraNi u kojems uiaju namjera autoraI izdavada nijeda velida, idealizira ili opravdava nitijednudeologiju i1ipolitiiku onjentacUu

P R E D O E VDI C i n, k o Oklopnavozilai oklopnepostrojbeu Drugomsqetskomratu - Armouredunitsand vehicles u Hrvatskoj in CroatiaduringWW ll / DinkoPredoevii;prijevodna engleski, translatedby Volislav Jereb <et al > - Rileka: "Adami( : DigitalPointtiskara,2002 - (Biblioteka Hrvatska ratnapovijest;3) Tekstusporedona hrv i na engl leziku I S B N9 5 3 - 2 9 1 - 0 8 8 - 0( A d a m i i ' ) D i o2 : O k l o p n vao z i l as i l ao s o v i n oe d t r a v n j a1 9 4 1 d o r u l n a1 9 4 3 : Axis armouredvehiclesfrom april 1941 Io september1943 - 2008 111109085

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ZAHVALA Ovomprilrkom Zelimzahvaliti svimakojisusvojimmaterijalima,radom,savjetima i podrikompomogliu izradiove knjige, a posebno Vojislavu Jerebu, NenaduSetinii profesoriciSilviji Setina zatrudoko prijevoda tekstana engleski jezik,te BorisuGreguriiuna izradipovijesno-geografskih karata u knjizi. Ve(inuslikovnogmatrijalapribaviosam u muzejimai arhivima te se ovom prilikomzahvaljujem lvi Vranidaru iz MuzejanovejiezgodovineSlovenijeiz Ljubljane, BeritPistora iz Bundesarchiva/Bildsarchiva iz Koblenza u AKNOWLEDGMENTS Njematkoj, RheilvanuSiz Hrvatskog povijesnog muzeja iz Zagreba, BorisuGrguriiuiz MuzejagradaRijekete I would liketo thank allthosewho helpedme with their Hrvatskom dr7avnom arhivuiz Zaoreba. materials,work, suggestionsand support, especially VojislavJereb, NenadSetinaand prof. SitvijaSetinafor Posebnu uloguu stvaranju oveknjigeimalisu mojikolege their work on translatingthe brt to Englishand Boris i prijatelji. Oni su ovu knjiguobogatilizbiljaizuzetnim Greguritfor hiswork on historicdmaps. prilozima iz vlastitih arhiva. Vetinaimenovanih su vrsniistra2iva(i i autorimnogih Most of the photo materialwasobtainedfrom museums objavljenih knjigas tematikomiz vojnepovijestiHrvatske and archivesso my sincerethanksgo to Mr lvo Vranitar ilisvojihzemalja. of the MuzejnovejiezgodovineSlovenije from Ljubljana, to Mr BeritPistorof the Bundesarchiv/Bildsarchiv Tosu iz Hrvatske MarioRagu2, Dankoianak,lvicaGolec Slovenia, i Tomislav Aralica te VladimirSpasi(koji2iviu Madarskoj from Koblenz,Germany,to Mrs Rhealvanui of the r ZvonimirFreivogel koji Ziviu Njemaikoj,LarryTe Koeti CroatianHistoricalMuseum from Zagreb,to Mr Boris Grguri( of the RijekaCity Museumand to the Croatian i JohnPlowmann iz NovogZelanda, Daniele Guglielmi i StateArchivesfrom Zagreb. Stefano di Giustoiz ltalijei BorisCiglitiz Srbije. A prominentpositionin making this book was held by my colleagues and friends.Theyenrichedit by splendid contributionsfrom their own archives. Most of them are exceptionalresearchers and authors of booksdealingwith militaryhistoryof Croatiaor their country.Theyare, to mentiononly someof them, Mario Ragui, DankoCanak,lvica Golecand TomislavAralica from Croatia,VladinirSpasii who livesin Hungaryand ZvinomirFreivogelwho livesin Germany,LarryTe Koeti andJohnPlowmannfrom NewZeland,DanieleGuglielmi and Stefanodi Giustofrom ltaly and BorisCiglit from Serbia.

RAZVOJOKLOPNIHPOSTROJBI KRAUEVINE JUGOSLAVIJE DO 1941.GODINE

ROYALYUGOSLAVIANARMOURED FORCES PRIORTO 1941

'l prijepoietkaDrugogsvjetskog Neposredno rata 939 godine,vojska Beforethe outbreakof the SecondWorld War in 1939 the Royal je Kraljevine Jugoslavije raspolagalasaSezdesetak oklopnihborbenih Yugoslav Army had around60 armoredcombatvehiclesRegardless vozila.Bezobzirana razvojoklopnih vozilaod krajaPrvogsvjetskog of fastdevelopment of armoredformationsafter the FirstWorldWat ratate brzirazvojoklopnihpostrojbi u tada5nlim modernim vojska- Yugoslavian Armypaidlittle interestin suchformationsVerylittlewas ma,vojnije vrh Kraljevine godina done to developand equip armoredbranchof the RoyalYugoslav Jugoslavije do sredine tridesetih malo uloZiou stvaranje i opremanje kopnenevojskeoklopnom Army in postwar yearsand all the way throughmid thifties During je od potetkadvadesetih tehnikomGeneralStab godinapovremeno the twentiessmallgroupsof officersweresentfor a trainingin France slaogrupedasnika i pojedince na obukuu Francusku Ovaje zemlja Francewasone of the countriesthat usedtanksin closinastaaesof zahvaljujuii uporabioklopnihvozilau zavrSnoj productionof armoredvehiclesbecoming faziPrvogsvjetskog WWIand laterdeveloped produkciji rata i uspje5noj masovnoj oklopnihvozilatijekomrata a modelfor development of armoredforcesin variouscountriesThe bilauzoru razvoju i stvaranju oklopnihpostrojbi mnogimsvjetskim RoyalYugoslavArmy completelyfollowed Frenchexamplewhich vojskama. Vojska Kraljevine Jugoslavije sei u doktrininadina uporabe drctatedthe usageof armoredforcesin directsuppoftof infantry. oklopnih vozilau potpunosti oslonila na francuski uzor,po kojemu Manualswere taken directlyfrom FrenchArmy and accordingto su oklopnavozilapredvidena podriku Frenchoriginarmoredvehicles iskljuiivoza neposrednu weredesignated as "Combatvehicles' pjeSa5tva prenesena Pravila uporabesu bezuvjetno iz francuskih Firsttanksweredeliveredfrom Franceat the beginningof the thirties izvora. U skladu s francuskom doktrinom, oklopna vozilasuu nazivlju undertheArmsaid program ln 1930 first21 RenaultFT17tanks naoruZanja vojske dobilanaziv'bornakola' weredeliveredFrrstarmoredunit was formedin April of 1930.The godinaiz Francuske Poietkomtridesetih su u okvirubesplatne unit was assignedto lnfantryand ArtilleryOfficersSchoolduring prvitenkovi.Godine1930 dobivenje 21 vojnepomotiisporuteni 19 3 1 je i tenk Renault FT.17Poietkom travnja1930 godineformirana Next batch of armored vehiclesarrived in 1935 when around prvaoklopnapostrojba godineprebaiena kojaje sljede(e u sastav 20 FT17were deliveredln 1936other 20 FT17and 20 Renault Pjeiadijske i artiljerilske tasnitkeikolekopnene vojske. Kegresse M 28 wereacquired.Havingenougharmoredvehiclesthe 'combatvehicles'wasformedin 1936.Thebatje popunaoklopnim Sljedeia vozilima izvriena 1935 godineOvom first battalionof 'l prilikomje dobivenooko 20 tenkovaistogtipa Godine 936. u talionwascomposedof 3 armoredand 1 supportcompanies,total strengthwasabout50 FT17and M 28 tanks kontingentu senalazilo oko20 tenkova FL17i pribliZno istibrojtenkovaRenault Kegresse M 28 Zahvaljujuii dovoljnom brojutenkova, ln mid thirtiesB Skoda732 were purchasedfrom Czechoslovakia je "bataljonbornihkola"koji se sastojao and during 1937 those were formed into 'FastCombat Vehrcles 1936 godinepostrojen od trijuoklopnihijedne pomo(netete s pedesetak tenkovaFT.'l 7 Squadron'composedof two platoonswith 4 vehicleseach Fufther i M.28 governmentceasedfollowing negotiationswith Czechoslovakian Sredinom tridesetih u Cehoslovaikoj nabavka osam Germaninvastonin 1938 SkodaCompanywas in phaseof devel1edogovorena oklopnihvozilaSkodaT.32,a od njih je 1937 godineformiran 'eskadron brzihbojnihkola'od dvajuvodovas po tetiri oklopna vozila. S iehoslovaikom vladompregovaralo seo daljnjimnabavkama oklopnih vozila, alije to zbogNjemaike okupacije Cehoslovadke 1 B o r n a k o a R e n a u l tK e g r e s s eM 2 8 v o j s k eK r a l j e v i n eJ u g o s l a v i j eB o r n a je u okvirusvojihrazvojnih 1938.godinepropalo. TvrlkaSkoda plak o l a F T : 1 7i M 2 8 b i l a s u o p r e m l j e n as d v a m ar a z l i d i t i mt i p o v i m ak u p o l e N a novaradilapoboljianu inaiicuovoglakogoklopnog vozilas namje- f o t o g r a f i j is e n a l a z iv o z i l os a k u p o l o mt i p a B e r l i e tk o j aj e k a r a k t e r i s t i i nzaa plasmana romdaljnjeg podnazivom vojsciKraljevine Jugoslavije I3d. borna kola proizvedenakrajem Prvogsvjetskograta Borna kola ovih tipova S obziromda je Cehoslovadku 1938.godineokupirala Njematka, o p r e m a n as u s a d v a r a z l i d i t at i p a n a o r u Z a n j aO k o t r e t i n a s v i h p r o i z v e d e n i h v o z i l a b i l o j e n a o r u Z a n ok r a t k i mt o p o m S A 1 8 P u t e a u xp r o m j e r a3 7 m m je samo.ledan prototipvozila izraden Eskadron s navedenim vozilimabio je u sastavu Konjiike5koleu Zemunu A Renault KegresseM 28 light tank of the Yugoslav Kingdom Army. Both U okviruKonjidke Skole nalazio sei vodoklopnih automobila s trima FT17 and M 28 armored vehicles were equipped with two different types oklopnimautomobilimaPremapodacimaradilose o oklopnim of turrets The photo deprcts a vehicle with a Berliet type turret which was joi 1928 characteristicfor vehiclesof WW I production Armored vehiclesof that type automobilima kojisu u Kraljevinu Jugoslaviju dopremljeni were equipped with two different types of armament - about one third ol godinei zapravo su konstrukcije iz razdoblja Prvogsvjetskog rata. all vehicles were armed with a short SA 18 Puteaux 37 mm qun whtle two Podetkom Drugogsvjetskog rata vojskaKraljevine Jugoslavije nastojalaje osuvremeniti i opremitisvojuvojskuStogase pregovaralo i narufivalo naoruZanje sa svihstrana.Oklopnasu se vozilauspjelau tom razdoblju narutitisamou Francuskoj Narudena su 54 tenkaRenault R35, koja su podetkom 1940 godinei isporutena Od ovihje 'l vozilau svibnju 940 godinepostrojen 2 bataljon bornihkola U okvirunavedenih oklopnihpostrojbiiurno se izvodila obukate je do podetka ratau travnju1941 godineobudeno posada oko300tenkovskih s otitom namjerom da sedaljnjimnabavkama oklopnih vozila poveiabrojoklopnihpostrojbi, No tijekrata 1940 godinei njemadka okupacija Francuske zaprijeiile su daljnjunabavku vozila.Europske drZavekoje u proizvodile oklopnavozila:Cehoslovatka, Poljsk i Francuska, bilesu pod njematkom okupacilom. Sile - Njemaika - nisubilevoljneugovarati osovine i ltalija isporuke oklopnihvozilazbog rastutepotrebeza njimau svojimarmijamaJedina zemljakojaje imala proizvodnju dovoljno snaZnu i kojaje moglaisporutiti vozila.1ebio SSSRU studenom1940 godinesovjetska je vladaponudila Kraljevini Jugoslaviji isporuku

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oping specialversionol T32 for YugoslavArmy. Designationwas T3d but due to occupation only one prototype was produced Squadron was attachedto CavalrySchool at Zemuntogetherwith a platoon of armored cars (3 cars)Accordingto data those carswere lA/Wltype deliveredin 1928 With the outbreak of WWll Yugoslaviasought to modernize its armed forces The arms supply negotiations were done with varioussuppliersand 2 . V o d b r z i h b o . j n i hk o l a S k o d aT . 3 2 U k u p n at e Z i n av o z i l ai z n o s i l aj e o k o sources. Armored vehicles 4,8 je t o 1 a , D e b l j i n ao k l o p a v a r r r a l ao d 5 - 2 0 m m . V o z i l oj e p o g o n i l o 6 were orderedfrom Franceand 54 RenaultR35 tankswere delivc i l i n d r i t nbi e n z i n s kSi k o d i nm o t o r o d 4 4 , 2 k W ( 6 0 K S )b r z i n o mo d o k o 4 0 eredat the beginningof 1940 Thesevehicles wereformedin 2d Battalionof Combatvehicles Bythe outbreakof the war rnAprilof l94l yugoslav armyhad 300 A platoon of SkodaT32 light tanks. Thesevehiclesweighted 4,g tons and tank crewswith obviousintentionof expandinqof armoredforces. the armor thicknessvaried from 5 to 20 mm. The power plant was a 6 cylinder Skoda engine developing 44,2 kW (60 Hp) ind driving the vehicle German .occupattonof mostof Europestoppedeverydehveryof to 40 km/h. The crew consistedof a driver and a commander which was also armored vehicles.Europeannations that had armored vehicles responsiblefor the weapons productioncapabilitieswere under Germanoccupationand Axis powerswere unwillingto negotiatearmoredvehiciesdeliveries due to evergrowingdemandin theirown armies Theonlv countrywith vojne, opremenakoniega je zatra)enaisporuka600 zrakoplova significantarmorproductionwas the U55R.ln Novemberof tgqt i 300 tenkova.PoradipribliZavanja vladajuiihstrukturaKraljevine the USSR governmentofferedmilitaryequipmentto theKingdomof Jugoslavije NjeTglkoj,daljnikontaktinisurazvijani pa tako ni ova Yugoslavia and the orderfor 300 tanksand 600 aircraftwai neqotinaoavKa ntjerealtztrana. ated. Yugoslav governmentwasdeveloptngrelationswith Germany but that ordernevermaterialized Peace treatybetweenYugoslavia and USSR signedin thenightof 516 April 1941 comprisedarms deliveries.The yuqoslavambassador's in Moscowcable senton 6 Apr 41 containsinformationon USSR offer but only for aircraft,anti-aircraftcanons,anti-tankcanonsand moftars

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Kingdom of YugoslaviaArmy's Renault FT17 light tanks on maneuvers The turret rs of the Berliet type with a SA 78 Puteaux gun During the WWI these guns used two different type of ammunition - the Mle 1892(AP)armor piercing shell with muzzle velocityof 388 m/sec capableof penetrating 72-15 mm of armor on a 500 m distanceand the Mle 1916(HE)htgh explosiveshell with 30 grams of explosive and a range of 2,5 kilometers ln the thiftiesa new type of ammunition was introduced the Mle 1935(AP)pierctng shell with muzzle velocity of 6a0 mlsec capable of penetrating21 mm of armor at a 400 meter range and the Mle 193f(HE) high explosive shell with 56 grams of explosive (Dtnko Predoevii collection)

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ba o r n a k o l a R e n a u lFt T . 1 7 5 i6 Onesposobljen s n i m l j e n1 a 3 t r a v n j a1 9 4 1 g o d i n eu M a k e d o n1 i N a j v j e r o j a t n i jsee r a d i o v o z i l u o k l o p n ed e t e k o j a

p o g o n i o j e b e n z r n s km i otor od 29 kW (39 KS) brzinom od 7,1 km/h S jednim spremnikom goriva vozilo 1e moglo prijeii 65 km po putu odnosno oko 20 km lzvan puta Borna kola F T . 1 7m o g l a s u s a v l a d a tui s p o nd o 4 5 s t u p n l e v a . p r e p r e k uv t s i n ed o 6 0 c m i r o v S i r i n ed o 1 , 3 5 m e t a r a ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) A disabledRenaultFT17 light tank photographed on April 13, 1941 in Macedonia Thts is mast probable one of the vehiclesof the platoon whtch

was driven by a 29 kW (39 HP) petrol engine at a road speed of 7 7 kmlh With a full gasoltne tank it had a range of 65 kilometerson the road o t a b o u L 2 0 k t l o m e l e r >( r o s s c o u n t r y .l l c o u l d negotiate 45 degrees climb, 0 6 meter vertical obstacle or 1 35 m trench (Dinko Predoevit collection)

A,RMOUREDUNITS AND VEHICLESTIUCROAT'A DURINGWW II

USTROJ OKLOPNIH POSTROJBI KRALJEVINE JUGOSLAVIJE

ORGANIZATIONOF ROYALYUGOSLAV ARMOURED FORCE

Vojska Kraljevine Jugoslavije potetkom1941 godineimalaje sljedeie postrojbe: oklopne je 1936 godines tenkovima 1. bataljon bornihkolapostrojen FT.'l 7 i M.28.Nijepoznatokolikoje tenkovau trenutkuizbijanja ratnog sukoba bilou uporabii jesuli iete bile u potpunosti popunjene predvidenim brojem vozila, te kolikoihje u travnju,1941 . godinebilo ispravno za borbenodjelovanje. Dolaskom novihtenkovaRenault '1 R.35u travnju940,godine,tenkoviFI17 i M.28su razdijeljeni u tri samostalne tete bornihkola,sastavljenih od trijuvodovas po pet bornihkolau svakome.

At the beginningof 1941the RoyalYugoslav Army had the followtng armoreountts l stBattalionof combatvehicles- createdin 1936 andequippedwith FT17andM.28 tanks.lt is unknownhow manytanksweretn useor how many wereseruiceable at the outbreakof the war. LJnknown ts the statusof companies and their combat readiness as well With arrivalof RenaultR35 tanksin April 1940all FTIT and M.28 tanks wereorganizedin threeindependentcompanies with threeplatoons equippedwith five vehicleseach. photographs Contemporary show us that majorityof FTlT tanks wereof the oldertypemadeduringWWIwith round castturrets,A smallernumberof tankswereof newerproduc'tionwith octagonal "Berliet'turret. l't Battalionof combatvehicleswas reorganizedin May of 1940 with the arrivalof new RenaultR.35 tanks.Battalionretainedold organizationwith addedsupportcompanyequippedwith I I tanks. Battalionwas complete$mechanized.Besrdesfuel and ammltnition transporters the SupportCompanyhad a mobileworkshopas well. Companycommandershad reconnaissance vehicleson their q6posat. Sincethe tanksarrivedin 1940it canbe assumed that the battalion wasin full strength.A numberof sources designatethisbattalionas 1nBattalionof combatvehicles. lt is not clearif separate headquartersfor lst and 2ndbaftalioneverexisted. The Battalion of combat vehicleswith R.35tankswasin theApril war.Conideringthat FTI 7 and M.28 tankswereassignedto individualArmies dispersed on a wideareait is not verylikelythat therewascommonHQat battalion level TheRoyalYugoslav Army enteredthe war with one battalion and threeindependentcompaniesof combatvehicles EightSkodaT32 combatvehiclesweredividedamonqfour platoons with 2 vehicleseach.Theywere paft of Combatv{hicle Squadron attachedto CavalrySchoolin Zemun.Attachedto CavalrySchool was alsoa platoonof armor.

OsambornihkolaSkodaT.32,rasporedenih u ietirimavodovima s po dvavozila, nalazilo se u sastavu Eskadrona bornihkolau sklopu Konjitke Skoleu ZemunuU sastavuKonjiikeikole nalaziose i vod oklopnih automobila.

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7 . i 8 - O n e s p o s o b l j e nbao r n a k o l a F T . 1 7s n i m l j e n au t r a v n . j u1 9 4 1 . g o d i n e u M a k e d o n i j iP. o s a d ub o r n i h k o l a s a i i n j a v a lsi u v o z a di z a p o v . j e d n vi ko z i l a k o j i j e u j e d n o i r u k o v a o n a o r u Z a n j e mT. e Z i n av o z i l a b i l a j e o k o 7 t o n a . M a k s i m a l noak l o p n az a i t i t a i z n o s i l aj e 2 2 m m . ( z b i r k aD i n k o p r e d o e v i i ) AnotherdisabledRenaultFTl7 light tank photographed during Aprit 1941 in Macedonia.Vehiclehad crew of two, driver and commander who handled the weapons as well. (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

OKLSPN,EUOZILAI OKLSPh'frPOSTROjEEU DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUtJ HRVATSKOJ

KRALJEVINE OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE RATU1941. U TRAVANJSKOM JUGOSLAVIJE GODINE

ARMOUREDFORMATIONOF ROYAL YUGOSLAVARMY IN 1941 APRILWAR

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armr.Je je Ii seteta bornihkola4. armijeuop(enalazila u Upitna1etinjenica stogaito njematkiratniizvje5tali nalazila, i gdjesezapravo Zagrebu oklopnavozilana podrutjuHrvatske o plilenuuopie ne spominju je i bilau Zagrebu, nijeni izailaiz kruga najvjerojatnije No,ukoliko voJarne 9 travnjaupuienaje u pravcu Cetabornihkola2, armijeiz Sarajeva je u sastavUnskedivizijeDana12 travnjapostrojba Arandelovca postrojbe naloZio da gorivapaje zapovjednik ostalabezpogonskog vratiu Saralevo a ljudstvo sevozilaonesposobe, je u noii sa6. na 7 travanja na utovarena ieta bornihkola3, armije Sljedeieg u pravcuStrumice. i poslana vagoneu Skoplju Zeljezniike kojije pripadaopokretu danadetaje uslijedizdajezapovjednika, 'Zboi DimitrijaLjotiia,nespremna doiekalanjematkeprednje i zarobljena. uniStena vremenu oklopne odredete 1eu vrlokratkom seu priiuvi R.35nalazio Renault 2. bataljon bornihkolas tenkovima je u detaovogbataljona 3. tenkovska u Beogradu. Vrhovne komande trupama3 jesen1940 godineizdvojena i upu(enana raspolaganje oblastiu Skoplju armijske 9 B o r n a k o l a R e n a u l tK e g r e s s eM 2 8 n a n j e m a i k o lt r a n s p o r t n o jp r i k o l i c i g o d i n au k o j o ij e O v oj e p o b o l j i a n ai n a t i c av o z l a F f . 1 7i z s r e d i n ed v a d e s e t i h

g o t o v o u d v o s t r u t e n aG u s l e n i c se u o j a i a n e i e l i i n i m e l e m e n t i m a o b l o Z e n e g u m o m ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i ( ) A RenaultKegresseM.28 light tank on a German trarler. Thrsvehtcle was an upgraded version of the FT 17 model of the twenties with an tmproved speed and reduced traveling noise.lmprovementswere made on the suspension enabling the top speed to be almost doubled. The tracks were strengthened with steeland rubber elements (Dinko Predoevt( collectton)

in cooperationwith Britishand Greekforces Royal Army armored forces Accordinqto war plan'R-41' one battalionof armoredcarswas attachedto 4th Army. Their task was to defend Donli Mihollac - Radgonaline.Thebattalionwas scheduledto be deployedwith (HQ)of 4thArmy in BielovarTwocompanies of 2nd the hdadquarters (GHQ) of GeneralHeadquarters Battalionwereto remainas reserve Army GQH beganwith at the Mladenovacarea.RoyalYugoslav 1941and by theoutbreakof the plandevelopment on 2ndFebruary theplan wasonlypartiallyexecuted. hostilities of !'t battalronwith FTl7 and M 28 tankswere Armoredvehicles

that hasto be researched Whereaboutsof 4thArmy Armoredplatoon is unknownand it is verv questionableif that unit had ever been in Zagreb.German reportsdon't show any armoredvehiclescapturedon the territory of Croatia.Thatunit, if it wasin Zagreb,probablyneverleft the bar racks.On 9 April 1941the 2'd ArmyArmoredplatoonwas sentto to join the lJnskaDivision.On 12 April the unit usedup Arandelovac all itsfuel and the commanderorderedthe vehiclesto be destroyed and the men to returnto Saraievo On thenight of 6 April armoredplatoonof 3rdArmy wasloadedon aid sentfrom Skopieto Strumica.Due to betrayalof comrailcars manderwho belongedto'Zbot' movementled by DimitriieLiotic next theunit wasunfit for combatand in contactwith the Germans, day,it wasdestroyedor capturedin a veryshott time

ARMOUREDUNITS AND VEHIC'-ES'IU CROAT'A DITRINGWW II

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v tt 1 1 N l e m a d k it e n k i s t s n i m l j e n i s p r e d n a p u i t e n r h b o r n i h k o l a F T . 71 2 1 travn1a u A r a n d e l o v c u S r b i j i .l z m e d ub o r n i hk o l a F T . 1 7n a o r u Z a n i tho p o m i je uobidajena s t r o l n i c o mp o s t o j a l a p o d j e l an a , , m u i k a b o r n ak o l a n a o r u i a n a t o p o m i " Z e n s k ab"o r n a k o l an a o r u Z a n a s t r o j n i c o mU p r a v i l uu s v a k o mv o d u o d p e t b o r n i h k o l a n a l a z i l as u s e d v a m u i k a " i t r o j e " Z e n s k i hb" o r n a k o l a ( z b i r k aV l a d i m i rS p a s i i )

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1 0 D i o b o r n i h k o l a R e n a u l tF T . 1 7p r i k u p l j e n i ho d s t r a n en j e m a i k ev o j s k e O b a v o z i l au p r v o m p l a n u n a o r u Z a n as u t o p o m S A j 8 3 7 m m T o p o m s e l a k or u k o v a l ot e l e i m a o d o s t av e l i k up r a k t i i n u b r z i n up a l j b eo d 1 Og r a n a t a u m i n u t i N a o v o jf o t o g r a f i j si ej a s n o m o Z eu o d i t ir a z l l k ai i m e d u s t a n d a r d n e l i j e v a n ek u p o l e v o z i l a F f l T i o s m e r o k u t n e k u p o l et i p a B e r l i e tN . a d e o n i mp l o i a m a t r u p a v o z i l av i d es e i o r i g i n a l nfir a n c u s kei v i d e n c i j s k i b r o j e vvi o z i l ak o j id o l a s k o mv o z i l au . J u g o s l a v i j u n i s um i j e n j a n i . ( z b i rV k al a d i m i rS p a s i i ) Som of Renault FT17 vehicles collected by the erman Army after the fighting. Both vehiclesin the front are equipped with the SA 18 37 mm gun This parciculargun was easy to handle and had a high practical rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute Thisphoto shows clearly the differences between the standard FT17 cast turret and the octagonal Berliet type turret Original French serial numbers can be seen on the front plates

A German tank crew photographed in front of two abandoned FTl 7 tanks on April 21 in Arandelovac,Serbia The differencein armamentof the FTlT lead to the usual distinction in unofficial 'type names' those armed with guns were 'males'while the nesarmed with machinequns were 'females'. Generallya platoon of f ive F | 7s consistedof two 'male'and three 'female' tan ks (Vladim ir Spasit collectio n)

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1 2 . N a p u i t e n a b o r n a k o l a R e n a u l tK e g r e s s eM . 2 8 . O s n o v n o n a o r u 2 a n j e o l o g t e n k a j e t a k o d e r t o p S A . 1 8 p u t e a u xp r o m j e r a3 7 m m . Z a n i m l j i v aj e i i n j e n i c aj e d a s u f r a n c u s k it e n k o v i n o v e p r e d r a t n ep r o d u k c i j eo p r l m a h i o v i m t o p o v i m a k o j i s u s k i d a n is o t p i s a n i hb o r n i h k o l a F T . 1 7 .S t o p o m i e s p r e g n u t as t r o j n i c aC h a t e l l e r a u lM t l e 3 1 p r o m j e r a7 , 5 m m . ( z b i r k aD i n l i o Predoevii) An abandoned Renault KegresseM 28 light tank The main armament of thistankwasthe 5A.18 Puteaux37 mm gun. Of interestisthat newly buitt pre-war tanks of that type were equipped with guns which were taken from broken up Renault FT.l7 tanks. Secondaryarmament was coaxral ChetelleraultMle3l 7,5 mm machinegun. (Dinko predoevii collection)

U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ OKTOPNAVOZI|.A I OKTOFNEPOSTROJBE

2ndBattalionof armoredcarswas in reserveof GHQin Beogradln theautumnof 19403'd tankcompanyof thisbattalionwasassigned to 3'" Armytn >Kople Basedon informationthat the Germanswere advancingtowards route2ndBattalionwas sent BeogradusingVirovitica-Osijek-Vinkovci from BeogradtowardsadvancingGermanforcesand placedunder commandof 2ndArmy.

1 3 i 1 4 N j e m a i k iv o j n i c ir a z g l e d a v a lzua r o b l j e n ab o r n a k o l a R e n a u l tR 3 5 t 35 lzvozna B r 4 9 7 1 K r a l j e v i nJau g o s l a v i jkau p i l a j e5 4 b o r n a k o l a R e n a u l R f r a n c u s k ac i j e n av o z i l aj e 1 9 3 9 g o d i n e b i l a o k o 1 , 4 m i l i l u n af r a n c u s k i h f r a n a k ai l i o k o 3 2 t i s u i e a m e r i t k i hd o l a r a V o z i l oi e o p r e m l j e n ot o p o m S A 18 p r o m l e r a3 7 m m i s t r o j n i c o mC h a t e l l e r a uM l t 6 M l e 1 9 3 1 p r o m j e r a7 , 5 m m U v o z i l us e n a l a z i l o5 8 g r a n a t az a t o p i 2 5 0 0 k o m a d as t r e l j i v az a s t r o j n i c u ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) German soldiersinspecting captured Renault R 35 tank No 4971 The Kingdom of Yugoslaviabought altogether 54 of the Renault R 35 combat cars The expoft price of such a vehicle in 1939 was nearly 1 4 million French Francswhich were roughly 35 000 USA dollars The vehicle were equipped with a SA 18 37 mm gun and a ChatelleraultM6 Mle 1931 7,5 mm machine gun Theammunition complementwas 58 rounds for the gun and 2500 for the machine qun (Dinko Predoevii collection)

nized detachmentswere formed and taskedwith engagingthe movementunits.Everydetachmentshouldhave rebelsand {Jstachy had fivearmoredcars,five truckswith 20 rifles,2 light and t heavy machinegun per truckand 1 truckwith mountainhowitzerlcannon, crew and accompanyingammunitionsupplement.Everydetachmentwasto be equippedwith 2-4 81 mm mortarsand a radroset. Brodline borderedby Areaof operationswas Derventa- Slavonski the Bosnaand Vrbasrivers.Thatorderwasprobablyneverexecuted slncethe nextday the majorityof battalionvehiclesweredestroyed Dobojduringcombatwith forvvardelementsof or captured,around bermant4"' rzutv. lndependent companyof 2'd ArmoredBattalionmovedfrom Skopie Divisionnear Stip.During7 April the company and joinedBregalnica was engagedin fiercedefensivecombat with the Germans.Their resrsfanceceasedonly after a whole day of fighting and under repeatedand determinedGermanattacksTheunit wascompletely destroyedduringcombat ArmoredvehicleSquadronarmedwith SkodaT32 light tanksand a platoonof armoredcarswas basedin Zemun.lts taskwasto protect Thesquadronwasbased airborneassault. theairfieldagainstpossible in Zemununtil 10 April. Due to Germanarmoredunitsadvancethe commander of Beogradorderedthe Squadronto movetowardsNis, of war that was going on for without any specifictask. Regardless 4 daysat the time the unit neverreceivedAP ammunitionfor their guns.NertdaytheSquadron wasplacedundercommandof theSrem by the Germans Division.The sameday the Squadronwas surprised in panic Crewsabandonedtheirvehicles on road Topola-Kragulevac werecapturedintact and mostof the unit'svehicles 15 Jediniotpor njematkim trupama 1 bataljon bornih kola pruiio je u o k o l i n i D o b o l a N a o v o l n j e m a i k o j p r o m i d ) b e n o .fi o t o g r a f i j i s n i m l j e n j e n e t o m z a r o b l j e nR i e n a u l tR 3 5 U o v i m b o r b a m aj e i n l e m a i k a 1 4 o k l o p n ad r v i z i j ai m a l a g u b i t k e U a n a l i m ad i v i z i j es t o l i d a j e p o r u t n i k k o j i j e z a p o v j e d a op r e d n j i m o d r e d o m d i v i z i j eo d l i k o v a nz a t o s t o j e u b o r b i o n e s p o s o b i op e t s r p s k i ht e n k o v a ( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e v i t ) The lst Combat Car put so,??e Battalion resrtance to the German troops only near Doboj This German propaganda photo depicts recently captured Renault R 35 ln this combat the German Panzer Division 1't sustained some casua/tles too Combat diary of this German Divrsion lieutenant mentioned decorated who was commandrng the for advancing pafties of the Division and disabltng five Serbtan tanks in battle (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

ARMOUREDUNIIS AND IIEHICLESIN CROATIADURINGWW II

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1 6 , 1 7 , 1 8 J e d n ao d o m i l j e n i hm o t i v af o t o g r a f i r a n j an j e m a t k i hv o j n i k ab i l a j e n a p u 5 t e nial i u n i S t e n ap r o t i v n i i k av o j n at e h n i k a P r v ao d t r i l u b o r n i h k o l a R e n a u lRt 3 5 n a f o t o g r a f i j a m an o s i b r o j 5 0 0 9 I n t e r e s a n t njoe d a n a s v at r i n a p u S t e nvao z i l an e d o s t a j uk a r a k t e r i s t i i npeo l u k r u Z n ek u p o l ez a p o v j e d n i k a tenka (zbirkaDinko Predoevii) One of favorite motifs for the advancing German soldierswere destroyed or abandonedenemy vehicles The first of the three light tanks on the photos is wearingthe number 5009 lt is lnteresting to note that all three vehicles lack the typicalsemi-circularcommander cupolas (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

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1 9 j o i j e d a nv o d n a p u s t e n i hb o r n i h k o l a R e n a u l R t 3 5 V o z i l oj e p o k r e t a o4 c i l i n d r i i n ib e n z i n s km i o t o r s n a g e8 5 K S b r z i n o mo d o k o 1 9 k m / h p o p u t u V o z i l oj e s j e d n i m s p r e m n i k o mg o r i v ao d 2 0 5 l i t a r am o g l o p r i j e i i 1 3 8 k m p o p u t u o d n o s n o8 0 k m i z v a np u t a ( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e v i i ) Another platoon of abandoned Renault R 35 tanks These vehicles were powered by a 4 cylinder petrol engine giving a maximal output of 85 BHP and driving the vehicle at top sped of 19 kmph With a full fuel tank of 205 liters the vehicle had a road range of some 138 km or 80 km off road (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

2 0 i 2 1 N a p u 5 t e n ab o r n a k o l a R e n a i l tR 3 5 s n i m l j e n a1 5 t r a v n . l a1 9 4 1 g o d i n en a g l a v n o ju l i c ij e d n o g b o s a n s k o g r a d i i a P r v uf o t o g r a f i j us n i m i oj e v o j n i ki z k o l o n eu n a d i r a n j ud, o k j e d r u g a ,i i n i s e ,s n i m l j e n ad a n k a s n i j ek a d a s u b o r b e p r e s t a l eN a d r u g o jf o t o g r a f i j zi a n i m l j i v o j e v i d l e h t ir v a t s k e t r o b o j k e n a p r o z o r i m ak u i a ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i ( ) Abandoned RenaultR j5 light tank photographed on April 15 1941 on a typical Bosnianvillage main road The first photo was taken by the advancing forces while the second one was appareitly taken a day or two later when the fighting was over. Wofth noting are the Croatian flags on the windows on the second photo (Dinko Predoevit collection)

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2 2 i 2 3 K o l o n as n j e m a t k i mp r e g o v a r a i i m ao k a p i t ua c r j v o j s k eK r a L j e v i n e J u g o sa v i ; ep r e t i t ek o l o n ub o r n h k o a R e n a ut R 3 5 F o t o g r a f i jjue 15 t r a v n j a 1 9 4 1 g o d n e s n i m i op r i p a d n i k1 4 n j e m a i k eo k o p n e d v i z i j e( z b i r k aD i n k o Predoevit) A column with German negotiatorsis overlaktngsome RenaultR 35 tanks Thisphoto was taken on Aprtl 15, 1941 by a member of the German 14th Panzer Division (Dtnko Predoevti collection)

2 4 t 2 5 Z a r o b l j e n ab o r n a k o l a R e n a u l tR 3 5 b r 4 9 8 8 i 5 0 0 5 N a j v e t i n e d o s t a t a kb o r n i h k o l a R e n a u l tR 3 5 b i l o j e n j e g o v os a b o n a o r u i a n j ei d v a d l a n ap o s a d eT o pj e z a 1 9 4 1 g o d i n eb i o u p o t p u n o s tzi a s t a r i oU k u p o l i v o z ia n a a z i os e z a p o v j e d n i k o j ij e u b o r b i m o r a o o s m a t r a t io, d r i a v a t iv e z u s v o z a i e m i d r u g i m v o z i l i m at e v o d i t t b o r b u t o p o m s t r o j nc o m ( z b i r k a D nko Predoevii) CapturedRenaultR 35tanks Na 4988 and No 5005 Thematn shoftcomtng of the R 35 was its paor armament and the two-man crew. The marn gun was completelyobsaletefor 1941 standard Commanderhad to watch the battlefield, communicate with the driver and with other vehiclesas well as handle the gun and the machrne gun in battle (Dinko Predoevri collectron) 2 6 t 2 7 O n e s o o s o b l i e nbao r n a k o l a R e n a u l tR 3 5 b r . 4 9 7 6 N a b o k u v o z i l a l a s n o s e v i d i z n a k p l a m t e i e b o m b e s b r o l e mj e d a n k a o z n a k a 1 b a t a l j o n a b o r n i hk o l av o . l s k K e r a l j e v i nJeu g o s l a v l eS i m b o jl e p r e u z e ti z f r a n c u s k ev o j n e t r a d i c i j et e l e c e s tm o t r vn a o k l o p nm v o z i l i m af r a n c u s k ev o l s k e( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e (v) Disabled RenaultR 35 No 4976 The sign of the lst TankBattaltonof the Royal YugoslavArmy (a ftre bomb with the number one) can be clearly seen on the side of the vehicle This symbol was taken from the French mtlitary tradition being a very often motif on French vehicles (Dtnko Predoevi( collection)

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z r a k u ( z b i r k aD n k o P r e d o e v i i ) G e r m a n s o l d i e r si n s p e c t i n g a b a n d o n e d S k o d a r . s 2 l r g h t t a n k s T h e photagraphs show that the vehrcleswere captured withaut ftghttng and was attached to the roof of the superstructurefor antt atrcraft use (Dtnko Predoevi( callectrcn)

s m a t r a t ip r e t e i o m s v i h 3 3 B o i n a f o t o g r a t i l ab r z i h b o l n h k o l a S k o d aT 3 2 G l e d a l u i io v u f o t o g r a fl u , n c m o i e m o s e o t e t i d o j m u d a o v o v o z i l o m o Z e m o

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ARMOUREDUNITSAND VEHICLESIN CROATIADUR/fiG WW N

j e 7 8 o k l o p n i hv o z i l a 3 4 i 3 5 P o z a v r 5 e t k ur a t a u g l a v n o mn a p o d r u i j u S r b i l ep r i k u p l j e n o N a o v o m s l a g a l i S tuuz b o r n ak o l aF T . 71 n a l a z es e i j e d n a b o r n ak o l aR e n a u l K t e g r e s sM e 28 te jedno oklopno vozilo SkodaT.32.(zbirkaDinko Predoevii) By the end of 1941 campaign about 78 tanks were collected mostly on the Serbian t e r r i t o r yl.n t h i s d u m p a p a r t f r o m s o m e F T l T t a n k s , a R e n a u l t K e g r e s s e M 2 l a n d a S k o d a T32 vehilce can be seen (Dinko Predoevit collection) 3 6 l z a l b u m a n j e m a i k o g v o j n i k a ,k o l i j e s n i m i o f o t o g r a f i j eb r . 3 0 i 3 1 , f o t o g r a f i j aj e i o v o g u n i S t e n o go k l o p n o gv o z i l a- k a m i o n a N a j v j e r o j a t n i sj ee r a d i o o k l o p n o mi t a b n o m v o z i l uE s k a d r o n b a o r n i h k o l a- K o n j i t k e5 k o l ei z Z e m u n a ,p r o i z v e d e n o m u l o k a l n i mv o l n i m r a d i o n i c a m a( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i ( ) Another photo taken by the German soldier, the same one who took photos No 30 and No 31 Depided is a destroyed armored truck most probably the staff car of the Fast Armored VehicleSquadron attached to the CavalrySchool in Zemun lt appears that this vehicle was a modification made in some local Army shop (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

3 7 U s a s t a v ub r z o g e s k a d r o n ab o j n i h k o l a K o n j i t k e S k o l eu Z e m u n an a l a z i l as u s e i t r i o k l o p n aa u t o m o b i l a Z a h v a l j u j u i i s n i m c io v o j n o m p o h o d u n a J u g o s l a v i j i z a l b u m a . j e d n o g n j e m a i k o gv o j n i k a ,m o i e m o u t v r d i t id a j e K r a l j e v i nJau g o s l a v i l a i m a l au n a o r u Z a n j ui n e k o l i k oo k l o p n i h a u t o m o b i l af r a n c u s k e proizvodnA j eu t o m i t r a l l e u sW e h i t e 1 9 1 8 O v a jo k l o p n ia u t o m o b i l t e Z i n e6 t o n a i d e b l j i n eo k l o p ao d 6 m m b i o j e n a o r u Z a nt o p o m S A1 8 o d 3 7 m m i s t r o j n i c o mo d 8 m m P o s a d us u s a i i n j a v a l a t e t i r it o v j e k a V o z i l oj e p o g o n i om o t o r o d 3 8 K Sb r z i n o mo d o k o 4 5 k m / h ( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e v i t ) As paft of the FastArmored Vehicle Squadron attached to the CavalrySchool in Zemun three armored cars were on strength Thanksto the photo taken by the German soldier during the 1941 Yugoslav campaign we can deduct that the Kingdom of Yugoslaviawas armed with severalFrenchAutomitralleuse White 1919 armored cars Ihese cars weighting about 6 tons, had an armor of 6 mm and were armed with a SA 18 37 mm gun and a 8 mm machine gun The crew numbered four and the engine of 38 EHPgave those vehiclesa speed of 45 km/h (Dinko Predoevic collection)

poielaZivimdiplomatsko-vojnimThirdyearof war startedwith livediplomaticactivityon the Balkans. Treiaratnagodinaje na Balkanu rat s Mussolini'sltaly was entangledin long and troublesomewar with zbivanjima. Mussolinijeva ltalijazaplela se u dug i mukotrpan trupe Greecewithout any prospectof success.Britishforces,defeating Grikom u kojemnije bilo veiih izgledaza uspjeh.Britanske the ltaliansin NorthAfricalandedon Europeansoilas Greekallies. su se nakonuspjehaprotivTalijanau Africi iskrcaleponovnona Njematkovodstvozadovoljilo Germanyhappywith successin westerncampaigndecidednot to europskokopnokao griki saveznici. for war in the east(Operation na britansko invadeGreat Britain.Preparations se osvajanjima na zapadute je odustalood iskrcavanja (operacija "Barbarossa") werein full swing.Beforegoing eastGermanyneeded Saveza otoije.Pripreme za rat na istokuprotivSovjetskog 'Barbarossa") Noprijenapada na istoku tresecureand stableEuropeansoutheastFirststepwaspoliticalpresbilesuu punomzamahu. jugoistokToje utinjenopolititkimpritiskom sureand persuasion of governments of Hungary,Romania,Bulgaria baloje osigurati europski to join the Axispowers. Germandiplomacysuci nagovaranjima vladaMadarske, Rumunjske, Bugarske i Jugoslavije and Yugoslavia da pristupe savezu ltalije,Njematkei Japana(Trojnipakt).Njematkoj ceededin doing that during 1941 je poietkom1941. godineto i uspjelo. diplomaciji TheGermansand ltalianswereplanningextensiveoffensiveactions je opseZna againstthe Greekand Britishforceswith the aim of taking over PremaGrtkoji iskrcanim britanskim trupamaplanirana zajednitka talijansko-njematka vojnaakcijas ciljempotpunogvojnog the Greekterritoryand defeatingand expellingBritishforcesfrom britanskihtrupa s grdkogteritosloma Grtke te odstranjivanja Europe.TheGerman12thArmy wasdeployedto Bulgaria southeast pristiZe in theperiod after28 February1941. Twelveand half divisionswere rija.Nakon28. veljade 1941 godinena podruijeBugarske ietiri njemadka12. armtjajadinejedanaesti pol divizijai sastava: assigned to 12thArmy,four armored,one and a half mechanized, jednai pol motorizirana, tetiripjeiadke i dvijebrdskedivizije, four infantry,two mountaindivisionsand the 8thAir force Corps. oklopne, je smjeitenapriiuvasastava dvije Reseryeunits of two armored and eight infantry divisionswere te 8 zrainikorpusU Rumunjskoj je vojna deployedto Romania The offensiveagainstGreececode named oklopnei Sestpjeiatkihdivizija. Zapotetaktravnjapredvidena 'Marita'wasplannedfor the beginningof April. "Marita" akcijaprotivGrtkepod nazivom puf godine, 2T.Iravnja 1941. samodvadananakon Militarycoup in Beogradon 27 March, two daysafter signingof Vojni u Beogradu potpisivanja'Protokola Kraljevine Jugoslavije Trojnom "Protocolof accession o pristupanju to Axispact"and of Kingdomof Yugoslavia paktu"i obaranjaStojadinovi(eve vlade,u velikojje mjeriporemetio overthrowingof governmentcreatednew situationfor the Germans planovenjematkog vodstva. The"Marita"plan wasnearexecutionand the campaignagainstthe to follow soonafter. vladeu Beogradu, u U55Rrauas Odmahpo saznanju o obaranju Stojadinoviteve je odr7anosavjetovanje vojnogi politidkog vrhao Berlinu njemadkog government Upon finding about overthrowingof the Stojadinovic je zakljutak Jugoslavija in Beogradthe Germanmilitaryheld a meetingregardingnewly novonastaloj situaciji. Donesen da seKraljevina morabezuvjetno uni5titivojnoi polititki,ne iekajuii moguteizjave developedsituation.Theydecidedthat Yugoslavia had to be unconje zakljutak lojalnosti novevlade.Donesen da senovojvladiKraljevine ditionallydestroyednot only in militaryterms but as a countryas Jugoslavije neie postavljati nikakviultimatumini pitanja,a moguti well.Anotherdecisionwas that no new conditionswill be imposed odgovorii uvjeravanja uzimatte se na znanje,ali im se netevjero- to the Yugoslavgovernmentas well as that nothing comingfrom vati.Napadie otpotetidimza to buduu pripravnosti odgovaraju(a Yugoslavian Attackwill authoritieswill be takeninto consideration. i postrojbe. Vojnate sepomo(zatralitiod ltalijei Madarske commenceassoonasmilitaryassets sredstva areavailableand ready.Military Rumunjska ie odigratiulogu za5tite cooperationwill be requestedfrom ltaly and Hungaryand paftially te djelomitnood Bugarske. premamogu(emSovjetskom uplitanju.Smatralose da ie rat prowas assigned with taskof protectingoperafrom BulgariaRomania tiv Kraljevine Jugoslavije biti vrlo popularanu ltaliji,Madarskoji lt wasa commonbeliefthat the war tion from Sovietinterference. pretenzija Bugarskoj zbog teritorijalnih ovih driava na dalmatinsku in Yugoslavia was going to be well acceptedin ltaly,Hungaryand i Makedoniju. S obziromna politiikostanje Bulgariadue to tenitorial aspirationsof thesecountriestowards obalu,Banat, Medimuqe u Kraljevini Jugoslaviji, kao dio borbenoraspoloZenog stanovni5tva Dalmatiancoast,Banat,Medimurjeand Macedonia.Assessrnent of premaNjemadkoj ZaHrvate politicalsituationin Yugoslavia oznatenisu u prvomreduSrbii Slovenci was that the Serbsand Slovenians je naznateno stupiti were to put up most resrtance TheCroatianswere consideredto daje velikavjerojatnost da te prilikomnastupanja na stranunjematke vojskeili ie u najgorem slutajuostatipasivni. standon Germansideand supportthem or at leastremainpassive moi i vojska Main linesof thrustto breakdownYugoslavresistance Glavniudarikojimaje trebalabiti uniStena obrambena wereplanned predvidenisu iz pravcaBugarskeu pravcu from Bulgariatowards Skopjewith the aim of connectingltalian Kraljevine Jugoslavije Skopljai spajanja s talijanskim trupamau AlbanijiI iz istogpravcau forcesin Albania.Anotherbranchof the samefront wasplannedto smjeruNiSai Beograda. Nazapaduglavniudarcitrebalibi krenutiiz go towardsNisand Beograd.ln the westof the countrymain strikes (Klagenfurt) premajugoistoku. pravcaGraca(Graz)i Celovca Vojnom were to be from Grazand Klagenfuft(Austria)towardssoutheast. je zapovjedniStvu odobrenoda pritomkoristiteritorijMadarske Germanarmywasgrantedaccessand usageof Hungarianterritory. je zbogtogaodobreno ZapovjedniStvu njemaike vojske da iz formati- GermanHQ had permissionto withdrawall neededassets,Army ja pripremljenih postrojbe and Aii Force,out of forcespreparedfor operationagainstU55R.1 za kampanju na istokuizuzmesvepotrebne kopnene vojskei zrakoplovstva.l GermanGHQ2assignedcommandof westernpart of operation je za provedbu napadana Kraljevinu Jugoslaviju to 2ndArmv HOj under commandof ColonelGeneralBaronvon NjemaikigeneralStab s podrutja Austrijei Madarskeodredio stoZer2 armije pod Weichs.For that purpose the following units were subordinated generala pukovnika zapovjedniStvom barunafon Vaisa(vonWeichs). to 2ndArmy HQ; 51st,52nd,49th and 46th (mechanized) Army Stogaje 2. armijidodijeliozapovjedni5tva 51., 52., 49. i 46 (motor- Corps(AK)with tsznd, 183'd,125th,79th,169thand 19Vhlnfantry (AK)sa132.,183.,125.,79.,169.i 197 iziranog) armijskog korpusa Divisions,101nlight infantry diuision,lst mountain division,16th pjeiaikomdivizijom, 101 lakompjeiaikomdivizijom, 1. brdskom mechanized division.8thand 14tharmoreddivisionsand numerous i8. i 14 oklopnom divizijom smallerunits.On 29thMarchat the momentthe order was issued divizijom, 16.(motoriziranom) divizijom postrojbi. i korpusnih 29. oiujka, all of theseunitswere on the teritory of Reich,Austriaor Czech te nizomdrugihmanjiharmijskih za napadi prikupljanje Armije,sve Protedorateundergoingprocessof training. u trenutkuizdavanja zapovjedi postrojbe navedene susenalazile napodrutkuRaiha, Austrije i Ce5kog lJpon receivingorders2'd Army HQ initiatedplans for attackand protektoiata u procesu obukei osposobljavanja. bringingunitsto their startpositions. je sto)er 2. armijeubrzanozapoieo Odmahpo primitkuzapovjedi wasscheduledto Accordingto originalplansthe operationuMaritau podiinjenihpostrojbina priizraduplanovaza napadi dovodenje 1st April 1941 . Changes due to the operations expanding begin on premnepoloZaje za napad Po prvotnimje njematkimplanovimanapadna Griku (operacija 'Marita") trebaozapoteti1 travnja1941. godine.Zbogpro5irenja 1 S o b z i r o md a j e t e m a k n j i g eo g r a n i i e n an a p o d r u t j ed a n a i n j eR e p u b l i kHer v a t i ske,odnosnodrZavnetvorevineNDHnadalje(emo samogovoritio postrojbama dogadajimana tom podrudju

1 Consideringthat subjea of this book is limited to territory of today'sRepublicof Croatiaand lndependentStateof Croatiaduring 40's (NDH),only eventsand units on that areawill be covered. 2 GHQ- GeneralHeadquafters 3 HO - Headouafters

ABMOUREDUNITS AND VEHICLESIN â&#x201A;ŹRAANA DURINE WW II

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ciljeva napada na Kraljevinu Jugoslaviju, poaetak pomaknut operacija '1 je na7. travanj 941.godine.lzmjenom planatajje datumponovno promijenjen i to na6. travanj1941. godine.

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3 9 T e n k P z K p f v l l A u s f C T i j e k o m r e o r g a n i z a c i j en j e m a i k i h o k l o p n i h p o s t r o j b i 1 9 4 0 - 4 1 t e n k o v i P z K p f w l l s u i z k a t e g o r i j eb o r b e n i ht e n k o v a prevedeni u kategori1Uizvidniikih tenkova Vod s pet tenkova pz Kpfv l l r a s p o r e d e nj e k o j o k l o p n o js a t n i j i ,b o j n i i p u k o v n i j iu o k v i r u o k l o p n e d i v i z i j eT. e n k o vPi I A u f s . Cs u u p r o i z v o d jni b i l i o d s r e d i n e1 9 3 7 .d o s r e d i n e 'l 9 3 8 g o d r n e ( H P MZ a g r e b )

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turned into the category of reconnaissancetanks Everycompany, battalion and brigade within Panzer Division received a platoon with five of these tanks Pz Kpfv.ll Ausf.C tanks were tn production from mid 1937 to mid 1938 (HPMZaqreb)

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1 J 2 4p, r o m j e r a7 5 m m . U v o z i l us e n a l a z i l o8 0 k o m a d ag r a n a t az a t o p . U z t o p u t e n k us u b i l ei d v i j es t r o l n i c eM c . 3 4 7 , 9 2 m m s 2 7 O Ok o m a d as t r e l j i v a . M o d eA l u s f . Dj e u p r o i z v o d n j uu S a op o d e t k o mr a t a u r u j n u 1 9 3 9 . g o d i n e . ( H P MZ a g r e b ) Thecrew of Pz.Kpw.lVAusf. D tank is using the break in Zagreb clean the gun barrel. Pz.Kpw.lVAusf. D was armed with 7.5 cm KwK 31 4 gun with ammunitioncomplement of B0 rounds. Besidesthe main g there weretwo 7 92 mm MG 34 machineguns with 2100 rounds of ammunition Productionof model Ausf.D began in September 1939 (HpM Zagreb)

17 GradskaknjiZnica

OKLOPNAVOZITAI OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ 4 1 T e n k P z K p f w l l l A u s f H n a s r e d i i n j e mz a g r e b a i k o mt r g u O s n o v n o n a o r u Z a n j et e n k a 1 e t o p 5 c m K w K V 4 2 , p r o m j e r a 5 0 m m U v o z i l u s e nalazilo99 granalaza top Dobro izvje2banaposadtenka mogla je iz ovoga t o p a i s p a l i t i d o 1 5 g r a n a t au m i n u t i U z t o s u u t e n k u b i l e d v i j es t r o j n i c e M G 3 4 7 , 9 2 m m , s 2 7 0 0 k o m a d as t r e l j i v a( H P MZ a g r e b ) Pz Kpfiv.lll Ausf. H on Zagreb main square Main armament of thistankwas 5 cm KwK L/42 gun with 99 rounds of ammunition Well trained crew could achieve rate of fire of up to 15 rounds per minute Secondary armaments were two 7 9 mm MG 34 machineguns with 2700 rounds of ammunition (HPM Zagreb)

4 2 V o d t e n k o v aP z l l l u s a m o m c e n t r uZ a g r e b a B o r a v a kt e n k o v au c e n t r u grada bio je kratkotrajan Sljedeieg dana ujutro tenkovske kolone su nastavilenapredovanjeu pravcu Karlovca Vidllivo .1eda su tenkovi dobro p r i p r e m l j e nzia p o k r e ti b o r b u S v a k ti e n k n o s id o d a t n es p r e m n i k ez a g o r i v o t e 1 eo p r e m l j e nv e l i k o mk u t i j o mz a a l a t i p r i b o r ( H P MZ a g r e b ) Platoon of Pzlll tanks in the very center of Zagreb The tanks' stay in the city center was short lived With the morning of the next day the tank columns proceeded advance towards Karlovac lt is noticeable that the tanks were well prepared for combat, every tank is loaded with additional fuel and a big toolbox (HPM Zagreb)

43 Laki izvidniiki vod 5 satnije s tenkovima Pz ll Ausf C U njematkoj t e r m i n o l o g i jvi o z i l oj e o z n a t a v a n ok a o ' S c h n e l l k a m p f w a g e-n "b r z o b o r b e n o v o z i l o P o k r e i eg a m o t o r M a y b a c hH L 6 2T R , s n a g e 1 4 0 K S T e n kt e Z a ko k o 10 tona na cestije postizao brzinu od oko 55 km/h lzvan ceste mogao se kretati brzinom od oko 19 km/h Tenk je opremljen topom KwK 30 V55, p r o m j e r a2 0 m m U v o z i l us e n a l a z i l o1 8 0 g r a n a t az a t o p U t e n k uj e b i l a i j e d n a s t r o . j n i cpar o m j e r a7 , 9 2 m m s 3 5 2 5 k o m a d as t r e l j i v a( H P MZ a g r e b ) Light reconnaissanceplatoon of 5th company with Pz ll Ausf.C tanks ln German terminology the tank was classifiedas "Schnellkampfuvagen"or fast combat vehicle Power plant was Maybach HL62 TRengine with 140 HP This 10 tone tank could attain speed of 55 km/h on the road and 19 km/h in ofl road conditions The tank was armed with 20 mm KwK 30 L/55 automatic gun with 180 rounds of ammunition Secondary armament was one 792 mm machine gun with 3525 rounds (HPM Zagreb)

to Yugoslavia movedthat to Vh April. Finalchangein plans scheduledthe attackto commenceon 6thApril 1941. 2'd ArmyHQ waspresentedwith numerousproblemsduringexecution of preparationsfor attack,mostlywith assemblingand transpofting of units.Nccordingto calculations 2ndArmyshouldbe ready for attackon 12thApril. At the sametime 12thArmy in the south wasscheduled to beginoperationson 6thApril.Dueto this2'd Army was issuedexecutive ordersto usetimein between6thand 12thApril for small scaleadions in border areasand thus improveconditions for furtheradions Main attack forcesof 2nd Armv were 14th and BthArmored Divisionsand 16hMotorizedDivisii:n.Thesethreeunitsformed 46h MotorizedArmy corps(AK). 14thArmoredDivision(14 PzDiv)was formedon 15 August 1940 after Frenchcampaign.tVuc/eus of the unit was providedfrom 4th lnfantryDivisionand 4 PzDiv. On 6thApril 1941 the main attack elementof 14 PzDivwas 36th PanzerRegiment(36PzRgt).Otherunitsof 14PzDivwere: 103rdand (SchutzenRegiment), 108thlnfantryRegiments 4thArtilleryRegiment (Panzer ArillerieRegiment4) and the othersuppoftunits. On 6th April the Divisionstrength was: 45 Pzll tanks, 16(37)a Pz.lll(kz)s,35(50)Pz.lll(g)6,20 Pz.lv tanksand 8 commandtanks PzBef,Wgdividedin two battalions(l,11136 Pz.Reg ). Everybattalion had 4 companies(HQcompany,two light tankcompaniesand one mediumtank company)Accordingto tablesof organizationfor the beginningof 1941, the armoredregimentwithin the armoreddivision had 164 tankson itsdisposalAt the beginningof the Balkan campaignl4Pz.Div had 160tankson itsstrength,124wereseviceable Reconnaissance unit wasAufklarungsAbteilung40 equipped with light armoredreconnaissance vehiclesSd.Kfz231, SdKfz.222 and Sd.kfz.221 . Sapperbattalion 13 (PionierBataillon 13) was equippedwith SdKfz251 halftracks 8 PzDiv was an "old' armoredunit with lots of experiencefrom the Frenchcampaign.The Divisionwas formed on 16 Odober 1939 around the nucleustakenout of 3'd Light lnfantryDivision. The Division'smain force was PanzerRegiment10 togetherwith two motorizedinfantryregiments(SchutzenRegiment8 and 28), aftilleryregiment(PanzerAftillerieRegiment80) and other smaller divisionalunits. On 6thApil 1941 the Divisionstrengthwas 49 Pz ll Tanks,125 P2.38(il7and 30 PzlV tanks The tankswere dividedin threebattalions(l,ll,llill0 Pz.Reg).Thebattalioncompositionwas the same as in I4th PzDiv.Sincethisdivisionhad threebattalionsin armored regimentthe total strengthwassupposedto be 239 tanksof varioustypes.On the dayof attackactualstrengthof 8thPzDivwas204 tanKs. 2'd Army commanderhad 184thBattalionof self propelledguns (Sturmgeshutz Abteilung 184)on hisdisposal.Thatunit was composedout of threebatteriesof StuG lll assaultguns Everybattery had two platoons with two StuG lll guns and two SdKfz.250 halftracksTotalstrengthof the unit was 1BStuG lll guns and 24 Sd.Kfz250 halftracks At the outbreakof operationson 6thApril the 2ndArmy was still in process of assembling and not all of the subordinateunitswere on assignedlocations.Regardless of that all localoffensiveactions Basedon that informationthe during6h April wereverysuccessful. Army HQ decidedthat the YugoslavArmy was not going to put up any seriousdefenseand increasedoffensiveactions.Someof reconnaissance and infantryunitswereadvancingdeepin Yugoslav a Numberin bracket presentstotal number of tanks s kz - Kurtz- shorl barreledgun 6 lg - Lange- long bareled gun 7 (t) Czechbuilt

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(Szhutzen pukovnije (Panzer pukovnija Regiment 8 i 28),artiljerijska Artillerie postrojbe Regiment B0)te ostalepripadajuie divizijske 6 travnja1941 godinena raspolaganju zapovjedniku divizije nalazilose 49 tenkovaPzll, 125 tenkovaPz38(t)si 30 tenkovaPzlV (1,ll ,lll/10 Pz.Reg.). rasporedenih u trimabojnama Sastav bojnije bio je ovadivizijau sastavu istikaoi kod 14 oklopnedivlzijePo5to svoje pukovnije oklopne imalatri bojnepremaidealnoj shemitrebalaje raspolagati s ukupno239tenkarazliditih tipova.Prema stanjunadan napada u diviziji su bilaukupno204tenka Na raspolaganju zapovjedniku 2. armijenalazila se i 184 bojna je u svom topova(Sturmgezschutz Abteilung184) Postrojba luriSnih juriSnih sastavu imalatri bitnice topovaStug.lll, U svakoj bitnicibilasu trivodas dvajuriinatopaStuglll te dvapolugusjenitara SdKfz250 je postrojba Ukupno raspolagala s 18 juriSnih topovaStuglll i 24 polugusjenitara SdKfz250. Poietkom ratnogstanja6. travnja2. armijajo5 u potpunostinije prikupljanje postrojbina predvidenim zavriila svihsvojihpodredenih pravcima napadaUnatoitome,svelokalne napadne akcijei pothvatisu tijekom6 travnjapokazaliiznenaduju(e dobre rezultate Natemeljutoga armijskistoZerzakljutujeda jugoslavenska vojska planove neiedavatiozbiljniji otporte ubrzava za napad.Pojedine postrojbe prodirudubljeu teritorijte zauzimaju izvidniike i pjeSatke 'specijalnim vainaprometna fvoriStaPrvogsu danaratau pojedinim operacijama' njematke trupe40 AK uspjele zauzetiprijevojLjubelj te mostove kodMureka,Radgone i MurskeSobote. 46. AKsepovjerava izuzetno vaZanzadatakzauzimanja mostaprekorijekeDrave4 km sjeveroistotno od Koprivnice te mostaprekoiste rijekekod Barta (Barcs), lakosu navedeni mostovibilipripremljeni za ruSenje 7 travnja, postrojbe 46 AK uspijevaju zauzetineo5teieni most na Dravikod 5(t)tehoslovaike proizvodnie

territoryoccupyingimpoftantroads.Duringthe firstdaythe 40thAK unitsconducting"specialoperations'occupiedthe Ljube|Mountain passand bridgesat Murek,Radgonaand MurskaSobota.The46th AK hadimportanttaskof securingintactbridgesovertheDravaRiver nearKoprivnica and Barcs.Both bridgeswerepreparedfor demolttion but only the bridgenearKoprivnicawas destroyed.Sappers of 46thAK immediate|beganbuildinga new bridge. By Vh April only 14th PzDiv was on starting positions near Nagykaniza8thPzDivwasin the assembly areatoo but withoutany trackedvehicles. Theestimatewasthat bv 9thAaril both unitswould be in full strengthand readyfor deployment. Besrdessuccessfu/localinfantry actionsduring 8thand 9th Aprrl majorityof Germanarmoredforceswas stillpreparingfor combat It wasobviousthat the decisivemomentwassecurinqof the bridqe at Barcs so 2ndArmv HO decidedto movearmored-divisions. lni{ial plan wasto send}ih PzDivtowardsZagreband 14thPzDivtowards Beograd.Thevery sameday the plan was changedand 14thPzDiv was orderedto advanceacrossthe DravaRivertowardsVirovitica and fufther on to Zagreb.Main taskwas to securecrossingpoints on watercourses fo the west and eastof Zagreb.8thPzDivwas to advanceto Osijekand BeogradTheplan was changedbecause14 PzDivwasreadyand in betterpositionto advancetowardsthe Barcs bridge From the politicalpoint of view it was impoftantto enter Zagrebquickly.The attack planning emphasizedthe importance of takingZagrebrapidlyand with one of armoreddivisionsfor the purposeof showingstrengthanddetermination of GermanArmy.By the end of 9thApril foruvardelementsof 14thPzDivformedbridgeheadson the Mura and DravaRivers betweenKotorand Barcs Nextday 2ndArmy HQ warnedall units about the importanceof usingproperlight and smokesignalsin casetheyencounterenemy tanks Thesignals wereto be blueor purplesmoke 19

PSSTROJBE U ERUGOM $VJETSKOMR.ATUI,JFIRVATSKOJ OKTOP${AVOTII.AI OKLOPSdE 4 5 Z a p o v l e d n ov o z i l o B e f e h l s w a g s rP z K p f w l l l A u f s E n a m a r i u Z b o g

D i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) Command vehicle Befehlswagen Pz Kpftrt.lll Ausf.E durtng march Bow machine gun was deleted to accommodate additional equipment Taking into account that this is a war photograph the crew appears to be qutte relaxed (Dinko Predoevti Collectton)

je ipakna vrijeme sruiente opkoparske Baria Mostkod Koprivnice postrolbe 5toprijepodignutinovimost 46 AK nastoje

nje djelova glavnina postrojbi akcijep1eiatkih lokalne 8, i9. travnjauz uspjeine za nastupanje, oklopnih snagasejoi uvllekpripremala njemaikih trenutakza napadbilo Poitoje postalootiglednoda je odludujuti mostaprekoDravekod Baria,stoZer2. armijepredvida zauzimanje 8. oklopnudiviziju da 10. travnjapokrenesvojeoklopnedivizije: '14. No istog u pravcuBeograda. premaZagrebu, oklopnudiviziju a dobivazadatak plana.14.oklopnadivizija danadolazido promjene

4 6 P o ( t o v o l s k a K r a l j e v i n eJ u g o s l a v i j en j e p r u Z a l a o r g a n i z t r a n lo t p o r , t e n k o v s k ek o l o n e s u s e u t r a v a n j s k o mr a t u u g l a v n o m k r e t a l ep u t e v i m a K o l o n ai z v r d n i i k i ht e n k o v aP z K p f w l 1 u s u s r e t us k o l o n o m t e i k e a r t i l j e r i l e d i v i z i j a( z b r k a D i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) n e k eo d n l e m a d k r h

postrosvesvo1e 2. armileupozorava danazapovjedniStvo Slledeieg u jbe na pravodobnu i dimnihsignala upotrebu sqetlosnih i ispravnu Takoseupuiujedaje u tom tenkove. slutaju da naidunaneprijateljske plaveili llubidaste bo1e. pravilna dimnogsignala upotreba sludaju '1 dazapovjedniStvopassingby a heavy artillery unit of one of German divisions (Dinko Predoevri sastajaliSta zanimljivle 194'1godine Dan 0 travnja vezusastoZerom Collection) dananijemoglouspostaviti 2. armijegotovocijelog je poloZaje prednje naveustanoviti niti moglo divizije, 14.oklopne izqeituod 17,23salis divizilom armijskom Prema denepostrojbe. ie satima kontakt. Tekje u veiernjim svakiradijski tijekom danaizgubljen uspiouspostavitl grupezastrategijska izvidanja zrakoplovne zrakoplov u 19,30 divizije dijelovi vijest da suprednji i donileti kontakt s divizijom su diviziie 14.'oklopne Tijekomdanapostrojbe satiuili u Zagreb. vremenske nepovollne kojesu prouzrokovale usprkospote5koaama, prevalile od 140 kilometara prilikei lo5estanjena prometnicama, i zanemarive uz sporadidne prekodravskog mostobrana do Zagreba, Kraljevine Jugoslavije, vojske sukobe s postrojbama jednog dana oklopne da je doprlodo izvjeitava 8 oklopnedivizije 4 7 K o l o n a 1 4 o k l o p n ed i v i z i j eu p o k r e t u T L . j e k o m lstidanzapoyedniStvo premaOsijeku k o l o n ep r e l a z i l e s u d o 1 0 0 k m ( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e v i i ) napredovanje za daljnje Slatine te da sepriprema je veternjim naloZio svo- 14thPanzerDivisioncolumn on the move Armored columns were advancing divizije 14 oklopne satimastoZer U kasnim u pravcu ua to 700 km a dav. @rnko Predoevit Collection) jim postrojbama napredovanje dananastave da slijedeteg zatvoritipravciod karlovca.S dijelompostrojbisu se namjeravale s ciljemopkoljavanja i Zabokakojevodeu pravcuZagreba VaraZdina podrudju kojaje dobila Ljubliane, Postrojba protivniikih snagau Sirem premaKarlovcu dobilaje dodatnizadatak za napredovanje zapoqed armije,kojesu toga 2. talilanske spojitls postrojbama da se poku5a seda nalaZe diviziji i Suiaka. 8. oklopnoj iz pravca Rijeke danakrenule i dalje u pravcuOsiieka napredovati odluinonastavi svimsnagama premaBeogradu

4 8 L a k i i z v i d n r d koi k l o p n i a u t o m o b i l S d K f z 2 2 2 S u d e ( i p o s l i c i ,v o z i l o j e n a l e t l e l on a n e k o d r u g o v o z i l o i l r p r e p r e k ut e j e o d s l i n i n eu d a r a p u k l a p r e d n j ao s o v i n av o z i l a ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) Sd Kfz 222 ligh tarmored reconassaincecar. Judgrng by the photo this car struck another vehicle or some kind of obstacle which broke the front axle (Din ko Predoevi( coIlection)

20 b

ARMOUREDUNITSAND IIETTICLES 'TUCFOAr,A DTTRING WW 'I

I 1!

4 9 , 5 0 i 5 1 T e n k o v iP z K p f w l l l A u s f E (slika 48) i Pz Kpfw lV Ausf E (slika 4 9 ) s n i m l j e n1i 3 t r a v n j a1 9 4 1 g o d i n e na putu prema Banjoj Luci Divizijske kolone bile su popriliino razvuiene Pojedine s a t n i j ek r e t a l es u s e s a m o s t a l n o n a s t o j e i i d o p r i j e t i5 t o d a l j e z a d a n j e g s v i j e t l at e p r e n o i i t iu n e k o mn a s e l j e n o m m j e s t u ( z b i r k aV l a d i m i rS p a s i i ) Pz Kpfw.lll Ausf.E (Photo 48) and Pz Kpfw.lV Ausf.E (Photo 49) tanks photographed on 13th Apil 1941 on the road towards Banja Luka Divisional columns were stretched and some companies were advancing independently lrying to move as far ahead as possible during the daylight Nights were usually spent in urban areas (Vladimir Spast( Collection)

)t, a lle

Z a p o v . l e dtnein k P z K p w . l l lA u f s . H .O v i s u t e n k o v ib i l i o p r e m l j e nsi v i S er a d i o s t a n i ckao j es u i m o s i g u r a v a llez r a v n uv e z us a s v i mz a p o v j e d n i i t v i mnaa z i n i f2 d i v i z i jtee s u p o p o t r e b io d r i a v a l iv e z u s a z r a k o p l o v s t v o mN. a s t r a Z n j e md i j e J uv i d l j i vj e o k v i ra n t e n e .D a b i s e u t e n k s m j e s t i l ap o t r e b n a ' o p r e m au, k l o n n 1e t o p ,a n a n j e g o v om j e s t op o s t a v l j e njae d r v e n am a k e t ad a z b u n i e v e n t u a l n o gp r o t i v n i k a(.z b i r k aD i n k o p r e d o e v i i ) PzKpw lllAufs H command tank These tanks were equipped with additional radiosallowing direct communication with divisionat headquartersas weil as

U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ OKTOPHAVOUILAI OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE

je zapovijedi 46 izuzetaiz sastava 14. oklopnadivizijaposebnom (mot)korpusa armije izravno zapovjedni5tvu i poddinjena

postrojbiKraljevine lugoslavije razorulanje javljada je 10. jugoslavenske vojske S obziromda jednaod postrojbl o mislim daseradiupravo tenkova u5lo14njemaikih travnja u Daruvar Zapovjedni5tvo grupejaiinepolaoklopne satnije. oveborbene sastavu radios uspostavljanjem imaproblema 2. armijei tijekom11. travnja divizijom kontakta s 14 oklopnom Jedandio skupina ulaziu Karlovac. Tijekom danajednajata borbena p6strojbe u pravcuDelnicate 40 km zapadnood odmahnastavlja u snagakojenapreduju talijanskih Karlovca nailazina prethodnicu pravcuKarlovca

za dobiva zapovijed u Zagrebu nalazi kojasejo5uvijek divizije Glavnina pristiZe pravcima. divizija 8. oklopna shodnopredvidenim nastupanje '1 prema u okolicuOsijeka.2. travnja8. oklopnadivizijanapreduje te odlazidaljeu pravcuBeograda. I Lazarevcu Sapcu je u trr dana divizija 14.-oklopna lzvjeitajima Premaprivremenim iasnikai 12 000 dodasnika ukupno22 generala,300 ratazarobila

5 3 T e n kP z . K p w . l Vn a j v j e r o j a t n i jsen i m l j e n1 1. t i l 2 t r a v n j a1 9 4 1. g o d i n e u K a r l o v c u .P r o l a z n i c is a z a n i m a n j e m o d m j e r a v a j un j e m a i k e t e n k o v e . N a p r o i e l j i m a k u i a v i d e s e i z v j e i e n e h r v a t s k et r o b o j k e ( z b i r k a D i n k o Predoevi() 11thor 12thApril 1941. in Karlovac.Local Pz.Kpw.lVtank photographed population is showing interest German tanks. Croatian flags are hoisted on the buitdinqs (Dinko Predoevi( Collection) 5 4 L a k ao k l o p n ak o l a S d K f z 7 2 3 snimljena 13 travnja 1941 g o d i n eu P e t r i n j iO v al a k ao k l o p n a kola bila su opremljena radio s t a n i c o mF U G1 0 , d o m e t a o d o k o 4 0 k m i u g l a v n o ms u s e n a l a z i l a pri sto)erima izvidnitkihodjela (zbirkalvica Golec) Sd Kfz 223 light armored car photographed on 13'h April 1941 in Petrinja These vehicles mainly assigned to HQ of reconnalssance detachments were equipped with FuG 10 wireless set Lhat had a range of around 40 km (lvica Golec Collection)

5 5 K o l o n an j e m a t k i ht e n k o v aP z I l l n a u l i c a m aG l i n ed a n a 1 3 t r a v n j a1 9 4 1 g o d i n e . B u d u i i d a j e p r v i t e n k n a f o t o g r a f i j iz a p o v j e d n in, a l v j e r o j a t n i jsee r a d i o j e d n o m o d s i g n a l n i hv o d o v a( N a h r i c h t e n z u gi z) s a s t a v a1 4 . o k l o p n e d i v i z i j e( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) A column of GermanPz tlt tanks on fhe streetsof Gltnaon 13tnApil 1941 Consideringthat the rst vehicle in the column is a command tank it is very tikely that this is on of the communication platoons (Nahrichtenzug) of 14th PanzerDivision (Dinko Predoevi( Collection)

5 6 O k l o p n i p o l u g u s j e n i d aSr d K I z 2 5 1 n a j v l e r o j a t n i jiez s a s t a v ap i o n i r s k e p o s t r o j b e1 4 o k l o p n ed i v i z i j e( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) Sd Kfz 251 armored hatftrack, most probably from the pioneer unit of the 14th Armored Division (Dinko Predoevit collection)

ARMOUREDUNITSAI\ID VETTIELES 'ru CROAT'A DURINGWW II 5 7 N e q d j eu B o s n in j e m a i k i i a s n i c i s e o b r a d a j us v o l i mv o j n i c i m as t e n k a P z K p f w l V l z g l e d ad a s u b o r b e v e i p r e s t a l ab u d u t i d a s u n j e m a d kvi o j n i c i i o k u i e v i d i s e g r u p a z a r o b l j e n i kvao j s k eK r a l j e v i n e n e n a o r u i a n iU p o z a d i n d J u g o s l a v i j e( z b i r k aV l a d o S p a s i i ) Standing on Pz Kpfrt.lV tank German offrcers are addressing soldiers somewhere in Bosnia /t seerns that the hostilities are over since German soldiers are not armed A group of prisoners, the Royal Yugoslav Army soldiers, can be seen in front of the building in the background (Valdo SpasicCollection)

5 8 K o l o n at e n k o v aP z K p w l l l i P z K p w l l n a z a s t a n k uu j e d n o m b o s a n s k o m g r a d i i u B u d u i i d a s u t e n k o v ip u n i r a z n eo p r e m e ,i z g l e d ad a s u n . j e m a d k e t e n k o v s k ep o s a d ed a l e k oi z a s e b eo s t a v i l es v o j eo p s k r b n ep o s t r o j b et e d a s u s a s o b o mp o n i j e l es v uo p r e m uz a k o j u s u s m a t r a l ed a i m m o Z eb i t i p o t r e b n a ( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e v i ( ) A column of Pz.Kpw.llland Pz Kpw.ll tanks during a stop in a small Bosnian town The ammount of equipment on the tanks suggesfsthat the supply columns were left far behtnd and that all needed equipment and supplies had to be carried along (Dinko Predoevi( Collection)

te :0

3 1 o l0 t. a

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5 9 K o l o n al a k i ht r a n s p o r t e r far a n c u s k ep r o i z v o d n l e R e n a u lU t E U nlemaikoj a r m i j io v a s u v o z i l a d o b i l a o z n a k u I n f a n t e r i es c h l e p p e rU E 6 3 0 ( f ) S v a k i t r a n s p o t evru t e p r i k o l i c uk o j a u o v o j p r i l i c is l u Z iz a p r i j e v o zv o l n i k a ( z b i r k a dinkoPredoevit) Column of French made Renault IJE light carriers German military designationfor this vehicle was lnfanterie schlepper UE 630(0 Eachvehicle is towing a trailer used to transpoft troops (Dinko Predoeviccollection)

It is interestingthat during 1)thApril 2ndArmyHQ couldn'testablish communication with 14thPzDivHO nor were thev ableto establish exact locationof the division'sfotward elements.Accordinqto the Army repoft dated on 10thApr 17:23 hrseverycontaclwith t4tt PzDivwaslost Onlyin the eveninghours the contactwas reestabIishedwhen reconnaissance aircraftbrouqhtback the news that fotwardelements of 14thPzDiventered Zagrebat 19:30 hrs.During the day the units of 14thPzDivadvanced140 km from the Drav-a Riverbridgeheadto Zagreb despiteunfavorableweatherand bad road conditions.Theyhad only minor clasheswith the Yugoslav RoyalArmy. Thesameday 8thPzDivrepoftedthat they reachedSlatinaand were conductingpreparations for furtheradvancetowardsOsijek In the eveninghours 14thPzDivHQ orderedpaft of Divisionto proceedtowardsKarlovac.Intentionwas to blockand encircleenemy forcesin Ljubljanaarea Theunit that was to advanceto Karlovac had a task to establishcontact with 2nd ttalianArmy that was advancingfrom Rijekaand SusakOrdersissuedto 8thPzDivcalled for determinedpushtowardsOsijekand furtherto Beograd Based on specialorder 14thPzDivwasexcludedfrom 46thCorpsand subordinated directlyto Army HQ. After marchingthrough the night the 14thPzDivmain forcearrived to Zagreb Duringthe courseof advanceone divisionalbattlegroup wasdirededtowardsBjelovar. Main taskof thisbattlegroupwasto providesuppott for rebelledunitsof RYAthat took over the town

OKLOPNAVOZILA I OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

1 l

6 0 i 6 1 . J o i d v i j e f o t o g r a f i j ef r a n c u s k o gl a k o g t r a n s p o r t e r aR e n a u l tU E , s n i m l j e n eu B o s n iu t r a v n j u1 9 4 1 g o d i n e P r e k o3 0 0 0 o v i h v o z i l az a r o b l j e n o j e 1 9 4 0 g o d i n e u F r a n c u s k oU j n j e m a d k oaj r m i j i p r i l a g o d e nsi u z a v i i e o d '1945 desetakrazliiitih namjenate su u sluZbiostali do kraja rata godine Vozilasu u sastavu132 njemadkepjeSatkedivizije (zbirkaDinko Predoevi() Another photograph of French hght carrier Renault UE taken somewhere in Bosnia in April of 1941 The Germans captured over 3000 of these vehicles during French campaign in 1941 Having them adopted for various tasks the Germans continued to use these vehicles until the end of the war (Dinko Predoevii Colledion)

of Bjelovar(underthe flag of NDH)and stafted disarmingother Yugoslav Army units One of the Yugoslavarmy units reporled that 14 Germantanks enteredDaruvaron 10thApril. Thosewere probablythe tanksof detachedbattlegroup whosestrengthwas half armoredcompany. During 1\thApril 2ndArmy HQ continuedto havedifficultiesmaintainingradiocontactwith 14thPzDiv. During the day one battle group enteredthe town of Karlovac and sentpaft of its forcesto advancefufther towardsthe town of DelniceTheymadecontactwith ltalianforcessome40 km westof Karlovac. ln coordinationwith highercommandthe2'd ArmyHQ issuedplans for continuationof 14thPzDivadvanceTheplan wasto advancein threeseparatecolumns One was to go to Bihacand Sarajevo,the secondone towardsBanjaLukaandZvornikand the third one from Karlovacto Krnjakand Slunj(to connectwith ltalianforcesand close rnik Ii ne) SIunj -Sarajevo-Zvo Main divisionalbody was stillin Zagrebat that time and wasgiven ordersin accordance with thisplan The8thPzDivarrivedin the Osijekarea12thApril 8thPzDivadvanced towardsSabacand Lazarevac and fuftheron to Beograd. Accordingto preliminaryreportsduring the first three days 14th PzDivcaptured22 generals,300 officers,12000NCOsand soldiers, 10 aircraft,76 guns, 1 antiaircraftbattery 4 ammunitiondepots, over3 millionlitersof fuelaswellaslargeamountsof uniforms,Iight weaponsand horsesThroughoutthe daythe Divisionwaspreparing for fuftheradvance. TheArmy HQ orderedthe Divisionto withdrawbattle group from Bjelovar. Earlyin the morningthe Divisionstaftedadvancetowards Bihacand BanjaLuka. Duringtheday 184thStuGAbteilungenteredCroatianterritoryfrom Slovenia. 13thApril - fonwardelements of 14thPzDivadvancingfrom Karlovac reachedGlina Thesecondcolumnadvancingfrom Zagrebreached Kostajnica Noviwhereit wasstoppeddue to resistance and Bosanski of Yugoslav Army unitson hilltopsalong the Una River.Duringthe day the resrtance diminishedand the towns of Kostajnica and Bosanski Novi were taken.TheDivisioncrossedthe Una Riverand advancedtowardsBanja Lukaand Kljuc in two columns.During the day the Divisionunitssufferedheavylossesdue to friendlyfire from the Luftwaffeclosesupportaircraft.By the end of the daythe forvvardelementsof 14thPzDiventeredBanjaLuka The184thStuGAbteilungwasin Zagreb 14thApril -fontvardelementsof 14thPzDivreached Jajce-Dobojline. Followingthesituationdevelopment2'd Army HQ anticipatedexis-

i vojnikate zarobila 10 aviona, 76 topova,1 protuzrakoplovnu bitnicu,4 velikaskladiita streljiva i preko3 miljunalitarapogonskog gorivate velikekoliiinevojneodjeie,konja,lakogi teikogpjeSatkog naoruZanja. Divizija setijekom danapriprema zadaljnje napredovanje. povuie Zapovjedniitvo armijenalazedivizijida iz pravcaBjelovara oklopni odredupu(entamoprijedvadana.Ranoujutroglavne snage divizijepodijeljene su u dvijekolonete su zapotelenapredovanje u pravcuBihaiai BanjeLuke Tijekom danaiz pravca Slovenije na podruikeHrvatske u5aoje 184. juriSnih bataljon topova 13. travnjaprednjidijelovi14 oklopnedlvizileiz pravcaKarlovca pristiZu u Glinu.Kolonakojaje krenula iz pravca Zagreba dopiredo Kostajnice i Bosanskog Novogte se tu privremeno zaustavlja zbog postrojbi otporapojedinih kraljevske vojskena uzviienjima iznadrijeke Une Tijekomdanaotporje svladan te su Kostajnica i Bosanski Novi prelazirijekuUnute u dvijekolonenapreduje prema zauzetiDivlzija BanjojLucii Kljudu.Tijekomdanapostrojbe divizijetrpe gubitkeod juri5neavijacijeKrajemdanaprednjidijelovidivizijeulaze vlastite juriSnih u BanjuLuku 184.bataljonj topovanalazise u Zagrebu 14 travnjaprednjidijelovi14. oklopnedivizijedopirudo linije 6 2 K o l o n a o k l o p n i h v o z i l a S t u G l l l A u s f B 1 8 4 b o j n e j u r i l n i h t o p o v a Jajce- Doboj StoZer2. armije,pratetirazvojsituacije i povlaienje ( S t u r m g e s z c h u tAzb t e i l u n g 1 8 4 ) , s n i m l j e n a1 2 t r a v n j a 1 9 4 1 g o d i n e u U sastavu bojne je postojanje jednejaie grupe Sloveniji neposredno prije ulaska na hrvatski teritorij snagajugoslavenske vojske,predvidio n a l a z i l es u s e t r i b i t n i c e l u r i S n itho p o v aS t u Gl l l s 1 8 j u r i 5 n i ht o p o v a S t u Gl l l protivnitkih postroj- (zbirkaDinko Predoevit) snagana SirempodruijuSarajeva te zapovjeda postrojbi bama14 oklopne divizije da djelovanjem zaokruZi oklopnih A column of StuG lll Ausf.B assaultguns from Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 184 i blokiraprotivnitke snagete prideka dolazakpjeSaikih i artiljerijskih (Assaultgun Battalion 184) photographed on 12 April 1941 in Sloveniaright postrojbipostrojbikojeie ih uniititi.Pokretje predviden u dvjema before entering Croatian territory. The battalion was composed of three prekolinijeJajce- Tesli(Dio snagadivizijeuputujese kolonama batteries with total of 18 StuG lll assaultguns (Dinko Predoevi( Collection)

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6 5 6 6 D v i l ef o t o g r a f l ej u r i n o g t o p a S t u G i s n i m l l e n es a s t r a z n j es t r a n ev o z a P r e m ap o d a c i m ao p r o i z v o d n jl iu r i i n i h t o p o v a ,d o k r a l ar a t a 19 4 5 g o d i n e p r o i z v e d e n o l e g 4 O g k o m a d a S t uOGs li lm l k a o p o d r i k e p l e s a i t v a , S t u G l l l j e k o rui ipt reont u o k o p n obj o r b ti e s e p r o c j e n j u j e d a s u jouvr l i n ti o p o vti i j e k o m r a t a u n i i t i l i o k o 2 0 0 O Os o v j e t s k i the n k o v a ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) Two photographsshowing the rearend of StuG lll assaultgun Accordrngto the Germanproduction lists,94A9 of these assaultguns was produced by the infantry suppott StuG lll was used in anti armor rale lt is estlmatedthat theseassaultguns destroyedmore than 20000 enemy tanks end of the war. Besides (Dinko Predoevit Collectton)

Brod i rijekeSavezakljutnos linijomBosanski u pravcuDervente - Derventa protivnitlii sa zadatilom iiscenjap'osloraod zaostalih i Save snagaizmedurijekeBosne nastupanje Treiaje kolonaistidanpreilaUnukodBihaiate nastavila Petrovca u pravcu Bosankog je napodrutju predvidanjima divizija Prema stoZera armi1e 14 oklopna laiilana ad'i orgarzirani'i 40 kmsjeverozapadr'o od Sarajeva Doboja veiimbrolemartiljerijskih orudai tenkovaU okolini otporpodrZan snagau travanjskom Doboja dolazido jedinogveiegsrazaoklopnih

area.ln order r enemyforcesgroup tn the Saraievo tenceo 14thPzDivwasorderedto encircleand blockenemy to deal forcesand wait for arrivalaf infantryand supportaftillery.Advance line Paft of was plannedtn two columnsalong the Jalce-Tesltc Divisionwas senttowardsDerlentaand the SavaRiverwith the aim rn the areabetween Armyunitsrematntng of moppingup Yugoslav theBosnaand SavaRivers Thirdcolumncrossedthe UnaRiverat Bihacand advancedtowards Bosanski Petrovac

6 7 U s a s t a v u l 3 4b o j n e l u r i s n i h t o p o v a b L a s u i o k l o p n a vpoozui lgau s j e n i t a r i s d K f z 2O5s0n o v n a n a m j e n a o v i h v o z i l a u b o j n i b i o j e d o t u r s t r e l i v a j u r i 5 n et o p o v et e r z vd a n j ei n a v o d e n j el u r i S n i ht o p o v a S t u Gl l Ln a p r o t i v n i i k ep o o i a j e ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i t ) A m o n g t h e o t h e r v e h i c l e s t h e A s s a u l t g u n B a t t a l i o n T s 4 w a s e q u i p p e d w t t h s d K f z 2 5 0 a r m o r e d h a l f t r a cI hkess e h a l f t r a c k s w e r e u s e d a s a m m u n i t i o n c a r r i e r s and reconnaissancevehicles (Dinko Predoevt( Collection)

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ratu0rganiziranila, iskusnila i boljevodenanjemaika stranaodnosi ln the area 40 km NW of Sarajevo14thPzDivencounteredstrong potpunu pobleduU borbiJeunisteno ili zarobljeno oko 20 tenkova and organized resistance suppofted by artilleryand tanks The only 2 bataljona bornihkolaRenault R35 tele zarobljeno oko200tasnika bigger tank battle of the Yugodavcampatgntook place tn the Doboj -'*-^r--J o-rd jugoslavenske Gcrman ttnits won this i 6000doiasnika i vojnika volskeU dnevniku 2 armije o / q o DD^'+^' g((q/ vt9attt/(v r'u Lcvnprienecd ^l/L"Lrrr posebno potporuinik 14 oklopnedivizile kolije engagementDurtngthe batllelhey deslroyed or capturedaround Jepritom istaknut jugoslavenske20 RenaultR35 tanksand took 200 offrcers naieluizvidaikog oklopnog odredanaiiaonatenkove and 6000NCO'sand vojske i u vjeStol i hrabroj borbiuspioonesposobiti 6 protivnidkih tenputdaljnjem postrojbi kova i probiti napredovanju divizijelstogasu prednli platoonwhen hisunit engagedenemyarmor.Underhis dana dilelovi divizije u veternjirn satima stiglido Sarajeva naissance commandhisunit dtsabled6 enemytanks prekrd skillfuland courageous 15travanj vladaKrallevine Jugoslavije zalralia 1eod Nyemaike neprijateljstva 16 travnla 14 oklopna divizija ulaziu N,4ostar Sljedeceg prednli dana dijelovi divizije ispred talijanskih trupaulazeu Dubrovnik

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6 8 U k u p n os u u s a s t a v u18 4 b o l n ej u r i i n i h t o p o v a b i l a 2 4 o k l o p n ap o u g u s j e nt a r a S d K f z 2 5 0 Y o z i l az a d o t u r m u n i c i j e( e i c h t e rM u n i t i o n s p a n z e r a g e n S d K f z 2 5 0 /A 6 u s f A )s u u z d v a i l a n a p o s a d ep r e v o z i l a7 0 g r a n a t az a I a p T 5 c m ( z b i r k aD i n o P r e d o e v i ) The assaultgun Battalrcn 184 had a total of 24 5d Kfz 250 armored halftracks ln the phato is an ammunitton carrrcr 4eichter M un it io nspa nzeraqen SdKfz 25016Ausf.A) that was transpafttng 70 rounds of ammunitton for 7 5 cm gun (Dinko Predoevtt Collection)

i 7a

6 9 O k l o p n ep o u g u s l e n i i a r S p r j e l u g o s l a v e n s kkea m p a n j eO s n o v n us t r u k t u r uv o z a i r n i o j e t r a n s p o r t n e d K f z2 5 0 1 8 4 b o j n a p r i m a j e n e p o s r e d n o p o l u g u s j e n t i a r D e m a g D T S d K f z l 0 n a f o l e g j e s t a v l j e n a o k o p n a n a d o(gzrbardknajDa i n k o P r e d o e v i i ) ArmoredhalftracksSd Kfz 250 were issuedto the Assaultgun Battalton 784 a shotl ttme before the Yugoslavcampargn The vehtclewas basedon transpart halftrackDemag D / (Sd Kfz 1Q with added armored body. (Dinko PredoevicCollectton)

OKLOPNAVOZILA I OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

je primirje 17.travnjau 2'1,00 satpotpisano kojestupana snaguu On 15th April Yugoslaviangovernment requested truce from 12,00sati18. travnja1941. 20.travnja put stoZer 2 armijeodreduje Germany. '14 prikupljanja i izvladenja oklopnedivizije s podrutjaJugoslavije. 14thPzDiventeredMostaron 16hApril. Forvvardelementsof ltalian Divizija trebasa svimsvojimdijelovima 5to prijedoti do Slavonskog forcesenteredDubrovnikon 1VhApril. Broda,od kudaie Zeljeznidkim transportima biti prebadena na novo On lVh April at 21:00 hourstruce was signed,it was in effect at mjestorasporeda. glavninadivizijeje ve( 21. PremaizvjeStajima 12:00hourson 19thApril 1941. pristiglau Doboj.Zadnjise put ovadivizijana tlu travnjaiz Sarajeva 14thPzDivreceivedordersto redeployon 20thApril. Planwas to Jugoslavije spominje u njemadkim dokumentima 30 travnjakadase move divisionto Slavonski Brodand load onto the railroadcarsto zakljuiuje da pokretdivizrye planovima tete premapredvidenim iu be transpoftedto new location.Accordingto repoftsthe Division skladu s postavljenim rokovtma. reachedDoboj on 21st April. Lastmention of the Divisionon Yugoslavian soilwas on 30thApril. On that day repoftsare saying that the Divisionmovementis in accordancewith plansand time schedu/es.

7 0 K o l o n aj u r i i n i h t o p o v a S t u G l l l u n a s t u p a n j uz a l e d n o s n j e m a t k i m p j e S a i t v o mF o t o g r a f i j jae s n i m l j e n a1 4 t r a v n j a 1 9 4 1 g o d i n e n a p r i l a z i m a Zagrebu (zbirka Dinko Predoevii)

71 Iskrcajno m j e s t ot e n k o v ai m o t o r i z a c i j e 14 o k l o p n ed i v i z i j eu S l a v o n s k o m B r o d u P r e b a c i v a ndj ei v i z i j ep r e k or i l e k eS a v ei i z v l a f e n j es t e r i t o r i j aJ u g o s l a v i j e i z v r i e n oj e d o 3 0 t r a v n j a19 4 1 g o d i n e ( z b i r k aL a r r yT e K o e t i )

A column of StuG lll assault guns advancing with German infantry. The photo was taken on 14th April 1941 on the outskirtsof Zagreb (Dinko Predoevit Collection)

Debarkation point in Slavonski Brod 14th Panzer Division was across the river and out of Yugoslavian territory by 30th April 1941 (Larry Te Koeti Collection)

7 2 P o s t r o l b e l 4o k l o p n e d i v i z i j e s u o d 2d0o 3 0 t r a v n j a 1 9 4 1g o d i n e p r i k u p l j e n e i u p u t e n e p r e m a B o s a n s k o m B r o d u , g d j e s u r i j e d n i m b r o d o v i m a p r e b a i e n preko rijekeSaveu SlavonskiBrod lz SlavonskogBroda 14 oklopna divizijaje ieljeznicom prebaiena u novo mjesto rasporeda (zbirkaDinko Predoevit) 14thPanzerdivision was sent to BosanskiBrod to board the barges acrossthe Sava River.Once in SlavonskiBrod the Division was loaded onto the train and sent to the next deployment area (Dinko Predoevi( Collection)

ptffiflff#i.dtrfld} {JfdCrS ,AIdS} 1"ry:.{df{',{"#j5 fftJ #s?f,}"4ffd-'ttf.}{JFffffiffi fl,Ii/*,,4/ f{

1 3 7 4 l s t o v a rt e n k o v a 1 4 o k l o p n e d i v i z i j eu S l a v o n s k o mB r o d u N a f o t o g r a f r j a msau t e n k o v i P z K p f w i i l i P z K p f w l V t e p r a t e i a d i v z i j s k a m o t o r z a c i j (az b i r k aL a r r yT e K o e t l ) 14thPz Div.Tanksdurtng offloading from the barges in SlavonskiBrod pz lll andPz lVtanks can be seen in the photo as well as other divisionalsupporl vehicles(LarryTe Koeti Collectton)

7 5 T e n k l s t dl e k a j un a i s t o v a rs a S l e p a N a f o t o g r a f i l il j e v o n a l a z is e l a k i t e n k P z K p f w l , p r i l a g o d e n z a s a n i t e t s k en a m j e n e ( S a n i t a t s k r a f t w a g e n , S d K f z 2 6 5 ) T e n k p r r p a d a s a n i t e t s k o mo d j e l u d i v i z i j e ( z b i r k a D n k o Predoevii) Tank crews awaiting their turn for debarkation an the left side af the photo is light tank Pz Kpfw.l adopted for medical use (Sanitatskraftwagen I, Sd Kfz 265) The tank belongs to divisionalmedical detachment (Dinko Predoevit Collectron)

1 6 T r e n u t a ko p u S t a n l a u okalnoj bosanskoj kafani T e n k s st iu n a i l i v r e m e n ad a s i n a b a vi ep r a v eb o s a n s k fee s o v e k a ou s p o m e n u na kratku laku l u g o s l a v e n sr kaut n uk a m p a n j u ( z b i r kVal a d i m i rS p a si ) Maments of relaxatton tn a Bosnian coffee shop Soldters found trme to provide themse/yeswith the Bosnran fez headgear as souvenirs on the short and relatively easy Yugoslavian campaign (Vladim ir SpasicCollectton)

t}iii!..t}FF'J"$"1,,|#fl$.,d\!,ji,Kl.#$rF,}HF#$}"f{.}.j{$}*lt'JflHl"${i{}ii".t{i""..i'dfiti5it.(:1ltVll1d.li"fujg'Jf.ij,\E,.r}.I;I{{]li

7 7 7 8 l s k r c a tj e n k a P z K p f w I A u s f H u S a v o n s k o mB r o d u U k u p n o s u

model with new 5 cm KwK 39 Ll60 gun (Larry Te Koeti Collection)

b rpoodzua d i n i j e p o r u i e n i m o s t n a S a v i z b o g t i p g j e r u i e n j a d i v i z l a p r e b a c v a n a i z B o s n e u H r v a 7 9 G r u p a t e n k o v a p z K p f v l l A u s g H n a r i j e d n o mU r i l e d nm b r o d o v i m a( z b i r k aD l n k o P r e d o v i i ) Group of pz Kpfv.lll Ausf.H tankson the river barge ln the backgroundis the demolishedbridge over the river, hence the usageof bargesto move divisron across (Dinko Predoevii Collection)

Odmah nakon saznanja o vojnomputu u Beogradu, Hitlerjetijekom notis 27.na28.o2ujka 1941. godineuputiohitnuporukuMussoliniju u kojojje zatraiiopotpunusuradnjutalijanskog politiikogi vojnog vrhau planiranju i izvodenju napadana Kraljevinu Jugoslaviju. Od jezatraZeno Talijana daodmahobustave sveplanirane napadne akcije nagrtko{alijanskom frontuu Albaniji te da sepripreme za ratnatalijansko-jugoslavenskoj granicisvimsredstvima i s najveiimstupnjem hitnoni itajnosti.Vet su se sljedeieg danaMussolini italijansko vojno zapovjedniStvo sloZili s njemaikimplanovima. S obziromna je vodstvo ovakav naglupromjenu slijeda okolonosti, talijansko izrazilonaglaienu zabrinutost za poloZaje talijanskih trupau Albaniji te rezerve u pogledumoguinostkoncentracije potrebnihvojnihsnaga u takokratkom roku.Odmahsu aktivirani postojetivojniplanovi '1 zanapad stvoreni tokom 940. godine,u trenutkukadaje ltalija (PlanE - Emergenza ulazib u ratprotivFrancuske iVelikeBritanije. od19.kolovoza 1940.). S obziromna vei spomenute kratkerokove teupozorenje njemaike vrhovnekomandeda 2 njemaikaarmijana sjeveru neiemoii prije12.travnjapoduzetinapadne vojneoperacije, je kaoosnovniciljpostavilo talijansko zapovjedni5tvo svojimtrupama julijske granice obranu paZnjomna obranuRijeke s posebnom te mogutnost da se u odabranom trenutkuglavnimsnagama prodre preko granice u susret njemaikoim trupama

Duringthe night of 27/28 March 1941, upon findingout about militarycoupin Beograd,Hitler sentan urgent message to Mussolini requestingfull ltalianpoliticaland militarycooperationin planning and executionof invasionof YuqoslaviaThe ltalianswere askedto immediatelystopall offensiveactionson the front in Albaniaandto preparefor war on ltalian-Yugoslav borderwith all resources and to startpreparationswith utmost urgencyand secrecy. Thevery next dayltaliangovernmentand militaryauthoritiesagreedwith German plans.Dueto suddenchangesin plansltaliangovernmentexpressed concernabout their Army in Albania and their ability to deploy neededamount of troopsin sucha shortperiod of time Existing war plansfor invasioncreatedin 1940wereput in action Thatwas a plan createdwhenltalyenteredwar with GreatBritainand France (PlanE - Emergenza dated 19 Aug 1940)Consideringshorttime availableand warningfrom GermanHQ that German12thArmy in the nofth will not be ableto deploybefore12Apri[ ltalianHQ determinedprioritiesasto defendJulianborderand Rijekawith possibility to advanceacrossthe bordertowardsGermanforces Onlyduring 1940ltalianArmy beganthe process of forminglarger armoredunits at divisionlevel.In mid March 1941. rioht before

je te tri divizije(Centauro, Jugoslavije zatekao Arietei Littorio)u proprikupljanja cesu protivKraljevine Zaoperacije predvidene Jugoslavije sudvije oklopne divizije je zapovjedniStvo Diviziju Centauro talijansko odmahpovuklo s grdkotalijanskog frontanajugui pripremilo za obranuSkadra. Nasjeveru se2. talijanska armijanalazila u zaitiienomrasporedu iza granitnih je ovoj utvrdenih linija.Oklopna divizija Littorio dodijeljena armiji irasporedena u druguobrambenu linijuna podruije10 km - MarkovSdina. istoino odTrsta, u zoniHrpelle

8 1 i 8 2 T a n k e t eL 3 * i l i 3 3 o k l o p n o g p u k a d i v i z i j eL i t t o r i on a r i j e i k i m u l i c a m a K r o zs a m g r a d p r o t e g n u l as e o g r o m n a k o l o n ao k l o p n i hi m o t o r n i h v o z i l a s t r p l j i v oi e k a j u t i r e d z a p r o l a z p r e k o g r a n i c e .D i o t a n k e t a L 3 j e transportiran i n a p o s e b n oi z r a d e n i mp r i k o l i c a m a( M u z e jg r a d a R i j e k e )

8 0 J e d a no d p e t t e n k o v aM 1 3 / 4 0 i z s a s t a v a13 3 o k l o p n ed i v i z i j eL i t t o r i o F o t o g r a f ijjea s n i m l j e n a1 1 t r a v n j a1 9 4 1 g o d i n e n a u l i c a m ag r a d a R i j e k e Jedino m j e s t og d j e s u t a l i j a n s k eo k l o p n ei m o t o r i z i r a n ep o s t r o j b em o g l e u i i na teritorijKrallevineJugoslavijeje bio most preko Rleiine koji je razdvajao gradovR e i j e k uu K r a l j e v i nl ti a l i j ii g r a d 5 u 5 a ku K r a l j e v i nJiu g o s l a v i j(i M u z e l GradaRijeke) )ne of five M 13/40 tanks of the 133 'Littorio' Armored Division This photographwas taken on April 11, 1941 in Rijeka The only place where theltalian motorized units could crossthe border was the bridge acrossthe Rijetinariver dividing the towns of Rijekarn the ltalian Kingdom and Suiak inthe Kingdom of Yugoslavia (RijekaCity Museum)

L 3 type tankettes of an armored regiment of the Littorto Division in the sfreets of Rijeka A huge armored and motorized column was stretched through the city waiting to cross the border Someof the L 3 tankettes were transpofted on special trailers (RijekaCity Museum) *S obzirom da je ovo izdanje dvojeziino tj hrvatsko-englesko za izvorno (tal CV,carroveloce- 33135/38oznaka talijanskuoznakutanketeCV.33135/38 g o d i n eu v o d e n l am o d e l au u p o t r e b u1 9 3 3 , 1 9 3 5 , 1 9 3 8) u p o t r e b l j e nj e a o z n a k aL 3 g d j e s l o v o L o z n a i a v a p o j a m l a k i ( e n g l i g h t ) , a b r o j 3 t e i i n u v o z i l a( 3 3 0 0 k g ) i u p o t r e b l j a v sae z a s v en a v e d e n em o d e l et a n k e t e *Due to this bi-lingual (Croatian-English)edition original ltalian designation of the tankette CV33/35/38 (CV in ltalian - Carro Veloceand 33/35/38 were the years of the introduction of each model meaning 1933, 1935 and 1938) was substituted with L 3 where L means Light and the number 3 the weight of the vehicle (3,300 kg) and is used for all mentioned models

ShiE"#plJ.'\l/#?ilL& [ S$d-{J$?S.ifi PtrSflt#JFF'; tu ffiF{tlG#fvl $\,.SHTSKS]!X]EATIJij $.{ffiVAlth*; 8 3 8 9 O k l o p n ei m o t o r i z i r a n e k o l o n ed i v i zl e L i t t o ro s n i m l l e n en e p o s r e d n o p r i j e i z a v r i j e m e p r e a s k a t a l i j a n s k o - j u g o s l a v e n sdkre) a v n e g r a n i c e D o k o l o n e n a l a z is e u g a v n o j g r a d s k o ju l l c i ( s l i k a8 3 I 8 4 ) , a d i o n a c e s t i n e p o s r e d n ou z k a n a k o l i j e u j e d n o i b i o g r a n i i n a l i n i j a ( s i k a 8 5 ) P r e l a z n a t e r i r o r i'j r a l j e r i r eJ u g o 'o v i l eb o j e . r o g u c : a ' n o p e k o j o d r o g r r o s t a ( s k a 8 6 ) k o j ij e v o d i o n a s t a r u L u j z l a n s k cu e s t uu d u b n u p r o t v n i d k o g a t e r i t o r i j a G r a nd n a l i n i j ao d R i j e f , e S u i a fa p r e m a z a p a d u b l a j e p r r o d n o n e p o h o d n a t e j e o d r r . d e s rel - g o d i r - o2 0 : l o l l e ta d o d a l r o f o t I k a c i j s l i u r e d e n a S a m oz a h v a l l u j u ip o t p u n o m r a s p a d uv o j s k eK r aj e v i n eJ u g o sa v i j e , t a l j a n s k e t r u p se u 1 I t r a v n l a1 9 4 1g o d i n em o g l ek r e n u t ui n a s t u p a n j eD a s u o p k o p a r s k ep o s t r o l b eK r a l j e v i nJeu g o s l a v i jiez v r i i p r e d v i d e n ar u i e n j an a c e s t a m ap, r o d o rn e b i m o g a ob i t ri z v r S e bn e z o b i m n i hi d u g o t r a j nh r a d o v a s o b z . o n d a 1 e n a l o r S r i a l a l o o r a o d m a l ' n o r a l a s va d a t . L s p o no d p r e l o l 0 0 O m e t a r an a p o d r u t j eG o r s k o gk o t a r ak o j e r a z d v a j ap r m o r s k i o d kontnentaLnog d i j e l aH r v a t s k e( M u z e jg r a d a R i j e k e ) Armored and motonzed columns of the Littorro Diviston photographed immediately before and during the crossing of the ltaly Yugoslavian state border.Part of the column ts rn the marn city road (photos 79 and 80) while the other paft is next to the canal which was the border line (photo 81) I h e o o , s i n g o n t o I h e \ u g o , l a v i a nt e r r i l o r y w a sp o s s i b l eo r e r a s t n g l eb r t d q e (photos 82 and 83) whtch was connected to the old Austro Hungarian Luisiane"road leadtng tnto the depth of the enemy teriltory. The border from the towns of Rrjekaand Suiak westward,besidesbetng on tmpassable terrain, was fortified through the 30's of the 20th century. The ltalran forces were able to advanceon 71 April 7947 only due to completebreakdown of Royal YugoslavianArmy. lf the proneer units af the YugoslavArmy conducted I h e p l a n n e dr o a d d e m o l i t i o n >I h e t l a l t . n a d v a n \ pw o u l d h a t e b e e n s t o p p e d with easeas the only passab/eroad lead through mountatnsup to 1000 m high in the rear of Rijekaand SuSak(RijekaCity Museum)

ARMOURED{/'V'Is AND VEHICLES'JVCRO T'A DURINGWW II

Razvojem ratnihoperacija 6. travnja, tinjenicom da je do 10. travnja glavnina vojnihsnagaKraljevine najugu Jugoslavije poraZena, da se vojska nasjeveru zemljeraspada, a da su Nijemci istogadanau5liu Zagreb, talijansko zapovjedniitvo pokrenuti odluduje svojepostrojbe iizatiu susret Nijemcima do vei predvidene granice idogovorene - Kodevje - Vrbovsko nadleZnostl dvijuarmijana linijiLjubljana - 09ulin. 11 travnja u trenutkukadaje divizijaLittorioiz Rijeke preSla na Suiak i uilanateritorijKraljevine Jugoslavije, u svomje sastavu imalasamo puk(Reggimento 33,oklopni CarriL)sastavljen od trijubojnis ukupno 117lakihoklopnih vozila1.3.U sastavu divizije bilaje i postrojba s 5 tenkova M 13/40 lstogsu se dana u Gorskomkotarutalijanske '14. postrojbe spojile s prethodnicama njematke oklopne divizije. Dio je divizije nastupao i u pravcuLjubljane te je kasnije biovratenpravcem - Gerovo - MrzleVodice- FuZine - Senj.12.travnlaprednji Cabar talyanski odredi uilisuu Ogulintestiglido Karlovca islunja,l4.travnja '1 u Sibenik, 15.travnja u Knin,16.travnja u Split, 8. travnja u Mostar. Divizija Littorioje do 20 travnja,kadase kod Dubrovnika sastala s '1 postrojbama talijanske preSla oklopnedivizije Centauro, 050 km bez ikakvih veiihproblema i uz neznatan otpoI kojijeopisankaonizizoliranih oruZanih incidenata, bezveiegintenziteta i gubltaka

the April war in Yugoslavia, ItalianHQ finallycompletedplansto form threearmoreddivisionsPreparations for the war in Yugoslavia found those three divisions(Centauro,Ariete and Littorio)in the processof assemblingTwodivisionswere designatedfor Yugoslav operatrcn CentauroDivisionwas withdrawnfrom frontlineand assiqned with defenseof Skadar. 2nd ltalian Army in the nofth was behind fortified border lines ArmoredDivisionLittoriowas assignedto 2d Army anddeployed in defensivepositions10 km eastof Triestein Hrpelje-Markovscina area Developmentof militaryoperationsin Yugoslavia, quick German advanceand the fact that the RoyalYugoslav Army waspractically defeatedby 10 April prompted ltalianHQ to staftdeployingforces and meet the Germansat previouslyagreedbordersand zonesof interestat Ljubljana-Kocevje-Vrbovsko-Ogulin Iine When Littorio divis.bncrossedYugoslavborderat Susakon 11 April it only had 33rdArmoredregiment(Reggimento CarriL)availableto deploy.The regimenthad 117lightarmoredvehicles L3 and 5 M 13140tanks. Thesamedayltalianunits metwith forurardelements of theGerman 14 PzDivin GorskiKotararea Paftof the divisioninitiallvadvanced towards Ljubljana,later to be redirectedto advancetowards Cabar-Gerovo-Mrzle Vodice-Fu2ine-Seni Iine. On 12 April ltalianforcesenteredOgulinand reached Karlovac andSlunj,on 14April Sibenik, on 15April Knin, 16 April Splitand 1B April Mostar.Littorio Divisionadvanced1050km withoutanydifficulties, encountering onlynegligentresr'stance described as isolatedincidentsof low intensityand no /osses

9 0 K o l o n at a n k e t aL 3 l f ( t a l l f - l a n c i af i a m m e - b a c a t p l a m e n a )i z s a s t a v ad i v i z i j eL i t t o r i o O v a j m o d e l t a n k e t e o p r e m l j e nj e b a c a t e m p l a m e n ak o j i s e j e n a l a z i ou t i j e l u t a n k e t en a m l e s t us t r o j n i c eU p r i k o l i ciiz at a n k e t en a l a z si e s p r e m n i ks a 5 2 0 l i t a r az a p a l j i v es m j e s ez a b a c a i p l a m e n a U p r a v i l uj e s v a k as a t n i j at a n k e t aL 3 u s v o ms a s t a v ui m a l a j e d a n v o d t a n k e t aL 3 l f ( M u z e jg r a d a R i j e k e ) 'Lancia Column of L 3lf tankettes ('lf'Fiamme' in ltalian flame thrower) of the Littorio Division This pafticular tankettes were equipped with a flame thrower insteadof the usual machrne-gun ln the trailer behind the fankette is a tank with 520 liters of inflammable mixture for the flame thrower Usually every battalion of L 3 tankettes had a platoon of flame throwing tankettes L 3lf (Rijeka Citv Museum)

L i t t o r i(os l i k a8 4 ) t e o s o b n av o z i l an j e m a i k i hi a s n i k az a v e z ui o k l o p n o v o z i l oS a u r e rS d K f z 2 5 4 ( s l i k a8 5 ) i z s a s t a v a1 4 n j e m a i k eo k l o p n ed i v i z i j eS p a l a r l e m t a l i j a n s k i hn j e m a i a k i hp o s t r o j b ik o d K a r l o v c ai z v i e n oj e u p o t p u n o s t io d s j e c a n j ev o j n i h p o s t r o j b iK r a l j e v i n Jeu g o s l a v i j zea p a d n oo d l i n i j es i r d - 2 a g r e b - K a r l o v a- cS u i a kn a p o d r u i l u S l o v e n i j e( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o v i i ) Theltaliantroops made contact with the advance elementsof the German 14th Armored Divisionin the evening hours of April 11, 1941 Thesetwo photographs weretakenon April 12th depicting pafts of the independent motorcyclebattation of the 12th BersaglieriRegiment,paft of the Littorio Armored Oivision(phito 84) Photo85 showspersonalcarsof German liaisonofficersand a SaurerSd Kfz. 254 of the German 14th Armored Division With joining of the German and ttalianunits neatKarlovacthe YugoslavArmy was completelycut off wert of the line Brat Zagreb - Karlovac Sujak on the Slovenianterritory. @inko Predoevii Collearonl

'1 Do krajasvibnja 941 godines teritorijaNDH povuienesu sve By the endof May 1941allGermanunitsthat pafticipated \ Aprll war were withdrawnfrom the lndependentStateof Croatia(NDH). u travanjskomratu. U njematkepostrojbekoje su sudjelovale unitsremainedin Zagreband the towns Only someadministrative ostalesu uz komunikacije i nekimdrugimveiimgradovima Zagrebu alongthe communications postrojbe. pojedine i gospodarske njemaike upravne on /ts occupatton podrudjuostavila Contraryto that ltaly keptstrongmilitarypresence Nasuprot tome ltalijaje na svomokupacijskom ltalianizationof peace up and speed was to secure intent area. The naseljenih drZanjem znaiajnevojnesnages nakanomda tvrstim annexedareas postrojenja odrZimirnostanjei i industrijskih mjesta,prometnica Hunqarian1\th tnfantryDivisionwas in the area of Barania,elepodruija anektiranih talijanizaciju omogu(ibrzui uiinkovitu menisof 9th lnfantrydivisionwere in the areaof Mediimurieand pjeiatka a u divizija, nalazila se 11 madarska Na podruijuBaranje Prekomurje. pjeSatke divizije. 9 madarske dijelovi i Prekomurju Medimuryu of CroatianArmedforcesbeganin April 1941. Bestdes oruianihsnaga Theforming (Domobranstvo) U travnju1941.godinezapoieloje postrojavanje units of UstashiArmy (Ustaska Home defense jo5 postropostojale oruZane su u drZavi NDH OsimDomobranstva, Vojnica)and Oruznistvowereformedtoo. jbe UstaSke vojnice te Oruiniitva. tn a venl shortperiodof time,dueto itsinternaland erternalpolitics, i vanjskom U vrlo kratkomrokuvlastiNDHsvojomsu unutarnjom parc of poputdLtott, the population, or tne among paft among discontent createddscontent NDH NDHgovernmentcreated pojedinihslojevai grupa politikomuspjelestvoritinezadovoljstvo firstof allamonq the Jewsand Serbs,as from April 1941 legal reguu drZavi.U prvomreduto se odnosina Srbei Zidove lationsleft them with no legalprotectiondenyingthem their crvil stanovniStva veiinu rights.The samereferredto the Croatsthat remainedin the areas iz travnja1941.godineizgubili odredbama kojisu zakonskim pravate pravana svakudrZavnuza5titu.Drugu svojihgradanskih annexedby ttaly,as well as in the ltaliansecondand third occupakoje tion zone. Thethird discontented grupunezadovoljnika iinilisu Hrvatikojisuostalina podruijima group consistedof the political je anektirala okupacijske opponentsof lJstachiregime.Thesewerefirstof all the membersof drugei tre(etalijanske ltalija, te podrutjima usta5kog Communistpartyas well as the membersof CroatianPeasant tinilisu polititkiprotivnici party zone.Treiugrupunezadovoljnika parlije that wasbannedon 16 June1941. Komunistiike reZima.U prvomredu to su bili pripadnici strankekojusu ustaikevlasti Hrvatske seljadke te pripadnici Hrvatske Large amountsof weaponsthat used to belong to the Royal z a b r a n i1l e6 .l i p n j a1 9 4 1g. o d i n e . Armyremainedon thegroundand wereveryquicklytaken Yugoslav Uz sveto na cijelompodruijuNDHostalesu velikekoliiineoruZja awayby the localpopulation i raturaznesene kojesu u kratkotrajnom Jugoslavije vojskeKraljevine civiland governmentdid not succeedin establishing Over-confident skrivene od stanovniStva newlyformed militaryrule on all of the territoryof Croatia.Besrdes terivlastinisuuspjelena cijelomdrZavnom armed forces many paramilitarygroups existedthroughout the samouvjerene Pretjerano potpunucivilnuni vojnuvlast.Uz novopostrojene country.So called'Wildustachy'groupsoperatedin variousareas torijuuspostaviti 'oruZanesnagenovedrZaveSiromzemljepostojale su i paravojne generallyharmingthe peaceand orderin the country.Croatiangov-

,4ffiMSURg$ Uft{frs,S}Up Mgpfffd.Fs }fd frtrS,AFIA &{JnfruS I$lt/VJI

skupine i grupetzv 'divljihustaia'kojesu provod vlastitu voljuna Stetu mirai redau dr\avi.Uz vlastitonesnalaZenj u tomesu ih na podrudju ve(em drZave ometale i talijanske okupacijske vlastiu drugoj i tretojokupacijskoj zoni. Valnasilja nadsrpskim stanovniStvom nezaustavljivo se5irio.Ubojstva, pljatke postala i paleZ susvakodnevnica u podrudjima NDHnaseljenimaSrbima. U ciljuobrane vlastitih Uivotai imovine srpsko stanovniStvo povlaiilo seleiznaseljenih mjesta u bliziniprometnica iveiihgradova te seorganiziralo u samoobrambene oruianegrupe.Ova pojava je uzelamahana Banovini, naroiito Kordunu, Lici,Bosanskoj krajini, podruijima planina Ozrena i Majevice te istoinojHercegovini

oruZanog otporaustaikom reZimu.

z a k l o nz a n a p a d a t ak o j i s a m a l e u d a l j e n o s tm i o Z e d j e l o v a t ip r e m a t a n k e t i d o k o n a z a h v a l l u j u tsi v o m s l a b o m s t r o j n i t k o mn a o r u Z a n j us o g r a n i i e n i m p o l j e md j e l o v a n l an e m o Z eu d i n k o v i t ou z v r a t i t i ( H P M ,Z a g r e b )

grupama Krajem srpnjapojedinaini oruZanisukobiu Licii Bosanskoj krajini prerastaju u masovni ustanak srpskog stanovniStva.

The ltalian infantry and armored units with L 3 tankettes in Dalmatia Note the stone walls that provided ideal cover for the defenders allowing them to attack tanketfes at close range Due to the inadequate armament and limited lds of fire the tankettes were unable to respond adequately to that kind of tack. (HPM, Zagreb)

OvimoruZanim grupamapostepeno se pridruZuju komunisti i sim-

su postepeno preuzimanje zapovjednih funkcijau vetinioruZanih odreda, Velikiznadaju svemutome predstavlja i jak komunistidki internacionalistiiki duh,kojiu zemljioptereienoj nacionalnim sukobima,promitezajedniiku borbuprotivfaSizma, U veiinioru)anih Hrvatske, kojije postupno preuzimao vodenj oruZanim akcijama na Kordunu, Banovini, Lici,Gorskom kotarui Hr tskomprimor.iu. 'l Tilekom studenoga i prosinca 1941. godineu Licisu ustrojeni . litki 'Velebit", partizanski odred ietiri samostalna bataljuna i dvasamoje ustrojen stalna voda.Na Kordunu Kordunaiki odred,na Banovini Banijski odred,a u Hrvatskom primorju i Gorskom kotaruprimorskogoranski je ustrojen odred.U Slavoniji parlizanski Papuiko-krndijski partizanski odred iPsunjski odred"Matija Gubec' . U Dalmaciji od sredinekolovoza djeluju Splitski, Solinski, PrimoStenski, Sibenski, Voditkozatonski, Trogirsko-ka5telanski i Sinjski odredi.Krajem t 94l . godineu je bilooko7000naoruianih Hruatskoj antifaiistitkih boraca

naoruZanih boraca. Napodrutju Bosne iHercegovine bilojejoi naoru)anih skupima izvan kontrole komunistidkog pokretakojenisupriznavale vojnui civilnu vlast NDH. Postavljanjem zajednitkogzapovjedniStva oruZaniotpor mijenja oblike djelovanja. Ustanitke skupine medusobno su povezane. Akcije

9 4 B e z o b z i a 5 t o n a o v o j i p r e t h o d n o js l i c iv i d i m o t a n k e t e L 3 c i j e l as e p o s t r o j b az b o g o p a s n o s toi d z a s j e d ak r e i e b r z i n o mp j e ( a k a ( H P MZ a g r e b ) Although this photo and the prevtous one show the L 3 tanketteson the move the whole unit was advancing at walking speed (HPM, Zagreb)

OKTOPNAVOZITAI OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

partizanskih with situationwas obstructed manjihborbenih ernmentbesrdesbeingoveruvhelmed odredapostaju ofenzivnije. Djelovanja grupa uz nadelnoizbjegavanje frontalnihborbi i dr2anjakrutih by ltalianoccupationalgovernmentin secondand third occupation obrambenih linijapostaju osnovno obiljeZje oruZane borbe.lzvodenje zone prepada, iznenadnih zasjede, udariu bok i pozadinuprotivnitkih Violenceagainstthe Serbsspreadunstoppably.Murders,robbery postrojbi, diverzije i sabotaZe, iznenadni udaripo prometnicama, and arsonbecomeeverydayoccurrencein the areasinhabitedby po magli,kiii i snijeguosiguravala notnadjelovanja, djelovanja su the Serbs.ln order to presevelife and propefty the Serbsfled da ustanici relativno malimsnagama veZuna sebeznatajnesnage from towns that were closeto communications and got organized protivnika groups This was especiallywidespreadin zavlastito in armed self-defense te ga prisiljavaju da veiinusvojihsnagauptrijebi Krajinaaswellasin the areaof osr9u ranJe. Banovina, Kordun,Likaand Bosanska Ozrenand Majevicamountainsand in the EastHezegovina postrojbe potisnute OruZane snageNDHi talijanske okupacijske su u of Germanattack gradove te prisiljene na podizanje utvrdenja i neprestano dovodenje At the beginningof lune 1941in anticipation novihsnagakakobi bile u mogu(nostiugu5itiustanaki uni5titi on SovietUnionthe governmentstaftedarrestingcommunistparty je na taj nadinprepuiten membersas well as all thosewho werenot in linewith the Ustachi ustanitke odrede.Partizanskim snagama in April 1941allowedthe pod nadzorompartizanskih politicalmovementA speciallaw passed znaiajandio podruijaNDH.Teritorij governmentto arrest,trial and convid anybodyopposingor acting i prostorza odredaistimaje dobrosluZiokao izvoropskrbljivanja againstthe Ustachiregime lmplementationof theselaws resulted novadenje novihboraca.lz ovog prostorapartizanski odredisu u prijeiiu napadna bilokojidioteritorije svakom trenutkumogLi NDH in first executionsof politicalopponentsboth among the Croatian populationand the Serbsand lews, generallyconsideredas intelte ga privremeno ilitrajnozauzeti lectualarchitedsof the armedupnsing O r u Z a nsen a g eN D Ht i j e k o m c i j e l e1 9 4 1 g . o d i n en i s us e m o g l en a naiinsuprotstaviti odgovarajuii ustanitkim djelovanji ma.Ustrojavanje 22 June 1941, the day when GermanyattackedSovietUnionwas problem a trigger for the beginningof armeduprisingin Croatia Theday Domobranstva i5loje vrlosporoi uz velike teikoie Poseban and theirsupporlers je naoruZanje predstavljalo postrojbi i opremanje te opii nedostatak after,on 23 lune 1941, a groupof communists (detachment) first antifascist Odredg on from Sisak organized armed je prijevoznih sredstava. Casnidki zborsastavljenod prestarjelih ausplace Forrest NDH The took in the Brezovica the territory of event preuzetih i tasnika tro-ugarskih tasnika izvojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije near the town of Sisak(Caprag)Verysoon the detachmentgrew partizanskog isku5enjima rata. kojinisumogliodgovoriti fightersand conductedtwo actionson the railroad to 77 antifascist Premapodetnomustrojbenom rasporedu ddavaje podijeljena u nearSisakln a combatwith the UstashiUnitsduringJuly 1941the petdivizijskih podrutjasasjediitima u Zagrebu, BanjojLuci, detachmentwas broken up Themajorityof membersfled to the Osijeku, Banovinaareaand connectedwith the Serbarmedgroups By the Krajinaareas end of luly solitaryconflictsin the Likaand Bosanska grew into a massuprisingof the Serbpopulation At the beginningof the uprisingprimarygoal of the armedgroups was to defendtheir lives,territoryand propefty.Thegroupswere operatingin the vicinityof their residenceCommandwithin the groups was often assumedby a courageousindividualchosenby other membersof the group. Graduallythesegroupswerejoined by the communistswho were forced to flee their residencesA soldiersfrom significantnumberof militarytrainedand experienced the lnternationalBrigadesthat fought in Spain,union leadersand intellectuals,all from workersand peasantorigin, allowed them to graduallytakeover all commandfunctions Of significancewas the international spirit fosteredby the communiststhat promoted joined resistance to the fascistsThatwas verywell acceptedin the countryburdenedwith ethnicconflids GeneralHQ of NOP(Peoples was formedin October1941and took over liberationmovement) the organizingof armedactionsin the areasof Kordun,Banovina, Lika,Gorskikotarand Hrvatskoprimorje Many new resrtance units were formed during Novemberand December1941, 1stLikadetachmentVelebit,four independentbattalionsand two independentplatoons,Kordundetachment,Banija detachmenton the Banovinaarea,PrimorskoGoranskidetachment and Matija on the Primorjeand Gorskikotar area,Papuk-Krndija Gubecdetachmentsin Slavonija,Split,Solin, Primosten,Sibenik, Vodice-Zaton,Trogir-Kastele and Sinj detachmentsin Dalmatia Therewere7000armedresrtancemembers by the endof 1941. GeneralHQ of NOP(Peoples liberationmovement)was formedon formerpaft of NDH the territoryof today'sBosniaand Herzegovina, Many new odredsl were formed on that territoryduring October and November,ltt, 2'd and 3rdKrajinaOdredin Bosanska Krajina and Livno odred, with around 6300 armed members Majevica, and Kalinovikdetachments were formedin Ozren,Brcko,Romanija EastBosniawith 7300armedfighters Hercegovina Odredswith 10 battalionsand 4000 armedmemberswere formedin Herzegovina area Somegroups,not recognizingNDHgovernmentand outsideof the Communists control,wereadive in Bosniaand Herzegovina methods Establishing of Joint Commandchangedarmed resistance groups were linked together and forms of operation.Resrstance and actionsbecamemore offensivein nature Theadion of small 9 5 i 9 6 , N j e m a i k at e n k o v s k ap o s t r o j b ao p r e m l l e n at e n k o v i m aH o t c h k i s s combatgroupswith avoidingof frontalconflictsand rigid defensive H 3 9 S l i k aj e s n i m l j e n at i . j e k o mp r o l j e i a 1 9 4 2 g o d i n e u i s t o i n o j B o s n i Iineswas the main form of war-fareConductingsurpriseattacks, Tenkovinajvjerojatnijepripadaju | /2O2 Pz Abt (zbirkaDinko Predoevii)

The German tank unit equipped with the Hotchkiss H 39 tanks This photo was taken during the spring of 1942 in EastBosnia Most probably the tanks belonged to the | /202 Pz Abt (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

8 Odred - detachmenttn dtrect translation,size wise ranging from squad to bri gade, word Odred was initiallyusedlooselydisregardingthe sizeof the unit

ARMOUREDU{V'Ts^AATF VEHICLESIN CRAANA DURINGWW I'

ambushes,attackson flanksand rearof the enemy,night andfoul weatherattacks,interruptingof communicationsassuredthat the insurgentstied up sizableenemyforcesand forced the enemyto deploymore troopson securityduties. Armedforcesof NDH-and Italianoccupationalforceswere limited to towns and forced to

9 7 . K o l o n at e n k o v a R e n a u l tR . 3 5 s n i m l j e n au p r o l j e ( e 1 9 4 2 . g o d i n e u i s t o d n oB j o s n i .T e n k o v ip r i p a d a j uj e d n o m o d v o d o v a 1 2 . g r u p e v o o o v a t e n k o v az a p o s e b n en a m j e n e P z . A b t . z . b . V 1 2( .I V N Z SL j u b l j J n a j A column of the RenaultR.35 tanks photographed in the spring of 1942 somewherein eastern Bosnia.The tanks were paft of a platobn of the Pz.Abt.z.b.V12 (MNZSLjubljana)

lnitnlly NDHwasdividedinto fiveDivisionalareaswith headquafters in Zagreb,Osijek,BanjaLuka,Sarajevoand Mostar.Eachareahad severalsubordinated regiments,battalionsand companies of different mifitarybranchesDuringsummerof 1941, with theoutbreakof rebellion,seueralspecialdetachmentsfor counterinsurgency operations were formed.(Likadetachment,Sanadetachment6nd Knin detachment). Thoseareaswerereorganized in Novemberl94l into threeHomeguard(Domobranstvo) C6rps(Sisak,Slavonski Brodand Sarajevo) and three Homeguard operationalzones(petrinja,Banja

Od15.sijednja do 3 veljaie1942.godinena podrutjuistotneBosne je napadnipothvatnlemadkih, izveden ustaikihi domobranskih postrojbi u ciljuuniStenja grupeistoinobosanskih partizanskih odreda i 1.proleterske jaiineoko6000antifaiistitkih brigade NOV-a boraca.

9 8 . i 9 9 . T e n k o vH i o t c h k i s sH . 3 9 3 . s a l n l j e l . / 2 0 2 p . z . A b t . s n i m l l e nui l i p n j u 1 9 4 2 .g o d i n e k o d B o s a n s k D e u b i c e p r i p o s t r o j b si e n a l a z in j e m a d k af i l m s i a e k i p ak o j a s n i m at i j e k b o r b i n a p l a n i n iK o z a r i (. z b i r k aD i n k o p r e d o e v i t ) The HotchkissH.39 tanksof the t./202. pz. Abt. 3rd companyphotographed in June 1942 near BosanskaDubica. The propaganda team that was attached to the unit was filmrng the battles on the Kozara mountain. (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

RATUU HftVATEKOJ OKTOPNAVOZII.AI OKTSPNEPO$TRSJSEU DRUGOMS1JJETSKOM

Lukaand Travnik).The first MountainDivisionwas formed at the beginningof 1942as the first largesizeHomeguard unit directly subordinatedto the HomeGuardHQ. Anotherbaseof Croatianarmed forceswere the unitsof Ustasha

s 3 9 p o k u 5 a v a lsue p r o b i t ic e s t o mp r e k op o r u i e n i h 10 O D v at e n k aH o t c h k i sH s t a b a l a5 o b z i r o md a p a r t i z a nni i s ur a s p o l a g apl ir o t u o k l o p n i mn a o r u 2 a n 1 e m j e d i n i n a d i ns u p r o s t a v l j a noj ak l o p n i mv o z i l i m ab i l oj e z a p r e t a v a n j cee s t a N a s e n a p r e d o v a n jnei e m a t k i hp o s t r o j b i (. H P MZ a g r e b ) o v a j n a d i nu s p o r a v a l o Two HotchkissH 39 tanks in the attempt to negotiate the road blocked by logs. As the paftisan units did not have any antt tank weapons the only way to combat armored vehicleswas by road blocks. Thts was the only way to slow down the attacking German units (HPM Zagreb)

1 0 1 N j e m a t k it e n k p r a t i p j e i a i k e p o s t r o j f a z i p o d u h v a t an a p l a n i n i K o z a r i u l i p Predoevit)

u p r e t r e s a n j tue r e n au z a v r S n o l 1942. godine (zbirkaDinko

Predoevi( collection)

1 0 2 H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 3 s a t n i l e| 1 2 0 2 P z A b t p r e l a z ip r e k oi m p r o v i z i r a n o g m o s t a S l i k aj e s n i m l l e n au l i p n j u 1 9 4 2 g o d i n ez a v r i j e m ep o d u h v a t au n a p l a n i n iK o z a r i ( H P MZ a g r e b ) A Hotchkiss H 39 tank of the 3rd Company I /202 Pt Abt crosstng an improvised bridge This photo was taken in June 1942 during the anti paftisanoperation on the Kozara Mountain (HPM Zagreb)

mid 1942 lnthe periodbetween15 Januaryand 3 February1942,in East Bosnia,the German,Ustashaand Homeguard forcesconducted offensiveoperationsagainsteast Bosniangroup of paftisanunits (including1i Proletarian Brigade)that was 6000 antifascist flghterl thisis liberationmovement) strong.ln the historyof NOB(Peoples knownas the secondenemvoffensive.Thisoperationinvolvedparts paftsof 11202 of 342'd,718thand 714thGermanlnfantryDivisions, total strength and Domobranbattalions, PzAbt and 12 Ustasha was 35000 soldiers.Operationended without significantclashes or /osseson eitherside.For the first time the Chetnikforceswere engagedin fighting paftisans Next large scaleoffensivewas conductedby the NDH, German and ttalianforceson the territoryof EasternBosnia,Sandzakand Theqoal of the operationwas destructionof 1tt and Herceqovina. 2'd biigade of NOv (PeoplesLiberationArmy) and local partisan. of detatcimentswith overallstrengthof 18000.The historians 'Third enemyoffensive' The operaNOB namedthis offensiveas tion codenamewas'Trio".Theoffensivewas plannedto be conductedin three stagesin the period between22ndApril and 10tn June1942. Under-thecommandof the GermanGeneralBader were the followingunits: elementsof 718thand 71Vh tnfantry 22ndlnfantryDivision Divisions,ltalian1i-AlpineDivision(Taurienze), and 10 Ustachi (CacciatoriDelteAlpD,th AlpineDivision(Pusteria) plannedto useChetnik The ltalians andHome DefenseBattalions. forcesas well.Duringthe operationthe Chetniks ioined and fought alongsidewith the Germans.Theseforceshad around 70000 of 1tt and 2'd ProletarianBrigadeswas never soldiers.Destruction in respectof achievThustheoperationwasnot a success achieved. units were severely ing the main objective.Howeverlocal partisa,n decimated.Due to /ossessufferedduilng offensiveand aggressive Chetnikpropagandacampaignall voluntaryresrtanceunitsin East ceasedto exist Hercegovina tn the period between10thJuneand 30 July 1942 the German and NDH forcesconductedoperationin Western Bosniain the Kozaramountainregion.Thegoalwas the destructionof 2ndKraiina Odredthat wasaround 3500strong.TheoperationexecuPaftisan tion was laid upon the WesternBosniabattlegroup (Kampfgruppe Westbosnien)under the command of General Stahl from the German714thtnfantryDivision The battle group was composed from 704th,714th,71Vhand 7lBthlnfantryDivisions, of elements 11202Pz Abt and somesmallerunits NDHforceswere composed (Home Defense) battalionswith of 25 Ustachyand Domobranstvo werefrom lst Mountain Maiorityof soldiers about21000 soldiers. division,BanjalukaOperationalzone and tJstachybattalionsfrom Chetnik Novi,Dvorna lJniand Kostainica. Glina,Bosanski Jasenovac, forceswere involvedwrth 2000 soldiersas well as some units of HungarianRiverineNavyon the SavaRiver. unitsin the to encirclethe partisan The attackingforcesmanaged Kozaramouitain area.The partisan2ndKraiinaOdredwas in encirclementburdenedwith 500 woundedand 75000civilianrefugees. managedto breakout of the andcivilians Smallnumberof paftisans sustainingheavylossesin the process.Theremaining encirclement paftisansanda smalliumber of civiliansmanagedto hidein woods of KozaraMountainwhilemaiorityof civilianswerecaptured.Most killedor transpoftedto the concenof the maleswere immediately trationcampstogetherwith the restof the refugees. With the endingof Triooperationin June 1942NOV GHQreorganizedpartisanJnits. Threenewbrigadeswere formed,3'd Sandak Brigade,4thand 5thMontenegroBrigades.Thosewere formedinto with totalstrengthof 3800 Brigades the Strikergroupof Proletarian paftisans

,ARA/rSU##S {.Jt!t$r5,Aftrtr wg!{Ieffis JfltcRosffA ${/struG lflft/lfJf

A Marmon Herrrngton Mk.ll armored vehiclebelonged to one of the Germa Ljubljana)

British vehicle was most likely captured by the Germans in Greecein April 1941 ln the spring of 1942 this eastern Bosnia.The antenna on the vehialesug/Erests that it was equipped with the German ra"dioset (MNZS

je protivlokalnih NOV-aGlavniuspjehpostignut ustaniikih odreda The brigadeswere formed to avoid territorialbond of the units nateritoriji istodne Bosnei Hercegovine, kojimasu naneseni ozbiljni Thatwasshownto be majordrawbackin previousoperationssince gubitci. gubitka Uslijed teritorija itetnidkepromidZbe the territorialunitswereneightercapableof conductingoperations raspale suseu istotnojHercegovi ni svedobrovoljatkeustanidkepostroj outsideof their homelandnor of avoidingmuch strongerenemy be. unrts.Thenew brigadeswere essentially the unitsconductingguerU r a z d o b loj ud ' l0 . l i p n j ad o 3 0 .s r p n j a1 9 4 2 g. o d i n ep o k r e n uj et u wrth the zapadnoj Bosni, na podrutjuplanineKozare, pothvatprotivpostro- rillawarfarebut theywerecapableof frontalengagements enemyas well.A brigadewascomposedof threeor four battalions jbi 2 krajiSkog parlizanskog odredajaiineod oko 3500boraca, Za pothvata je zajedniika izvodenje formirana grupaoruZanih with 300 paftisanseach Thebattalionswere subdividedinto 3 to borbena snagaNDHi njemaikihpostrojbi pod zapovjedniStvom njemadkog 4 companies.Everybattalion was supportedby heavyweapons platoon(heavymachineguns and mortars).Aftillerywas on brigade generala Stahla, zapovjednika je u 714.pje5aike divizijeU pothvatu sklopu (Kampfgruppe njemadke "Grupe zapadna Bosna" Westbosnien) level,usuallyin the form of mountaingun or howitzerbattery. StrikerGroup movement stafted on 24 June 1942 from the s u d j e l o voakl oo 1 50 0 0n j e m a d kvi o h j n i k iaz 7 0 4, 7 1 4 . , 1 1 7 i. t i 8 . pje5aike divizle,l./202PzAbt i drugihmanjihpostrojbiOruZane ZelengoraMountainand ended on 25 September1942 after reachinglmotski-Livno-Mrkonjic GradJajceline.Theoperationwas conductedon 250 km in lenqth with the front width of 90 km.

postrojbe Napadadke uspjele su u vrlokratkom vremenu opkolitiparpostrojbe tizanske planineKozare. na podrudju Na relativno malom

'Trio'u lipnju1942 godine, Nakon pothvata zavrSetka VrhovniStab '1 je partizanske preustrojio NOV-a postrojbe te je uz . i 2. proletersku postrojio brigadu proletersku 3. sandZadku brigadui 4. i 5 crnogorskuproletersku brigadu.Od navedenih postrojbi Vrhovnije iiab osnovao UdarnugrupuProleterskih brigadaukupnejatineod oko 3800naoruZanih boraca

An L 3 tankette of the Ustasha Army (Ustaika vojnica) By the vehicle are Ustashisoldiers of the Crna Legija (Black Legion) unit Thisphoto was taken in 1942 (HPM Zagreb)

OKLOPNAVOZII-AI OKTOPI{EPOSTROJEE tI DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU }IRVATSKOJ

Partizanske brigade su ustrojene iz razloga 5toje dosada5nja teritori- Parlisanforcestook advantageof the opporlunityand movedat the jalnavezanost partizanskih odredaza odredeni krajonemogu(avala time when the ltalianswereaullinoout theirforcesfrom the second prenoienje borbenihdjelovanja izvanpodruijaodredate izbjega- and third occupationalzonesleavingonly the lJstachyand Home vanjejaiih protivnitkih udara.lakosu to prvenstveno bilepostrojbe defenceunitsof the CroatianMilitaryin that area.TheGerman718th sposobne na manevar za bilokojemzemljiftui upuienena gerilski lnfantryDivisionparlicipatedin the actionsagainstpartisans. je zatrebalo, oblikborbe,to su bilepostrojbe kojesu,ukoliko mogle During the marchthe UdarnaGrupa(StrikerGroup)succeededin je bilasastavljena primitii frontovski oblikborbe,U natelubrigada od crossingand destroyingrailwaycommunicationbetweenSarajevo trijudo ietirijubataljuna s po oko300 boracarasporedenih u trima and Mostar.Someof the largertowns takenby the StrikerGroup je u praviluiSaoi vod teikih were Prozor,Gorn| Vakuf,Sujica,Duvno, Livno,lajce and Mrkonjic do detirima detamaUz svakibataljun strojnica te vodlakihiliteikihminobacada. Brigade su mogleu svom Grad Bugojnoand Kupreswere attackedunsuccessfully. Partisan sastavu imatii vodili bitnicubrskih StrikerGroup Brigadessuffered especiallyheavy lossesaround topovaili haubica. PokretUdarnegrupepoieoje 24 lipnja1942.godines podrudja Kupres,defended by stubborn Ustachyand Domobran forces. planine Zelengore i zavr5io 25.rujna1942 godineizbijanjem Udarne Chetnikmovementsufferedheavyblow in battlesaroundMrkonjic grupena pravaclmotski- Livno- MrkonjiiGrad- JajcePothvat Grad and ManjacaMountain Ihese battles effectivelyremoved the Chetnikmovementas a threatto the partisans in the Bosanska je izveden u du)iniod oko 250 km i operativnoj Siriniod oko 90 km. Udarnaje grupaiskoristila razdoblje u kojemsu se talijanske Krajinaregion Partisanbrigades,worn out by constantfighting regainedtheirstrengthwith freshinflux of around2000 volunteers postrojbe povlaiilelz treie i drugeokupacijske okupacijske zoneu NDH,ostavljajuii natom prostoru domobranske i ustaikepostrojbe. from Dalmatia combat activitiesof partisan U pothvatima tijekomprodoraprotivUdarnegrupeparlizanskih The Bihac operation encompasses brigadegroup with the strengthof around9000 engagedin action postrojbe brigada sudjelovale su i njemaike 718.pjeiatkedivizije. during liberationof the town of Bihacand along the Una River U svompokretuUdarnaje grupauspjelaprijetipruguSarajevo valley.The areasof WesternBosnia,Lika, Kordun,Banovinaand - Mostarte je u velikojmjerionesposobitl za promet.Odveiihmjesta Dalmatiawere connededin one large liberatedarea During the zauzeli su Prozor, GornjiVakuf,Sujica, Duvno,Livno, Jajcei Mrkonjii period 14 new parlisanbrigadeswere formed Fivein Bosanska je napadano GradNeuspjeino gdjesu Bugojno i u tri navrata Kupres, Krajina,threein Lika,two in Kordun,two in Banovinaand two in grupedoZivjele brigade Udarne vrloteikegubitkeod uporneobrane DalmatiaIn the middleof that largeliberatedareawas the town of gradaPrilikom nastupanja Udarnegrupezadanje, pobjedama kod Bihac,administrative centerof the Psatand Krbavacounty.Thetown pokretukojije MrkonjitGradai na Manjati,teikiudaracdetniikom wasan impoftantnilitary politicaland economiccenterthat enemy prijetioraspadom pokretau Bosanskoj ustanitkog krajiniBorbama could useto controlcommunications toward Lika,Kordunand West grupebitnosuojataneprilivom Bosnia,Bihacwasdefendedby 4thUstashaBrigade(reinforced) iscrpljene Proleterske brigade Udarne with 2000novihantifaiistitkih boraca sapodrutjaDalmacije around4300 soldiers.Parlisan attackbeganon 2ndNovemberwith je borbena grupepartizan- night assaulton the city and surroundingstrongpointsand ended Biha(ka obuhva(ala djelovanja operacija skihbrigadau jadiniod oko 9000 naoruZanih boracazbogzauzimanjagradaBihaiai razbijanja nizaprotivniikih uporiSta u dolini rijekeUne povezanom podruijuzapadne U ovomje razdoblju na medusobno postrojeno Bosne, Like,Korduna, Banovine i Dalmacije 14 novihpartizanskih brigada. Petu Bosanskoj krajini, tri u Lici,dvijena Kordunu, pod dvijena Banovini i dvijeu Dalmaciji Usredtog velikog teritorija partizanskom kontrolomstajaoje grad Bihai kao administrativno sjediSte velikeZupePsati Krbava. Gradje predstavljao vaZnovojno, polititkoi ekonomsko srediSte iz kojegje protivnik mogaokontrolipravce premaLici,Kordunu rativaZneprometne i zapadnoj BosniU gradui okolicinalazio seojatani4 ustaikizdrugs oko4.300vojnika partizanskih Napadna djelovanja brigadazapotelasu 2, studenoga noinimnapadom na Bihaii okolnauporiSta te zavr5ila 20 studenog

10 5 T a n k e t eL 3 u s t a 5 k ev o j n i c es n i m l j e n al j e t a 1 9 4 2 g o d i n e z a v r i j e m ep o t h v a t a u z a p a d n o j H e r c e g o v i n i L i j e v on a s l i c ij e n a j v j e r o j a t n i jveo z a i t e n k e t e ,d o k j e s t r o j n i t a r i z a p o v j e d n i kt e n k e t e v o j n i k k o j i s t o j i i z a t e n k a U n u t r a S n j o stte n k a p o m n o p r o m a t r a u s t a i k i i a s n i k d o k p o k r a j n j e g a s t o j i d o m o b r a n s k it a s n i k ( H P MZ a g r e b ) L 3 tankettes of the Ustasha Army photographed in summer 1942 durtng the operations in western Herzegovina On the left slde ls most probably the tankette driver while the machtne gunner and the tankette commander are behind the vehicle The inside of the vehicle is closely examined by an Ustashaofficer while a Home guard officer stands next to him (HPM Zagreb) 1 0 6 O k l o p n a p o s t r o j b au s t a i k e v o j n i c e u t i j e m s u e u borbama s a s t a v ub i l ii t e n k o v iP z K p f w I s u d j e l o v a lj a tijekom ljeta 1942. godine u zapadnojHercegovini. C a s n i csl n i m l j e niis p r e dt e n k as u d o m o b r a n s kpi u k o v n i k F r a n j o S i m i i i u s t a S k ib o j n i k R a f a e l B o b a n . ( H P M Zagreb) An armored unit of the UstasaArmy with the PzKpFwI tanks took paft in the battles during the summer 1942 in western Herzegovina The officers photographed in front of the tank are the Domobranstvo(Home Guard)colonel FranjoSimicand the lJstashaArmy captain RafaelBoban (HPM Zagreb)

ABtyto{.rREBunrtrs,Aivt} L/gsdtff.Fs JJlrflffiilsnd

s{J8il\i6 tffttf ft

1 0 7 U n a i k a p j e i a t k a p o s t r o j b a C r n e l e g i l e p r o l a z i k r a j k o l o n e t e nNkaopvrae d n j o l o k l o p n o j p l o d i t e n k a pKzp f w l p r i k a i e n s u d o k n a d n i t a n c i t e n k o v s k i h g u s l e n i c aN a p r v i mf o t o g r a f i l a m as n i m l j e n r mu o k o l i n iZ a g r e b at o g a n i l e b i l o ( H p M Z a g r e o ) Ustashainfantry fram the'Crna legtja' Black Legion)unit passingby a tank column Thefront plateof the PzKpFwI is protectedby additionaltrack links The first photos of this same unit taken in Zagreb show no additionil iracks (HpM Zaqreb)

10 8 . O k l o p n Z i e l j e z nt k i v a g o n k o j ij e b i o s a s t a v ndi i o n j e m a t k o gp o m o t n o g o k l o p n o gv l a k an a p r u z S s a k S u n j a - K o s t a l n t cOak. l o p n iv a g o n i z r a d e n1 eu H r v a t s k oZj .a n a o r u i a v a n l e v a g o n au p o t r e bj e n a j e k u p o l aA p X 1 f r a n c u s k o g t e n k aR e n a ut C h a rD 2 s t o p o m S A 3 4p r o m j e r a4 7 m m i s t r o j n i c o mp r o m j e r a 7 , 5 m m . ( z b i r k aD n k o P r e d o e tv)

A German armored train was used to deliver replacement crew for the ptllbox near the ratlroad From the begtnntngof the war the German units

mm SA34 gun and one 7,5mm machinegun (Dinko predoevi(

OKTOPNAVOZILAI OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU I{RVATSKOJ

1 1 0 S t r a Z n jdi i o t e n k a F T . 1 7n a o t v o r e n o mv a g o n u n j e m a d k o gp o m o i n o g o k l o p n o g v l a k a S l i k aj e s n i m l j e n ap r i l i k o mp r o l a s k ak r o z j e d n u o d u n i S t e n i h Z e l j e z n i d k si ht a n i c an a p r u z i S i s a k - S u n j a - K o s t a j n(i zc b a i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e v i i ) The rear end of the FT17 tank in an open car of a German auxiliary armored train This photo was taken while the train was passingthrough a destroyed railway station on the Sisak Sunja - Kostajnicarailway. (Dinko Predoeviccollection)

- Topusko on 2Un Novemberwhen the paftisansreachedthe line Karlovacpartizanskih izbijanjem brigada nasjever do linijeKarlovac -Glina- Petrinja idolinomrijekeUnedo Bosanskog Novog.Bihaije Topusko-Glina-Petrinja on the nofth and securedthe IJnaRivervalley nakondvodnevne borbezauzet4studenog up to the town Bosanski 1942 godine. Novi je do tadanajve(unapadnu Cijelipothvatpredstavljao akcijuparti- The town of Bihacwas taken after two days of fighting on 4th the biggestparzanskih snagana podruijuNDH.Ukupnosu zauzeta 32 naseljena November1942. Thewhole operationrepresents tisanoffensiveon NDHterritoryat the time All togethel 32 towns mjestaukljudujuii gradoveBihai,Bosansku Krupu,Cazini Slunj Krupa, Cazin podrutjaBosanske Ovimsuspojena krajine, Like,Korduna i Banovine and cities were liberatedincludingBihac, Bosanska Krajin4 u jedinstvenu cjelinu, omoguiujuiislobodan prolazpartizanskim sna- and Slunj.Thiseffectivelyconnectedthe areasof Bosanska gamaod Karlovca pa do Jadranskog na sjeveru morana Makarskom Lika,Kordunand Banovinainto one largeliberatedterritoryallowing uninterruptedmovementof paftisanunits from Karlovacin the pnmorJu north to Makarskaon the Adriaticcoastin the south. GeneralHQ Na navedenom teritorijuzajednosu djelovaliVrhovni5tabovi of NOV (Peoples liberationArmy)and HQ'sof NOVfor Croatiaand NOV-ai POVi-a,Hrvatske i Bosnei Hercegovine sa svojimpostro- Bosinaoperatedon that territory.Holdingsucha large areaallowed jbama.Zahvaljujuii drianjuprostranog partizanskim teritorija, sna- paftisans to conductmobilizationof militarycapablepopulationthus je da mobilizacijom gamaomogu(eno vojnosposobnog stanovnistva increasingtheirstrength.By the end of 1942first partisandivisions ojaiajusvojepostrojbe.Do kraja1942.godinena ovom podrudju were rormeo postrojene su i prvepartizanske divizije.Dana1 studenog'1942 On lstNovemberpaftisanGHQwasformedof 1nand2ndProletarian godinepostrojene su 1 i 2 proleterska divizijate 3 crnogorska Divisionand 3rdMonteneqroDivision.Thesedivisionswere formed divizijaOvetri divizijepostrojene suiz postojeiihproleterskih brigada out of existingproletarianhrigades. Commandwisetheseunitswere pasu bileneposredno podtinjene Vrhovnom 5tabuNOV-a diredlysubordinated to GHQof NOV(Peoples LiberationArmy) Ostale divizije stvorene su natemelju teritorijalno-nacionalne osnove The other divisionswere formed on territorialand national basis. Neposredno zapovijedanje ovim divizijamavriili su nacionalni Thesedivisionswere under direct command of national HQ's Stabovi. Followingdivisionswere formed on Croatianterritoryby the end Division,* KordunDivision Na podrutjuHrvatske su do kraja1942 godinepostrojene -Dalmatian 6. litka of 1942: 6th Lika Division,&th Baniia and 12th Slavonia Division. The 9th and 13thPrimorsko divizija, 7. banijska divizija, 8 kordunaika divizijai 12 slavonska divizija, godine9 dalmatinska a potetkom'1943. divizija i 13 primor- GoranskaDivisionwere formedat the beginningof 1943.At the sametime new divisions wereformedon the territoryof Bosniaand sko-goranska divizijaNapodrudju postrojene Bosne i Hercegovine su as well (4thand 5thKrajinaDivisionsin 1942 and 1Oth u istomrazdoblju 4. i5. kraji5ka divizija, a poietkom1943 godine Herzegovina '1 and 1|th Krajinadivisions at the beginningof 1943). 10.i 1 krajiSka divizija Average strengthof a paftisandivisionat the time wasaround 3500 jaiinapartizanske je Prosjedna godine divizije krajem1942 bila oko soldiers.Thedivisionwascomposedof threebrigadesand support 3.500naoruZanih boracaDivizije suu sastavu imaletri brigade, bitni- elements(arlillerybattery,engineercompany,reconnaissance comcu ilidivizion artiljerije, in)enjerijsku ili minersku tetu,izvidniiku ietu, pany, signalsplatoon,supplyand medicalunits) Eachdivisionwas je pod svojezapovjedni5tvo given vod za vezu,opskrbui sanitetPostrojba temporaryor permanentcommandoverone or more smaller privremeno ilistalnodobivala partizanskih viieteritorijalnih odreda territoriaI un its (detachments) Dana26. studenog1942 godineu Biha(uje odrZanoi prvozas- The first assemblyof AVNOJ (Anti-FascistCouncil of People's jedanjeAntifaiistidkog vijeia narodnogoslobodenja Jugoslavije Liberationof Yugoslavia) tookplacein Bihacon 26 November1942 (AVNOJ) kaopolititkogtijelapartizanskog pokretana podrutjucijele AVNOJwas the highestpoliticalbody of the partisanmovement .Jugoslavije i izrazielje za medunarodnim priznanjem oruzanog of YugoslaviaAs suchAVNOJrepresenteddesirefor international pokretau .Jugoslaviji otporapartizanskog recognitionof the partisanmovementin Yugoslavia 42

Ve( u pripremama za rat protivKraljevine lugoslavije Njemaikai Italijasu se suglasile da na podrutjuBanovine Hrvatske idijelovima Bosne i Hercegovine dopuste formiranje samostalne drZave Hrvatske je politika Njematka premaistoku u tom trenutkubilaviieokrenuta i planiranju rataprotivSovjetskog Saveza. Budu(ida je u odredenoj mjeribilaoptereaena sumnjompremakruguhrvatskih gradanskih politiiara i njihovog udjelau prevratu 25 oZujka 1941 godine, sloZila glavnepolititke ses talijanskim izborom snageokokojeceseustrojiti novahrvatska drlavnavlast U ltalijije od 1933 godinedjelovala hrvatska emigrantska pod vodstvom politiikog ustaSka organizacija je bilapolitidki emigranta odvjetnika dr.Ante Paveli(a Organizacija faiistitki opredjellena, vojno hijera rhijski organizi rana,s razgrananom mreZomilanovaisimpatizerau Hrvatskoj, Vodstvopokretavei je dugo godinabilo dvrstovezanoiovisnoo talijanskoj fa5istiikoj vlastii spremnona ustupke talijanskom re)imupo svimpitanjima, ukljutujufi i teritorijalne Tijekom izvodenja ratnihoperacija u kratkotrajnom travanjskom ratu je s njemadke veiinapothvatai operacija i talijanske stranebrzo obavljena. Napadaike snagenisupretrpjele nikakve vecegubitke, ponaj prijezahvaljujuii potpunom raspadu vojnih postrojbi Kraljevine Jugoslavije, kojesu bilepopunjene vojnimobveznicima Hrvatima 'l je kaojedanod Od 940 godinena teritorijiBanovine Hrvatske oblikapomotnihdrZavnih redarstvenih paramilitarna snagadjelovala gradanska organizacija'Hrvatska iseljadka za5titas gotovo140000 pripadnika organiziranih i djelomiinonaoruZanih U pojedinim sredinamadjelovale su i ilegalne usta5ke ielijaotpora Pozapodlnjanlu pripadnici ratnihoperacija ovihorganizacija otvoreno su suradivali s nadiruiim talijanskim postrojbama i njematkim D a n a '01 t r a v n j a1 9 4 1 g o d i n eu Z a g r e b ud,v ad a n ap r i j es a m o g dolaska novoghrvatskog poglavara drZavnog dr. Pavelita i ustaikih postrojbiiz ltalije,bivii austro-ugarski tasnik EugenKvaternik (NDH). proglaSava Nezavisnu DrZavu Hrvatsku

Duringthepreparationfor the waragarnstthe Kingdomof Yugoslavia Germanyand ltalyagreedto allow the lndependentstateof Croatia to be createdin the areaof BanovinaHrvatska(Croatiadistrict)and adloiningpafts of Bosniaand HerzegovinaThe Germanpolicy of that time was turned towardseastand occupiedwith planningof the war againstthe SovietUnion Havinga certainlevelof mistrust towardspaft of Croatianaoliticiansdue to their involvementin the coup of 25 March 1941, Germanyagreedwith the ltalianproposal of the leadingpoliticalforce in the creatronof the new Croatian state Since 1933 Croatianemigration'UstachiOrganization'was activein ltaly.Theleaderof the UstachiOrganization wasa political emigrant,Dr.Ante PavelicPolitically that wasa fascistorganization with the militarystrudure and a wide network of supportersin CroatiaLeadership of the Ustachimovementwascloselyattachedto the ltaliangovernment,thereforethey werereadyto accommodate any ltalianrequest,politicalor territorial Duringthe shorlAprrlwarall actionsand operationswereconducted by the Germans and ltaliansand executedswiftlyand efficiently.The attackingforcesdid not sufferany noticeablelosses,which can be contributedto the rapidbreakupof the RoyalYugoilavArmy units staffedwith CroatianconscriptsVariousparamilitaryorganizations and units were activeon the territoryof BanovinaHrvatskastnce 1940 CroatianCivil Defenseand Croatianpeasantdefensewere auxiliarygovernmentforceswith the strengthof 140000organized and paftiallyarmedmembersSomeareaswereinfiltratedwith illegal ustachiresistance groups Bothof thesewereopeningthe path for the advancing ltalianand GermanforcesOn 10April 1941, two daysbeforethe arrivalof the new Croattanleaderdr. Ante Pavelic and Ustachiforcesfrom ltaly,the exAustro-Hungarian officerEugen Kvaternikproclaimedthe lndependentstate of Croatia(NDH)

1 1 1 i 1 1 2 D a n a 5 p r o s i n c a 1 9 4g1o d i n e u Z a g r e b u s u p o p r v i p u t j a v n o p r k a z a n a o k l o p n a v o P z ioasLt 3r o l b a k o j a j e p r i k a z a l a v o z i l a p r i p a d a l a l e u s t a i k o l v o l n i c i i t o d i j e u P o g a v n i k o v e t j e l e s n e bZoaj no ev u p r l i k u v o z i a s u n a p r e d n j o j o k o p n o j p l o d i i m a l a u s t a S k i s i m b o l k o j e g j e s a d i n j a v a l o v e lUi k o s l o v o U s r e d i nsi l o v an a l a z i l as e 1 ep l a m t e i a r u i n a b o m b a n a k o j o jj e b i o u c r t a nh r v a t s kg r b O v a jt e s i m b o lb i t i u o b i i a j e n au z n a k ao k l o p n i hv o z i l ak o l ei e p r i p a d a t i o k l o p n i mp o s t r o j b a m aP T B / P T S V o z l l as u i n d i v l d u a l n oo z n a t e n ad v o z n a m e n k a s t i m b r o j k a m an a b o k u v o z a K o l o n up r e d v o d et a n l . e t eb r o j 5 2 I 5 l ( z b i r k a D i n k oP r e d o e v i t ) ThefirstpresentattonofthelStankettestothepublicwasinZagrebon5thDecemberlg4T ThosewerethevehiclesfromPTS Poglavnik'sBodyguard"of the UstashaArmy. For this occasion the vehicleswere decorated with a big l-Jstasha srmbol, the letter lJ, on the front plate ln the middle of the letter IJ was a flaming grenade with the Croatian coat of arms This symbol remained as a markrng on all vehiclesof the PTB/PTSunits Each vehicle was designated with a two digit number on the hull srdes The column is headed by the vehicles Nos 52 and 53 (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

SKTOPNAVSUIL.AI OKLOPftEPNSTROJBE I.' BRIJGOMSVJETSKOMRATUI,JHRVATSKO.!

1 1 3 J e d n a o d i z u z e t n o r i l e t k i h s l i k a i zglo9d4iln eN a k a m i o n J e n a t o v a t e n t e n k FSTo.bl Tz i r o m d a l e v e i i n a d o m o b r a n a l o i o k o r u k a v a l m a t r a k u s h n r ' a t s k o m zbirkaTomisavAralica) n a c i o n a l n o m t r o b o j k o m m o g u i e j e d a j e s l i k a s n i m l j e n a i p r i j e s l u l b e n o g o s n u t k a o k o p nD i hopmo os b t rroaj nb si t v( a A very rare photo from 1941 - a FT17 tank loaded on a truck As most of the Domobranstvosoldierswere carrytngthe Croattannational flag around the sleeve it is possrblethat this picture was taken even before the offrcral foundatton of the armored units (TomislavAraltca collection)

Granice i ustrojnovedrZave u razdoblju od sljedeiih dvajumjeseci bit ie predmet dogovaranja sasvimstranama kojesusudjelovale u ratnim protivKraljevine operacijama Jugoslavije premanovojdrZavi Glavnipregovarai i stranas najveaim zahtjevima '1 '1 je Kraljevina potpisanim ltalijaRimskim ugovorima, 8 svibn.la 941, Italijisu pripaliznatnidijelovihrvatskog teri ja, koji obuhva(a1u kotareve Suiak,Kastav Cabar i diokotaraDeln Dalmaciju od Zadra do Splitas najveiimbrojemdalmatinskih otoka,te cilelopodrutje BokeKotorske s dijelomKonavalaOsimtoga NDH se obvezala podrutjudrZatimornaricu da neie u priobalnom niti imativolne je pripaloPrekomurje bazei utvrdenjaMadarskoj i dio Medimuqa je za svojunarodnosnu poseban Njemadka skupinuu NDHutvrdila

Forthe nexttwo months,bordersand organizatton of the new state werenegotiatedby all sidesinvolvedin militaryoperations againstthe Kingdomof Yugoslavia The main negotiatorand the party with the biggest pretensrons towardsthe new statewas ltaly. 'Romanagreementsignedon 18 May 1941 fulfilled the ltaltanterritorialpretensionsltaly acquired countiesof Susak, KastavCabar,part of the Delnice County,Dalmatta allof BokaKotorska fromZadarto Spiltwith mostof Dalmatianislands, Croatiaagreedneitherto keepnavynor andpaft of KonavleBesides, to build any mrlitaryfacrlities or foftificationsin costalarea Hungary acquiredPrekomurje and part of MedjimurjeGermanyestablished for Germannattonalminorityin Croatia specia/statusandprivtleges nnln)ri innvlecliro Thewholeterritoryof NDHwasdividedinto Germanand ltalianareas (nilitarydivston) podruijeNDHbiloje podijel.leno Cijelo na njemaiku i talijansku zonu of responsibility vojneoogovornosrl Establishing of armed forcesbegan immediatelyafter the procladomobranstvoBesides Odmahnakonproglaienja NDH-a,zapoieoje procesformiranja mation of NDH under the name Hrvatsko the armedforcesof 'Ustachivo1ntca" and the armed pod nazivomhrvatsko oruzanih snaganovedrZave domobranstvo' Domobranstvo Uzdomobranstvo na podrudju NDHdjelovale su i volnoorganizirane wing of Ustachimovementwere alsoactiveon the territoryof NDH pokreta, lnitialphasein the formingof the new stateduring1941wascharac oruZane snage'Ustaike vojnicekaooru2anog krilaustaSkog of varrousparamilitary formationsunderthe Za prvidio razvoja novedriavetijekom194'1godinekarakteristidnoterizedby the existence je i postojanje odredenog brojaparavojnih formacija razlititog ustroja commandor influenceof Ustachimovementor Croatianstate podzapovjedniStvom i teritorijalne organizacije, iliut1ecajem ustaikog The demarcationline betweenthe Germanand ltalianforceswas pokreta established on 23 Apnl 1941 The Germanand ltalianforceswere ili hrvatske drZave je talijansko-njemaika Dana23 travnja1941utvrdena demarkacijskaallowedto operateonly within the assrgnedareasThedemarcation line coveredSamobor-Petrinja-Bosanski Novi-Prijedor-Banja Lukalinijana podrutjubiv5eKraljevine Jugoslavije Postrojbe talijanske i all Visoko-Sarajevo-Praca-Ustipraca-Rudo, nlemaike vojske moglesudjelovati samou granicama svogapodrutja Jajce-DonjiVakuf-Travnik - Petrinja - Glina- Bosanski of thesetowns remainedunder Germancontrol. With regardto pravcem Linijase protezala Samobor the Germanareawasintegralwhilethe ltalianwas - BanjaLuka- Jajce- DonjiVakuf-Travnik - Visoko the organization Novi Prijedor - SarajevoPraia Ustipraia Rudo,a svasunavedena of the areasthat will, mjestaostala dividedinto threezones Thefirstzoneconsisted with the "RomanAgreementbe annexedto ltaly.The je organizacijski podrudju podrutje u njemaikom Njemaiko bilocjelo- in accordance zonetncludedthe coastal area50 70 kn podru!ebilopodileljeno vito,dok1etalijansko u tri zone Prvuzonu secondzoneor demarcatton armywasrestricted.Thatzonecomiinilasu podrudja kojate Rimskim vet u svibnjupripasti wide Withinthat zoneCroatran ugovorima Ogulin,Korenica,Gospic,Senj,Knin,Sinj,Grahovo, ItaliliDrugaili demarkacijska zonaje podrutjekojeje obuhva(alo prisedVrbovsko, Mostar,Metkovic,Dubrovnik,Neves Gackoand priobalna linija5irokuod 50 do 70 km i u kojolje po navedenom Livno,Makarska, line sporazumu vojska NDHimalaograniienja. U njolsusenalazila mjesta BilecaTheareain betweenthesecondzoneandthe demarcation Vrbovsko, Ogulin,Korenica, Gospii,Senj,Knin,Sinl,Grahovo, Livno, wascalledthe thirdzone ]t was40-70km wideand rncludedthe fol44

ARMOUREDUNITSAND VEHICI.ESIN CROATIADTIRINGWW II

lowing towns; Karlovac,Jastrebarsko, Topusko,Slunj,Biha(, Bosanski Petrovac,Kljut, Glamoi,Konjic,Kalinovniki Goralde.

Contraryto the ltalians,the Germansallowed the formationof Croatianarmedforcesand civilstructuresevenbefore the capitulatan of the RoyalYugoslavian forces.Theorder issued by theGerman 2ndArmy emphasized that Croatiawas in friendlvrelations with the ThirdReichand that Germantroops neededto'be friendlytowards localpopulationand militaryauthorities.TheCroats,soldiers in the RoyalYugoslavarmy were not taken prisoners and were released from capttvtty. Despiteall the effortsof the new Croatianmilitaryauthorities to take holdof theweaponsandmilitaryequipmentremiiningafter the Royal Yugoslav Army they were not ableto do it. On 16 April 1941ihe accreditedGermangeneralin NDH,GeneralGleisevon Horstenau,

I I

1 1 4 . J o i j e d a n s v e d a nm i i m o h o d o k l o p n ep o s t r o j b ep T Su l i c a m aZ a g r e b a . O k l o p n o v o z i l o k o j e p r e d v o d ik o l o n u j e t a n k e t a 1 . 3 . N a b o k u v o z i l av i i e n e m a i n d i v r d u a l nber o j d a n eo z n a k e a , i p l a m e nn a r u i n o j b o m b ij e i z b l i j e d i o . Z a n i m l j i vd e t a l j n a o v o j s l i c i j e p r i t u v n l k o m a d g u s j e n i c eu t v r 5 t e n n a p r e d n j e md i j e l ut a n k e t e .O v a k a vn a t i n n o i e n l a p r i d u v n i hi l a n a k a g u s j e n i c a n a s a m o mv o z i l un i j e b i o u o b i t a j e nu t a l i j a n s k oaj r m i j i .( H p M Z a g r e b ) Another parade of the PTSarmored unit through the streets of Zagreb. The vehicle leading the column is an 1.3 tankette. There are no vehicle-numbers on the sidesand the flame on the hand grenade hasfaded Of interestis the spare track carried on the front plate of the tankette which was uncommon for the ltalian Army. (HPM Zagreol

1 . 1 . 5D v a l a k a t e n k a P z . K p f w .l a u s f . B s n i m l l e n au o k o l i n iZ a g r e b a .p r e m a s l i k a m at e n k o v i s u s a p r e d n j es t r a n e i n a b o k o v i m ao z n a i e n i h r v a t s k i m g r b o v i m a . D o s a d a n i . 1 ev i d e n a n i t i j e d n a s l i k a o v o g t e n k a s n i m l j e n as a straZnjestrane koja bi potvrdila postojanjegrba i na strainjoj strani vozila. ( H D AZ a g r e b ) Two PzKpf,n I Ausf B light tanks photographed in the vicinity of Zagreb. The vehiclesdepicted on the photo are carrying Croatian coat of armi on their front and sides. So far there has been no photographic evidence that same markings were applied to the rear of the vehicle. (HDA ZagreD)

U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ OKLOPNAVOZILA I OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE

arrivedin Croatiaas an officialof the GermanGeneralStaffat the

Croatiawasto be qivento the GermanGeneralin Zagrebtor thepur bootyfoundin Bosnia noseof arming pose arminoof theCroatianforces.Thewar bo-oty 'enr-l Accordinqto SerbiaAccording Horzcooriine transDofted to depots depotsin was transpofted Herzegoina andHerzegovina I Sgrbia FT17of the that thearmoredvehiclesRenault thisit canbe assumed

I ietiri oklopnavozilaPz.Kfu nabavljena

o,rOanized^it1.o,yrn militarywing of theUstachiArmy(lstalka,Voi1,rcQ armoreduiits, first of alt withiit the PoglavnikBodyguardQattglio7 Brigade Brigade Bodyguard Boina- PTB)and Poglavnik Tielesna Poqlavnikova (Pn'alavnikav compamechanized of riitcsni Sdnjo PT9 the form in PTS) Sdrig Tletesni eolqlavnikov 'niei Armon elementof PTS' laterFastarmor(Brzioklop)andArmored niei and later'Fast so far, No recordsaboutequippingof theseunitshavebeenreleased at leastnot the comPleteones (Home Armoredunitswere developedparallelyin Domobranstvo Arny). Theseunitsweresuband ustaskaVoinica(lJstachi Defense) ordinatedto separatecommandstructures.Therewas alsoa differ betweenUstaskaVoinicaand encein unit mirking and designation Domobranstvo that in Zagreband it is safeto assume Someof F1.17tanksremained someof those,if not all, to the GermanGeneralin Croatiareleased

oklopnihvozila i primitakpoljskih spominje U raznimse izvorima tijekomrata1939.Navodiseda je NDHod Nijemaci kojesu zarobili w2.34te automobila manjibrojoklopnih Njimaikedobilaizvjestan tanketaTIVTKS.

1 1 6 S l i k at e n k o v aP z K p f w I o b j a v l j e n au d n e v n o mt i s k u u p r o l i e t e 1 9 4 2 godine Ove fotografije su ti.lekomrata uiestalo kori5teneu promidZbene s v r h e ( H P MZ a g r e b )

R.35 tankin the photonumber120 belongedto the Royal Renault Armv andit is possiblethat the Germansgave someof thesetanks with the to NOU.Markingsvisiblein the pictureare in accordance iethod of markingand thistank probablybelonged Domobranstvo or, latet to the Light to ln AutomobileBattalionof Domobranstvo ArmoredCompany. PzKpfw.tA tankswereboughtin Germanyand widelyusedfor produrinq T942.At leasttwo were usedin combat aaoandapurposes 'in-Bosnia'and during 1942 (PhotoM) Transpottation Herzegovina

A photo of the Pz Kp Fw I tanks published in local newspapers tn the spnng of 1942 Such photographs were often used for propaganda purposes during the war. (HPM Zagreb)

A,RMOUREDU'V'Ts ATVDVE'{ICLES'A' CROAilA DUR'{VGWKU'I

1 1 7 i 1 1 8 T a n k e t aL 3 s n i m l j e n au Z a g r e b up r i l i k o ms v e i a n o s t p i risezanja (HPMZagreoT ustaia-sveuirltitaraca I 3 tankettephotographed in Zagreb during the oath ceremony of Ustasha students(HPMZagreb)

P zK p f wI s n i m l j e n u z i m s k i mu v j e t i m a ( H D AZ a g r e b )

assets listingof Domobranstvo from the end of 1942givesus regis(HV-2501to trationnumbersfor four Kruppmadearmoredvehicles HV-2502)Thatconfirmsthe assumption that four of thesetankswere obtainedfrom Germany. Accordingto the ltaliansources,15 light tanksL 3 weredeliveredin the secondhalf of 1941as militaryaid Deliverywas executed under urgentordersbasedon agreementbetweenthe LandArmy GHand ItalianMilitarymissionin CroatiaA numberof the ltalianIVCOs was sentto Zagrebaswellto trainCroatiantroops.ThelJstacha Armyunit assigned to the Poglavnik Bodyguard Brigade(PTS) equippedwith 1.3 light tankswasfullyoperational in December1941. Fulfillingthe agreementwith NDH,Hungarydeliveredan unknown numberof L 3 light tanks Varioussourcesmentionthat 10-15 tanks weredelivered. lt isunknownif thosetankswereof theoriginalltalian productionor licensebuilt Hungarianones.Hungarypurchasedcertainnumberof thosetanksin the mid thifties.TheHungarians started productionin GranzCompany.Thevehicles their own licensed producedthereweredifferentlyarmedand the differencecanbe easily noted.Somesourceslist15 enqines and 500 000 roundsof ammunition for Hungarianmachineguis asdeliveredtogetherwith tanks.This may mean that the deliveredtankswere of Hungarianproduction ratherthan originalltalianones An ltaliansourceliststhesevehicles as alreadydeliveredby December1941but thereis a possibilitythat the vehicleswere deliveredonlv durinathe summerof 1942which would placethem in the sametimefEmewith the restructuring of armoredunit of PTS VarioussourcesmentionPolishvehiclescapturedbv the Germans duing 1939and delivered to Croatia.TheysaythatCioatiareceived a smallernumberof wz 34 armoredcarsand TKITKS light tanks Taking into accountthat the Germanscapturedonly 18 out of 87 produced w2.34armoredcars,theirdeliveryand usein Croatiais questionable A listingof motor vehiclesin Croatianarmy,dated the beginningof 1943 mentionsand lists16 registrationnumbersfor "Ursus'reconnaissance vehicles. Considering that UrsusCompanyproducedboth vehicles it rsdifficultto determinehow manywerearmoredcarsand how manywerelight tanks Thelistingmakeslinguisticdetermination

Pz Kp Fw I tank photographed in winter conditions (HDA Zagreb)

U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ OKTOPNAVOZITAI OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE

1 2 0 . U s a s t a v uo k l o p n i hp o s t r o j b iN D H b i o i n a j m a n . jjee d a n t e n k R e n a u l tR . 3 5 .S o b z i r o md a s e j a s n ov i d i k a k o s e r a d i o t e n k u k o j e n i j e p r o i a o n j e m a d k u t e h n i t k u p r i l a g o d b up o s t o j im o g u i n o s t d a j e p o r i j e k i o mi z r a t n o g p l i j e n aK r a l j e v i nJeu g o s l a v i j eN a z a d n j e mb o c l o m . d i j e l uk u p o l e t e n k av i d l j i v aJ e h r v a t s k a 5 a h o v n i c at.z n i d n j e s e n a j v l e r o j a t n i jnea l a z is l o v oU o b r u b l j e n op l e t e r o mk a k a vj a s n ov i d i m o n a s l i c i15 3 ( H P MZ a g r e b ) The armored units of the NDH Army receivedat least one RenaultR 35 tank As it can be seen from the photograph this vehicle was not modified by the Germans Thus it is possible that the vehicle was supptied directly from fhe stocks of captured Royal YugoslavArmy. The Croatian coat of arms can be seen on the rear sideof ihe turret Above the coat of arms is, most liliely, the IJ letter encircled in Croatian plaiting like the one we can see in the photograph No 153 (HPM Zagreb)

autoa kolikooklopnih razdvojiti kolikoje u tom brojubilotanketa, jeziinarazlika izmedu napravljena mobila. Buduiidaje u dokumentu nazivbojnakola, za tenkove- tanketeza kojese upotrebljava naziva

moZemo utvri dijelova dokumenata fotograflja Natemeljuobjavljenih postrojbama Ustaikevojnicei diti da su oklopnavozilaraspodjeljena preuzela bornakola1.3iz vojnica s timedaje usta5ka Domobranstva, bornakolaTKS a domobranstvo kontingenta, i madarskog talijanskog iz njematkog ratnogplijenakaoi bornakolaPz.Kpfw.l.

nijaPTS-a je svojabornakola organiziralo u postrojbujaiine Domobranstvo dotasnika 35 do 45 dasnika, vodas trimabornimkolimai otprilike je najvjerojatnije bornimkolima opremljena Postrojba i domobrana. je veieg brojatanketaTKS-apostrojena Tekpristizanjem Pz.Kpfw.l. 1942 godinei Lakaoklopnasat. i izradibojnih postrojbi tehnikompaZnjase posvetuje Uz opremanje 1941.godineGlavni praviia uporabebornihkola.Dana9. prosinca donosiupute domobranstva hrvatskog Ministarstva sIolerza nastavu za upotrebuoklopihvozila,posebnodonosediuputstvoza osigunavodisevaznost U tlanku81. Uputstva i transporta. ranjeprijenosa 'preselica" - transporta zaosiguranje bornihkolai preporuda upotrebe upotrebutriju do detirijubornihkolakojase kreauna ielu, sredinii 48

:n gtvesus a reasonbetweenarmoredvehicleand armoredcar,which delivered. anksweredelivered. ablysafe safebasisto concludethat only TKSlight tanks The exact timeline when thesevehicleswere deliveredis questionable too. Accordinqto some sourcesthe vehicleswere delivered during 1942,whili at the sametime an ltaliansourceplacesthem in December1941.ThepreviouslymentionedvehiclelistinggMesus HV-2505to HV-2520 numbersfor 16 vehicles registration we canconcludethat andphotographs documents Based on available weredistributedamongthe unitsof Domobranstvo armoredvehicles took overTKSlight tanksfrom the Army.Domobranstvo andUstachy Armytook light tankswhileUstachy GermanwarbootyandPz.Kpfw.l L 3 light tanksof ltalianand Hungarianorigin

it was and in somedocuments of PTS cadrefrom the tankcompanies mentionedas3'd TankCompanyof PTS organizedtheirarmorin a platoon strengthunit with Domobranstvo Theunit and soldiers. and35-45officers,NCOs threearmoredvehicles was mostlikelyequippedwith Pz.Kpfu.I and RenaultR.35armored LighiArmoredCompanywasformedin 1942with thearrival vehicles. or lK5lnnt nnKS Besides equippingof the unitsspecialattentionwaspaid to publishing of fietdmanualsfor armor usage.On 9th December1941 the on usageof armored HQ for trainingissueddirections Domobranstvo on convoyand transportsecurityand pro-, unitswith the emphasis tection.Article 81 of the directionspointsout the importanceof and theirusagein convoyand transpottproteclion. armoredvehicles were three dealingwith convoyprotedion instructions Specificatly to four armoredvehiclesto be used,on the headof the columnin the middteand at the end. Minimaldistancebetvveenvehicleswas instructedto be no lessthan double the length of the weapons to be suchthat the visualconunbeatenareaand maximumdistance tact canbe maintained.

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na krajuiolo191 najmanjim razmakom izmed ola kojiodgovara Firstappearance of the IJstachi Armyunit armoredwrth the ltalian1.3 dvostrukoj veliiinimrtvogkutastrojnice ili topa bornimkolima, a vehicles in frontof Poglavnik andgeneralpublicwason BthDecember najveioj tolikoda sekolamedusobno vide. 1941duringthe paradeorganized in memoryof ,December 1919 Dana5. prosinca na svetanom mimohodupovodomobilleZavanja victims' Danaprosinadkih Zrlava iz1919.godine je predpogiavnikom FirstDomobranarmoredunit to seecombatwas the unit with three u Zagrebu i okupllenim mnoitvompo prvi put prikazana'oklopna postrojba unidentifiedvehiclesdurtngactionsof 4th lnfantryDrvisionagainst Ustaike vojnice s talijanskim tanketama 1.3. the Ozreninsurgentdetachmentin theperiod betweenjrd ,n4 77th December1941. Armoredvehicles wereintroducedto thecombaton 4thDecemberwith poor results. Onevehiclewas lostin first contact with the enemy.Accordrngto the Ozreninsurgentdetachment combat repoft one armoredvehiclewas capturedand disabledbecause nobodyknewhow to operateit. Thereport statesthat two machinegunsof Germanori$n and onecrateof ammunitionwere takenout

U izvjeStajima o borbama zapovjednik pjeiaikepostrolbe iznosisvoja zapaZanja o upotrebibornihkolau borbite kaoledanod uzrolia opiegneuspjeha pothvata navodinemoguinost boinihkolada zbog posebna loiegterenapridublile protivniikim poloZajima. zamjerki odnosi senaslabui neudinkovitu strojniiku vatrubornihkola.

Tilekom -travnjai svibnjau velikompothvatuprotiv postrojbi Korduna5kog parliza,nskog je upotrebljena odredaponovno postrojba u cUem biiopetbornihkola1,3i 14 motocikalatrokoiica Jesastavu rzsastava PTB-a U pripremnim pothvatima za operaciju na planiniKozaripostrolbe premaizvjeStajiina Crnelegijepudupirubojnakolaiz saitavapTS-a. g o n v a K o o n u p r a t e m o t o c i k l i s t i( H P MZ a g r e b ) u borbama sudleluje postrolba sasedambornihkolar veiimbrojem The caption in this photograph states that this photo representsa pTSunit motociklista U pokuiajuprodorapremaprijedoru postrojba 3 li[nja from the.UstashaArmy on the from Gornji Vakuf towards Jajcein the 1942.godinegubidvabornakola1.3iosammotocikala Bornakola spring.of 1942. Thephotographmove depicts an 1.3 tankette towing a tiailer with extra fuel. The column rs esco,ted by motorcycles. (HpM Zagreb)

Usrpnju i kolovozu 1942.godineustaiko-domobranskim postrojbama na.podrudju zapadne Hercegovine pridodana je oklopnapostrojoa pTj-a, u tijemsu sastavu bilabornakola1.3iz sastava latinesatnije tenkRenault pz.Kpfwl. R.35i bornakoladomobranstva tenkovi lzvjeitayi o borbama naovompodrudju spominju 28 srpnla sudjelova, nlesedamoklopnihvozilau pothvatuu koiemsu domobrinskorstaike snagepovratile gradove Suicui Duvno.Dana29.srpnya dvoje bornih kolaijedanbiindirani kamion sudjeluju u borbama kod'slagaji Dana31.srpnjakolonabornihkolasekreieizmeduDuvnai Livna-te oroduZuje za Kupres ana29 ru'1na u Bugojno stizupostrolbe Crne Legije saSestbornih la kojasljedecih dana'sudlelujLi u boibamau o k o l i ngir a d a Dana_l 5. r,u1na 19.42. godineje kaoza5tita sanitetskih odreda,koji surzlagrebaupuceni u pravcu Zumberka radiprihvata velikog brola ranlenih,u protivpariizana, borbama izaiaoivod bornihkola1.3pod zapovjednl5tvom satnika Ore5kovi(a. Lakaoklopnasatnijaopremanjena ianketamaTKS-apridodana 1 gorskedivizije te je razmjeiena 1epostrolbama u Daruvaru pri premapariizanskim zapovjedniStvu lV gorskog zdruga. izvjeitalima o u Daruvaru senalazilo 5estdo osambornihkola.lairniposade, Stanje u postrojbi nrjedobro.Dio pripadnika postrojbe opredijeljen s partizanima. U izvjesiu lll operativhe 1eza suradnlu zonelrioF-a Hrvatske od 22. studenog 1942.obavjeitajni tasnikzonenavodida vezusa Sestpripadnika oklopnepostrojbe Jeuhvatro u Daruvaru. U

1 2 2 K o l o n ao k l o p n i hv o z i l ai p r a t n l an a m o t o c i k l o m aN a t a n k e t a m ai o k o l o

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ft.i-q"l}L{ {.i l+i{tiir":ir$t{*l S;\/itr1"SH,{,}trrl i ffiK$"#$}S.lfiPfiFSTf,{#Jffi#q"iffi$1t,${:ffi$t{T 1 2 3 Z a p o v j e d n i kp o s t r o i b eu s v o j o jt a n k e t i 1 3 3 N a b o k u t a n k e t ej e d v a s e n a z i r ei z b l i j e d j e lbi r o j 6 3 i t o n a m g o v o r i d a s e r a d i o v o z l u k o j ej e n a l v l e r o j a t n i l5e p r o sn c a 1 9 4 1 g o d n e s u d j e l o v a l on a m m o h o d u u Z a g r e b u D o b r o 1 as e n a z l r ui s o v a P T S N a o v e t r l s l i k ev d m o d a s e u s a s t a v u

L 3 / 3 5 s e r i j el l ( H P MZ a g r e b ) The unit commanderin hisL 3 tankette The faded number 63 on the srdeof the vehrclesuggeststhat the vehrclemost used three variants of ihe | 3 tankette The ftrst vehicle in the previous photograph is an L 3135 sertesll (HPM Zagreb) 1 2 4 ) e d n a o d r i l e d l hs l i k an a k o j e m u v i d i m o s t r a Z n j di o t a n k e t e L 3 N a d i j e u t a n k e t en e m an i k a k v i h stra2nlem o z n a k a ( H P MZ a g r e b ) Photograph of the rear stde of an L 3 tankette As it can be seen no markings are present on the rear of the vehicle (HPM Zagreb)

1 2 5 P a rt a n k e t a L 3 i z v l a t i n j e m a d k i t e n k H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 i z b l a t a N a o v o j , e s r i i, . a s r o r i o e d . i 1 ^; p 1 ' 6. . p o s a d u t a n k e t a s a t i n i a v a j uu s t a i e , v o z i l a p r i p a d a j u u s t a S k o lp o s t r o l l r l ( H P MZ a g r e b ) tataveting P a i ro I t h e t 3 L a n l e t t e 5 the German HotchkissH 39 tank from a mud trap The Phota clearlYshows that the vehicles belonged to an IJstasaArmy unit and that the tank crews were members of the Ustasha Army. (HPM Zagreb)

50 GraCskaknjii';rl;a

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TheDomobranlnfantryunit commanderin hiscombatreportgives hisobservations regardtngthe overallfailureof armoredvehiclesin combatSomeof the reasons werethe inabtlityof the vehicles to close in on the enemydue to the heavyterrainand especially the ineffectiyeness of machinegun fire fromarmoredvehicles

1 2 6 Z a j e d n i t kn i a p o r i n j e m a i k i hv o j n i k a p r i p a d nk a u s t a ( k eo k o p n e p o s t r o j b ed a i z v u k u z a g a v l j e n t e n k N a d e s n o l t a n k e t i v d i m o d a j e , 4a g r e b ) u n u t r a i n l o stta n k e t eb i j ee b o j e ( H P N Z TheUstashaand the German tankerstn combtnedeffort to dtg out the tank stuckin the mud On the right srde tankette we can seethat that the vehtcle interior was painted white (HPM Zagreb)

1 2 7 l z v a t e n j an j e m a d k o gt e n k a n e i d e b a i g a t k o D v i j et a n k e t eL 3 n i s u d o v o l j n os n a Z n ed a i z v u k u n l e m a i k i t e n k B e z o b z i r a n a k v a l i t e t us l i k e i o d b l j e s a ki z g l e d ad a o v e d v i j e t a n k e t e n e m a j u n a p r e d n j o lo k l o p n o j p i o d i u c r t a nz n a k u s t a i k ev o j n i c e ( H P MZ a g r e b ) The recovery operation is not going smoothly. Two tankettes are not powerful enough to pull the heavy tank aut of the mud Regardlessof the poar quality and the glare of the photograph it appears that the vehicles do not have the Ustashainsignia painted on the front plates (HPM Zagreb)

d aj e j e d i n in a i i n d a s et e n k i z v u t eb i l o r u t n o u k l a n l a n j ze e m l j eu o k o o t e n k a t e p o t o m z v a i e n j e ( H P MZ a g r e b ) During the recovery the tank sunk even deeper tnto the mud With the help of the local vtllagers the mud was removed from around the vehtcle That seenredto be the only way to successfullyrecover the tank (HPM Zagreb)

escoftedby two old Yugoslav tankswith threemencrewarmedwith a singlemachinegunDueto the overalllow knowledgeaboutarmored vehicles in the repoftsit is difftcultto concludewhat kind of armored vehicles thosewere Duringanti-insurgent operationson the Kordunarea in December 1941, the unitsof the Ustachimtlitaryschoolweresupportedby 3 L 3 Irghttanksfrom the Poglavnik Bodyguard Battalion(PTB) Theunit from PTBwith 5 armoredvehtcles and 14 motorcycles with sidecars wasin actionagarnduringa big operattonagainsttheKordun paftBandetachment in April and May 1942 Preparatory actionsof the Kozaraoperationinvolvedunits of Black Legion (Crna Legtjd supported by armored vehtelesfrom PTS Accordingto repoftssevenarmoredvehicles and a largernumberof eight motorcyclesOneL 3 light tank was lostin closecombatwith thepartisans whenthesuppoftingrnfantrywascut off. Thecrewwas killedwrthhandgrenades andsmallarmsfrre During.)ulyand August 1942 the Ustachiand Domobranstvo units in the westernHerzegovina areawere reinforcedwith the armored companycomposedof L 3 light tanksfrom PTSand PzKpfw.I and RenaultR35 tanksfromDomobranstvo Combatrepofts from that area mention that on 28thJuly seven armoredvehicleswere tnvolvedin actionthat regainedcontrolover townsSuicaand Duvno.On 29thJulytwo armoredvehicles and one armoredtruck wereinvolvedin fightingaroundBlagajOn 31stJuly a columof armoredvehicleswason the movefrom Duvnoto Livno and proceeded towardsKupresOn 29thSeptember BlackLegionunit with sixarmoredvehicles arrivedat Bugojno,and the sameunit was involvedin fightingaroundthe town dunngthe nert few days Platoonof L 3 hght tankswas deployedin Zumberakareaon 15th Septemberas an esco,{for medicalconvoythat was transpofttng a largernumberof the woundedfrom prevrousc/ashes with partisans Commander of that platoonwasCaptainOreskovic Lightarmoredcompanyequippedwrth TKShghttankswasdeployed in Daruvarunder the commandof lV mountainbrigade Paftisan renortsof the time estimatethat the Ustachi-Domobran forcesin Daruvarhad sixto eightarmoredvehicles on theirdisposal. Situationin the unit was not good, as only a paft of the unit was willingto cooperate with thepaftisansThereportfromlll operational area NOP(Peoples LiberationMovement)for Croatiastatesthat the

12 9 N l e m a i k it e n kj e n a p o k o nr z v u i e n T e n kn a j v j e r o j a t n i p j er i p a d al e d n o m o d v o d o v a i z s a s t a v a1 2 g r u p e t e n k o v a z a p o s e b n e n a m j e n e P z A b t z b V 1 2 ( H P MZ a g r e b ) The Germantank is finallydug out of the mud Most ltkelythe tank belonged to one of the platoons of the Pz Abt z b V.l 2 (HPMZagreb)

OKTOPNAVOZILA I OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE t.I DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ 13 0 D a n a 2 0 p r o s i n c a 19 4 2 g o d i n e k o d V o t i n a u n i S t e n es u d v i j e tankete TKS Na slici dosta loie k v a l i t e t ev i d e s e o s t a c ji e d n eo d n j i h ( H P MZ a g r e b ) Two TKS tankettes were destroyed near Vocin on Lhe 20'F December 1942 This photograph, of rather poor quality.is showing Ihe remains of one of those tankettes (HPM Zagreb)

jedandesetnik grupisenalaze tetiridotasnika, i jedandomobran, koji connectionwas established with sixmembersof the armoredunit in senalaze kaoposada u tetirimabornimkolimaSviizra)avaju namjeru DaruvarFourNCOs,one corporaland onesoldierwerein the group, partizanima da seprvomprilikom i u prvojborbipredaju all willingto defectto paftisans on firstopportunity. Postrojba u listopadu 1942 godinevodiborbes parlizanima Dana FromOctober1942the unit was in combatwith the paftisansOn 10 i 11 listopada sudjeluje u pothvatu "Bijela" u diSienju i osigura- 10thand l1th October 1942 the unit was involvedin operation - Pakrac Daruvar. je u White(Bijela)which wasa mop-upoperationaimedat securingthe vanjuprostoraSpanovica Dana5. studenog pokretuk mjestuSpanovica area.On th Novemberthe unit wason the na pravcuDaruvar Pakrac uz postrojbe Spanovica-Pakrac-Daruvar prinapadunavlak moveon Daruvar-Pakrac communication togetherwith the elements 1. gorske divizije. Dana27 studenog interveniraju - Daruvar. of lst Mountain Division.On 2Vh Novemberthe unit intervened na pruziBanova Jaruga Dana20 prosinca 1942 godineu sklopupothvata u kojemsu postro- duying.the partisanattackon train on the Banovalaruga-Daruvar jbe 1 gorskedivizije povratiti trebaleod partizana mjestoVofinsudjel- railroao. |'t MountainDivisionwas deplovedin adion to takeover Vocinon ujevods trimabornimkolimaPostrojba naiijemsusetelunalazila tri suppoftedby ah armoredunit composedof three bojnakolaTKS-a upalaje u partizansku zasjedu kojaje bilapostavljena 20th December uz cestuu oblikupotkoveCelokolonena kojemsu bilabornakola armoredvehiclesTheunit ledby threeTKSlight tankswasambushed je kod poruienogmosta.Bornakola su se poku5ala by the paftisansTheambushwasset up in the form of a horseshoe zaustavljeno were je on the road,backedby a demolished bridge.Theleadvehicles okrenuti, ali su,silazeiis puta,zapelau jarku.Prateiepje5aitvo jakebotnevatrenapustilo uslijed voziloito je partizanlma omogu(ilo stoppedat the bridgeand in an attemptto turn aroundwerestuck da doduu neposrednu blizinu te ruinimbombama i puikamapobiju in the ditch Suppoftinginfantrywasdrivenawayby strongflanking je podatak to c/osein on the vehicles andkill the posadu bornihkolaZanimljiv o tijekui rezultatima borbe, firewhichallowedthe paftisans crewswith handgrenadesand smallarmsfire lnterestingis a detail kojise spominje u dakdvamapartizanskim izvjeitajima, u kojemse - kultur- about the fight mentionedin two of the partisanrepofts,that the navodida su posadubornihkolasaiinjavali Nijemci tenkisti je zarobljen. bundovcl te da ihje u borbipetpoginulo, a 5esti Sjednih crewwerethelocalmenof Germannationality(socalledKulturbund) je strojnica and that fivewerekilledand one captured.Onevehiclewasstripped bornihkolaskinuta s 32 okviraza streljivo lakosu bornakolazarobljena u ispravnom stanju,tijekomdaljnjeg of its machinegunand 32 magazinesof ammunition.Despitethe tijekaborbesu uniitenazbog nesporazuma izmedupartizanskih fact that the vehicleswere capturedin running condition all were by postrojbii iz strahada ih ustaikei domobranske postrojbe ponovno destroyecilater in the fighting to preventthem being repossessed the originalowners neo5voje grupaod Sest partizanskih Veispomenuta simpatizera iz Lake oklopne The above mentionedgroup composedof six partisansupportl pokuiava godine satnije 16 sljeinja1943 bijegiz Daruvara s dvama ersfrom the LightArmoredCompanyattemptedto defecton 16h je vrlobrzoprimijeien bornimkolima TKS-a. Bijeg te je za bjeguncima lanuary 1943.Theytook off from Daruvarwith tvvoTKSlight tanks poslanapotjerakojaih -vrlobrzouspjevasustiii.Bjegunci su borna but their escapewas qicklydetectedand a pursuitparty was organizedand sentafter them Thepursuitparty soon caughtup with putu. kolaostavlili na Cetiribjegunca su uspjelapobjeti,jedanje domobranski vodniktenkistubijen,a jedanuhvaienBijegnijeuspio them forcingthem to abandonvehicleson the road.Fourof them onesergeantwaskilledandonesoldiercaptured jer navedenu zbogloieorganizacije skupinunijeprihvatila nitijedna managedto escape, The defection attempt appearsto be unsuccessful dueto poororganipartizanska postrojba na terenu zationand execution;theywerenot suppoftedand acceptedby any Dana23 studenog1942.pri ustaikojposadiu Topuskom nalazese of thepartisanunitson the ground. jednabornakola TheUstachi-Domobran gariisonin Topusko had one armoredvehicle Dana1 prosinca na Kalnikuse izvodipothvatprotivpartizanskih on their disposal on 23rdNovember1942. postrojbiuz sudjelovanje motoriziranog odreda PTS-as bornim The Kalnikanti partisanoperationon lst December1942wassupprotiv ported kolimaDana7 prosinca 5estbornihkolasudjeluje u borbama bv mechanized detachmentfrom PTSwith armoredvehicles. partizana kodKlanjca. 1942sixarmoredvehicles wereengagedin fighting On Vh Dbcember Dana24 prosinca na podruijuKorduna vrSise prikupljanje domo- with the parlisans aroundKlanjec branskihpostrojbii postrojbiCrneLegijeza napadpremaSlunju TheDomobranunitsand BlackLegionwerepreparingin the areaof grupabornihkolaizsastava Grupije pridodana PTS-a, Dana26.pros- Kordunon 24thDecember for the operationagainstSlunj.Thegroup postrojbi incagrupaod trijubornihkolasudjeluje u prodoruusta(kih from PTS.On 26h December wassuppoftedby the armoredvehicles iz pravca slunjskih brdapremaTuiiloviiu. 1942 threearmoredvehicles wereinvolvedin theattackfromthearea Dana28 prosinca u Glinise nalaziministar u vladiNDHPuks prat- of SlunjskaBrdatowardsTusilovic. njomod detiriju bornihkolai dvajuoklopnih automobila Ministerin NDHgovernment Pukwasin Glinaon 2}th December with U pripremama za pothvat'Weis'poietkom1943. godinenije the escortof tvvoarmoredvehicles and tvvoarmoredcars predvldeno sudjelovanje oklopnihpostrojbi NDHte se one nalaze Preparations for the operation'Weiss' at the beginningof 1943did postrojba uglavnom u svojimgarnizonskim mjestima PTS-a not involveNDHarmorand all the unitswereat theirqarrisons. Oklopna The je u ZagrebuDio postrojbe je u Gospiiu(3 satnija). Lakaoklopna armoredunit of PTS wasin Zagrebwith 3'd companyin Gospic.tight satnija nalazi seu Daruvaru, ArmoredCompanywasin Daruvar.

I I I

I I

I I I I

'1 '1 je ugovorima Kraljevina ltalijaRimskim od B. svibnla942.godine osrgurala sve postavljene ratneciljeve.Na anektiranom podrudju Kraljevine Jugoslavije i podruijuNDHnadkojimje,u skladu s dogovoromo podjeli zonaodgovornosti s Njemaikom, imalanadzor, ostavila je gotovoistevojnepostrojbe kojesu sudjelovale i u rravan1sKom ratu Accordingto,theunit listingfrom25 August1941the headquarters pregledu Prema postrojbi od 25. kolovoza 1941. godinena podrudju of ltalian2ndArmy was locatedin Karlovacon the territoryof NDH NDHnalazio sesto2er 2. talijanske armije.Stoierarmijebioje smje5- only50 km from the capitalZagreb.Onlyaftersigningof the Rome' agreement the HQ wdsmovcdto Susak tenu Karlovcu nepunih50 km od Zagreba. Teknakonpotpisivanja i The2'd Army HQ had four arny corpsundertheircommand Three provodenja odredbiRimskih je ugovorasIo|er2. armijepremyeiten corpswereon the territoryof NDH naSuiak, 5thArmy Corpswith HQ in (ikveilca had the followingsubordiSto r je zapovjedao s ietirimaarmijskim korpusima od kolihsusetri nated untts: uc ostn i a l a z inl aa p o d r u t j u NDH. 5Vh tnfantry Division'Lombardia" deployedin the GorskiKotararea V armijski korpus sastoZerom je 57.pjeiatu Crikvenici zapovijedao 'Lombardia' with HQ tn Delnice komdivizijom sastoZerom u Delnicama, razmje5tenom 'Re sa 13tt1 infantryDivision'Rein the Likaareawith HQ in Senj na pociruclu GorskoE kctara,te 13. pjeiaikomciivrzijom FastArmy Corps with HQ in Lovrancommandedthe followtng stoZerom u Senju, razmjeitenom na podrudju Like Brziarmijskim korpus sastoZerom je 1.brzom u nits: u Lovranu zapoqedao 'Eugenio 1't FastDivision'Eugenio di Savoia'(talian-Divisione Celere) deployed divizijom di Savoia'(tal divisione celere) sa stoZerom u in the OgulinJastrebarsko areawith HQ rn Karlovac Karlovcu i razmjeStajem na pravcu od Ogulina do Jastrebarskog, 6thArmy Corpswith HQ in Split had the following units: 12thlnfantryDivision'Sassad' with HQ Kninand deployedon the areafrom Gracacin Likato Skradinne Sibenik.

Podzapovjednl5tvom ove divizijenalazila se ll. grupalakihtenkova'SanMarco'2. brzedivizije'Emanuele Filiberto Testadi Fero'. 22 pjeiatkadivizija'Cacciatori delleAlpi bilaje u kolovozu na dolaskuu podruijeDalmacije iz pravca CrneGore.Sto2er divizije smjestio seu Splitu, a postrolbe su senalazile na podrudju od Dubrovnika do Splita StoierVl.armijskog je i talijanskim korpusa zapovjedao postrojbama uZadru(Trupe di Zara). Odnavedenih divizija oklopnupostrojbu imalesu samobr divizije. U s k l o p u1 . b r z ed i v i z i j ne a l a z i lsae l . g r u p a( l a k i ht)e n v a ' S a n Giorgio', a u sastavu 2 brzedivizijell grupa(lakih)tenkovaSan Marco. Grupaje raspolagala sa 61 tanketom1.3 rasporedenim jaiinetri vodas p tetiritanketei zapovjednim u ietirieskadrona eskadronom. grupenalaziloe 23 tasnikai 289doiasnika U sastavu i vojnika. Grupaje bilaopremljena s 1oi23 raznamotornavoztla, 32 motocikla i petradiostanica Budu dasu 'l936.godinetalijanskom garnizonu u Zadrudodijeljena tri ok pnaautomobila Lancia1ZM,moZemo pretpostaviti da sa su 1 9 4 1g, o d i n ei o v io k l o p nai u t o m o b b i l i l iu u p o r a b i Sredinom ljetana Balkan su upuiena1. i 3. bojna31 pukaoklopnogpjeiaitva. Prvabolnaje podredena zapovjedni5tvu Vl. armijskog korpusa u Splitudokje 3. bojnaupuienau CrnuGoru.Ovebojne - tanketama takoder su bileopremljene lakimoklopnim vozilima 1.3. Bojna imalatri satnije s po tri vodatanketaUkupno 1e sastavu 1eu b o j nbi i l 4 6 t a n k e t 1a 3 . 1 3 1 S t r a Z n j si n i m a k t a n k e t e L 3 N a o v o j s e s l i c i o d l i t n o v i d i d o d a t n a o p r e m at a n k e t et e p o l u g az a p a j e n j e m o t o r av o z i l a M o t o r t a n k e t ep a l i os e

U ovom rasporedu postrojbe talijanske zatite ustanaku srpnju '1 941. godine.Odmahpo izbijanju oruZanog postrojbama ustanka, je da okupiraju 2. armijenaredeno svezoneu NDHkroz e prolaze)eljezniike pruge,a nalazese u talijanskoj zoniodg rnosti. Smatraju(i da je oruZani ustanak rezultatmedunacionalnih sukoba Hrvatai Srba,talijanske postrojbe krajemsrpnjaulazeu tzv ll, i lll zonuodgovornosti je i potvrdeno talijanske armijeOvostanje sporaz u m o ms V l a d o m N D Hi o b j a v l j e n7o. r u j n a1 9 4 1g o d i n eU. l l z o n i

oznaku vozila Na zadnjem dijelu tanketevidimo rimski brol tetiri koli n a d a v ap r i p a d n o stta n k e t e4 s a t n i j i l i e s k a d r o n ut a l i j a n s k e o k l o p n eg r u p e b o j n e .( H P MZ a g r e b )

was performed from the outside which was rather inconvenient especially if the engine stallsdurrng the combat. There are no individual markings on this vehicle.TheRoman numeral4 on the rear indicatesthat this vehiclewas paft of the 4th company or squadron of the armored group or battalion (HPM Zagreb)

frATt] U F{RIJATSKSJ ff t]Hi,JffiffilM SVJHTSKd]i\{ ffiKg_oprud{ lfflt$il-}\ [ flKLspf\Nf;ps5Tffin3.f,sfr

13 2 K r u p n ip l a n p r e d n j e gd i j e l at a n k e t eL 3 ( H P MZ a g r e b ) A close up of the front of the L 3 type tankette (HPM Zagreb)

preuzimaju i vojne sveupravne talijanske vojnevlastiu potpunosti 'o zaititisrpskog i rujnapodsloganom NDHTijekom kolovoza ovlasti raslojiti ioslabitiustaniiki u velikoj mleriuspijevaju narodaod usta<a' garnizone forpokretS osloncem se oruZane stvaralu na talijanske milicile nazivuantikomunistiike macijeietnikaili po talijanskom ovisneo talijanskoj Poustrojuovosu pomo(netrupeu potpunosti mjeri hranomi novcemU velikoj oruZjem, vojnomopremom, opskrbi zapovjedniitva zapoqedni5tvom talijanskih su podizravnim prebacuje se na Glavnidio oruZanog otporai postrojbiustanika podrudje i Bosanske krajine lll zonena podruijeLike,Korduna divizijom Vl armijski korpuspojaianje 151.pje5aikom U prosincu 'Perugia', bilado lipnla1942 U to vrijeme kolaje u sastavu korpusa prom.lena trupama u zapovjedanju talijanskim dolazii do znatajnijih je operativno podruijeVl armijskog korpusa na podruiju U veljadi podijeljeno Dana18 veljaie1942 godine i Hercegovine Dalmacije je zapovjedniStvo XVlll armijskog u operativnu uporabuuvedeno imalo zapovjedniitvo u SplituOvo korpusno korpusa sa sjediStem je u svolojnadleZnosti podrutjasrednje Dalmacije od Graiacapa do premjeStenole u Vl armijskog korpusa Neretve ZapovjedniStvo rijeke i trupamau luZnoiDalmaciji te je zapovjedalo talilanskim Dubrovnik juZnood rijekeNeretve podrudjem od 9, svibnla1942 talijanskog zapovjedniStva OdlukomVrhovnog je nazivVi5e godine,zapovjedniitvo 2 armijepreuzelo talijanske (tal Comando snagaSlovenije i Dalmacije zapovjedniStvo oru2anih - Supersloda) - Dalmazia FF.AASlovenia Superiore se trupe,na osnovi Podevii od 19 lipnja1942 godine,talijanske povlaieiz lll zone lz ll zone s vladomNDH,postepeno sporazuma je izvrienodjelomiinoTalijanske su u lll povlatenje trupeostavile vaznih te posadena osiguranju zoni sna)angarnizonu Karlovcu pravaca Postepeno Suiak- Karlovac i Mostar- Sarajevo Zellezniikih i vojnimtijelimaNDH vlastpredaju civilnim sei upravna i politidka oruZanihsnaga Do kraja 1942 godineViSe1e zapovjedniitvo s trimaarmilskim na teritoriji NDHzapovjedalo Slovenije i Dalmacije 1 0d i v i z i j a k o r p u s i ms au L u p n o je pleiatkim zapovjedao u Crikvenici PetikorpussazapovjedniStvom ' t eb r z o md i v i z i j o m d i v i z i l a m' Raei' ' L o m b a r d i a 1 54

wit HQ rn Splitand unitson the 15thlnfantryDivision'Bergamo' costalareafrom Makarskato Solin nd inland up to lmotskiand Sinl 32'd tnfantryDivision'Marche wrth HQ in Dubrovnikand units deployedinlandfrom Mostarto Trebinje.Undercommandof this 'SanMarco"from 2nd Fast aiiisi6n was 2'd group of light tanks DivisionEmanueleFilibeftoTestadt Fero' Thegroup HQ with two tanksquadronswasin TrebinjeTheother two squadronswerewith the divisionalHQ rn Dubrovnik 22nd tnfantry Division'CacciatoridelleAlpi was arrivingto the Dalmatiaareafrom Montenegroin August DivisionalHQ was situ' atedin Splitwith elementsdeployedfrom Dubrovnikto Split of 6thArmyCorpswas alsoin commandof ltalianunits Headquarters in Zadar(Trupedi Zara) Only Fastdivisionshad armored unitsin theirstructure.Within li 'SanGiorgio'while 2nd FasiDivisionwas lst Group of light tanks Groupof light tanks SanMarco'formedpaft of 2ndFastDivision. Thegroup was organizedin four squadronswith threeplatoons(4 vehicleseach)and a HQ squadron.Thegroup had 23 officersand 289 NCOsand soldiersTotalstrengthwas 6l L 3 light tanks,23 and 5 radlosets 32 motorcycles other vehicles, tha taliangarrisonin ZadarreceivedthreeLancia1ZM Considering armoredcarsit veryprobablethat the samevehicleswere stillin usein 1941 of Armored of 31't Regiment By mid summerlstand 3'd battalions to 1'tbattalionwassubordinated lnfantryweresentto the Balkans. the HQ of 6thArmy Corpsin Splitwhile 3'd Battalionwas sentto Montenegro.Thesebattalionswere equrppedwith 1.3 tankettes. Eachbattalionhad threecompanieswith threetank platoons.Total was46 numberof tanksin a battalron ut mostof 1stbattalionof 31st Accordingto the 6thCorpsunit 'SassariDivision.Regimentalhead Regimentwas deployedwith quafterswas in Sibenik togetherwith one companyof tanks.The secondcompanywas in Knin while the third was with 6tn Corps HQ in Split Thiswas the dispositionof ltalianforcesat the beginningof upraisafter the outbreakof the armed ing in July 1941 lmmediately

i' AS/W&{JRtrSffAIdTsAfSB Wtr${$Cd.gS $}WtrfdSAruA &{Jtr}rv6 ti'FMH tJ

Osamnaesti armijski korpussazapovjedniStvom u Splituzapovjedao ' Saa s s a r i ' , ' B e r g ia Z maor a j ed i v i z i j a m je divizijaSesti armijski korpus sasjediStem u Dubrovniku zapovjedao , u r g ei ' ' E m i l i a ' m a' M e s s i n 'aM, a r c h e' 'M Odsredine 1941 po do kraja1942 godinesnagetalijanske vojske neprestano su jadaleOiiglednoye da talijanske vojnei politiike strukture nisubilespremne gerilski na dugotrajan rat na Balkanu te daihyeoruZani ustanak iznenadio UZivanje u pobledii reiativan mir iz proljeta 1941 tiyekom ljetase pretvorio u dugotrayan i iscrpllujuii partizanski rat pridobijanja je samokod dijelasrpskog protivnika Politika uspjela stanovniStva kojese organiziralo u ietnidkepostrojbe pri talijanskoj armijiNo kodhrvatskog stanovni5tva ovapolitikanijeuspjevala Bez obzirakolikosu se talijanske vlastitrudileda se 'svidehrvatskom podrudja, stanovniitvu anektiranih danompostajao sve 1azje svakim dublji,a otporje bio svejadi Shvativii da na ovajnaiin ne mogu pridobiti stanovniStvo anekti ranih podrudja, talijanskepolititke i vojne vlastotiilesu u drugukrajnostRepresivne mjerepostale su svelate i okrutnije, a primjenjivale su se podjednako na cijelomokupiranom pa do Boke teritoriju od Su5ala Tijekom ljeta1941 zapotela su prvasudenje i smaknuda uhva(enih hrvatskih rodoljuba i pripadnika postrojbiUbrzosu tali ustaniikih janske vlastipostalesvebezobzirnile i okrutnijeU naseljima kola s u s e n a l a z i lua b l i z i nni a p a d n u t ti h a l i j a n s kki ho l o n ai l i g a r n i z o n a je kolektivno vrSeno kainjavanje lokalnog stanovni5tva Vojnipothvat j e z a p o i i n j apoo t p u n o m s o v i mc i l j e mu g l a v n o m blokadom sum- 133 Na ovojslici s n i m l j e n ouj D a l m a c i j1i 9 4 2 g o d i n ed o b r o v i d i m ok a k o njivogpodrudja ili naglimupadomtalijanskih postrojbi ili detnidkih u s u b i i o d j e v e n ti a l . l a n s ktie n k r s t J e d n ao d r i j e t k i hs l i k an a k o j o j s e v i d d a naselje Odmahbi se pristupilo odvajanju vojnosposobnog muikog s u t a l l a n s k it e n k i s t ni a p r e d n j e md i l e u v o z i a n o s i l id o d a t n ed l a n k ez a stanovni5tva od porodica i pretresu pronalaZenja g u s j e n i c u( H P MZ a g r e b ) naseljaU sludaju oruZja ili dijelova vojneopremeu naselju, osobeza kojese moglo Thisphoto taken in Dalmatiain 1942 clearlyshows us the uniformsof ltaltan pretpostaviti da su u vezis nadenim stvarima su streljane U nekim tankers Thisis also a rare photo showing that ltalian tankersalso mounted pristupalobi se istreljanlusvog vojno sposobnog additional tracks for protectton on the front of the vehicle (HPM Zagreb) sluiajevima stanovni5tva naseljaNaselje bi bilou potpunosti opljaikano, a uko1 3 4 K o l o n at a i j a n s k r ht a n k e t a u D a l m a c i j u i l j e t o 1 9 4 2 g o d i n e P r v oj e likonijezapalleno, je bilo1euni5teno artiljerijskom vatrom,Razaranle v o z i l oz a p o v j e d n e t a n k e t eL 3 o p r e m l j e n ar a d o s t a n r c o m( H P MZ a g r e b ) iSlotolikodalekoda su uni5tavane i poljuprivredne kultureu okolini je u internaciju naselja OstalostanovniStvo odvodeno u koncentra- A column of ltalrantankettesphotographed rn Dalmattaduring the summer of 1942 The first vehtcle is a command tankette eoutpped with a radio set cionelogoreu Dalmaciji, Primorju i ltaliji, (HPM Zagreb)

U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ OKTOPNAVOZITAI OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE

upraising,the units of 2ndArmy were orderedto occupyall the (railroads and importantroads) areasof NDHwith communications The ltaliansbelievedthat that were in |talianzone of responsibility. the armedupraisingwasthe resultof nationalconflictbetweenthe Croatsand the Seibs ltalian forcesenteredthe so called2'd and of ltalianArmy.Thisstatuswas confirmed 3'd zone of responsibility 1941. ln on 7 September with NDHGovernment bv theaqreement and Vd zone ltatianmilitaryauthoritiestook overall administrative mititarydutiesfrom NDHauthorities.DuringAugustand September under the paroleof 'protectingthe Serbpopulationfrom Ustachi' the ltaliansmanagedto divideand weakeninsurgentmovement Armedformationsof Chetnikswere formedwith the aid and under the patronageof ltaliangarrisonsThe ltalianscalledtheseforma' militia' ln militaryhierarchythesewereauxiltions"Anticommunist iarytroopsentirelydependanton ltalianforceswhichsuppliedthem with weapons,equipment,food and money.Theseformationswere for the mostpaft underltaliancommand. Most of the insurgentunitsmovedto 3rdZoneto the areasof Lika, Krajina Kordunand Bosanska The 6th Army Corpswas reinforcedwith 151n lnfantry Division 'Perugia"in December.Thisdivisionremainedas paft of the Corps until June 1942 At the sametime ltaliancommandstrudure went operational throughsignificantchanges.TheDalmatia-Herzegovina wasdividedin February1942.The15thArmyCorps areaof 6'h-Corps in Spliton 18 February1942.Thearea was established headquafters for 15thlorps wascentralDalmatiafrom Gracacto of responsibility wastransferred the NeretvaRiver.The6thArmy Corpsheadquarters in southernDalmatia to Dubrovnikwith the areaof responsibility and the areasouthof the NeretvaRiver. Bvan orderof the GeneralStaffof ltalianArmy on 9 May 1942the 2ndArmy HQ was renamedinto SupremeCommandfor Slovenia FEAA Sloveniaand Dalmatia(in ltalian - ComandoS-uperiore Superslodae) Dalmazia with abbreviation Basedon the aqreementwith the NDHGovernmentltaliantroops 1 3 5 N a o v o l t a n k e t i z a m l e i u j e m oa n t e n u r a d i o s t a n i c e O v o j e o k l o p n o startedto pull out of 3'dZoneon 19 Jun 1942.Pullingout of 2nd v o z i l o o p r e m l l e n o r a d i o s t a n i c o m R F . 1 CA j a i i n e 7 0 v a t i i d o m e t a ZonewasonlypaftiallyexecutedTheltaliansleft a stronggarrisonin 1 0 - 1 2 k m T a n k e t eo p r e m l j e n er a d i o s t a n i c o m n a l a z i l es u s e u s a s t a v u Karlovac as well as somesmallerunitsto protectimporlantrailroads z a p o v j e d n i i t a vbao j n e i s a t n i j e N a o v o l s e s l i c in a b o k u t a n k e t el i j e p ov i d i (Susak-Karlovacand M ostar- 5arajevo).Admini stratio n wasgraduaIly i n d i v i d u a l n ao z n a k a v o z i l a u n u t a r p o s t r o i b e S v a k a s a t n i j a i l i e s k a d r o n handedoverto the civilianand militaryauthoritiesof NDH u n u t a r g r u p e i l i b o j n e i m a l i s u s v o j u b o j u : 1 - c r v e n u ,2 - p l a v u ,3 - Z u t u i 4 z e l e n u V o d o v i u n u t a r s a t n i j eb i l i s u o b i l i e ) e n iv e r t i k a l n i mc r t a m a n a threeArmyCorpswith commanded By the endof 1942'supersloda" pravokutnom polju 1 vod - jedna crta, 2 vod - dvije crte, 3 vod - tri crte of NDH on the territory 10 divisions a total of l z n a dp r a v o k u t n o gp o l . 1bai l aj e b r o j k ak o j ao b i l j e Z a vpao j e d i n ov o z i l ou n u t a r commandedthe'Re"and 'Lombardia" th Corpswith HQin Crikvenica o a j e o z n a k an a b o k u o v e t a n k e t ec r v e n a :o v o v o d a U k o l i k op r e t p o s t a v i m d and 1't FastDivisron lnfantryDivisions b i b i l o p r v o v o z i l o d r u g o g v o d a , 1 s a t n i j ei e d n e o k l o p n e g r u p e i l i b o j n e a r m i j e ( H P MZ a g r e b ) talijanske 18thArmy Corps with HQ in Split commandedthe "Sassar/, 'Bergamo'and "Zara'divisions. The antenna on this tankette tells us that the vehicle was equipped with an R EIC A 70 Watt radio set with a useful range of 10-12 kilometers The 6thArmy Corpswith HQ in Dubrovnikcommandedthe "Messina', tankeftes equipped with radio sets were with the brigade and company divisrons. "Marche',"Murge'and "Emilia" commands The individual identification marking can be clearly seen on the hull side. Every company or squadron inside a combat group or battalion Frommid 1941until the end of 1942ltalianforceswereconstantly had its own color: the 1st red, the 2nd- blue, the 3'd - yellow and the 4th growing It is obviousthat ltalian militaryand politicalstructures - green The platoons within a company were marked with veftical bars in a and were not preparedfor a protractedguerillawar on the Balkans square - the 1st platoon one bac the second two and the third three bars that they were surprisedby the armedupraise.Theirenioyingthe Above the square was a number indrcating the vehicle number inside the spoilsof victoryandrelativepeaceduringthespringof 1941turned platoon Assuming that the color on the hull side of this tankette is red this guerillawar in the summer. into a long lastingand exhausting should be the first vehicle of the second platoon of the 1st company tnside a combat group or battalion of the ltalian Army. (HPM Zagreb) The 'Heartsand Minds' tactictowardslocalpopulationworkedonly par-tially with the Serbpart of thepopulationthatioined the Chetnik unitssupportedby ltalianArmy.With Croatianpopulationthistadic i Zeljeznidki did not vieldanv resu/ts.No matterhow hard the ltaliansstroveto biliizloZeni cestovni napadima Posebno su partizanskim djelovan- get the Croatianpopulationto cooperatethe chasmwas growing da se prveuputeo borbenim transportiNedudiiinjenica jamaodnosenazaititukolonamotornih i zasjeda bigger everyday. Resistance vozilaod prepada was strongerand stronger.Realizing postrojbe o donosepravila Ve(tijekomljeta1941. godinetalijanske that thisway they will not be able to coaxCroatianpopulationinto koje cooperationltalianpoliticaland militaryauthoritieswent into anothnapadu. U uputama kolonapriiznenadnom kretanju i ponaianju jednetalijanske je izdalo Vl armijenalaZe seda divizije zapovjedniStvo measures carriedout over the occupied er extreme.The repressive u kolonimotornihvozilamorajubiti svevojneosobekojeseprevoze teriltorybecamestrongerand morebrutal. se i da u slutajunapadamorajustupitiu borbu Nadalje naoruZane of Croatianpatriotsandcapturedmembers Firsttrialsand executions postrojbi kolonamorajuodred- of the resistance nalaiedazapraienje zapovjednicima beganin the summerof 1941. Verysoonltalian mora kojomobavezno strojnicama iti posebnupratnjunaoruzanu punishand brutal. Collective authoritiesbecamemore irrespective te tlanova mentof localpopulationwasconductedin the areasnearthe locaizboratasnikakojizapovjeda tasnik.Prilikom zapovjedati i pratnjetrebaobratrtipaZnjuda se radi o sposobnim tasnicima tionsof attacks.Militaryactionsusuallybeganwith total blockadeof kolonamotornih theareaor with a suddenassault raspoloZenim za borbuU sluiajunapada vojnicima of the ltalianor Chetnikforcesinto mjestoprepada. moranapustiti moguae vozilaito je najbrZe the settlement.Themilitaryable part of the populationwould be immediatelv separatedfrom their faniliesand searchof the houses kolones kojanalaZebrzoizmicanje od uputaovedivizije, Za razltku prepada, korpusa nalaiezapovjednicima naputakV. armijskog mjesta ne pove(avaju s Thisabbreviationwill be usedin the text for the purposeof clarityand distinction te da u slutajuprepada oprezno kolonada napreduju brzinuiz razloqa5to ie do tada dostamotornihvozila in between variouscommands bezrazloLno 56

ItRtFtsuRâ&#x201A;Ź!)td,lt$flsAfvs t/g$*ffl*Fgffu rtr$AruA s{.fRffsffit4/w $d uni5teno sletanjem s cestei medusobnim sudaranjem, zbogbrzog would egin ln caseweaponsor militaryequipmentwas found all uzmicanju s mjestaprepada person broughtin connectron with thoseitemswouldbe executed. ln some instancesall militaryable populationwould be executed Kaoposljedica uiestalih prepada nakolonemotornih vozilapostalo ie uobidajeno dasemanjetalijanske postrojbe uglavnom nisuudaljavaie T-hevillagewould be scourgedand burnedor destroyedby artillery od svojihgarnizona te da su se kolonekojeprevoze opskrbupratile fire.Destructionwent so far as destroyingof crops nearthe vitlagei Theremainingpopulationwould be takento concentrationcamps jaiinesatnije postrojbama ilivodaoklopnih vozila in Dalmatia,Primorjeor ltaly. Poietkom oZujka 1942godinezapovjedniStvo jednu 2 armijedonosi exposedto the partisanattackswere road and railroad duZustudijuu kojojraspravlya ipostavlja vojnudoktrinuborbeprotiv Especially gerileU studijiseposebno govorio upotrebi oklopnih vozilau gerilskomratovanjuNavodiseda brojod oko200 oklopnih vozila,-koja sesadanalazena podrudju Balkana, nijedovoljan te da se taj brol morabrzopor,ie(ati Posebna paZnjausmjerava sepremaproizvodnji oklopnih vozilana kotatimasposobnim da pjeia5tvu u borbipruZe pokretljivost i oklopnuzaStituTakoderje navedeno da naterenukod unit commanders wereinstructedto providespecla/escorffor conpostrojbi postojioditmanjakoklopnihvozilate da bi se on mogao -bilo voysarmedwith machineguns commanded by an officer.Ihe escorf nadoknaditi ukolikobi postrojbama tijekomsljedetihmjeseci wereto be led by competentofficersand fulfilledwith otpremano je studijapri talrjanskom detachments oko 50 vozilamlesetnoCijela so/dlerswillingto fight. ln caseof attackthe convoywasto leavekill Vrhovnom zapoqedniitvu shvaiena vrloozbiljno zoneas fastas possible. Tijekomprvepolovice 1942 godinena podruijuNDHizvrieno1e Contrary to the instructionsissuedby this division'whichdictated preustrojavanje zapovjedniitvaNa ovaj prostorsu upuiene nove leaving theambushzoneasfastas possible, the instructions from 5th postrojbe jadine od sastava divizijepa do pojedinih specijaliziranihCorpsHQ ordereddriversto advancecautiously and notto tncrease postrojbi. je pove(anbroj samostalnih Z.natno oklopnihpostrolbi spgedin caseof attackso as to avoidcollisions and vehicles going kojesu podredene pojedinim armijskim korpusima. Velikidio nove off the roadin ensuingmeleeand high speedwithdrawalfro"m ttt1 proizvodnje oklopnihautomobila i oklopnihkamionausmjeren je k amausnarea. postrojbama na Balkanu As a consequence of frequent attackssmallerltalian units were Naterenususeoklopne postrojbe uglavnom upotrebljavale na razini confinedt the vicinityof therrgarrisons.The escortfor supplycolsatnije ili voda Nemamonitijedanprimjerda 1eneliaod oklopnih umnswas creasedto a companysize unit or a platoonof atrmored grupadjelovala kaojedinstvena postrojba194'j qodinena ovom vehicles. podruiju su bilegrupelakihtenkova tanketa1 i 2 brzediviziie. 1 bojna3'1 pukamehaniziranog pjeiaitvai mehanizirana satnija zadarskih trupa Satnije i pojedini vodoviovihoklopnihpostrojbi blli su rasporedeni i podredeni pri zapovjedni5tvima armilskih korpusa i drvi.zija kao garnizonske postrojbe. Tijekomguienjaustanka.j 941. godineupotrebljavane su kao ojadanje glavnihnapadnihkolona pojedinih pjeiaikihpostrojbi. Uspostavljanlem Siroke mreZeLalijanskrhgarnizona u unutrainjosti, kojisu biliovisnio opskrbljivanju iz garnizona na morskoj je zadatak obali,glavni ovihoklopnih postrojbi postaopracenle transportnih kolonaopskrbeBuduiida je tijekom 1942 godlneoruZaniustanaknaglo ojatao,ove su-postrojbe uglavnom neizmjence upotrebljavane u napadnimpothvatima'na partaanske odrede, te u pra(enjutransportnih kolona.Vei tijekom 1 9 4 1g. o d i n eb i l j e Z i mpor v eg u b i t k o e k l o p n ivho z i l aG. u b i csi ' en a s - smallerspecialized formatronswere sentto thisarea Thenumberof tavljaju i tijekom1942.godinete neprestano rastuGlavniproblem tndependentarmoredunitssubordinatedto individualArmy Corps talilanskih je slababorbena zapovjednika moi i pokretljivost A largepaft of the newlyproducedarmoredvehicies tankete wasrncreased. wasdeliveredto the unitson the Balkans. The unitsin the field were utilizedin strengthof a platoonor a company.Not a singleexampleexistsof units operatingas whole groups

1 3 6 T a n k e t aL 3 u p r o l a z uk r o z n e k i o d d a l m a t i n s k i hg r a d i i a u l j e t o 1 9 4 2 g o d i n e( H P MZ a g r e b ) e L 3-tankette passing through a typical Dalmatian village in the summer 1942. (HPM Zagreb)

decreased the vulnerability of t lianinfantrybut did notsignificantly changetheoutcomeof clashe Dueto theintensityof operationsand usageof unitsin strengthof a companyand platoonit is difficultif not inpossrbleto track-combat recordsof individualunits. Thefollowingchapterswill bringan overviewof armoredunits pres ent on the battlefield during1941-42as wellascombataccount of someof the units. 57

OKLOPNAVOZILAI OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

lst Group of light tanks "San Giusto" (ital. Gruppo carri L San Giusto) ln the first months after the April war lst FastDivision"Eugenio di Savoia'was deployedin and around the town of Karlovac. Undoubtedlythe Divisionwas deployedthis deep insideCroatian territory,merely50 km from Zagreb,as an instrumentof pressure on Croatiangovernment.Paft of the Divisionwas garrisonedin Jastrebarsko only30 km from Zagreb lst Groupof light tanks"SanGiusto'was deployedin garrisonsin and Jastrebarsko. Paftsof the unit in strengthof a company Karlovac or platoon were relocatedas a needed basisto variousdivisional garnsons. Firstcombatactionswererecordedonly at the end of the yeardur ing the operationswestof the PetrovaGoraMountain.Thegoal of in Vrgin theoperationwasthe reliefof encircleddomobrangarrisons Most and Vojnic. j e 1 3 7 O v a s l i k as n i m l j e n a2 k o l o v o z a1 9 4 2 u t a l i j a n s k ovl o j a r n iu G e r o v u On 10 December1941 17 trucksand S light tankswere on the N a s l i c ij e v i d l j i v op r i k u p l j a n j ek o l o n e m o t o r n i h i o k l o p n i hv o z i l ak o j i s u s a and 350 movetowardsVrginMost.A columnof 300 ltaliansoldiers p o d r u i j a G o r s k o gk o t a r a i S l o v e n i l et r e b a l id e p o r t i r a t ip r e k o 1 0 0 0 c i v i l n i h ustachimilitary schoolcadetsbroke the encirclementand relieved o s o b a u l o g o r e u l t a l i j i l z m e d u o s t a l i hv o z i l av i d i m o t a n k e t u L 3 i o k l o p n i a u t o m o b i lA B 4 1 i z o r u Z a n ep r a t n j ek o l o n e ( M G RR i j e k a ) the Vojnicaanisonon 23 December1941. This photo was taken in ltalian barracks in the village of Gerovo on August DuringJanuary1942part of the unit, most probablyof company 2, 1942 lt shows the assembling of the column that was to take some 1000 strength,was with ltalian garrisonsin Vrgin Most and Topusko. civiliansto concentration camps in ltaly. Among the other vehrclesare an L 3 Accordingto a paftisanreportfrom 19February1942 thegarrisonin tankette and an AB 41 armored car. (MGR Rijeka) with 2 light tanksand thegarrison Topuskohad 1000ltaliansoldiers in VrginMost had 900 soldierswith 5 tanketts. Firstbiggeroperationof ltalianarmoredunits on the Kordunarea L 3 Znatnijapojatanjau oklopnimautomobilima i kamionima was in March 1942. On 19 March 1942 at leasttwo companies pjeiaitvana borbena attackedthe territoryheld by insurgents,advancingfrom Karlovac uglavnomsu poveaala otpornosttalijanskog djelovanja, no nisubitnoutjecala na samishodborbi. Stol.Theybrokeinto Vojnicwith 11 tankettes. and Generalski S obziromna intenzitet borbenih djelovanja te uporabupo postroj- Italiangarrisonat Sv.Jana wasattackedon 16 November1942and postrojbu bamajatinesatnije i voda,vrloje teiko pojedinu u ovom reinforcements consrsted of two cavalrysquadronsand one platoon pratitiu borbenim slijedipregled of tankssentfrom Karlovac razdoblju djelovanjima. U nastavku pregled On 30 December1942 during partisanattackon Gomirjea relief postrojbi naratiituu 1941. i 1942.godinite okvirni oklopnih pojedinih djelovanja talijanskih oklopnihpostrojbi u istomrazdoblju pafty in strengthof 2 tankettesand 9 armoredtruckswas sentfrom po podruajima pojedinih nadleZnosti armijskih korpusa Ogulin A largeroperationon the VelikaKapelaareabeganon 13 October | . Grupa (lakih) tenkova "San Giusto" 1942. ln Squadronof tanketteswas added to "Re'Divisionand (tal. Gruppo carri L San Giusto) Division. On 17 October1942the2nd 3'dsquadronto'Lombardia" 'Eugenio je u prvimmjesec- CroatianBrigade(Paftisan) 1. brza divizija di Savoia" razmje5tena attackedan ltaliancolumnof about2000 ima nakontravanjskog rata u Karlovcu i okolnimgarnizonima soldiers DivisionnearSkakavac from lst FastDivisionand'Lombardia" je da je divizijarazmjeitena Nedvojbeno ovakodubokou hrvatski (Kordunarea)Thecolumnwascomposedof 5 squadronsof cavalry pritiskana teritoriji nepunih50 km od Zagrebakao instrument 6-7 tankettes,infantryand aftillery.During a day long battle the vladuNDH Diopostrojbi divizije nalazio seu garnizonu Jastrebarsko column was forced to return to starting positionswith a lossof nepunih 30 km od Zagreba about 100 soldiers and officers.ltaliancasualtyrepoft |ists10 dead je u garnizone and 82 missingsoldiers.40 officersand soldierswere wounded, I grupalakihtenkova"SanGiusto"ra4mjeitena u jadinesatnije amongthem one lieutenantcolonel,onemajorand two lieutenants Jastrebarskom i KarlovcuPo potrebidijelovipostrojbe CavalryRegimentDuring the battle 32 soldiers ili vodarasporedivani su i u ostalimmjestimau kojimasu talijanske from "Allesandria' werecapturedas well as 1 tankette,tvvo75mmfieldgunsand the trupeimalegarnizon CavalryRegimentstandard.Destroyedwere 6 trucks,3 "Allesandria" postrojbabiljeZie Prvaborbenadjelovanja se tek krajemgodineu gore,s namjesklopupothvatana predjelima zapadnood Petrove garnizona romda se probijublokade domobranskih u VrginMostu i Vojniiu. je pokretkoloneod 17 kamiona Dana10 prosinca zabiljeien i osam u pravcu VrginMosta.Dana23.prosinca kolonaod oko300 tanketa talijanskih vojnika,350 pitomaca ustaikihvojnihSkolai 8 tanketa garnizon deblokira domobranski u Vojni(u jadinesatnije,smje5ten pri najvjerojatnije U sijeinjuje dio postrojbe, garnizonima Premapartizantalijanskim u VrginMostui Topuskom. se nalazi skomizvjeituod 19. veljaie1942. godineu Topuskom '1 garnizon vojnika s 2 tankete, a u VrginMostu od oko 000talijanskih garnizon vojnika s 5 tanketa. od oko900talijanskih Talijanske oklopnepostrojbe sudjeluju u prvojveiojakcijina Kordunu dvijesatnije satanu oZujku 1942.godineDana19.oiujkanajmanje i Generalskog ketamanapadajuustaniikiteritorijiz pravcaKarlovca jatine11 tanketa Stolate vr5eupadu Vojnii postrojbom je talijanski garnizon u Sv.Jani. Dana16. studenog 1942.napadnut jedaneskadron konjicei lz pravcaKarlovca uputenje kaopojadanje 1 3 8 O k l o p n i k a m i o n K o l o n a s i n t e r n i r c i m an a p a d n u t aj e o d p a r t i z a n a jedanvodtanketa. p u t e m o d G e r o v a k P r i m o r j ut e j e d i o i n t e r n i r a c au s p i o p o b j e i i ( M G R na Gomirje, iz 30 prosinca 1942.godine,zbognapadapaftizana Rijeka) jednakolonasastavljena je kaopojaianje pravca uputena od Ogulina An armored truck A column with deportees was attacked by partisanson pothvat the road between Gerovo and the coast and a number of civiliansmanaqed zapotinje 2 tankete i 9 oklopnih kamiona. Dana13.listopada je 1 to escape (MGR Rijeka) divizije"Re"dodijeljen na podruijuVelikeKapelePostrojbama 58

$dftpf#L{s{9fl tsf\{Jrs.4flfffi tctri#ffl[trs dAifl-JTsl{p'f"4${"/Rfrufriff't/{ftffi,{

je 3 eskadron grupetanketaDivizijiLombardia dodiieljen eskadron grupe D a n a1 7 l i s t o p a d1a9 4 2g o d i n el l h r v a t s kbar i g a dnaa p a d kao l o n u vojnikakod mjestaPololna KordunuU od oko 2000 talijanskih konjiikepukovnije iz sastava kolonenalazile su se postrolbe sastavu 'Cavalleggeri grupe'San di Alessandria', 8 tanketaL 3 iz sastava jedna iz sas i bitnica topova Crnih koiulja Giusto , LXXXIbataljon 'Re Kolonaje u clelodnevnol borbivraienana mjesto tavadivizije samoje polaska velikegubitkePremaizvje5talima te je pretrpjela i pukovnila u borbiimala129 mrtvihi ranjenihdasnika konjidka vojnikaU borbije zapljenlena su 32 talijanska vojnikaZarobljena puka jednatanketa, zastava konjiikog dvatopaod 75 mm i pukovska 3 ,m o t o c i kil jae d a no s o b n i kamiona A l l e s a n d rU i an' i i t e njoe s e d a m materijalu stojida 1euz ostala o izgubllenom automobil U izvje5taju vozilotipa 'Dovunque' i jednooklopljeno vozila izgubljeno u Gorskomkotarute na na podrutluRisn'1aka Krajemlistopada pothvata podrutjulastrebarskog tralu dva veia protupartizanska Za potrebe postrojbe divizija'Re'i 'Lombardija' u kojemsudjeluju je dodilellen pothvata u Gorskomkotarupleiaikimpostrolbama j e d a ne s k a d r otna n k e t ag r u p e' S a nG i u s t o ,k o j is e 3 0 l i s t o p a d a postroza prikupljanje u mjestuGerovuU zapovjedi trebaoprikupiti jbLnavedeno je da (e nakonzavrietka pothvata navedeni eskadron grupe bitiupu(enu vojarnuTrsatna SuiakuDrugadvaeskadrona zajedno s postrolbama u okoliciJasterbarskog sudyeluju u pothvatu 'Lombardia divizile

DivisionsRe and Lombardia'were tnvolvedin two larger anti Giusto'Groupwasassignedto tnfantryunitsinvolvedtn the Gorski Kotar areaoperation Accordingto the ordersthe gatherrngwas wereengagedin an operationaroundJastrebarsko two squadrons Division togetherwith the unitsfrom'Lombardra 2"d Group of light tanks "San Marco" (ital. Gruppo carri L San Marco) 'Marche' of summer1941the group wasput undercommandof with Divisionat the verysouth of Croatia.Thegroup headquarters two squadronsof 1.3 tanketteswas stationedin Trebinietogether two of Marche'DivisionTheremaining with 55thtnfantryRegiment squadronswerein Dubrovnikwith divisionalheadquarters

tnacttve

l l . G r u p a ( l a k i h )t e n k o v a " S a nM a r c o " ( t a l .G r u p p o c a r r i L S a n M a r c o ) nalazila i ll grupalakihtenkova u iijem se sastavu 2 brzadivizlja, 'SanMarco',potetkomlleta1941 godinepovuiena je s podruija tanketteswas rn the attackingcolumn Most ltkelythat unit was Marco' lt is unknownif the groupwas Oklopna from the 2ndGroup'San zadataka u Sloveniji diookupacilskih 'Re Hrvatske te je preuzela or it was alreadystationedwith the pod zapoviedniStvomtransferredfrom Rtjeka grupaSanMarcole u istovrijemestavljena 'Marchena samomjugu HrvatskeZapovledniitvo grupe DivisionHQ at Gospic drvizije Italian forcesattemptedto breakthrough Korentcaencirclement zajednos 55 se u Trebinju tanketaL 3 nalazilo s dvaeskadrona 'Marche' tanketa pleSatkim pukomdivizije Preostala dvaeskadrona prizapovjedniStvu divizije L 3 bilasu u Dubrovniku

'139 P r e d n ldi i o o k l o p n o ga u t o m o bl a A B 4 0 p r i l a g o d e nz a k r e t a n j eT e l j e z n i d k i tmr a i n i c a m a O v a s u s e v o z i l au g l a v n o mk r e t a l au b l i z i n io k l o p n i hv a k o v at e s u s u Z i l az a i z v i d a n j es u m l jv h m j e s t an a p r u z i n e p o s r e d n op r i l ep r o l a s k av l a k a ( M N Z SL j u b l j a n a ) Thefront enclof an AB 40 armored car adapted for railway patrolling Such vehiclesmoved mainly neararmored train composittons conducting reconnaissance work prior to the armoured train passtng (MNZS Ljubljana)

OKI-OPNAVOZILA I OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

'Velebit'paftisan detachmentwith 160 soldiers.paftisansrepulsed the attack. While maneuverinqone tankettewent off the road and got stuckin the snow. Tie partisanscapturedthe crew and removedarmamentand ammunitionfrom the vehicle.With heaw alillgU an/ al suppott the attackwas repeatednextday.During the fiercefirefightthe partisans counterattacked and pushedltatian forcestowardsGospic.Another tanketteand four mountainquns were capturedduring the counterattack. Accordingto the reports confirmedby the NDHAdministrative councilwith2d ltalianArmv, Italian losseswere 9 officers and woundedand 65 missinq.During the two days of fighting 290 Italianofficersand soldieissuffere"d from exposireto subzerotemperatures postrojbeu dva navratapokuiavajuprobiti blokadu TheKorenicasiege Talijanske wasbrokenonlyon 27 March 1942duringa "Re" KOrenrce divisionoperationsupportedby a unit with 8 tankettes.Most likely Polo)aje jadine160 2. bataljona 1. partizanskog odreda"Velebit", that unit belongedto 'SanMarco'group Thefact is supportedby boraca, 23.sijetnja napada kolonajatineod oko bataljona pjeSa5tva a paftisanrepoft from 16 March 1942aboutan ltaliancolumnwith jednatanketaje sletje- tanksloadedonto the trucksmovinqfrom RiiekatowardsCrikvenica saSesttanketa.Napadje odbijen.Priokretanju la u kanalpokrajputaiostalau snijegu. and Senj. Partizanski borcizarobili su posadutanketeiz kojesu izvadene strojnice i streljivo. Sljede(eg dana It appearscommonfor the "Re"Divisionunitsin the Likaareato be napadje ponovljenuz snaZnuartiljerrysku podr5ku. reinforcedby companiesfrom armoredgroup "SanMarco".Those i zrakoplovnu U Zestokoj borbitalijanske protunapadu snagesu u snaZnom parunitswould spendsometime in the Likaareabeforebeingpulled tizanskog premaGospiiu.U protunapadu je bataljona odbadene backto Rijeka. joi jednatanketate ietiri brdskatopa 75 mm.,Prema Armoredunitsappearedin Likain June 1942. zarobljena naknadnim izvjeitajima, kojepotvrdujeUpravnopovjereniStvo NDH A column of 22 trucks travelingalong the Prijeboj-Licko Petrovo pri 2. talijanskoj armijina Suiaku,u borbije poginulo9 talijanskih Seloroad was attackedon 16 June 1942 A sinqletankette sent je 65 tasnikai vojnika, iasnikai 71 dodasnik I vojnik.Ranjeno a 65 ih from LickoPetrovo5e/oasa relieffor the convoywasdamagedand sesmatranestalima captured.Machineguns were removedfrom the vehiclewhich was je,s raznim U dvodnevnim promrzlo borbama stupnjevima ozljeda setablaze.Tentruckswere destroveddurinq the attack.The Skara od smrzavanja, oko290talrlanskih tasnikai vojnika. villageattackon 23 lune 1942wai supponeldby S tankettesOn27 prekinuta Opsada Koreniceje tek27.oZujka 1942 godinepothvatom .Junethe sameunit wasinvolvedin anti paftisanoperationfrom the villageof SkaretowardsBrlog. postrojbidivizije "Re".U pothvatuje sudjelovala i oklopnapostrojba s osamtanketa. Vrlovjerojatno postrojba pripada grupi"San Oneplatoon of tankettesfrom the Rijekagarrisonwas involvedin oklopnoj jerje u jednompartizanskom Marco"iz Rijeke izvjeitaju od 16.oZujka destructionof Podhumvillageon 12 July 1942.Postwar reportdone for WarCrimessaysthat 91 malesagedfrom 16prolazkolonekamionanatovarenih zabiljeZen s tanketama iz pravca by the Commission 60 werekilledduringthat event.Theywereall killedby nachinegun prekoCrikvenice Rijeke u pravcuSenja. fire from tankettes lzgledada je uobitajeno da se postrojbama divizije'Re"u Licipo Except in the Likaareathe armoredunit from Rijekawasinvolvedin potrebipridodajusatnijes tanketama iz sastava grupe oklopne "San operationson the GorskiKotararea. Marco"iz Rijeke, kojesu na terenuLikeboravile odredenovrijemete On 2 August 1942 the paftisans su nakontoga povuienenazadu Rijeku. attackedan ltaliancolumnon Crni Lug-GerovocommunicationThe column was composedof Oklopnasepostrojba u Liciponovnopojavljuje u mjesecu lipnju. 39 trucksand 5 busesand was transpoftino1132 civiliansaccused - LidkoPetrovo Dana16. lipnjana putu Prijeboj je Selonapadnuta of involvementin or suppoft of armed resistance to concentratrcn kolonaod 22 kamiona.lz pravcaLitkogPetrovog Selaintervenirala campsDuringthe combata numberof civilians managed to escape. je jednatanketakojaje u borbioiteienai zarobljena. S tanketesu Tentrucksand five buseswere destroyed.The partisansdid not je skinutestrojnice, a vozilo zapaljeno. U borbije uniitenoi 10 manageto liberateall the civiliansor to destroythe whole column kamiona. U napaduna seloSkara 23. lipnjasudjeluje 8 tanketa. lsta beforemore ltaliantankettesand armoredtrucksarrivedfrom the postrojba27. lipnjaiz pravcaSkarasudjelujeu pothvatimaprotiv surrounding garrisons. partizana premaBrlogu On 17 August a truck column escoftedby three tanketteswas Dana12. srpnja1942.godineu potpunomrazaranlu selaPodhum attackedon the road Vodice-Jelenje The tanketteswere deployed jedanvod tanketaiz garnizonaRijeka.U posli- on the head,middleand rear of the convoy.The paftinn combat krajRijekesudjeluje jeratnomizvjeitajukomisijeza ispitivanje ratnihzlodinanavodise repoft statesthat the ltaliancrewsabandonedthe trucksand the daje tom prilikom ubijen91 muSkarac u dobiod 16 do 60 godina partisanscollectedthe booty unopposed.Due to the lack of anti je izvr5eno Strijeljanje strojnicama iz tanketa. tank weaponsthree tankettescontinuedroamingfreelyalongside the convoyregardless of the fact that the partisans werebehindor Osimna podruijuLike,oklopnapostrojbaiz Rijeke sudjeluje u borin the trucksgatheringthe material.Only the appearance of a new bamau Gorskom kotaru. je talijanska columnof 8 tankettesmadethe partisanflee the ambushsite. Dana2. kolovoza na cestiCrniLug- Gerovonapadnuta je pod vojnom lst Battalion of 31st Mechanized Infantry Regiment kolonaod 39 kamionai pet autobusa. U vozilima pratnjombllo1132civilakojisuodvodeniu talijanske koncentracione (ital. btg.carri Ll31 regimento fanteria carrista) logorezbogsudjelovanja je i pomaganja oruZanog otpora.U bor.bi je i uniitenopreko10kamiona The lst Battalionof 31stMechanizedInfantrvReqimentwas under dioovihcivilauspiopobjeii.Zapaljeno commandof the 6h Army CorpsHQ in Split Thebattalionanivedto i petautobusa. Partizanima nijeuspjelo uniStiti svukolonui osloboditi the Dalmatiaareain lateJuly 1941. Thebattalionheadquarter staff svecivile zbognaglognailaska tanketa I oklopnih kamiona iz okolnih was attackedon 28 July 1941 while on rail transport.The attack garnizona. talijanskih took placeon the railroadbetweenGracacand Knin.Accordingto 6h Corpsrepoft4 tankerswere killed,35 woundedand 5 missing. Duringthe autumnof 1941the unit wasengagedin counterinsurgencyoperationsin Bosanska Krajinaand WesternHerzegovina. On 10 Octoberltaliancolumnsescoftedbv tankettesenteredBosanski Petrovac.The Krajina (partisan)detathment attackedthe ltalian columnnear Kupres on 23 November1941. Duringthe attackone tankettewas seton fire and three truckswere captured. One unit with 20 fanketfeswas basedat ltalianqarrisonin Bihac duringNovember1941. jesenii definitivnim Podetkom slomomustanka u CrnojGorigrupaje prebaiena u Rrleku, je do kraji t O+i. odnosnona Suiak.postrojba godineuglavnom neaktivna. Dbna20. sije(.n1a je napadnuttalijanski 1942.godineu Korenici garnizon. Napadnijeuspio,no partizanske snagesu Korenicu u potpunosti opkolile i izolirale.

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On 20 February1942the regimentalHQ was locatedin Sibenik The lst Companywas in Kupreswith one platoonin Bugojno.The 2nocompanywasin Dryarand 3'd in Livnowith oneplatoonin Sinj. A columnescoftedby threetanketteswas attackednearDrvaron 28 March 1942.Thesameday the Bileca partisanbattalionfoughta battleagainst1500ltaliansoldiers supporledby four tankettes. On 6 April 1942 an ltaltancolumn escortedby 3 tanketteswas attackedin the Drvararea ranjeno ih je 35,a petje nestalo Four tanketteswere rnvolvedin fighting around Triljon 23 April 1942 Postrojba tijekomjesenisudjeluje u slamanju oru)anihustankau bosanskoj krajinii zapadnoj On 1 May 1942 a truck column escoftedby four tanketteswas Hercegovini. Dana10. listopada 1941 talijanske kolonepratene tanketama ulazeu Bosanski Petrovac, Dana attackednearCapljina 23.studenog 1941.1. krajiikiodredje kodKupresa napaotalijansku A few vehiclesweredestrovedon 13 Mav when a 70 truckcolumn jednutanketui zarobio kolonu te zapalio tri kamiona, was ambushedon the Mostar-lVevesinTe communicationThecolPritalijanskom garnizonu u Bihatuu studenom 1941godinenalazila umn was escoftedby 4 tankettesand 30 motorcyclesDuring the attackltaliangeneralPerideNegriwas shotand killed. postrojba seoklopna s oko20 tanketa. Dana20.veljade je 1942.godinezapovjedniitvo pukabilo smje5teno ln May one tankettewas destroyedwhen it ran over a land mine roadby 5thKrajina detachment of the u Sibeniku. Prvasatnijanalazila se u Kupresu. Jedanvod ovesatnije plantedon the Drvar-Grahovo (NOP). Peoples Liberation Movement btoje u Bugojnu. Drugasatnija nalazila seu DrvaruTreiasatnija bila je u Livnu. Approximately10 000 ltaliansolderswith 15 tanketteswere staJedan vodovesatnije bioje u Sinju. tionedin Jablanica,Rama,Ostrozacand KonjicduringMay 1042 Dana28. oZujka1942.godinena podrudjuDrvaranapadnuta je Italianarmoredunitsweredeployedon the Sinlareain lune 1942 kolonakamionau tijoj su pratnjibiletri tankete.lstogje danau An armoredunit with 12 tankettesarrivedto Vrgoracon l6 June Hercegovini kodBileteBiletkiNOPbatalion vodioborbus oko 'l500 1942 talijanski h vojnika pra(eni h ietirimatanketama je kod Drvara Dana6. travnjaponovno napadnuta talijanska kolona On 29thand 30thJunethe paftisansattackeda columnof 23 trucks road. Thepaftisanunit combatrepoft states praeena trimatanketama. Dana23.travnia1942.qodineu borbama on the BiliBrig-Poljana okoTrilja sudjeluju tetiritankete. Danaf .ivibnjak6dCapljine napad- that the booty could not be collecteddue to the arrivalof ltalian reinforcements in the form of 8 tankettesand 7 armoredtrucks praienaietirimatanketama. nutaje kolonakamiona from Sinj Dana13.svibnjana cestiMostar- Nevesinje je talijannapadnuta skakolonaod oko 70 kamionai dvaosobnaautomobila, praiena A unit with 8 tanketteswas stationedat the Kistanjeareawith a task to provideescorlfor the convoysthat were supplyingltalian ietirimatanketama i 30 motociklista. U borbi ie uniSteno nekoliko garrisons with food and ammunition. peride je poginuogeneral vozila, U zasjedi talijanske volske Negri Duilng the Bracanti partisanoperation175ltaliansoldiers with four U mjesecu svibnjudiverzanti 5. krajiSkog NOPodredanagaznom tanketfes and two armoredtruckslandedon the islandon 9 July minomna cestiDrvar Grahovo uniitilisujednutanketu 1942.A few dayslater in a similaroperationon Hvar2000 ltalian U svibnju sena podrutjuod Jablanice, Rame, Ostroica i Konjica nala- soldierswith tankettesdisembarked on the island. zilooko 10 000talijanskih vojnika s oko 15tanketa, Theheadquafters of the Groupand one companywere stationed je razmjeStaj U lipnju1942.godinezabiljeien talljanskih oklopnih in Solinon 1 September1942.Onecompanywasin Benkovac with postrojbi u Slnju. two platoonsdeployedto Kistanje Dana16 lipnla1942 godineu Vrgorac je iz pravca Metkoviia doSla On 3 October1942an ltalian olumnof 15 trucksescorted by four postrojba oklopna s'12 tanketa. je tanketfeswas attackedon th Strmica-Knin Dana29. i 30. lipnjanapadnuta road.Anothercolumn kolona od 23 kamiona na cestiBiliBrig-TrnovaPoljana. U izvjeStaju escoftedby 10 tanketteswas attackedon 1BOctoberwhiletraveling paftizanskog odreda,kojije napadizvriio,navodise da plijennije down the Cetina-Sestanovac road. mogaobitiizvuienzbognaglognadolaska koloneod 8 tanketai 7 Twobattalions of 'Blackshirts" andan armoredunitreinforced ltalian blindiranih kamiona iz pravca Sinja garilsonat GracacduringOctober. Na podrutjuKistanja nalazise postrojba s osamtanketakojaprati Thebridgeat Strmicavillagewasguardedby ltalianforcessuppofted kolonekojevrSeopskrbljivanje namirnicama i streljivom talijanskih by two tankettes(28October1942).Thesamedav onetankettewas garnrzona. destroyedon theSuica-Livno road. A largeanti paftisanoperationwasconductedaround Primosten Dana9, srpnjau pothvatu protivparlizana on na Braduiskrcalo seoko 1750talijanskih vojnikas tetirimatanketama i dvamaoklopnim 16thand l VhNovember1942.Amongtheotherunitsthe operation kamionima. Nekoliko danakasnije u slitnompothvatu na otokHvar wassuppoftedby a companysizedarmoredunit. Withintwo days 150 civilianswere shotand a coupleof villageswere completely je oko2000talijanskih iskrcano vojnika i karabinjera s tanketama. destroyed. At the sametime anotheranti paftisanoperationwas Dana1. rujna1942.godinezapovjedniitvo grupei jednasatnija tancondudedaroundDubraveand Konievrata villaoesin the areaof the je u Sinjui Kninu. ketanalazi seu Solinu. Pojednasatnija Jedna sesatKrka River. The operation was suppofted by oie armoredunit The nijanalazi u Benkovcu, s timeda sudvavodaovesatnije razmjeStena epilogueof thisoperationwas32 shotciviliansand severalvillaqes u Kistanju. Dana3. listopada na cestiStrmica Kninnapadnuta ie completelydestroyed. talijanska kolonaod 15 kamiona praienatetirimatanketama. Dana18 listopada u zasjedi na cestiBlatona Cetini- Sestanovac "Zara" Mechanized Company je kolonakamiona (ital. Compagnia Meccanizzata di Zara) napadnuta pra(ena s 10 tanketa. je pojatantalijanski U listopadu garnizon Italianarmy in Zadarhad an independentmechanizedcompany u Gradacu s dvjemabojnamaCrnihkoiuljai jednompostrojbom since1935.The companywas equippedwith 1.3 light armored s tanketama. vehicles, tankettes.Thecompanywasmostprobablycomposedof 3 platoonswith a total of 15 tankettes.Duringthe April war the unit wasdeployedin defenseof Zadar. Accordingto the unit listing from 5th May 1941 the Mechanized 6 U literaturi kojaje objavljena nakonratau ltalijiione kojaje obCompanywas transferredto Trogirtogether with the Bersaglieri javljena postojinesklad u bivSoj li:goslaviji oko oznaiavanja ovepos- Battalion'Zara' trojbe.U talijanskoj literaturi ovapostrojba seoznadava kao2. bata- On 29 July 1941both unitswere sentas reinforcements 'Sassari ' to ljonnavedene pukovnije dok se u jugoslavenskoj postrojba Divisionin the blockadeof the Drvar literaturi providingsecurity area and in oznaiava kao1. bataljon. S obziromda seovaknjigau velikojmjeri for the Gracac-Split railroad. temelji naliteraturi kojaje izdana postrojba Jugoslaviji seoznadava kao 1. bataljon 31. pukovnije pjeiaStva mehaniziranog talijanske armije. 51

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postrojbe su iuvalemostu seluStrmica talijanske Dana28 listopada krajKnina,pojaianetetirimatanketamalstogdanana cestiSujica - Livnouni5tena je jednatanketa '1 je velikipothvatdiice1942 godineizvrien Dana16 i 7 studenog snageu pothvatu Uz ostaletalijanske njaterenaoko Primoitena Je jadine postrojba dvadana satnileTijekom ijednaoklopna sudjelovala 150osoba, nekoliko selate je strijeljano razoreno le u potpunosti podrudju rijeke podru!u i Konjevrata oko na Dubrave, U istovrijeme pothvatu kojem Krkeu iibenskomzaledutraje protupartizanski jednaoklopnapostrojbaI na ovomje podrutju takodersudjeluje 32 osobe razoreno nel.oliko selate sustrijellene M e h a n i z i r a n as a t n i j a" Z a r a " (tal. Compagnia Meccanizzatadi Zara) postrojbi seod 1935 u Zadrunalazila talijanskih armijskih U sastavu g o d i n es a m o s t a l n a k l o p n i vho z i l aS a t n i jjae mae h a n i z i r asnaat n i j o - tanketama je L 3 U svolem lakimoklopnimvozilima opremljena imalatri vodas ukupnooko 15 tanketa najvlerojatnije sastavu senalaziu obraniZadra ratapostrojba Tilekom travanjskog 1 4 0 S t r a Z ndl i o o k l o p n o ga u t o m o b i aA B 4 0 S o b z i r o md a j e v o z L ok r e t a l o Z e l j e z n i t k o mp r u g o m , n . 1 el a s n o z b o g i e g a j e n a b o k u v o z t l az a d r Z a n a postrojbi od 5 svibnja1941,godinepostroiba Premapregledu 1e, r e z e r v n ag u m a ( M N Z St j u b l j a n a ) u Trogiru bojnomZara',smjeitena s bersaljerskom zajedno The rear of the same AB 40 armored car. The sparettre was retainedon the polaianle diviziji su upuiene,kao Dana29 srpnjaobjepostrolbe despite the fact that the vehicle operated on the ratlways (MNZS premaDrvaru Zelleznidke vehicle podrudja te u osiguranle Sassari , u blokadu Ljubljana) premaSplitu, prugeod Grataca '1 jadine15 tanketa Dana12 kolovoza941 godineovaje postrojba havrng15 u Graiacu bilasmjeitena On 15August1941the Companywasbasedin Gracac, postro- tanketteson strength sluZikaointerventna Satnija od krala1941godineuglavnom podrutjaDalmacije Fromthe end of 1941the Companywas mainlyusedas a mobile jba kojase po potrebiuputujena najugroZenija interventionunit frequentlysent to critical areasof Dalmatraand I Hercegovrne satnije Herzegovina mehanizirane Dana20 veljaie1942.godinezapovledniStvo 'Zara'je u Dubrovniku company'ZaraHQ was in On 20 February1942 the mechanized nalaze se I NapodrutjuistoineHercegovine The1i and 3'dplatoonwereon the territoryof eastern Dubrovnik. u PlaniDrugivodsenalaziu Kalinovniku i 3 vodsatnije ' Z a r aj e ' u Mostaru in Planawhile2'd platoonwasin Kalrnovtk. Herzegovina U s v i b n j1u9 4 2g. o d i n em e h a n i z i r asnaat n i j a company'Zarawasin Mostar. 1942 the mechanrzed ln May prefekta u samodan nakonpogibilezadarskog Dana2f svibnja, the ZadarPrefedwaskillednear after vra(a satnijuna podruije On 27 May 942, only a day zapovjedniitvo bliziniZadra,talijansko the Companyto return to Not'thern I lian HQ ordered Zadat the u pothvatima satnijasudjeluje Dalmacile. Dana31 svibnja sjeverne DalmatiaTheCompanywasinvolvedin adionsagainstthe Pimostenpartizanske Trogira iete u oklolici protivPrimoitensko-rogoznidke paftisanCompanynearTrogiron 31 May 1942 Rogoznica '1942godine zadarskog odlukomo preustrolu Dana6 kolovoza of the Zadargarrison 1942,wtth the reorganization 6 August On garnizona teritorijalnih trupa u 158 pieiatkudiviziju i tamo5nlih into the 159thlnfantry Division"Zara, units and accompanying postojaLi kaosamosLalna 'Zara' satnijaZaraprestaje Zara, mehanizirana ceased to existas an independent company the mechanized I grupe3'1 pukaoklopnog postrojba i pridodaje se postrojbama 31't formation.The unit became4th Companyof lst Battalron, pje5aitva 4 satnija kaonjegova InfantryRegiment Mechanized P o s t r o j b eo k l o p n i h a u t o m o b i l a i k a m i o n a Armored Car and Truck Units postrojbepoielesu zaprimati Poietkom1942,godinetalijanske Italianunitsbeganto receivearmoredcarsand armoredtrucksat 'Autocarro za ova su nazivllu i kamioneU talilanskom oklopneautomobile the beginningof 1942 Orig ltalianterminologywas 'transporto 'autocarro truppe Blindato'for armoredcar blindatoi nazivi vozilaupotrebljavani truppe blindato'for Transporto blindato' armoredtrucK postrojba 2 armijeustrojena U sastavu 5 autogrupe 1ekaozasebna je podredena V armijskom oklopnihkamionaSekcija 259 sekcija je raspolagala oklopnimvozilima Army Corpsat SusakTheunit wasequrppedwith AutoprotetoSPA korpusuna Suiaku Postrojba je djelova- 4.5.37 armoredvehiclesas well as with armoredtrucks.Combat Borbeno kamionima SPA A S37 te oklopnim Autoproteto kotarai primorja la na podruijuGorskog deploymentareawasGorskiKotarand Primor1e postrolbe divizija'Re'i Murge'takodersu primileu Motorizirane Auto unit of Re and 'Murge' DivisionsreceivedFiat 665 NM je tijekom armoredtrucks lt is verylikelythat otherdivistons receiveda certain kamione Fiat665 NM Najvjerojatnije upotrebu oklopljene isporuden odredenibroj ovih numberof thistypeof vehicles durtng1942 1942 godinei drugimdivizijama vozila Besidesthesefactorymadevehicles,ltalian unitsuseda numberof poiavljuje niz oklopnih field modifiedarmoredvehicles Frrstof all thosewere the trucks se postrojbama Uz ovavozilau talijanskim pri postrolbama na terenuU prvom vozilai kamionanapravljenih u kojisu bilikodpostrojbi kamionima redutu seradiloo oklopljenim pojafavani addition of appliquearmor those trucks were often armed with i vojnika koleprevoze uporabi i kojisuzbogzastitevozada anti-aircraftgunsor evenlight fieldguns protuzrakoplovnim i lakim machineguns, plotamai opremani strojnicama, oklopnim 1942the l7th Army CorpsTOE\ liststhe 104th On 1 September topovrma korpusa 1. rujna1942 godine, truck mounted machinegunbattalionas directly bordrnatedto XVlll armijskog U pregledu sastava korpusa, nabraia the CorpsHQ The battalion'sfour companieswere deployedat zapovjedni5tvu izravnopodredena kao postrojba Splitand Divulje ietiri satniies sastava se i CIV strojniikabojna na kamionima, During 1942variousunitswere issuedwith tenAnsaldoAutoblinda u Splitui Divuljama razmjeitalem 41 armoredcars.Most likely thesevehicleswere allocatedto the tilekom1942 godinedodijeljeno Raznimpostrojbama ie i 10 headquarters 41 Ovasuvozilanajvjero- Corpsand Divisional Ansaldo Autoblinda automobila oklopnih jatnijebilarasporeden pristoZerima divizija i korpusa 1oTOE Tableof Organizationand Equtpment

IN CROArIADURINGVIIW$ ABMOURED UNITSANDVEHICLES postro1bi partizanskih spominjuse borbeu kojimaje U izvjeiiajima postrojbr uieiie oklopnih kamiona navedenih opaZeno Dana28 travnja1942 iz Brinlakolonaod 21 kamiona od kojihje iestbiloblindiranih Dana15 svibnja na putuza NoviBribirnapadnuta su dvaoklopna - Ervenik je Dana10 lipnjana cestiKistanje napadnuta automob!la kolonaod 9 blindiranih vozilaDvavozilasu uniStena i zapaljena U rastoizvjeitaju senavodi dasekamioni u kolonama krefunavelikom yanju kojeponekad dostiZe i do 500metarate da su kolonepraiene - CrniLugzamjetena je tanketama. Dana19.lipnjana cestGerovo kolonaod oko 40 kamionau pratnjiSestoklopnihkamiona. Dana je kolonamotornihvozila 24 lipnjana Lujzijanskoj cestizamjetena duZineod preko1 km, praienavetim brojemtanketai oklopnih je kolona automobila. Dana18.srpnjanacestiNovi- Senjnapadnuta jedan artiljerijskog diviziona talijanske vojske.U borbije uniSten oklopni automobil, dvakamiona i tetiritopa. je Dana10 kolovoza na cestiMrzleVodice- Jelenje napadnuta praienatrimatanketama talijanska kolonaod oko 100kamiona i 12 oklopnih kamiona. U borbisu uni5tena dvakamiona i dvaputnitka 'l je kolona automobilaDana 5. kolovoza kod Otoicanapadnuta sastavljena od dvijutanketa, detiriju oklopnihkamiona i 15 kamiona SrediSnji dio koloneostaoje blokiran na cestipaje u borbiuniiteno 11kamiona i dvaoklopnakamiona podrutjunalazila Na talijanskom okupacijskom se i 2. bojna4. pukovnije pje5a5tva mehaniziranog s vozilomaL.3lf(tal.lf.lanciplamenobacaiem flamme)opremljenim sastavatri satnijete 2. samostalna satnija oklopnih vozilaplamenobacata s istimoklopnim je zanimljivo vozilima. Posebno da se niti u jednomborbenom partizanskih postrojbiu kojlmaseopisujuborbes talijansizvjeitaju kimoklopnim vozilima nespominje djelovanje ovihpostrojbi odnosno plamenobacafa jedne od ovih Jedinitrag koji bi mogao ukazivatina postojanje postrojbi priXVlll.armijskom nalazi seu popisupostrojbi korpusu od dana1. rujna1942 godinekojiodmahuz 1. bojnu31. pukovnije plamenobacata nabraja kaopostrojba armijskog korpusa 7. satniju sa zapovjedniStvom u KaitelSudurcu te pojednimvodomu Kninu,Sinju i Zadvarju i jedninizdvojenim odjeljenjem u Makarskoj

Thefollowingencountersthat involvedarmoredtruckswere mentionedin variouspaftisanunit combatreports: On 28 April 1942a columnof 21 trucks,6 of whichwerearmored, was attacked.Attackon two armored carstook placenear Novi Bribiron 15 May 1942 A columnof 9 armoredvehicleswasattackedon 10 June 1942 The road.Twovehicles were set attacktook placeon the Kistanje-Ervenik ablazeand destroyed.Thesamerepoftprovidesmoredetailsstating that the trucksin the columnweretravelingin looseformationwith spacebetweenvehiclesreachingup to 500 metersand that the columnwasescoftedby tankettes A columnof 40 truckssupportedby 6 armoredoneswas spotted Lugroadon 19June 1942. travelingalongthe Gerovo-Crni On 24 June 1942a columnlongerthan 1 km was reporledmoving down the "Luizijana" road Escortwasprovidedby a numberof tanketfesand armoredcars. On 18July 1942an artillerycolumnwasattackedwhiletravelingon the Novi-Senj road. Duringthe battle one armoredcar,two trucks and four gunsweredestroyed. An ltaliancolumnwith 100 truckswasattackedon 10 August 1942. Thecolumnwas escoftedby 3 tankettesand 12armoredtrucks The firefighton the Mrzle VodiceJelenje road left two trucksand two passenger carsdestroyed A columnof two tankettes,four armoredtrucksand 15 truckswas attackednearOtocacon 15 August 1942.After blockingmid paft of the columnon the road the paftisansdestroyedlltrucks and 2 armoredones The 2nd Battalionof 4th MechanizedInfantry Regimentwas stationedon ltalianoccupationarea TheBattalionwascomposedof 3 companies equippedwith flamethrowerL.3lftankettes(ital.If - lanciaflamme).The2ndlndependentcompanyof armoredflamethrowersequippedwith 1.3lf tanketteswas alsopaft of the 2ndBattalion. It is interestingto note that not a single partisanreporl mentions encounterswith flamethrowingtanketfes, Theonlytraceof existence of oneof theseunitsis 18thArmyTOEfrom 1 September1942.Thatrepoft listsVh Flamethrower Companyas part of Army Corpsnextto lst Battalionof 31stRegimentAccording to the repoft that companyhad threeplatoonslocatedin Knin,Sinj and Zadvarjewith a detachedsquadin Makarska

Za5titaZeljezniikog prometa je armijaobratila Poseban interes i paZnju talijanska zaititiZeljezniikih Rai lway tra n spo rt protectio n je od velikoginteresa prugai prometaPosebno za talijansku armiju prugaSuiak- Karlovac pravactrans- ItalianArmypaidspecialattentionto the protedionof railwaycombilaZeljeznitka kao najbliZi municationsThemostimpoftantonewastheSusak-Karlovac railroad. portatrupai matrijala premaistokui talijanskim postrojbama u Rusiji Thatwasthe shortest and quickestrouteof transporting materialand Takoder su Stiieniieljezniikipravciu u Dalmaciji i Hercegovini. troopstowardseastand ltaliantroopsin Russia. RailwaycommunicaNa prugamaNDH,kojesu bileod vitalnoginteresa za talijansku tionsin Dalmatiaand Herzegovinawereprotectedas well. armiju,nalazila su se 1942.godinetri talijanska oklopnavlaka(tal The ltaliansdeployedthree armoredtrainson the NDHrailroads trenoblindato. TB). which wereof specialinterestto them. (ital Trenoblindato,TB) Dana5. svibnja1942 godineoklopnivlak T.B7 nalaziose u On 5 May 1942the armoredtrain T.B.7 wasin the Perkovicrailway postajiPerkoviina pruziKnin- Split,oklopnivlakT.B9 )eljezniikoj stationon the Knin-Splitrailroad T.B.9 was in Susakcoveringthe nalazio sena Su5aku nadijeluprugeod Suiakado Delnica, a oklopni Susak-Delnice railroad.TB 10 wason the railroadin betweenOgulin v l a k T . B .u1 O 0 g u l i n nu ad i j e l up r u g ei z m e d u D e l n i ci aO g u l i n a and Delnice. Postrojbama za zaitituprugesredinom1942 godineupuienesu ln mid 1942the forcesprotectingthe railwayswerereinforcedwith jatine satnije,sastavljene dvijepostrojbe od dvajuvodovas po pet two companysizedunits of AnsaldoAutoblinda40 armoredcars vozila, oklopnih automobila Ansaldo Autoblinda 40, prilagodenih za adaptedfor movementon railways.Eachcompanyhadtwo platoons kretanje naZeljeznitkim trainlcama. Vozilasudodjeljena opkoparskoj with 5 vehicleseach. The vehicleswere assignedto Mobile railway grupismjeStenoj Zeljeznitkoj mobilnoj naSuiaku(2.Reggruppamentoengineeringgroup basedin Susak(2. Reggruppamento genio fer genioferrovierimobilitato)Prvisatnijau sastavupostrojbejatine rovierimobilitato) Thefirstcompanyof thisunit with two platoons je u uporabu28. svib- and 10 vehicleswasput into serviceon 28 May 1942.Thesecond dvavodas po pet oklopnihvozilauvedena je za uporabubilaspremna nja1942.Drugasatnija 26. kolovoza. companywascombatreadyon 26 August 1942.Theunit HQ with postrojbe ZapovjedniStvo s jednimvodomoklopnihvozilanalazilo oneplatoonof armoredvehicles wasin Susak,two platoonswith 10 sena Suiaku,dvavodas desetvozilabiloje pod zapovjedniitvom vehicleswereundercommandof th Army Corpsin Ogulinand one platoonwith five vehiclesunder the 18thCorpsin Knin.Thefoutth V armijskog korpusau Ogulinu,a jedanvod s pet vozilapod zapovjedni5tvom XVlll.korpusa bioje u Kninu.Cetvrtivods petvozila platoonwith five vehicleswassubordinatedto 1lth Army Corpsin Slovenia. bioje podzapovjedniStvom Xl.armijskog korpusa u Sloveniji. Kral1942.godinezatide talijanske trupena podruijuNDHu krajnje At the end of 1942ltalianforceson NDHterritorywerein defensive pravce posture,restridedto bigger garrisonsand main communications. obrambenom rasporedu uz veiegarnizone i komunikacijske pokretosobitose razvioi udvrstio Antifaiistidki u ll. i lll zoniodgov- The antifascistmovementstrengthenedthroughout 2nd and 3rd ornosti talijanske armije.Budutida su u Africizajednitke njemaiko- Italian zone of responsibility.With the Axis forces in Nofth Africa je stvarna talijanske snagebilepredslomom,postojala moguinost on the vergeof collapsethe prospectof Alliedinvasionin southern Europebecameveryreal.All ltalian forcesincludingthe armored postrojbe, pa saveznitkog iskrcavanja na jugu EuropeSvetalijanske oneswere in preparationsfor a seriesof anti paftisanoperations pripremaju protupartitakoi oklopne, seza izvoclenje nizanapadnih alannedfor Januarv of 1943 pothvatapredvidenih zanskih za sijeianj1943 godine.

Nemogutnosti talijanskih okupacijsklh trupai oruZanih snagaNDH da slomeustanakte pribliZavanje ustaniikihdjelovanja vitalnim pravcima komunikacijskim je kojivodeuz tok rijekeSave,nagnalo '1 vei podetkom942.godinenjemaiko zapovjedniStvo da seaktivnije ukljudi u vojneoperacije na podrudju NDH.Od poietka1942.godine pa nadalje njematko uieSieu vojnimoperacijama protivustaniikih i partizanskih postrojbi svakim ie danomsveviierasti,U 1942.godini to seodnosina podrufjakojapripadaju tzv.njemaikojzoniodgovornostiu okviruNDH.Tijekom 1942.godinenaovompodrutjudjelovat fe dvijenjematke postrojbe. oklopne Panzerregiment 2O2 (1.Abteilung 202.Pz.Reg.) je u rukepalopreko Nakonslomaiokupacije pobjedniku Francuske, 2500 francuskih tenkovarazliditih tipovai teZina.Krajem1940.i poietkom1941.godineu sklopupriprema za napadna Sovjetskl Savez i planarazvoja novihoklopnih divizija postrojeno u Francuskoj je viSeoklopnihpukovnija (Panzer Regiment). Pritomje iskoriiten odredeni brojtenkovaiz ratnogplijena. Prvenstveno to se odnosilo nafrancuske tenkove SomuaS 35, Hotchkiss H 39, Renault R35/38i '1 Renault 8.1i B bisTenkovl suprilagodavani njemadkim standardima ugradnjom novekomunikacione opremei opremanjem njemadkim standardnim dodatnimpriborom. Vizualno promjena, najznaiajnija kojanamuglavnom pouzdano moZepokazati da se radio francuskom tenkuu njemafkojuporabizamjenaje postojetepromatraike polukruZne kupolezapovjednika tenka,Umjestonje zapovjednik tenkaje dobio kupolus dvamapoklopcima kroz kojuje mogao nesmetano izlazitiiz tenkate u boljojmjeriosmatratii voditivozilo, Tijekom 1941 godinenekeod ovihpukovnija upu(ivane su u sastav postoje(ih ili novoustrojenih je u oklopne oklopnih divizija. Ponekad divizije upuiivano samoizuienoljudstvo, a drugiputje premjeStana i cijelapostrojba zajedno s francuskim oklopnim vozilima. jei 202.oklopnapukovnija U sklopuovihaktivnosti (202. formirana Pz.Reg.) sastava dvijebojnes po tri iete lakihtenkovatipa Somua S.35iHotchkissH39 Shodnopotrebama za pojaianjem postrojbi njemaikih na podrutju Srbije,tijekomrujna 1941.godine1. bojna(t./202.Pz.Abt.) ove

sijeinja1943 godinekao202,oklopnabojna(202.P2 Abt) l./202 Pz. Abt. je u svom sastavuimala tenkoveiz francuskoq ratnogplijenaSomuaS.35ili po njematkim sistemuoznaiavanja trofejnihvozila,Panzerkampfwagen 35S 739(f) i tenkoveHotchkissH 38/39 ili Panzerka mpwagen38/39H735(f). Bojna je sastavljena od trilu satnija ( 1 , 2 . i 3 K o m p a n iiez)a p o v j e d snaet n i j e (Stabs Kompanie) s 18tenkova Somuai 41 tenkomHotchkiss. U sastavu zapovjedne satnijenalazila su se tri tenkaSomuai tetiritenkaHotchkiss. Svaka od trijusatnija imalaje u svomsastavu dvatenkaSomua u zapovjedniStvu satnijete po jedantenk Somuai detiritenkaHotchkiss u svakom od trijuvodova(1 , 2. i 3 Zug).U sastavu

1 4 1 T e n k S o m u a S 3 5 i n d i v i d u a l n eo z n a k e 111 koja govori da se radi o tenku iz sastava z a p o q e d n o gv o d a | / 2 0 2 P zA b t ( z b i r k aD i n k o Predoevif) Somua S 35 tank with the individual marking ll l denoting it as the vehicle that belonged to the command platoon of the I /202 Pz Abt (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

Theinabilityof ltalianand NDHtroops to breakthe uprisingand closingin of the rebel units to vital communicationsalong the SavaRiverat the beginningof 1942forcedthe GermanCommand to take more activerole in military operationson NDHterritory. Fromthe beginningof 1942onwardsthe Germanpafticipationin militaryoperationsagainstinsurgentand paftisanunits roseby the day.During1942the Germans operatedin theirzoneof responsibifitywith two armoredunits. Panzer Regiment 202 (l Abteilung 202 Pz.Reg.) With the fall of Francethe Germanscapturedmore than 2500 tanksof varioustypes.Duringthe preparationfor assaulton U55R during 1940 and early 1941 the Germanswere forming new armoredregiments(PanzerRegiment)in France Theseregiments wereequippedwith the tanksfrom war bootymostlySomua5.35, HotchissH 39, RenaultR 35/38and RenaultB l lB l bis.Thetanks were modified in accordancewith Germanstandards,new radio equipment was installedas well as standard German auxiliary equipment Most obviousaddition was the replacementof dome typetank commanderobservationpost with the observationtower with two hatches Thatimprovedthe tankcommanderobservation capabilitiesThrough1941 someof thesenew Regiments were sent to the existingPanzerDivisionsor to form new ones Some of the regimentswere sent as a whole with the equipmentand vehicles, somesentonlytheir soldiers. l/202 PzAbt was formed during this period. lt was composed of two battalionswith 3 Companieseach The battalionswere equippedwith SomuaS 35 and Hotchiss H 39 light tanks Theneedto strengthenGermanforcesin Serbiabecameevident during September1941 In the light of that, lst battalionof 202 Pz.Reg.was temporarilyassignedto the commandinggeneralof the southeastand Serbia.2'd and 3'd battalionswere used to form 26th PzDiv. With that 202 Pz.Reqceasedto exist L|nlike the restof the Regimentlst Battalion lemainedas an independent unit, fighting on the Balkansuntil the end of the war. lJntil t::!::\ 1:43,,1!:^ryftdron was desisnatedas l,stbattalion of 202ndPz ReS(l/202Pz.Reg.) andafterthat as202ndpz.Abt.(202nd ArmoredBattalion) l/202 PzReg. was equipped with French tanks, Somua 5.35 (PzKpfw355 739(f))and HotchissH 38/39(PzKpfiw38139H735(fl The battalion was composedout of three companiesplus a commandcompanywith 1B Somuaand 4 Hotchkiss tanks The Commandcompanyhad threeSomuaand four Hotchkiss tanks Everycompanyhad two Somua tanksassignedto the company commandplatoonand four Hotchkisstanksin eachof the platoons (1-3 Zug) Thebattalionalsohad itsown transportationand

AFM0IIRFD UP{rrIS.4fVFyF {tCef5 ntf CROAIT,AD{/R ru6 kV|lUff

1 4 2 I n i t e n k k a o i n a p r e t h o d n o sj l i c i P o s a d ap r o t u o ko p n o g t o p a p o k u S a v p a r o b l e m es k r e t a n j e ms a v l a d a tki o n j s k o mv u d o m p r o t u o k l o p ntio p i z r a t n o g 1e p l i l e n a( z b r k a D i n k o P r e d o e v i t ) S 3 m T t a l k a s o n t h e p r e v r o u s p h o t o T h e a n t i - t a n k g u n c r e w i s t r y i n g t o m o v e t h e i r g u n u s i n g h o r s e sA n t i - t a n k g u n i s f r o m t h e s t o c k o f capturedwedpons (Dinko Predoeviccol lectian)

maintenance sectionswhich were creditedfor keepinqthis unit operational throughoutthe Balkandeployment FromSeptember to December1941theunit wasengagedin countennsurgency operattons on the territoryof Serbia.Duringthose engagementsth unit sufferedfirst /osses.Accordrngto German sourcesat least ur Hotchkiss tanksand two Somuatankswere destroyedor capturedby insurgentforces Thosewere lossesfor period 15 October19 to 15 May 1942 Someof the captured tankswere usedagain Germanforces.

On 24 January1942the unit was withdrawnto Serbia,toqether with 342ndlnfantrydivision.Of interestis 342,d lD combatdiary listingmaterialand equipmentcapturedduringoperation,among othersone tank of Germanoriginwas mentioned.lt is unclearif that informatronactuallyspeaksabout e tank capturedfrom insurgentforcesduringautumnof 1941 Serbra. During )anuary 1942 temporarystatusof l/202 on European southeastwas resolved.The campaignrn the east,againstthe SovietUnionwashalteddue to bad weatherandstubbornRussian resistance, and consequently the needfor trainedarmor crews wasgreat TheCommander of the southeastintervened with the GermanGHQrequestingthat 11202remainunder hiscommand The Unit remainedon the Balkanswhich te//sus that his plead wassuccessful. During 1942only2rd companycadrewasremoved from the Balkans and assigned to theCommand of thewestfor the purposeof formingor reequipping of oneof thenew armoreddivisionsTheorderthat facilitatedthiswas issued on 25 June 1942 Until May 1942 l/202 was deployed on the area under the Commanderof Serbia On 20 May 1042 the Commanderof 65

{"Jffi${Uffiffif\f$ {.i ["f,ft1r&TSKS-$ F$$T${ffi.JmH S\liH"*'$ffi,#{V$ fqdiTfl.i *KtmprdA V#HIE-&I mK8-flnlh$ffi

1 4 3 P o s t o jvi e l i k av j e r o l a t n o sdt a o v a i t r i s l i j e d e i es l i k ep r i k a z u j ud o g a d a j k o j s e z b i o 1 0 l i p n . l a1 9 4 2 g o d i n e n a p o d r u d j ui z m e d uB o s a n s k o N g o v o gi P r i j e d o r ak,a d as e g r u p a n j e m a t kh t e n k o v au p u t l a u p o t j e r uz a p a r t i z a n i m a u i u m i P r e m ab r o i u3 1 5 n a t e n k uz n a m od a s e r a d io v o z t u i z 3 v o d a 3 salntle| /202 Pz Abt (zbirkaDinko Predoevit) Thereis great possibilitythat this and the following photos show the same eventthattook place on 10 June 1942 in BosankiNovi and Prijedorarea tn easternBosnia Group of German tanks went after the paftisanshiding in the woods According to the number (315) this tank belonged to the 3rd platoon of the 3rd company | 1202 Pz Abt (Dtnko Predoevit collectton) 144 Sve ietiri slike su iz osobnog albuma njematkogiasnika koji je u s u d j e l o v a ou p o t h v a t u n a p l a n n i K o z a r i ( z b r k a D i n k oP r e d o e v i ) All four photos ongtnate f ram a private photo album of a German officer involved in the Kozara M ou nta in operatron (Din ko Predoevit collection)

'45

\a ovo :e :l c vde dra terl" Hol.hl 's H 39, dol .e trec razire u nn-rd ni s ilp \.rdo. no ol.\oren v r a t l m a n a k u p oa m a , p o s a d e s u tenkove napustile (zblrka Dinko Predoevii) Photo of two Hotchkiss H 39 tanks with the thtrd barely vistble tn the background Judging by the open hatches the tanks were abandoned (Din ko Predoevit coIl-^ctton)

146 Grupa nlematkih vo1nika ^ : i r ^ ^ : l I u-s+ T- : a. S a^p^ ol r -r.a: l o crlo o slece'lo9 r e n L o r o t c h L i. s - 3 9 L r i i t e a j e u n u t a r n j o m e k s p l o z i j o mN a t e n k u n e d o r t a . tpo p S v o o L l o p cs l u s l ' e d e k s p l o z i j eo d v a l j e n i ( z b i r k a D i n k o Predoevit) :

Group of German and Ustasha soldiersnear the damaged Hotchkiss H 39 tank The tank was damaged by an internal exploston that blew o[[ all the halrhes Main gun is missing (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

ARMOUREDUIV'Is ANO VEHICLES'ru SROAI'A DURINGWW 'I

v o j n o gf o t o g r a f a H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 b r o j a3 3 4 s n e o b i i n o mv e l i k i ms a n d u k o mp r i k a i e n i mn a t e n k v i d i m o i n a s l i c i1 4 4 U o k o l o 1 4 7 S l i k an l e m a i k o gs l u Z b e n o g t e n k as u d o m o b r a n i l i u s t a i e Z a r a z l i k uo d t r i t e n k a u p o z a d i n ik o l i s e k r e ( u ,o v a jj e t e n k b e z p o s a d e ( B A K o b l e n z ) p lh o t o - H o t c h k i s s H 3 9 t a n k n u m b e r 3 3 4 w i t h u n u s u a l l y l a r g e c r a t e o n t h e h u l l , s a m e a s s e e n o n p h o t o N o 1 4 4 A r o u n d t h e v e h i c l e a r e TheGermanoffrcia Domobranstvo or Ustasha soldiers ln contrast to the three tanks movrno in the backqround this one is without the crew. (BA Koblenz)

zapovjedniitvu zapadazbog satnije | 1202PzAbI i biti dodijeljeno formiranja ili popunenekeod novihoklopnih divizija Do svibnja1942 godinepostrojba se nalazii djelujena podruiju zapovjednika Srbije.Dana20. svibnja1942.godinezapovjednik Jugoistoka izdajezapovijed o stvaranju borbenegrupe"zapadna je za provodenje Bosna'Ovaborbenagrupapredvidena opseZnih zajednos oruZanim snagama NDHna podrufjuplanine operacija KozareU sastavborbenegrupeulazii | 1202PzAbI Premapregledustanjapostrojbina Jugoistoku od 30. svibnja 1942,godinepostrojba u svomsastavu ima ukupno59 tenkova

the southeasfissuedorder for forming of battle group "Western Bosnia' Thisbattle group was taskedwith conductingoperations in the Kozaramountainarea,togetherwith NDHarmedforces. l/202 waspart of that battle group. repoft for units in the Southeastfrom 30 May Combat readiness had 59 tankson strength Thismeansthat 1942showsthat 11202 battalion is fully equipped to formation standardsand that all /osseswere replaced Generallyspeaking,/ossesof armor during 1942wererelativelyeasilyreplacedfrom stocksof capturedequipment in FranceDuring 1943 the situationchangedsincestocksol capturedtanksand spare paftswerealreadydepleted Duringthe lastten daysof May 1942I/202 was transferredto the plannedareaof operations,and the transferwasperformedusing rail. lnsurgentforces'repoftsshow that a largergroup of around 18 tankswith 16 trucksand onearmoredcarwerespottedon the Novi,date was3 June 1942 move from Dubicatowards Bosanski A note in the samerepoft saysthat 8 tanksremainedin Dubica Novi and says Thereport from 6 June lists14 tanksin Bosanski

1 4 8 O v u k o l o n u t e n k o v ap r e d v o d it e n k H 3 9 V l e r o j a t n oj e t o t e n k b r o l a 3 3 4 k o j i j e i n a s l i k a m a1 4 4 i 1 4 7 S a n d u kn a s t r a Z n j e md i j e l u t e n k a j e n a h v j e r o j a t n i jm e r t v a t k il i j e s ( z b i r k aD l n k o P r e d o e v i i ) This Tankcolumn was led by H 39 tank The number of this tank was most probably'334', same as on photos No 144 and 147 The crate on the rear of the tank was most likely a coffin (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

OKLOPNAVOZILA I OKLOPNEPOSTROjBET.lDRUGOMSVJETSKOMHATUT.IHBVATSKOJ

1 4 9 K o l o n a n j e m a t k i h t e n k o v a p r o l a z i k r a j u s t a 5 k e p j e i a t k e pl oovsat rsol il kbaej e s n m l j e n a u l i p n j u l g 4q2o d i n e n a p l a n i n r K o z (aBr iA f o b L e n z ) The German tank column passing lJstashainfantry unit This photo was taken tn June 1942 on the Kozara Mountain (BA Koblenz)

'1 5 0 K r u p n ip l a n k u p o l et e n k a H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 b r o j a 3 2 2 S l i k aj e s n m l j e n as a s a m o gt e n k a K o n s t r u k c r jnaa s t r a i n j e md i j e l uv o z i l ai s p r e do m o g u t a v a l a1 e l a k i e s a v l a d a v a n jreo v o v a ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) A c l o s e u p o f t h e H o t c h k i s s H 3 g N o ' 3 2 2 ' t u r r e t T h i s p h o t o w a s t a k e n f r o m w i t h i n t h e t a n k D e v i c e o n t h e b a c k o ft h e v e h i c l e r n f r o n t e n a b l e d i t t o n e g o t i a t e trenches more eastly(Dinko Predoevi( collectton)

ARMOUREDUNITSAND VEHICLESIN CRQATIADURINGWW II

ro rndcrod Je oolndu svompunom formacijskom sastavu te da su navedeni gubitcido '15 svibnjanadoknadeni Optenitogovoreii,gubitciu oklopnoj tehnicisu u 1942 godinirelativno brzo nadoknadivani dopremanjem dodatnih '1 tenkova iz Francuske Vet tijekom 943 godinezapotinjuteikotejer su zalihe trofejnih francuskih tenkovai prituvnih dijelova uglavnom iscrpljene Tijekomzadnjihdeset dana svibnja postrojba prebadena u .1eZeljeznicom podrutja planiranih izvodenja operacija je postrojbi lzizvjeitaja ustanitkih vidljivo daje 3 lipnjazamijeieno kretanje veie grupeod okoi 8 tenkova sa16 kamiona ilednim oklopnim a u t o m o b i l oi zmp r a v premaBosanskom caDubice Novom,uz napomenu da je u Dubiciostalo1o58 je da se tenkovaDana6 lipnjajavljeno u Bosanskom Novomnalazi14 tenkova pristiglo te da je u grad 2eljeznicom Sezdesetak vagonavojnikas tristotinjak l'onja.U prituvroperatrvnog sto\eraza provedbu akcijenalazisejednasatnija i sloler l./202 Pz AbI Dana'l 0 lipnla1942.zapotinje Kozarska je operacija nlematke vojskei oru)anihsnagaNDH Prviciljnapada 1 5 1 T e n k H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 i n d i v i d u a l n o gb r o j a 3 3 2 P r e m ao v o m b r o j u o n p r i p a d a3 v o d u 3 s a t n i j e| 1 2 0 2 P zA b t I n d i v i d u a l n e b r o j e v en a t e n k o v i m a ponovno podrutjaLjubice, zauzimanje Prijedora i rudarskog kojisu je uspostavljanje u o v o j p o s t r o j b pi r i m j e i u j e m ot e k n a s l i k a m ai z r a z d o b l j ap o t h v a t an a p l a n i n i izgubljeni u borbama tilekom zime Drugiciljnapada ( H P MZ a g r e b ) linileblokade s juZnestraneplanineKozare i okruZenle stanovniStva K o z a r ui l i p n j u 1 9 4 2 g o d i n e '332' Hotchkiss H 39 tank with number According to number this tank i tamo5njih ustaniikih snagaKolonepredvodene oklopnlm vozilima platoon to the the | /202 Pz.Abt lndividual numbers on belonged 3rd of istodobno pravcaBosanskog su u ranimjutarnjimsatimakrenule-iz tanks in this unit were noted in the period of the KozaraMountain operation Novogi BanjeLukeUstaniiki govoreo snazitrinaestak in June 1942 (HPM Zagreb) dokumenti praienihs 52 kamiona tenkova i pjeiaitvom T^

-^-:i

t.^;^-

1 5 2 K a u b o l s k i l o g o t ' l / 2 OP 2 z A b t u B o s a n s k o m N o v o m s n i m l j e n n e p o s r e d n o p r i j e p o t e t k a p o t h v a t a n a p l a n i n iVKoozzi al ar p i ostrojbepostavljenasuu o b r a m b e nki r u g ( B A K o b l e n z ) Photo of the "Cowboy camp" of the | /202 Pz Abt in BosanskiNovi taken before the Kozara Mountain operation The unit's vehicleswere positioned in a defensecircle (BA Koblenz)

OKTOPNA\fOEId-.A I OKtSPzuEPSSTROJtsE I.' PRIJGOMsV.IETSKOMRATUI.JHHVATSKOJ

'153 R e n a u l t R 3 5 i z s a s t a v a j e d n o g o d v o d o vgarlu2p e t e n k o v a z a p o s e b n e n a m jVeonjen i k i z a t e n k a k o l i c i l j a i z p u i k e j e u s tBarioaj 4 9 8 1n a s t r a z n j e m d l e l u t e n k a k o l i o d g o v a r an u m e r a c i j t e n k o v a K r a l j e v i n e J u g o s l a v i j em o g a o b i n a s n a v e s t ln a z a k l j u t a kd a s e r a d i u p r a v o o o v r m t r o f e 1 n r mt e n k o v i m a z a r o b i j e n i mu t r a v n j u19 4 1 g o d i n e ( B A K o b l e n z ) ' A RenaultR 35 tank of the PzAbt z b V 12 The man behtnd the tank atmrng hisrifle is a Ustashasoldier.The tndividualnumber'4981 on the tank rear is a remnant of the instgnia used by the Royal YugoslavArmy, which lead us to conclusion that the tank was captured in the April 1941 war. (BA Koblenz)

lako iznenadeni silinomnapada,ustanicisu mjestimiinopru2ali otpor.Navodise da su na putuod Bosanskog Novogdo Prijedora uniStena tri tenkai to u trenutkukadasuseodvojili od glavnekolone i "po5liuz brdo",Nadalje se kaZeda je ulaskom u iumu dio posade tenkovai prate(egpjeiaitvaubijenvatromiz pjeiadkognaoruZanja te daje preostali dioposade napustio vozilakojasupotomzapaljena Takoder sejavljao uniitenjutriju do pettenkovakodSvodne za koje sekaZeda su uniSteni poginulo i zapaljeni te da je tom prilikom 5est njemaikih iasnika. Tijekomposlijepodnevnih sati grupa od pet tenkovapraaena pjeia5tvom ulaziu Prijedori u potpunostiiznenaduje tamo5nju gradaSobzirom straZu i posadu dasunekoliko danaranijeustanitke snagezaplijenile dva tenkaod usta5kih oruZanih snaga,stra2aje pretpostavila da se radiupravoo tim tenkovima te nijeu prvimah je jasnoda neitonijeu reagirala Tekpojavom treiegtenkapostalo je panika redu Nastupila te je gradnapuitenbezborbe postrojbeutvrituju osvojene Tijekomsljedeiihdana tenkovske poloZaje Ni to ne prolazibezteiko(a Dana12 lipnjana podrutju Ljubije tri tenkase zaglavljuju u blatute posadei pratetapjeiadija mora.lu voditiborbus ustaniikimpostrojbama, spredavaju(i ih da javljaju tenkove osvojelstogdanaustanitki dokumenti da senacesti izmeduBosanskog Novogi Dobrljina nalaze trl tenkakojisuse'otrgli" postrojbe na prekopanoj cestite da ih 5titenjematkepjeiadke Do krajaKozarske akcijepojedinivodovl| 1202PzAbt sudjeluluu podrutjaKozare akcijama blokiranja te bivaju dodjeljlvani i njemadkim postrojbama i domobranskim kao pomoi i podrika Glavnidio je s noii od 3 na 4 lipnjaizvrSio postrojbi opkoljenih ustanitkih podruijaKozareSljedeienoaina djelomitniprobojs opkoljenog istommjestupokuialisu noviproboj U meduvremenu njemadke i postrojbe pojaianesu vodomtenkovaU izvjeitaju domobranske o borbamanavodise ime zapovjednika satnika(hauptman) Libe govorenamda su u Zestokoj Ustanitki dokumenti borbizapaljena

that 60 railcarswith infantryand 300 horsesarrivedin the town GermanoperattonalHQ for the operationon Kozarakept one companyand commandof l/202 in reserve TheKozaraoperation,conductedby Germanand Croatianforces beganon 10lune 1942 Primaryobjectivewasto retakethe town of Prijedorand the Ljubicamining area that were lost during the winter fighting Secondaryobjectivewas to establisha blockade south of the KozaraMountainwith consequentencirclingof insurgent forcesand populationof the area Columnslead by tanks took off from Bosanski Noviand BanjaLuka lnsurgentdocuments mention 13 tanks followed by 52 trucks with infantry.Although surpilsedby the attack the insurgentsmanagedto organizesporadic resistanceThreetankswere destroyedon the road Bosanski Novi-Petrovac at the momentwhen theyseparated from the marn columnand startedto go uphill Furtheron, the repoftssay that upon enteringwoodssomeof tank crewsand suppoftinginfantry were killedby smallarmsfire, remainingcrewsfled and that tanks were set ablaze Threeto five tanks were reporled as destroyed nearSvodna,the tankswere burnedand six Germanofficerswere killed Duringthe afternoonhoursa group of five tanksand suppofting infantry enteredPrijedoscompletelysurprisingthe insurgents Thatcan be contributedto the fact that two tankswere capturedand usedby insurgents and the approachof two tanks was not consideredas a threat, only when the third tank arrived the insurgentsrealizedthat somethingwas wrong Panictook over amongthe insurgents veryrapidlyand the town was abandoned in hasteand withoutfight ln the followingdaysthe tank units were consolidatingtheir positionsbut not eventhat went withoutdifficultiesOn 12Junethree tankswere stuck in the mud in the area of Liubiia Crewsand preventingthemirom capturing infantrywere fightinginsurgents the tanks lnsurgentdocumentsfrom the sameday repoft that

ARMOUREDUfi''TSA'VD VEHICLESIN CROAIIA DURINGWW 'I

three tankson the road in betweenBosanski Noviand Dobrljina stuckin burrowedpaft of the roadand that they weredefended by Germanforces. Throughoutthe end of the Kozaraoperationindividualplatoons of 11202were usedin blockingactionsand were assignedto the Germanand Domobranunits as suppott During the night of % Jul 1942 the main body of insurgentforcesachievedpaftial breakthroughfrom the encirclementA night after the second attemptwas made ln the meantimethe Germanand Domobran forceswere reinforcedwith one tank platoon. Thecombatreport singlesout the nameof Capitan(Hauptman)Libe lnsurgentdocuments tell us about fiercefighting during which three tankswere setablazeby gasolinebottles.The NDHarmed forcesdocuments confirm thiseventsayingthat two tankswere destroyed Listingof /ossesfor 11202for the period from 15 May to 15 June 1942shows1oss of two Hotchkisstanksas destroyed and another four Hotchkissand two Somuatanksas non serviceable. A discrepancyshouldbe notedherebetweenthe repoftsabout losses and the actualsituationin the unit as presentthroughout the whole war.Duringthe 1942-43the unit wasalmostall the timeequipped to the levelof its nominalstrength,regardlessof /ossesThatcan be contributedto the great ability of the Germanmaintenance crewsto retrieveand repair destroyedand damagedtanks That was possible dueto the factthat the insurgentpaftisanforceswere not capableof the maintainingor transportingof the captured tanksto the rear areasfor repair.Thevwere alsooften unableto

1 5 4 P o s a d an j e m a d k o gp o m o i n o g o k l o p n o gv l a k ak r a jt e n k a F T . 1 7M o t o r v o z i l a j e d e m o n t i r a n k a k o b i s e p o s l u Z i o c i m at o p a n a t e n k u d a o v e t i m a n e v a r s kpir o s t o r ( z b i r k aD i n k o P r e d o e v i t ) The crews of the German Auxrliary armored train near the FT17 tank ln order to provide more space for the gun crew the vehicle engine has been removed (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

benzinskim bocamatri tenka Dokumenti oruZanih snagaNDHovu iinjenicupotvrduju i govoreo dvamazapaljenim tenkovima "iijaje pojava privremenu panikuu njihovim izazvala postrojbama", '1 gubitaka postrojbe U pregledu za periodod 5 svibnja do 15 lipnja 1942 godinenavodisegubitakdvajuHotchkissa te se izvjeitava da joi tetiriHotchkissa su izvanupotrebe i dvijeSomue. Trebaodmah napomenuti da (e se za vrijemecijelogratnogputa ove postrojbe pojavljivati nesklad izmeduizvjeitaja o gubltcimai stvarnogbrojnog stanjapostrojbe kojeie uglavnom tijekom1942 i 1943 godinebiti punogformacijskog u granicama sastava. Na to utjetesposobnost njemaikih tehniikihsluibi,kojesusvepogodene ili uniStene tenkove u kra(imili duZimrokovima popraviti. uspijevale To je uspijevalo partizanske iz razlogaito protivnlike snagenisu imaletehnitkih 1 5 5 T e n kF fl T n a o t v o r e n o mi e l j e z n i i k o mv a g o n u K a k ov i d i m ot e n k n i j e moguinostida osvojene onesposobljene tenkovetransportiraju u pozadinu vlastitu ili nisuimaledovoljnih kolitinaeksploziva da iza- b a i p o m n o u d v r i t e n n a v a g o n u A k o b i d o i l o d o p r e v r t a n j av(azgboi rnkaau s l i . j e d d i v e r z i j e ,p o s a d at e n k a b i u s v a k o m s l u i a j u z a v r 5 i l al o i e Dinko zovupotpunouni5tenje strukture tenkakojebi onemogudilo daljnji Predoevii) popravakU puno slutajeva dogadalose da njemadke snagetek je ustaoonesposobljeni FTl7 tank mounted on the open railway car As it can be clearly see, the podrutjena kojemu drugidanupijupovratiti tank was not secured to the car. ln the case of a diversion and possible tenkte ga transportirati u tenkovsku radionicu u kojojje u dogledno ovefturning of the car the tank crew would not have much chance (Dinko vrijeme biopopravljen. Predoevit collection) 71

OKI-OPNAVOZILAI OKTOPI\IEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

U trenutkukadasu skorosvepostrojbe| /202 PzAbt. sudjelovale u Kozarskoj podiinjenim operaciji zapovjednik Srbijeizdajezapovijed postrojbama prugeZagreb- Beograd o osiguranju Zeljezniike ZapovjedniStvo preuzima nadovomgrupomza osiguranje zapovjedpukovnik nik l /202.Pz.Abt von Geysosa zapovjednim sjediStem u je naglaSeno Slavonskom Brodu, po potrebi a dodatno da osiguranje pojadapostrojbama | 1202PzAbt Ovajje raspored bio kratkotra.lan te je promjenjen 24. kolovoza 1942 godine. ponovno U protuustanitkim borbama | 1202Pz.AbI. sudjeluje krajem srpnjai potetkomkolovoza na podruijimaBanovine. StabNOP-a javlja29.srpnja1942 godineo velikoj Banije koncentraciji njemaikih postrojbiu Pounjuod Dubicedo Bosanskog Novog,navodeii podatak da senatom podrutjunalaze i jakeoklopne snagesaoko6 velikih i 40 malihtenkova Dana3. kolovoza na Banovini zapotinjunajavljene operacije, U sasgrupeBorovski tavuborbene nalaze sei postrojbe | /202 Pz.AbL i Io zapovjedna te 1. i 3 satnija ovepostrojbe,

completelydestroythe tanksand renderrepairimpossibleln many instancesGermanforceswere able to recapturelost tanksonly a dayafterand sendthem to the maintenance shopfor repair. At the momentwhen almostall the unitsof 11202 wereengaged in the Kozaraoperationthe Commander of Serbiaissuedan order to form a specralgroup for protection of the Zagreb-Beograd railroadCommandover thisgroup was givento the colonelvon Geysowith the commandcenter locatedin SlavonskiBrod This group was supposedto be temporarilyreinforcedwith the units from 11202Thiswasshort livedand the plan was changedon 24 August 1942 11202was again involvedin fighting with insurgentsat the end of Julyand beginningof August 1942in the Banovinaarea The insurgentHQ for Banijarepoftedon 29 luly 1942the presence of strong Germanforcesin the Pounjearea(from Dubrcato Bosanski Nov| with 6 big and 40 smalltanks On 3 Aug 1942a new operationwaslaunchedTheunitsof 11202 (Command,1stand 3rd Company)were part of the battle group Borovskr nalazi2 satnijaI 1202Pz.AbIna obucinakonodlaska ljudstva ove On 30 August 1942the unitsof l/202 were drspersed on several satnijeu drugepostrojbe tijekomlipnja1942 locations, BanlaLuk Bosanski NoviandSabac.lt is mostlikelythat Nakonovihintenzivnih borbina Kozari i na Banovini nemapodataka 2ndcompanywaso trainingand reformingin Sabacat that trme, postrojbe o sudjelovanju u protupartizanskim borbama afterreleasingitspersonnelto otherunitsduringJune 1942 Dana 6 listopada1942 stoZer| 202 Pz.AbLpremjeitase iz After intensivefightingdurrngthe Kozaranad Banovinaoperations Bosanskog Novogu Kostajnicu 11202 repoftsshow a quietperiod On 6 October1942HQ 11202 '1 je borbenagrupa"von wastransferredfrom BosanskiNovito KostajnicaThebattlegroup Dana8. listopada942 godineformirana 'Wadel'wasformedon B October1942 Themain taskfor the Wadel"za borbu protivpostrojbiOperativnog Stabapartizanskih group was fighting with the paftisanunits of the operationalHQ odredau Bosanskoj krajini,podrZavana s pet tenkova(vod)l./202 for Bosanska Krajina Thegroup was supportedwith 5 tanks(one PzAbt alatood of 11202

1 5 6 D i o o k l o p n o g v l a k a s t e n k o m F T . l T n a o t v o r e n o m v aNgaovnaug o n e s u s t a v l j se an m i o m u i k i " t e n k o sv ti o p o m S A l 8 p r o m l e r a 3 T m m( z b i r k a D i n k o Predoevic) Paft of an armored train with the FT17 type tank mounted on the open railway car.The trainswere equipped with 'Male' tanks only (tanksarmed with 37 mm SA 18 gun) (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

A,RIWOURED UI\I'TsAN'DYgf''CI.Es'N CROAT',A DUF'N'GWW,, 'l javljeno je da u BanjuLukupristiZu Dana9 listopada . i 3. satnija bez pettenkovate joi jedanvodtenkovaL1202PzAbI je 4 prosinca1942 u Jedanvod iz sastava postrojbe sudjelovao juZnood BanjeLuke. deblokiranju opkoljenih njematkih snaga Postrojba| 1202 PzAbt zavriava 1942 godinu zahtjevom zapovjedni5tva n.lematkih trupada se u potpunosti povuieiz borbenogdjelovanja popunina brzurukudo te da se po mogu(nosti punogformacijskog sastava i pripremiza izvodenje krupnihvojnih protivnaraslih partizanskih operacija snagau zapadnoj Bosniu okviru planirane operacile'Vais'

On 9 October1942 ln and 3'd Company(minus5 tanks)arrived in BanjaLuka On4 December1942oneplatoonof 11202 wasinvolvedin fighting to relievethe encircledGermanforcessouth of BanjaLuka At the end of 1942the GermanHQ requested 11202 to be pulled out of the combatoperationaltogether. Theunit wasto be refitted to full strengthandpreparedto conductthe operations in support of the upcomingoperationagainstthe partisanforcesin the Panzer - Kompanie zur besonderen Verwendung 12 (Pz.Abt.z.b.V12) At the verybeginningof the insurrection in Serbiait was evident that the Germanoccupationtroops neededstrongerarmor support. The Germanunits deployedon the teriltory of Serbiaand paftiallyof Croatiawere 704th,714th,717thand 718thlnfantry Divisionsof 15thmobilizationwave. Thedivisionswere composed of older reservists without combatexperienceIn the autumnof 1941 the Commanderof Serbiarequestedspecialarmoredplatoons to be formed within divisions,mainlyequippedwith trophy tanks lnitiallythat was accomplished by putting in servicetrophy Renault FT17tanks The intensifyingof fighting and expandingof insurgencymade theseunitsinadequate for the taskso Pz Abt l/202 wasbrought into the area.Soon after, a unit with a long name arrivedin the areaof operations ThenamewasPanzer-Kompanie-Fuhrungs-Gruppe zur besonderen (rough translationwould Ventvendung12 fur Beutepanzer-Zuge be, Commandgroupof specialtankcompanynumber12 trophy tanks) Accordingto availablesourcesthat unit was formed out of five groups with two tank platoonseach Everygroup had technical suppottand transpoftation squad Documents show that the unit was composedof commandplatoon and up to 15 tank platoons(1-15) Everyplatoonincluding commandplatoonhad five tanksRenaultR 35 and R 38 (PzKpfw 35R731(fl) The unit's first combat on NDHterritorywas in Januaryof 1942 when two platoons were involved in combat with insurgents Thoseplatoonswereundercommandof 714thlnfantryDiv. Threetanksof 8thPlatoon,assignedto battlegroup "Wist' were involvedin fighting insurgentsaround Sokolacand Han Pijesak

Panzer- Kompanie zur besonderenVerwendung 12 (Pz.Abt.z.b.V 12) Ve( nakonprvihustaniikihdjelovanja u Srbijipojavila se potreba pojadanja njematkih okupacijskih trupaoklopnimpostrojbama. Na teritoriju Srbijei dijeluNDHrasporedene su njematka704.,714., 711. i 718. pjeSadijska divizije15. mobilizacijskog vala.U sastavu divizija nalazili priduvnici su se uglavnom godiitabezposebstarijih nogratnogiskustva. Vei u jesen1941. godinezapovjednik Srbije traii daseu sastavu navedenih posebni divizija formiraju oklopni vodovite da seopremes oklopnim vozilima iz ratnogplijenaToje i uiinjeno te su ovi vodovipopunjeni s trofejnimtenkovima RenaultFT.17, zatetenim u slagaliitima trofejnognaoruZanja. Pojaianjem borbii razvoJem razvotem ustanaka oostroibe zadovoliavale ie na podrudje nodruiip ovepostrojbe nisuzadovoljavale te je Srbije dopremljen l./PzAbt 202oklopnog puka Ubrzonakontoga prlstiZe i oklopnapostrojba dugadkogimena tiji bi nazivu prijevodu trebaoizgledati grupa ovako:Zapovjedna tenkovske satnijaza posebnodjelovanje, broj 12.,vodovatenkovaiz ratnogplijena(Panzer-Kompanie-Fuhrungs-Gruppe zur besonderen Veruvendung 12 fur Beutepanzer-Zuge) Prema je postrojba dosadobjavljenim radovima formacijski bilasastavljena od petgrupas po dvavodatenkova. grupaje u svom Svaka sastavu imalatehniikoi transportno odjeljenje. Na osnovidokumenata o rasporedu postrojbi njemadkih sredinom 1942.godinevidljivo1e da je postrojbau svomsastavuimala zapovjedni vod te 15 vodovatenkova(1.-15 vod) U sastavu zapovjednog pojedinainom vodate u svakom vodunalazilo sedo pet je bilaopremljena tenkova. Postrojba tenkovima Renault R.35i R.38 (Panzerkampfr,,ragen 35R731(f)) Prvosedjelovanje ovepostrojbe nateritorijuNDHbiljeZi vei u sijednju 1942.godinekadasenavodi da sudvavodaPz.Comp.12 podtinjena 714.pje5adkoj diviziji, te sudjeluju protivustanika. u akcijama je da3 tenka8. vodaPz.Comp.'1 ZabiljeZeno 2 sudjeluju tijekom travn- o u f l n o A D n t o f t 9 4 1 ja 1942.godineu sastavu grupe'Wist" protivustanika u borbama na Thetableof organization for 7l BthInfantryDivisiondated28thMay podrutjuizmeduSokolca i HanPijeska 1942showsthat Vh and 1)th platooswere basedin Sarajevo, 8th postrojbi U pregledu smjeitaja 718.pjeSatke divizije od 28. svibnja Platoonin Tuzlaand 9thPlatoonin SlavonskiBrod. '1 1942,godinenavodi podiinjeni sedasudiviziji 7. i 0 vods raspore- The list of units securingZagreb-Beograd railroadfor 20thlune domu Sarajevu, 8. vodu Tuzlii 9, vodu Slavonskom Brodu). 1942lists13thand 14thplatoonas beingin the SrijemareasecurDana20. lipnla1942.godineu pregledu postrojbina osiguranju ing harvestand railroadAt the end of Augustthesetwo platoons p r u g eZ a g r e -bB e o g r anda v o dsi ed a s e 1 3 .i 1 4 .v o d P z . C o m p . 1 2 of Pz,Kom12 wereattachedto battlegroup'Borovski' andinvolved nalazeu Srijemuna osiguranju Zetvenih radovaipruge. Krajem in actionagainstinsurgentsin the FruskaGora area kolovoza ovadvavodau sklopugrupe"Borovski' sudjeluju u akcijama ln August,during operationsaroundSekoviciand Vlasenica7l Bth podrudja tiS(enja FruSke Goreod ustanika. lnfantryDivisionwassupportedby 1Oth and 12thPlatoonof PzKom U kolovozu na podrutjuSekoviti Vlasenica 718.pjeiadku diviziju p r a t e1 0 .i 1 2 .v o dP z . K o m p . 1 2 . ln the order of 28 September1942 for the formationof battle Dana28 rujna1942,godineu zapovjedi o formiranju borbenih groupsfor the lajceoperationthe platoonswere listedas folg r u p az a o p e r a c iJl ua j c ne a v o dseeu b o r b e n ogjr u p i ' S s h u s c h n i k ' 7 lows: . Vh Platoonwith battlegroup'Susnik'locatedin Turbe,1Oth vodPz.Kom.12 s rasporedom u mjestuTurbe,10.vod Pz.Kom.12 u Platoonwith battle group "Wist' in Donji Vakufand 9th Platoon sastavu grupe"Wist'u Donjem borbene Vakufui 9. vodPzKom.l2u with battle group 'Hummel" grupe'Hummel" sastavu borbene Intensivefighting in this area(Jajce)lastedalmostuntil the end of Intenzivne borbenaovompodrudju vodesedo krajastudenog 1942 tuovemDer t94z g o dI n e . Thanksto detailedlistingof Germanunitsfrom December1942 pregledu Zahvaljujuti postrojbi njemadkih iz prosinca 1942 godine, we can almost completelyreconstructthe dispositionof PzKom gotovou potpunosti moZemo saznati raspored ovepo.strojbe. U Srbiji 12. Thefollowingelements werein Serbia:3rdPlt.in Valjevo,5th senalaze 3. vod(Valjevo), 5. vod(Lajkovac), 6. vod(Sabac), 11. voil in Lajkovac,6th in Sabac,11thin Obrenovac, 12thin Sabac,13thin (Obrenovac), 12.vod (Sabac) i 13.vod (Loznica) te zapovjedni vod platoonin Bor.Thefollowingelementswere Loznica and command (Bor). NapodruijuNDHnalaze se7. vod(Turbe), 8. vod(Tuzla), 9. vod on the territoryof NDH Vh Platoonat Turbe,8that Tuzla,9that ( B U e l j i n1a0) v, o d( u 2 7 1 8d i v i z i l u ) i 1 v4o d( R u m a ) . Bijeljina,1}thwith 718lnf.Div.and 14that Ruma U p r e g l e dnue m ar a z m j e 5 t iapj o a d a t a k2aa 1 . , 2 . , 4i 1 5 v o d .U i s t o j Listinggivesno dataon 1tt,2,d,4th,and 15thplatoon Theorder zapovjedi kojomje naloZena popunai dovodenje u punuborbenu directing bringingl/202 Pz Abt to full combat readiness addresses spremnost l./PzAbt. 202 oklopnogpukanalaZe se i zapovjedniku He wasorderedto preparethe unit P z . C o m p .d1a2p o s t r o j bpur i p r e mi ni a b r z ur u k up o p u nri a d ip r i - commanderof PzKom 12 too'Wais' 'Wais' for the upcomingoperation premaza predstojeiu operaciju

'1 postrojbe Vei krajem94'1. godineustaniike i partizanske uspjevaju u pojedinim borbamaonesposobiti i zarobitiprotivniika oklopna vozrla. U nekimslufajevima vozilasu zarobljavana u ispravnom stanjute su protivbiv5ihvlasnikaUporaba u borbiodmahupotrebljavana ovih o k l o p n ivho z i l u a p r a v i lnui j ep u n ot r a j a l am, a h o md o k l eb i l op o g o n skoggorivai streljiva je svakako jatinevodau Lici lzuzetak osnivanje oklopnepostrojbe poietkom'1942 godineOvapostrojba ie do 1945 godinedjelovati jaiatido sastava jatinesatnile iformacijskl u kontinuitetu i bojnete ie uz sliinuoklopnupostrojbu stvorenu nakonkapitulacije ltalijena teritoriliSlovenije biti rijedakprimjerdjelovanja oklopnepostrojbe u partizanskim i gerilskim uvjetima u okupiranoj Europiza vrijeme Drugogsvletskog rata je znadajka i partizanske vozila Osnovna ustaniike uporabe oklopnih u 1941 t 1942 godinida suseoklopna vozilauglavnom upotrebljavalau napadu s ciljemda sekodprotivnika ostvare utinciiznenadenja i panikeU sluiajuda seradiloo dobroutvrdenom i odlutnomprotivnikurezultati, vozilabilisu skromniji. uporabe oklopnih ISTOENA H E R G E G O V I NS AT , U D E N1I 9 4 1 . G O D I N E postrojbe Dana26studenog 1941 godineustaniike su u borbikod selaVilusau istotnojHercegovini razbile talijansku kolonui pritom zarobile tri tanketeL 3 Zapljenjene tanketeubrzosu upotrebljene u napaduna ustaiko garnizon domobranski u seluLastva, desetak kilometara istoinood rreornja '1 Napadkojije zapoieou noti s 27 na 28. studenog941, godine je nastavljen u ti.lekom 28, studenog, kadasu u borbuuvedene tankete1.3 Tanketama su upravljali zarobljeni talilanski vojnicidok su strolnicama rukovali ustaniciUslijedpojaveoklopnihvozilakod je doSlodo pomutnje branioca i panike te je otporvrlobrzosvladan Nakonove borbenemadrugihpodataka o uporabiovihoklopnih pretpostaviti vozilapa mo2emo da sutankete najvjerojatni.le skrivene Sljedeta vijesto ovimtanketama datiraiz 28 kolovoza 1942 godine kada zapovjedni5tvo talijanskog4. armijskogkorpusaizvjeitava zapovjedniStvo 2 armijeda sutri tankete1.3izgubljene u studenom 1941 godinepronadene skrivene kodselaVilusa L I K A ,S I J E t A N J1 9 4 2 . G O D I N E Sljedeiisluiajzarobljavanja oklopnihvozilaodigraose 23 t 24 '1 sijetnja942 godinena prijevoju Ljubovo u LiciU dvodnevnoj borbi parlizanske postrojbe uspjele su zarobitidvijetanketeL 3 Prvogje jednatanketakojase prilikomokretanja danazarobljena na cesti zaglavila u jarkupokrajputa U tanketije zarobljena i dvoilanaposada S tanketesu odmahskinute i uzetostreljivoSljedeieg strojnice je danapodslifnimokolnostima zarobljena i druga..tanketa Odmah po primitku vijesti o zarobljavanju oklopnih vozilaStabgrupepartizanskih odredaza Likuupuiujena Ljubovo ljudekojise razumiju u motornakakobi izvidila moguinostizvlaienja i popravka vozilaradi eventualne borbene uporabe Tanketu zarobljenu drugogdanaborbemehanidari uspijevaju odmah je nekoliko staviti u pogon,No prvatanketa danaostalana mjestuna kojemje stalate je tekdolaskom tehniikeekipeprebatena u obliZnje seloS obziromdaje u sustavu za hladenje motoraostalavoda,uslijedsmrzavanja sistema za hladenje do5loje do pucanja blokamotora je zanimljivo paje tanketabilaneupotrebljiva Posebno da je Talijan - vozattenkakojije zarobljen zajedno s vozilom pokuSao objasniti partizanima da je potrebno ispustiti voduiz sustava hladenjaZbog partizani nepoznavanja i nestrutnosti su to shvatilikao namjeru pa su premanjemugrubopostupili ga da sabota2e i onemoguiili to udini Nakonizvidanja situacije Stabgrupepartizanskih odredaza Likuprikupioje sveosobekojesu imaleiskustva u radus motornim vozilima kakobi sazarobljenim tanketama osnovao oklopnupostrojbu je Prvizadatak ovegrupebioje popravak oSteiene tanketePopravak s prirutnim sredstvima uspjeino izvrien prebaiene Tankete su nakonpopravka i sredivanja u Korenicu u kojoj 'Prvitenkovski je i postrojen partivodGrupenarodnooslobodilaikih z a n s k iohd r e d zaa L i k u ' vodauglavnomsu ostaleosobekojesu sudjelovale U sastavu u popravku oiteienetanketeU vodusu poslije zarobljavanla zadr\ana 74

suc' By the end of 1941insurgentand partisanunitsoccasionally ceededin disablingand capturingenemyarmoredvehiclesduring the battles ln some instancesthe armoredvehicleswere capturedintact and immediatelyusedagainsttherrpreviousowners Theusageof these vehicleswas of short duration.mainlvwhile fuel and ammunition /asted of a platoonsized Undoubtedlyan excepttonwas the establishing until unitin Likaat the beginningof 1942 Thisunit wasoperational the end of the wargrowingto thesizeof a companyanda battalion Thisunit togetherwith a similarone formed in Sloveniaafter the Capitulationof ltaly representsa rare exampleof armoredformations usedby insurgentsin occupiedEuropedurrngthe WWll Themain charaderisticof the insurqentand paftisanarmor tactic through 1941 and 1942was the usige of armiorduring attackwith the aim of exploitingthe effect of surpriseand panic Whenused againstthe wellpreparedand fortifiedpositionsmannedby a deter minedcrew the resultsof the armorusageweremodest EASTERNHERZEGOVINA,NOVEMBER 1941 an ltalrancolumn On 26 November1941insuraentunitsdestroved nearthevillageof Vilusin ealternHerzegovini Theinsurgents captured three L 3 tankettesThecapturedvehicleswere quicklyused in an attackon the Ustashaand Domobrangarrisonin the villageof Lastva,someten kilometerseastof Trebrnle Theattackbeganin the nightof 27 November1941andcontinued through28 Novemberwhenthe tanketteswereintroducedto combat Thevehicleswere drivenbv the capturedltaliansoldierswhile of armored thegunnerswerethe insurgentiDueto the appearance was quickly vehiclesthe enemysoldrerspanickedand all resistance crushedFollowingthisbattletherewasno other informationabout the usageof thesearmoredvehicleslt is mostlikelythat the vehtcles were hidden Nextinformationabout thesetankettesis dated 28 August 1942 when the ltalian 4th CorpsHQ repofted to the 2nd Armv HO that three vehicleslost in November1941 were found hidden nearthe villageof Vilus LIKA. JANUARY 1942 ,Nextcaseof the armoredvehiclescapturehappenedon 23'd and 24thJanuary1942on Ljubov passin Lika Duringthe two daysof fighting paftisanforcescapturedtwo L 3 tankettes One tankette wascapturedon the firstdayof fightingwhen it got stuckin a ditch attemptingto turn around Bothcrewmemberswerecapturedtoo The parlisans tmmediately removedthe weaponsand ammunition from the vehicleThesecondtankettewascapturednextday under

u 15 7 B o r c iV l u s k ei L a s t v a n s kues t a n i d k iee t e s t a n k e t o mL 3 z a p l j e n j e n o m i s t o d n oH j e r c e g o v i n2i7 s t u d e n o g1 9 4 1 g o d i n e ( Z b i r k aH P M Z a g r e b ) Soldiers of the Vilus and Lastvan Dartisan comDanes with I 3 tankette captured in eastern Herzegovinaon November 27, 1941 (Mano Ragu2 collection)

.AR'W#UREI){,f*/irs AJVS WEXT C{"85 {nf CFSAr,q SUSTJIIGWUt/ft

idva talijanska vojnikakolasu zarobljena u prvojtanketiPoslije su uputeniu logorza ratnezarobljenike Jedanod njih,vojnikAiragi Celestino, na zahtjev zapovjednika vodaubrzoje vraienu vodte je kaotenkistu postrolbi ostaodo krajarata1945 godinete napredovaodo duZnosti zamjenika zapovjednika tenkovske satnije pogonskog Glavniproblempri uporabitanketabio je nedostatak goriva. Do njegaseuglavnom dolazilo zarobljavanjem ili kupnjomu pod neprijateljskom mjestima gorivatankete kontrolomRadiu5tede su transportirane najieSiezapreZnom stotnomvuiom Uglavnom sekoristila volovska zaprega kojase pokazala boljomod zaprege s jerje bukagusjenica konjima u velikoj mjeripla5ila konje Mjestorazmje5taja tenkovskog vodabilaje vrhunska vojnatajnapa suvoziladestobilapremjeitana B u d u idi a j e t a n k e t ab i l av r l om a l oo k l o p n ov o z i l os m i n i m a l n o m oklopnom zaititom,vod nijeupotrebljavan u borbama s talijanskim postrojbama kojesu raspolagale s protuoklopnim sredstvima, Prviputtankete su upotrebllene 25 travnja1942 godineu napadu garnizon na usta5ki u seluPrijebojlz Korenice su tanketedovudene stoinomvutom u neposrednu blizinusela.S obziromda usta5ke postrojbe u selunisuznaleda parlizaniraspolaZu s renKovtma, u potpunoiznanadenje napadu koleje omogu(ilopartile postignuto postrojbama zanskim da vrlobrzoovladaju selom Dana29travnja1942 godinetenkovski vodsudjeluje u napaduna postajuu seluPlitvicePrimjetiv5i Zandarmerijsku dolazaktanketa, posadaje napustila Zandarmerijska mjestoi povuklase u pravcu mjesta Vrhovine Dana3 lipnja1942 godinetenkovski vod1eupotrebljen u napaduna jatineoko360vojnika posadu ustaiko-domobransku u seluPodlapac Napadnijeu potpunosti uspiozbogjakogprotivniikog otpora Tenkovski vodseuspioprobitiu prvidio naselja, no moraosepovuii goriva iz borbezbognedostatka Dana4 lipnla1942 godinetenkovski vodje sudjelovao u napaduna jakoustaSko-domobransko uporiiteu UdbiniObranauporiSta bila je bri)ljivo prlpremljena Mjestoje biloutvrdeno i dobrobranleno od 350-400dobronaoruianih vojnikaZadatak tenkovskog vodabioje prokriiput krozbodljikavu da pjeiaikimpostrojbama 2icui prodre u sredi5te mjesta U Zestokojborbi u prvoj tanketiteiko je ranjenvozat, a lak5e strojniiar. Drugojtanketiseu borbiugasiomotorte je ostalaunutar protivnitke rasporeda obrane Budutida je za pokretanje tankete je trebaloizatiiz njei ruinimpokretaiem pokrenuti motor,posada odluiilaostatiu voziluibranititanketuDolaskom noii oosada ie s vozila skinula strojnice i napustila tanketu Snage branioca suistenoiizapalile tanketuSljede(e noii partizani su olupinu tanketeuz pomoipjeiaitvai drugetankete izvukli s boji5ta pa Oklopnovoziloje predstavljalo vrlo vrijednoborbenosredstvo je ovatanketaza manjeod mjesec danaponovnoosposobljena za popravka djelovanje Prilikom vozilauglavnom su zamlenjeni ili na novoizradeni svibitnidijelovi vozila Dana21 kolovoza1942 godinepartizanske postrojbe ponovno je dobroutvrdenoi braniga oko 600 napadaju Udbinu.UporiSte vojnika.U napadusudjelule i tenkovski vod. Zestokeborbetraju postrojbe do 23. kolovoza kadapartizanske uslijed velikihgubitaka prekidaju napad '1 postrojbe Dana 7 listopada 1942 godinepartizanske napadaju jednujaiu talijansku kolonujadineod oko 2000vojnikakod sela Poloja na Kordunu. postrojbe Nakoncjelodnevne borbepartizanske

similarcircumstances Findinoout about the caatureof the vehicles the partisanHQ sent to Ljubovoa group of soldiersfamiliarwith motor vehiclesTheirtaskwasto find out if it was possible to recover the vehiclesand usethem Thetankettecapturedon the secondday wasstaftedimmediately. Thefirst tankettethat wasseveraldayson theplaceof capturewas movedto the nearbyvillageonly with thearrivalof a technicalteam Due to the low temperatures the water in the coolingsystemfroze and the engineblock crackedrenderingthe vehicleinoperativelt is veryinterestingto note that the ltaliandrivet capturedwith the vehicle,triedto explainto thepartisansthe necessity of drarnrngthe coolingsystem Due to the poor technrcalknowledgethe paftisans interpretedthisasan act of sabotaqeandpreventedhim from doing Upon assessing the situationthe paftisandetachmentsin the Lika HQ decidedto bring togetherall the technically skilledpersonnelin orderLoform an armoredunit Thefirst taskfor thisgroup wasthe reparrof the damagedtankette, which wasaccomplished successfully. After the repairwork was done the tanketteswere transferredto Korenicawhere the "Firsttank Dlatoonof the PeoplesLiberation Armyof Lika'wasformed Thepersonnel of theplatoonweremostlycomposed of the soldiers that wereinvolvedin repairworksincludingthe two ltaliansoldiers capturedin the first tankette Theywere later sentto POWcamp One of them, soldierAiragi Celestinoreturnedto the unit at the requestof the commander.He remainedwith the unit until the endof the war advancrng to the tankcompanydeputycommander position The main problem during the usageof the tanketteswas the shorlageof fuel Thefuel was either capturedfrom the enemyor procuredin the towns under the enemycontrol To conseruethe fuel the vehicleswereusuallvtowed bv oxen Horsesweredeemed unsuitablefor the taskbeiausethe'track noisefriqhtenedthem considerably. Locationof the armoredplatoon was considered as top secretand the vehicleswerefrequentlyrelocated Sincethe tanketteswere small vehicleswith mrnrmalarmor protection the platoon was not used in combatagainstltalian units equippedwith AT weapons The first combat usageof the tanketteswas on 25 April 1942 in attack on the Ustashagarrisonin Prijeboj The tanketteswere towed from Korenicato the vicinityof Prijeboj The Ustashaunits in the villagedid not know about the partisantankettesand their appearance surprisedthem and allowedthe paftisans to takeover the village On 29 April 1942the armoredplatoonwas useddunng the attack garrisonin PodlapacThegarrisonnumon the Ustasha-Domobran bered360 soldiers The attackdid not succeeddue to the determinedresistance Thetankplatoonmanagedto breakinto the firstparl of the village but had to retreatdue to the fuel shortage On 4 June 1942 the tank platoon was involvedin attack on the forlified UstashaDomobrangarrisonin Udbina Thetown defense was carefullypreparedand the town was defendedby 350-400 well armed soldiersThe tank platoon had the task to break into the centerof the town clearingthe path through wire obstacles ln fiercecombatthe driverof the first tankettewasheavilyand the gunnerlrghtlywounded Theother tankettehad its enginestallin the middleof the enemydefensepositions To staftthe enginethe crew shouldhaveleft the vehicleand usedthe hand crank,which was not possibleSo the crew decidedto stay in the vehicleand defend it With the nightfallthey removedthe weaponsand the ammunitionand abandoned the vehiclethat wassubseouentlv set ablazeby the enemy.Thefollowingnight partisaninfantrywith the helpof anothertanketterecoveredthe burnt vehicle

15 8 G u s j e n i c tea n k e t eL 3 b i l e s u j a k o o s j e t l j i v e n a k r a i k it e r e n V e i r n ak o j e s u p a r t z a n i z a r o b ii o s t a l aj e n a t e r e n u u s t a n j uu k a k v o mj e i o v a n a s l i c i ( z b i r k aM a r i o R a g u Z ) L 3 tankette tracks were very vulnerable to karstic terrarn That was the reason why most tankettes captured by the paftisan forces remained abandoned hke thts one on the photo

OKTOPNAVOZILAI OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE U DRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

su prijemrakakrenule u napadte u potpunosti iznenadile talijanjuriSupartizani sketrupe U silovitom su uSliu talijanski raspored protivniku te nanijele teikegubitke.U borbiprotivoklopnihvozila je izuzetna je jednatanketa1.3koju ispoljena hrabrost. Zapljenjena podmetanjem su partizani onesposobili za kretanje kolievaiz ograda izmedugusjenica U borbije zaplijenjeno dostamotornih vozilapasuparlizani doSlii do goriva ve(ekolliinepogonskog partizanskih postrojbi, U sastavu kojesu vodileborbu,bio je i dio pripadnika tenkovskog vodapa je zarobljena tanketaodmahosposobljena za borbu. postrojbe U no(l s 23 na 24 listopada 1942 godinepartizanske napadajuusta5ko-domobransko uporiiteu seluTu5ilovii. Seloje branilooko 600 vojnikapojatanobitnicomtopova.U napaduje sudjelovala tanketazaplijenjena kod Poloja.Posada selase predala tijekomposlijepodnevnih sati24. listopada. postrojbe U nodis 29. na 30. listopada 1942.godinepartizanske napadaju ustaiko-domobransko uporiSte u seluRakovica U napadu sudjetujejedna tanketa.Zbog pristizanjapojaianjanapad nije USPIO

Dana4. studenog 1942.godinenapadje bezsudjelovanja oklopnih ponovljen. vozilas uspjehom Sljedetihdana u Rakovicu su kamionimaprevezene dvijetankete Zajednos tanketomzarobljenom kod Poloja,postrojba sadau svom sastavu ima tri tankete1.3te prelazipod zapovjedniitvo StabaPrve operativne zoneHrvatske. postrojbeu sklopuBihaikeoperacije Sljedeiihtjedanapartizanske vodeborbes jakimustaiko-domobranskim snagama na podrutjuod Slunjado Cetingrada te u pravcuKarlovca. Tenkovski vod sudjeluju u borbama za Slunj,Cetingrad, seloSkakavac te u napaduna uporiita u selima Lasinja, Cemernica i GornjaBuiica. BOSANSKA KRAJINA,SVIBANJ1942. GODINE Dana24svibnja 1942.godinepartizani 2. krajiSkog odredazarobili su nedaleko Bosanske Dubicedvijetankete1.3 u borbis ustaikim postrojbama. Tanketese potetkomlipnjaspominjuu raznimpartizanskimizvje5tima, ali zbog skorogapodetka"Kozarske ofanzlve' podataka o daljnjoj uporabi i sudbini nemaMoZemo ovihtanketa se pretpostaviti partizani da suovaoklopna vozilauniStili Tijekomsvibnja1942. godine krajiSkipartizanski odredi su u mehanitarskoj radionici rudnikaLjubijaproizveli dvaoklopnaautomobila.To su bili kamionitipa "Fiat'i"Magirus',tije su karoserije plotama ojadane Zeljeznim partizani, Budu(idasupoietkomsvibnja 1942.godineLjubiju zauzeli a da proiaovrlokratakrokdo pojave ovihoklopnih vozila,moZemo pretpostaviti da su u radionlcirudnikanavedena dvavozilavei bila postrojbi u zavrinojfaziproizvodnje na ratunustaiko-domobranskih te da sunakonzauzeda rudnika vozilasamodovrienaU operativnim partizanskih postrojbi dokumentima ovase dvaoklopnavozilaspogarnizon minjuu pripremama za napadna ustaiko-domobranski u Sanskom Mostu Poietkompothvatau zapadnojBosniNijemcivrlo podacima brzozauzimaju Ljubiju. Premado sadaobjavljenim vozila postrojbiuniStenaFotografije su pri povlatenjupartizanskih objavljeneu ovojknjizidokazuju daje makarjednood ovihoklopnih vozila zarobili Nijemci u ispravnom stanjute da su ga i koristili ZAPADNAHERCEGOVINA, PROSINAC 1942. GODINE postrojbe U borbiza Livno10. prosinca 1942 godinepartizanske su poredostalog oruZja zapljenile ijedanimprovizirani oklopniautomobil ustaikevojniceVoziloje u borbizapaljeno bocamas benzinom te je dostaoitedeno. je izvrienu partizanskim Popravak radionicama skidanjem dijelova iz drugihmotornihvozilate je naoruZano s pet strojnica. U vozilo je smjeStena grupaod 11 parlizana borbena s oko 10 000 komada streljiva i 50 rutnihbombi.Ovakopripremljeno oklopnovozilobilo je predvideno garnizon za napadna utvrdeni ustaSko-domobranski grupes oklopnimvozilombio je da se nakon u Kupresu. Zadatak pripremeprobijeu samomjestote strojniikomvatrom artiljerijske prokrdiput pjeiadkim postrojbama. Naumnijeuspiozbogpostavljeje viSeputapogodeno nihblokada nasamomulazuu mjesto. Vozilo i onesposobljeno zavolnju Nakonpoku5aja da obranivozilo,borbena je oklopniautomobil grupaiz vozilanapustila paou kojije ponovno rukeustaikihpostroibi

Thearmoredvehiclewasa veryvaluableassetand this tankettewas repairedin lessthana month Duringthe repairall the main paftsof the vehiclewerereplacedor handmadein localworkshops. On 21 August1942the partisans attackedUdbinaagain.Thegar risonwasverywell fortifiedand defendedby 600 soldiersThetank platoon was involvedin the attack Heavyfighting lasteduntil 23 August when the paftisanscalledoff the attack after sustaining heivy casualties. On 17 October1942the paftisans attackeda larqeltaliancolumn nearthe vitlageof Polojin the Kordunarea.Thecolumn hadabout 2000 soldiersIn the evening,aftera wholedayof fighting,thepartisansconductedan all out attackcompletelysurprisingthe ltalians. During the chargethe partisansmanagedto break in the ltalian defenseand inflid heavy casualties.The paftisansshowedgreat couragefightingagainstthe armoredvehiclesOneL 3 tankettewas capturedafter it was immobilizedbv insertinqwoodenbeamsinto the tracks.Duringthe batttethe pattisans caitureda largenumber of vehiclesthusobtainingsignificantamountof fuel. ln the night of 23 Odober 1942 the paftisansattackedthe NDH forcesin the villageof Tusilovic.The villagewas defendedby 600 soldiersand an artillerybattery.Theattack was suppoftedby the tankettecapturednearPoloj.Thevillagegarrisonsurrendered during the afternoonhoursof 24 October1942 garrisonin Rakovica TheUstasha-Domobranstvo wasattackedin the night of 29 Odober 1942.Onetankettewasinvolvedin the attack. Due to the arrivalof enemyreinforcements the attack failed.On 4 November1942 the attack was successfully repeated,this time without armorsuppott. Duringthe nextdaystwo tanketteswere truckedto Rakovica. With the tankettecapturednearPolojthe armoredplatoonhad threetankefteson itsdisposal.Theunit wastransferredunderthe command of the FirstoperationalzoneHQ for Croatia. ln the nextweekspaftisanunitsfoughtagainstthe strongUstashaforcesduringthe "Bihac"Operation BattleswerecarDomobranstvo ried in the areasof Slun,Cetingradand towardsKarlovac.TheTank platoonwasengagedin the fightingfor Slunj,Cetingrad,villageof Skakavac and attackson Lasinja, Cemernica and GornjaBucica. BOSANSKAKRAJINA MAY 1942 On 24 May 1942 the paftisansfrom the 2'd KrajinaDetachment Dubica The fanketfes capturedtwo 1.3 tankeftesnear Bosanska were mentionedin variouspartisan repoftsat the beginningof June.Due to the beginningof "Kozaraoffensive'all fuftherdataon thesevehicles arenonexistent. lt is mostlikelythat the vehicleswere destroyedby paftisans ln May 1942 partisans madetwo armoredvehiclesin a mechanical workshopof the Ljubijamines.Thosewere the trucksof Fiatand Magirusmadewith the chassrs up-armoredwith steelplates. Sincethe partisans capturedLjubijaat the beginningof May and a short while later thosevehiclesappearedit is reasonable to assume that the vehicleswere underconstrudionbeforethe parlisansgot there and that they only finishedthe work on the vehiclesthat was originallystarledby the NDHforces.Thepartisanoperational repofts mention these vehiclesin preparationsfor attack on the SanskiMostgarrison.TheGermanstook overLjubijaverysoonafter the beginningof the operationsin western BosniaAccordingto the previouslypublisheddocumentsthosevehicleswere destroyed by the retreatingpaftisans. Contraryto that, the photographin this book confirmsthat the Germanscapturedand usedat leastone of the vehicles WESTERNHERZEGOVINA,DECEMBER1942 During the fightingfor Livnoon 10 December1942paftisanunits capturedone improvisedarmoredvehiclepreviouslyused by the Ustasha Army.Thevehiclewasseverelydamagedafter the paftisans setit ablazeby usinggasolinebottles. Thevehiclewasrepairedusingthe paftstakenfrom the other vehicles and armedwith five machinegunsThe crew of 11 paftisanswith 10000roundsof ammunitionand 50 handgrenadesmountedthe preparedandequipped,wasmeantto be usedin vehicleThevehicle, garrisonin Kupres the attackon the foftifiedUstasha-Domobranstvo Thevehicleand itscrewhad a taskto breakinto the town and clear the way for the infantryunits.Theplan faileddue to the obsfac/es at the entranceto the town. Thevehiclewashit severaltimesand disabled.After attemptingto defendit the crewabandonedthe vehicle whichwaspromptlytakenoverby the Ustashaforces.

During the fighting in May of 1942 the NDHArmed Forcesin

were.car^/ingthe markingsof UstashaArmy and were probably usedby Ustashaunits.Accordingto photographsand documents of thesearmoredvehicles vojniceSto nas navodina zakljutakda su vozilonajvjerojatnije it is mostlikelythat several were all made upotrebljavale postrojbe. usta5ke Prema fotografijama i na osnovi on the sametypeof cargotruck chassisThisis confirmedwith the dokumenata izgledada je na 5asijiistemarkemotornogvozlla photographs(163 and 164) showing armored vehiclesmarked numbers1 and2 proizvedeno i na istinaiinoklopljeno viSeovakvih vozila.potvrdu with 'Samovoz' o v o g av i d i m oi n a f o g r a f i j a m(a1 6 3i 1 6 4 )n a k o j i m as e v i d e wasmentronedfor the first time in combatrepor-ts duringJune1942in the areaof JajceOn 4 June1942the 'Samovoz' o k l o p nsi a m o v o oz zi n e n is b r o j e v i m1ai 2 . escoftingconvoytravelingon .1ajce-Varcar-Vakuf roadwasattacked with handgrenades.The partisanattackwassuccessfullv repelled and all the vehicles returnedto Jajce.Onearmoredvehiciewas the escoftfor a columnwith colonelSimic,the ustashaand Domobran forcescommander for the Plivaand RamaareasOn 8 June1942 the columnwasambushednear the villaqeof Jezera Thecolumn managedto breakcontactwith the partEans and retreated suffering one deadDomobranstvo soldier(Homequard).At the end of luly'OklopniSamovoz' is in the Kupresarei. On I August 1942 the vehiclepafticipatedin the [Jstasha-Domobranstvo forcesthrust towardsZloselo.Duringthe first paftisanattackon Kupresin the nom.Kralem srpnja oklopni samovoz nalazi sena podrudju Kupresa. night of 10 August 1942 the vehicleactivelypafticipated in the Dana1. kolovoza sudjeluje u prodoruustaiko-domobranskih snaga combatas the town defensesmobilestrongpoint. premaZloselu. prvognapadapartizana Prilikom na Kupres s 10.na ln t nightof 13August1942duringthe second partisanattack 11. kolovoza 1942.godineaktivnosudjeluje u borbikaopokretna pres the armored vehiclewas used fo lead the Ustasha on todkaobranegrada. counterattacks. Partisanreportsindicatethat someof the paftisan commanders had to movetheir soldiers from the open areasinto the buildingswhen "OklopniSamovoz'approached.The partisans mountedseveralattackson the vehicleusinqsmallcombatteams armedwith handgrenades. Iheseattacksdamaqed thevehicle but 1 OklopniSamovoz Armored selfpropelled vehicle

D o u s t a i k i hv o j n i k ak o j i p r i p a d a . l p u o s t r o j b a m aC r n el e g i j en a l a z es e i d v a p r i p a d n i k an e r e g u l a r ntee r i t o r i j a l n e k u p r e i k em i l i c i j eu n a r o d n i mo d i j e l i m a ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) lmprovised armored truck (presumebly No 1) of the llstasha garrison in Kup Rotating turret was armed with Schwarzlose heavy machinegun. Besl the Ustasha Black Legion soldiers on the photograph are two mbers of the irregular Kupres Territorial wearing their national costumes (HPM Zagreb)

According to combat reports this improvised armored truck had enough armor to withstand rifle caliber fire (HPM Zagreb)

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grupama i r u i n i mb o m b a m aU o v i ml e n a p a d i mvao z i l os a m o ali nijeizbaden iz borbe Dana29 kolovoza djelomiinooSteien, kodBlagaja oklopnisamovoz sudjeluje u borbama postrolbi prema Dana30 rujnau prodoruustaikihi domobrankih jedanoklopnisamovozlstogadatumanavodiseda Kljudu sudjeluje premaBugoinuPojava u pothvatu sejedanoklopnisamovoznalazi mjestima navodinasna trag vi5evozilaistogadatumana razliiitim postrojbama vi5etih vozinaovomterenunalazilo da seu ustaikim za napadna lajceod 22 rujnanavodi la U partizanskoj zapovjedi napadana seda seu gradunalazi ledanoklopnisamovozTijekom je u grad24 rujnapartizani voziloi zarobiliDovedeno su navedeno postrojbe. voznostanje te je uvritenou partizanske nalazi navodi sedaseu u okoliniKupresa od 2 llstopada U izvjeitaju jedanoklopnisamovozOvoje vjerodostojna potvrda daje prolzvejersujednovoztlo24. rujnazarobljeno denoviSe spomenutih vozila p a r t i z au n iJ a j c ui t o g a s ed a t u m an a l a z i luop a r t i z a n s kriumk a m a je danau zasjedi premaKupresu nlen na putuod Bugolna lstoga pukovnik navodida seu pratnjik one, Simit.I u ovomseizvjeitalu koja1ebilanapadnuta, nalazio ledanoklopnisamovoz partizanske prosinca godine snagenapadalu Dana 2B 1942 ponovnoKupresU napadusudjeluje zarobljen i oklopnisamovoz i 15 partizana s trimastrojnicama u JajcuU njegaje smje5teno velikomkoliiinomstreljivaOko 11,30 voziloje krenulou napad prometnicom premaKupresuProbilo sedo ivicegradai prvihbunkeranakontegaje vozaavozilapogodenmetkomu glavui oko je onesposobljen Posada vozilaje tiiekomveieri Oklopnisamovoz pjeiatkihnapadana voziloSviparbilaprinudena odbitinekoliko pogocima krozproreze tizaniu njemuosimjednogabilisu ranjeni pono(iposada se povukla izvozilaVozilonisu Poslije 1,30poslije bitizauzetU izqe5cu da ie tijekomnoii Kupres uniitilijer su mislili u ispravnom seda je vozilozarobljeno o borbana te noii spominle te I 1 stanjute da suu njemuostale lednate5kai dvijelakestrojnice i stavljeno u upotrebupri Voziloje osposobljeno streljiva, sanduka postrojbama NDHu Kupresu 1942,godine i Hercegovine u prollece Bosne Napodruijuzapadne u uporabustavile i djelomidno su snageNDHproizvele oruZane oklopnlhvozila Premapodacima tipovaimproviziranih nekoliko 17 svibLlubije zauzimanja u literaturu o NOB-uposlije iznesenima

failedto put it out of ser'ticeOn29 August7942'OklopniSamovoz' wasin combatnearBlagaj (documented clewasdeployedin theBugojnoarea Theappearance with the units in the field A partisandispatchfor attackon laice (22 September as basedin 1942)mentroned one armoredvehrcle the town On 24 September1942duringthe attackthe vehiclewas captured,to be repairedlaterand usedby pafttsans According to the repoft from 2 October 1942 one "Oklopni Samovoz'was in the Kupresarea.Thisconfirmsthe theorythat severalvehicleswere produced One vehrclewas capturedby parand was stilltn theirhandson 2 October. tisanson 24 September On the samedaycolonelSimicwaswoundedtn an ambushon the road Thereportaboutthat eventlistsone'Oklopni Bugojno-Kupres as beingpresentutith the convoyduing the attack Samovoz" again Thevehicle attackedKupres 1942paftisans On 28 December capturedin .)ajcewasusedduringthisattack.Thecrewof the vehicle and armedwith threemachineguns of 15 pariisans wascomposed Around 17:30 the vehtclestarted largeamountof ammunitron. the attack movrngalong the road towardsKupres.Reachingthe outskiftsof the town and first line bunkersthe driverwashit in the headand thevehiclewasdisabled,Thecrewrepelledseveraltnfantry attacksduringthe evening Allof thepaftisansin the vehicleexcept one were woundedby bulletsenteringthrough frrtngporls Some the vehtcle abandoned timeafter 1:30 in the morningthe parlisans withoutdestroying believingthat Kupreswill fall duringthe night. Thevehiclewas re ptured by the NDHforces.Thereport of the and 11 eventstatesthat one heavyand two ltght machineguns werefoundin the vehicle"OklopniSamovoz' cratesof ammunition wasrepairedand usedby the NDHunitstn Kupres typesof improvised The NDHarmedforcesmadeand usedseveral armoredvehiclesin WesternBosniaand Herzegovinaduring the springof 1942.After capturingLjubiiaon 17 May 1942the paftr Those in mtneworkshops. sansbeganworkon two armoredvehicles werethe Fiatand MagrrusmadevehiclesAccordingto the paftisan HQ directivefor the attack those vehicleswere used in combat

b ir 2 ) U s p o r e d b o mp r e d n j e gd i l e l ao v o g s a m o v o z ai o n o g n a s l i c i 1 5 0 u o t a v a m o r a z l i k uk o i a n a m 1 6 1 l m p r o v i z i r a noi k l o p n is a r n o v o z( p r e t p o s t a v l j e n g o v o r i d a s e u n a t o i k o n c e p c i j s ki si t o m n a i r n u i z r a d e r a d i o d v a m a r a z l i t i t i mo k l o p n i m v o z i l i m a N a o v o m s e v o z i l u u o i a v a j u o k a p n i c ei z n a d o t v o r a p u i k a r n i c av, r a t ai p r o z o r a5 t o g a t i n i r a z l i i i t i mo d d r u g i h v o z i l a ( H A D ,Z a g r e b ) Another improvised armored truck (probable No 2) The difference between the vehiclescan be clearly seenif we compare the front end of this vehicle with the one on the photograph number 150 Although both vehicleswere built around the sameconcept they are different Thisvehicle hasratn guardsabove the gun pofts, doors and wrndows, detail that make this vehicle different than the others (HDA Zagreb)

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1 6 2 O k l o p n is a m o v o zi m a o b r t n u k u p o l u s t e i k o m s t r o l n i c o mS c h w a r z l o s eU z u s t a i k i z n a k n a k u p o l i v o z i l at s t i z n a k n a l a z is e i n a b o k u v o z i l ai z n a d h r v a t s k o g r b a ( H A D ,Z a g r e b ) Thisimprovised armored truck hasa rotating turret with a Schwarzloseheavy machine gun The lJstashaemblem was painted on the turret and on the bow of the vehicle right above the Croatian caat of arms (HDA Zaqreb)

radionicama zapodelo rya1942 godine,u tamoinjimje rudnidkim oklapljanje dvajuvozilaza potrebepartizanskih postrojbiRadilose o vozilima markeFiati Magirus. Vozilasu vjerojatno i sudjelovala u jerje u zapovjedi napadu za napadStabnaveoda sevozilanalaze u grupei naveoza njihkonkretni sastavu borbene borbeni zadatak Buduiida je nedugoposlr.le zapoielaKozarska operacija te da su partizanske postrojbe trebalenapustitisvaveia naseljena mjesta,u navedenoj literaturu navodise da su vozilauniitenada ne padnu protivniku u ruke 5 obziromdaje Ljubljazauzela17 svibnja te da1epremaoblavljenim podacima radionica partizana zapotrebe radila vrlokratko vrijeme, od 19 svibnja do 1O lipnja1942 godine,pretpostavlla seda su radovi na oklapljanju navedenih vozilanajvjerojatnije zapoielina osnovi zahtjeva nekeod postrojbiNDH,smjeitene u Ljubijiili Prijedoru te da suih paftizani zarobili u vei poodmakloj faziizrade Najvjerojatnije se radio manjimteretnimmotornimvozilima marke Fiati MagirusduZinedo 5 metra Oklopljenim ploiamaje zaiticen je dilelustvoren motori kabina vozilaU straZnjem prostor okloplleni zaSest do osamljudis po dvilepuikarnice na svakom boku Navrhu sevozilanalaziotvorza strojnicu kojamoZegadatisamonaprijed i poklopac krozkojega semoZeulazitiiizlazitiizvozila. Jedinunaznakuda su ova oklopnavozilaupotrebljena u borbi pronaiiu zapovijedi moZemo Operativnog itabaNOP-a za bosansku krajinu zanapadnaustaSko-domobransko uporiSte u Sanskom Mostu 10 lipnja'1 942 godine.U zapoviledi za napadizridito suspomenuta obaoklopna pravac vozila te imje odreden kretanja i borbeni zadatak

sinceeach one had its faskselaboratedin the document With the beginningof the "Kozara'operationthe partisans wereforced to leaveall villagesand towns in the areaand the vehicleswere destroyedto preventthem from beingcapturedby the enemy. Consideringthat Llubrjawas capturedon 17 May and that the workshopwasusedby theparlisansfor onlya shortperiodof time (19 May to 10June)it is mostlikelythat the work on the vehtcles wasinitiatedby one of the NDHunits basedin Ljubijaor Prijedor and that the paftisans capturedthe vehicles in advancedstageof theirmanufacture. Thevehiclesusedwereprobablysmallercargotrucks(5 m long) madeby Fiatand Magirus Theengineand the driver'scab were armoredand the combatcompaftmentwasmadein thecargobed of the vehicleThevehiclecouldaccommodate six to eight soldiers and had two firing potts on eachside of the vehrcle.On top of the combatcompaftmentwas the entrylexithatch as well as an openingfor the forvvardfiringmachinegun Theonly tndicationtheseyehrcleswere usedtn combat6 a d6patchfrom the Operational HQ NOP2issued on l0lune 1942in preparationfor attackon Sanski Most Thedispatchexplicitlymentioned both vehicleswith therr combat assiqnments and routes of advanceThe attackon Sanski Most wa{ unsuccessful None of the repoftsfollowingthe eventcontainany informationabout the vehicles So far only one photographof the Magirusvehiclehas been published Thistext is illustratedwith two photographsof the armored vehiclemade in Llubija mine workshops Photo 170 is from Bundesarchive in Koblenztaken by the Germanpropagandateam that was coveringthe units involvedin the 'Kozara" Do sadaje objavljena operation Photograph171 comesfrom a private archiveand vozilaza Lojese lednadostaloia fotografija navodi da je markeMagirusUz ovajtekstnalaze sedvijefotografije most likelydeprctsthe samevehicle.Soldiersaround the vehicle nakojimasenalazi oklopno vozilonapravljeno u radionicama rudnika are the Germansand the CroatianHomeguard (Domobranstvo) u LJUorjl It appearsthat the vehiclewasbetterequippedthan on thepreviousphotographwhich makesus beltevethat aftercaptunngit the Slika(170)potjeieiz Bundesarchiva u Koblenzu, a snimilisu je pripadnici njemadkog vojnogpropagandnog odjelakoji je pratio Germansusedthe vehicle postrojbe u Kozarskoj operacijiNaslicl(171),kojaje doSlaiz privatnogarhiva,najvjerojatnije se nalaziistovoziloOkonjeganalaze se 2 N O P N a r o d n o O s l o b o d i l a c kP n j e m a i kv io l n i ci di o m o b r a nl iz g l e ddaaj e v o z i l o b i l ou u p o t r e bi di a i o k r e t P e o p l e sL i b e r a t i o nM o v e m e n r 79

f,J$'}ffitiffim{'{,{ ffid\T'{.$ 5fl{{:}.i tlH[-#5]f{Sq bf#trlilJl fl ffiil-{!"S$}t\Jfr Fffi' Tm.{1"1ffiffi *ihi.,$HTSiltffi[f+ Li i"f;${\d.dlf

1 6 3 l m p r o v i z i r a noik l o p n is a m o v o z( p r e t p o s t a v i j e bn ri 3 ) o z n a i e nb r o j k o m l e d a n n a k u p o l i v o z i l a B u d u i i d a s e r a d i o j e d i n s t v e n o mo b r a s c ur z r a d e improviziranog o k l o p a n a n a j v j e r o j a t n i jies t o m t i p u m o t o r n o g v o z i l a i u i s t o j r a d i o n i c io, v o s m o v o z i l oo z n a t i l i k a o t r e t i p r i m j e r a ki m p r o v i z i r a n o g o k l o p n o gv o z i l a ( H P M .Z a g r e b ) Another improvised armored truck (probable No 3) with number one painted on the turret Vehicle was obvtously made in the same workshop probableon the chassisof the same type likethe other vehiclesDuing the researchwe named this one as number 3 (HPM Zactreb)

1 6 4 l m p r o v i z i r a noi k l o p n is a m o v o z( p r e t p o s t a v l j e n b ir 4 ) o z n a t e n b r o l k o m d v a n a k u p o l iv o z t l a Z a r a z l i k uo d o s t a l i hr m p r o v i z r r a n oi hk l o p n i hs a m o v o z a , n a b o c n o j s t r a n i j a s n o s e v i d e z a k o v i c ek o j e g a i i n e r a z l i d i t i m ( H P M , Zagreb) Truck number 4" had number 2 painted an the turret This vehicle has rivets on the armored stdes,maktng it very distrnct from the previously seen vehicles(HPM Zagreb) 1 6 5 O v a i d v i j e p r e t h o d n es l i k es u p r e m az a p i s uu H P M s n i m l j e n eu v e l l a i i 1 9 4 3 g o d i n e n a p u t u i z m e d u D o n j e gV a k u { ai P r o z o r a N a s l i c is u g e n e r a i V i l k o B e g i i i m r n i s t a ru v l a d i N D H F r k o v i t N j e m a i k i a s n i ku p o z a d i njie , p r e m az a p l s uu z s l i k u ,z a p o v j e d n i 3 k 6 9 l e g i o n a r s kdei v i z i j e( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) According to HPM this phato, together with the previous two, were taken in February 1943 between the towns of Donji Vakuf and Prozor. On the phato are general Vilko Begi( and minister tn NDH Government Mr. Frkovii The German officer in |he back is the commander of the 369tn Legtonary Division (HPM Zagreb) 1 6 6 G r u p a d o m o b r a n s k i hi u s t a i k i hv i s o kh i a s n i k a i s p r e di m p r o vz i r a n o g o k l o p n o gs a m o v o z aN a j y e r o j a t n i jsee r a d i o i s t o mv o z i l uk o l ej e n a s l r k a m a 1 5 2 r 1 5 3 P r e m az a p i s uu z s l i k u ,s n i m l j e n aj e p o d e t k o m1 9 4 3 g o d r n eu o k o l i c iS a r a j e v a( H A D ,Z a g r e b ) Photograph of the group of Domobranstvo and Ustasaihigh ranking officers standing in front of an tmprovised armored vehicle Most probably it is the same vehicle as shown on photographs 152 and 153 Accarding to the caption this photo was taken at the begrnntngof 1943 tn the vtctnityof Sarajevo (HDA Zagreb)

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boljeopremljeno negona prethodnoj fotografiji, 5tonasnavodina kljutak da suga Nijemci nakonzarobljavanja i upotrebljavali. Uzovaimprovizirana oklopna vozilakojasudokumentirana fotografinekihizvjeitaja moiemonaslutiti da su i nekedrugeusta5ke lama,iz i domobranske postrojbe raspolagale improviziranim oklopnim vozilima.Kaoprimjerse mogunavestizvjeitaji od i2. kolovoza 1942. godine, u kojemsenavodida je koloninapadnutol kod DugogSela upu(enau pomoausta5ka postrojba s trima kamionima i jednim blindiranim kamionom, te 24. studenog1942.godine,u kojemse navodida su kod selaCemernice pariizanipriiikomuniitili'jedan b l i n d i r aknai m i o n . Oklopni samovozi su u upotrebii tijekom1943.godine.NajvaZnrli zapiso upotrebisamovoza datiraod "l3. veljate1943.godine, u kojimausta5ke postrojbe, kojelz pravcaBugolnanadiruprema Gornjem Vakufu,upotrebljavaju tri oklopnavozilakojepartizani u

Besidesthe vehrclesdocumentedin the photographsthere is a possiblity,indicatedin vanousrepofts,'that the other NDHunits possessed and usedrmprovised armoredvehicles. As example, the report of 12 August 1942describingthe attack a column nearDugo 5e/ostatesthat help was sentin form of three trucks andonearmoredtruck Anotherreportof 24 November1942lists one armoredtruck as destroyedby partisansnear the villageof Cemernica Armoredtruckswere usedduring 1943as we Themost important documentabout their usaqeis from 13 Feb arv 1943describing UstashaforcesadvancingTrom BugojnotowardsGorn| Vakuf suppoftedby three armoredvehiclesln a partisanreport those vehicles weredescribed asarmoredcars The lstProletaianDivision HQreporton 25 February 1943listedthreearmoredcarsaspartof the Ustashaand Domobrangarrisonin Bugojno.Nextmentionis onlyin the reportfrom 25 luly 1943when the [Jstasha Lieutenant ColonelBobanusedone of the armoredtrucksto go to Glamocin an attemptto resolvethe mutinyof the localUstashagarrison ln accordancewith the availabledata it is safeto concludethat improvised armoredtrucksremainedin usein WesternHerzeqovina until the ltaliansurrender.

Shodno iznesenome moZemozakljuditi da su se oklopnisamovozi napodruijuzapadne Hercegovine odrialiu upotrebi do kapitulacije Italije.

1 6 1 1 6 8 l m p r o v i z i r a noi k l o p n i s a m o v o z k o j e g s u z a r o b i l e p a r t i z a n s k e p o s t r o j b eu b o r b a m az a l a j c e2 4 r u j n a 1 9 4 2 g o d i n eI u p o t r r j e b i l ue n a p a d u

1 6 9 l m p r o v i z i r a n io k l o p n i s a m o v o z ( p r e t p o s t a v l j e nbi r . 5 ) J a s n o s e u o i a v a r a z l i k ai z m e d u p r e d n j i hd i j e l o v ao k l o p n i hs a m o v o z an a s l i c i 1 5 0 (pretpostavljen b ir 1 ) i 1 5 2 ( p r e t p o s t a v l j e n b ir . 2 ) P r e m az a p i s uu z s l i k u i z H P M - a s n i m l j e n aj e n a K o r d u n un a k o n 5 t o s u j e z a r o b i l ep a r t i z a n s k e p o s t r o j b e( H P M .Z a g r e b )

An improvised armore truck captured by paftisanunits during the battle for lalce on September 2 1942. This vehtcle was used to support the attack on Kupreson December 28, 1942 where it was recaptured by the defending forces. (Dinko Predoevit collection)

Photograph of an improvised armored truck (probable No 5) Compared with the vehtcles on the photographs 150 nad 752 this vehicle has different f ront end The caption on the back of this photograph says that it was taken on the Kordun area after the vehicle was captured by cartisans BA Koblenz)

1 7 0 . l m p r o v i z i r a n o k l o p n ov o z i l o ,k o j e s u z a r o b i l it i j e k o m l i p n j a 1 9 4 2 g o d i n e n j e m a i k ep o s t r o j b ez a v r i j e m ep o t h v a t an a p l a n r n iK o z a r i S l i k uj e s n i m i o njematki ratni izvjestitelj-fotograf(BA, Koblenz) This improvised armored vehicle was captured by the Germans during the Kozara Mountain Operation in the June 1942 The photograph was taken by the German war correspondent (BA Koblenz) 1 7 1 Z a r o b l j e n oi m p r o v i z i r a n o o k l o p n ov o z i l oi z L j u b i j ek o r i s t i l e s u n l e m a d k et r u p e Z a r a z l i k uo d v o z i l as p r e t h o d n es l i k e ,o v o j e u p o t p u n o s t io p r e m l j e n o S l i k a p o ! e i e i z a l b u m ad o m o b r a n s k o g t a s n i k a o b i l j e Z e n o gn a s l i c i s t r e l i c o m P r e m an j e g o v o ji z j a v i r a d i s e o " p a r t i z a n s k o mv"o z i l u z a r o b l j e n o mn a K o z a r iu l i p n j r r 1942 godine (zbirkaMario RaguZ) lmprovised armored vehicle made in Ljubija seen here tn the German service Unltke the vehicle on the prevtous photograph this one shows vehicle that is fully equipped Thisphotograph originates from the Domobranstvo officer (the one marked with an arrow) and according to him this vehicle was ex paftisan vehicle captured during the Kozara Mountain Operation in the June 1942 (Mario RaguZcollection)

1 7 2 S l i k a p o d o s t a l o i e k v a l i t e t eo b l a v l j e n au k n j i z i o p a r t i z a n s k o j t e h n i d k o js l u i b i P r e m a z a p i s u u z s l i k u r i j e d j e o i m p r o v i z i r a n o m o k l o p n o m v o z i l u " F i a t " S l i k aj e s n i m l j e n au L l u b i j i u s v i b n j u 1 9 4 2 godrne Poor qualityphotograph publishedin the book about partisantechnical 'improvised service Accordrng to the book the vehicle is an armored vehicle type FIAT', and the photo was taken in Ljubija in the May 1942

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Potetkom studenog1942 godinenjematkoVrhovnozapovjedniitvo je odlukuda setijekomzimepoduzmu donijelo vojneoperopsezne acijena dijeluteritorija partizani NDHkojegakontroliraju kakobi se partizanske razbile i uniStile oruZane formacijeNjemaiko i talijansko je poietkomsijeinja'1943 godinezajedniiki zapovjedniStvo izradilo plandjelovanja premakojemuje trebalos teritorija od rijekeKupei Savena sjeveru i linijeOgulin- Gospii- Gratacu pravcuzapadai jugoistoka graniceizvesti skrozdo crnogorske tri zajednidka vojna p o t h v a tpao dn a z i v i m a ' W el i' ,s' sW e i slsl "i " W e i slsl l " . je opkoljavanje Plannapadnogpothvata"Weissl" predvidao i glavninepostrojbiNOV-ana teritorijujugoistotnood uniStavanje rijekeKupei Save. premaplanu'Weiss U nastavku postroll"trebaloje opkolitii uniStiti jbe NOV-akojesu se uspjeleizvutiiz prvogudarana prostorujuZno od linijeBosanski PetrovacKljut- MrkonjiiGrad. je konainouniStenje planu'Weiss Prema partizanskih lll' planirano postrojbii materijalne bazepokretate zatvaranje svogvojnosposobnogmuikog stanovni5tva. U zadnjojfazi pothvatapredvldeno je i razoru\avanja svih tetnidkihpostrojbina teritorijiDalmacije, Hercegovine i CrneGore je korS njemaikestraneza izvodenje pothvata"WeissI' postrojen pus 'Kroatien" u tijem su sastavu bili dijelovi714. i 717 pjeiaike divizije i jedanojadanipuk 187.pjeiaikedivizije. Osnovnu snagu grupesatinjavale ovekorpusne pjeiadka su 369 legionarska divizija prijepotetakpothvata kojaje neposredno dopremljena s podukeu Njemaikoj te 7 SSbrdska divizija Eugen" kojaje zaovajpothvat "Prinz prebadena s podrudja SrbijeUz njemaikepostrojbe na pojedinim pravcima djelovale su i orulanepostrojbe NDH:pri 369 diviziji3. brdska pri 714 divizlji brigada i5 gorskizdrug, dijelovi1. pjeiaike jaiinaovegrudivizije te pri 717.diviziji 2 brdskabrigada. Ukupna pacije bilaje oko57 000vojnika S talijanske straneu pothvatu'Weiss l'sudjeluje V armijski korpuss 'Re','Lombardia" pjeiaikihdivizija dijelovima i 'sassari' te dijelovima oruZanih snagaNDH i ietnikau ukupnojjatinl od oko 38 000 vojnika Borbena djelovanja trebalasu seodvijatina povriiniod oko 13 000 kvadratnih kilometara, dijaje operacijska osnovica elipsastog oblika biladuZine oko350 km.Ospo kojojsu njemadke postroji talijanske partizanski be trebalepresje(i teritorijimalaje du2inuod oko 240 km. prijepotetkapothvata"Weiss Neposredno postrojbi l"glavnina NOV-a bilaje rasporedena grupacijama u trimaosnovnim Postrojbe t hrvatskog korpusa tine:6 liika,7.banijska, S kordunaika '1 divizija NOV-a, 6 i 4. primorsko-goranska brigada te Liiki,Korduna5ki parlizanski i Banijski odredis oko 15 500 boraca. '1 Postrojbe bosanskog korpusaiine: 4. i 5. krajiSka divizijaNOV-a, 9 i 10 krajiSka parlizanski brigadai Kraji5ki odreds oko 11 500 boraca grupedivizija Postrojbe operativne Vrhovnog Staba NOV-a tine:1.i 2 proieterska i 3 udarnadivizija s oko 14 000 boraca Pothvat "Weiss l' zapoteoje 20. sijetnja1943 godine.Zbogvrlo uspjeSnih partizanskih postrojbi, obrambenih djelovanja kaoi zbog teikihterenskih i vremenskih postrouvjeta,njemaikim i talijanskim jbamatrebaloje punih 18 danada presijeku partizanski teritorij Najveti postigle operativni uspjeh njemadke su postrojbe na podrutju planine Grmet,gdjesu uspjele nekovrijeme drlaIi4 kraji5ku diviziju NOV-a grupedivizija u obruiu,Glavnina operativne Vrhovnog itaba prebacila sa7 banljskom divizijom se istotnood linijespajanja talijanskih i njemaikih trupate iza\laizzamiSljenog okruZenja Postrojbe

At the beginningof November1942Germanhigh comnanddecided to conductextensivemilitaryoperationson the territoryof NDH controlledby the paftisansThegoalof theseoperationswasto split and destroypaftisanarmedforces ln lanuaryof 1943the German prepareda joint plan of actionthat was and the ltalianheadquarters dividedinto three separateoperations,'Weisl, 'Weislf, and "Weis lll' Theseoperationswereplannedto takeplaceon the areafrom the Savaand the Kupariversin the nofth and the lineOgulin-GospicGracacin the westall the way to the Montenegroborder.Thegoal of the operation"Weisl" wasencirclement and destructionof NOVIl on the areasouth-eastof the Kupaand Savarivers Continuation of that operationwas'Weisll"aimedat the destruction of the paftisanforcesthat evadedencirclement duringthe first operation Theareaassignedfor thisoperationwassouth of the line Bosan ski Petrovac-Kljuc-Mrkonjic Grad. Operation'Weis ll wasplannedasfinaldestructionof paftisanforces and theirmaterialsuppoftand imprisonmentof all the militaryable population.Thelastphaseof the operationwasto be the disarming of all Chetnikunitsin Dalmatia,Herzegovina and Montenegro Forthe operation'WeisI' the Germansformed'Kroatien'corpscomposedof 714thand 71VhlnfantryDivisions and reinforced regiment from 18Vh InfantryDivision.The main force of this corpsgroup was 369thLegionarylnfantryDivisionthat was recentlytransferred from the trainingcenterin Germanyand Vh 55 MountainDivision 'PrinzEugen'brought from Serbia.Alongsidethe Germanforces weresomeottne t\lun untts.tne 5'" twountatn bnoadeandtne 5," MountainBrigadewerewith 369thlnfantryDivisioi, elements of lst lnfantryDivisionwerewith 714thlnfantryDivisionand 2ndMountain Brigadewith 71VhlnfantryDivision.Totalstrengthof thisgroupwas 57000soldiers The ltalianswere involvedin 'Weis I" with their th Armv Corps composedof the elementsfrom "Re', "Sassar/and 'Lombardia' lnfantryDivisions aswellas someNDHand Chetnikformations.Total strengthof ltaliangroup was38000 soldiers Combatoperationswereplannedon the areaof 13000squarekilometers,with operationalbasein the form of an ellipse350km long Thelengthof the territorythe Germanand ltalianforcesneededto coverto split the paftisanheldareawas240 km Rightbeforethe beginningof the operation'Weis l" partisan forces weredividedinto threemaingroups: Unitsof lst CroatianCorpscomposedof 6th Lika,7th Banijaand 8thKordundivisrons, 6thand 14thPrimorsko-Goranska Briqadeand the Lika,Kordunand Banijapartisan Odredl2with a totat-of15500 S0toters r l N O V N a r o d n oO s l o b o d i l a cV ka o l s k a P e o p l eLsi b e r a t i oAnr m y 1 2O d r e d- d e t a c h m e ni tn d i r e c t r a n s l a t i o nt e, r m u s e dl o o s e l yb y t h e p a r t i s a n s

1 7 3 T e n k o v s k pa o s t r o j b au P o s u i j uu z a p a d n o jH e r c e g o v i n S i u d e ( ip r e m a b r o j u 1 3 2 n a t e n k u H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 , p o s t r o j b ap r i p a d a 1 s a t n i j il / 1 2 0 2 P a n z e r A b t e i l u n gS a l i k aj e s n i m l j e n au o Z u l k u1 9 4 3 g o d i n en a k o np o t h v a t a ' W e i s " ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) Tank untt photographed in Posusje, western Herzegovtna, after the Operation Weiss" in the March 1943 Tank was bearing number 132 which suEtgtests that it belonged to the 1't company of l/202,d Panzer Abteilung (HPM, Zagreb)

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totalof 11500soldters Units of SupremeHeadquartersgroup of divistons,lst and ProletarianDivisionsand 3'd AssaultDivisronwith total strength 14000soldiers Operation'WeissI beganon 20'hJanuary1943 Dueto veryeffective defensiveactionsof paftisanunits and extremelyhard terrain and weatherconditionsGermanand ltalian forcestook 18 days to split the partisanheld territory.Germanunits achievedgreatest operationalsuccess on TheGrmecMountainareawheretheyman agedto encircleand hold4thKrajinaDivisionNOV.Themainbodyof groupof divisions the SupremeHeadquafters with Vh BanijaDivision moved eastof the Germanltalianltne of advanceand avoided encirclementAfter initialdefensiveactionsthe unitsof lst Croatian corpsmovedfrom the mainlineof advanceof Germanunitsand on l T 4 P r i j e l a zr i j e k eg a z o m T e n kS o m u aS 3 5 t e n k H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 b r o j a3 3 2 15 February1943staftedcounterattacks on ltaliancolumnsin the T r e i a s a t n i j a1 / 2 0 2 P z A b t k o j o j p r i p a d ao v a j t e n k u c i k l u s uj e p o t h v a t a " W es " b i l a p o d r e d e n a3 6 9 l e g i o n a r s k odli v i z i j i ( H P M ,Z a g r e o l Likaarea ln clashes that lasteduntil22 February 1943the partisans severely mauledltaltan'Sassari Division The Hotchkiss H 39 number 332 and Somua S 35 durino river fordino Thanksbelonged to the 3'o company ol | 202"d PanzerA}teilung Duriig After extricatingthe main paftisan force from encirclementthe the Operation 'Weiss" this company was subordinated to the 369th SupremeHQ NOV decided send the operationalgroup of divtLegionary Division (HPM, Zagreb) sions(lst and 2'd Proletaria iv, 3'd AssaultDiv,Vh Banijaand 9th DalmatiaDivisions) towardsthe NeretvaRiver.Thearmwasto create t hrvatskog korpusa su nakonpodetnih obrambenih borbiizmakle new freeteritory and savea largenumberof the wounded Further '1 pravaca s glavnih nadiranja njemaikih trupate su ve( 5 veljade na plansof the SupremeHQ NOVwereturnedtowardsmovingtherr podruaju Likekrenule u protunapad natalijanske koloneU borbama main forcesto fhe eastHerzegovina and fuftheron to Montenegro kojesu trajaledo 22 veljateposebno su stradale kolonetalijanske and southernSerbia The parlisanforces'intention was to, using 'Sassari', divizije quick and decisiveactions,sealoff the valleyin the middleof the RiverNeretvabasin That would create conditionsfavorablefor lzvlaieiiglavninupartizanskih postrojbiiz okruZenja, Vrhovniitab NOV-a grupompartizanskih donosiodlukuda s operativnom divizija actionsthat wouldleadinto destructionof the wholechainof ltalian garrisonsfrom Prozorto KonjicFuftherintent of theseforceswasa (1 i 2 proleterska i 3 udarnadivizija NOV-a) te 7 banijskom i9 breakthroughacrossthe NeretvaRiverinto the lVeveslnTe-Kalinovac prema dalmatinskom divizijom podruijusrednjeg NOV-akrene toka rijekeNeretve zbogstvaranja novogslobodnog teritorija i izvlaienja plateauand advancetowardsMontenegroand Serbta planovi velikog brojaranjenika, Daljnji Vrhovnog Staba bilisuusmjere- Commanderof GermanforcesGeneralAlexanderLohr and comni premakretanjuglavnine snagau istoinuHercegovinu te dalje manderof ltalianforcesGeneralMario Robotimet in Beogradon juZneSrbijeNamjerapartizanskih B February1943to arrangedetarlsof the operation'Weisll' They premaCrnojGori i podrudjima postureand consnagabilaje da brzimi odluinimdjelovanjem zatvore dolinusrednjeg believedthat thepartisanforceswill takedefensive tinuewith stubborndefensive actionsto protectthe largenumberof toka rijekeNeretveiz pravcaMostaraiSarajevate stvoreuvijeteza the woundedandthe civilianpopulationmovingwith them Generab likvidaciju garnizona cijelog nizatalijanskih na prostoru od Prozora do Kon.1ica. Daljnja namjera ovihsnagabioje prodorprekorijekeNeretve Lohrand Robotiestimatedthat the paftisanforceswereexhausted te izlazak na nevesinjsko-kalinovaiku visoravan i prodorna podruila duringthe frghting,thus unableto conductlarge scalemaneuvers pcomtng attacks n .the partisan delense Th un itsd,es iOn CrneGorei Srbije -o 1t^el!o^r"u Irn were lrom /n SSMountain Division,369thlegionaryDivision, U Beogradu su se8 veljaieponovno sastali zapovjednici njemaikih 71 h and 71Bth lnfantry Divisions.Expectingdefensiveactions i t a l i j a n s kti rhu p a g , e n e r aAl il e x a n d e L ro h ri M a r i o R o b o t ik,a k ob i Germanheadquarters assigned10 daysfor the restand the refitting 'Weiss provedbu pothvata dogovorili li' of their units ln fact someof the listedunitswereengagedin final Njematki i talijanski zapovjednik smatrali.su da ie partizanske divizije battlesof the operation'Weis |. Thebreakthrough of paftisan units ustrajati na upornimobrambenim borbama u kakobi zaititileveliki towardsthe NeretvaRiverdisruptedthisplan.Between9thand 26th brojranjenika i izbjeglog civilnog stanovniitva Procijenili su da su se February duringtheiradvancethe par'tisan unitsdestroyed all ttalian partizanske postrojbe priliinoizmorile garrisonsin the Ramaand NeretvaRivervalleysexceptltaltanstrongu dosadainjim borbama te da nisusposobne za velikepokrete, Zadaljnjinapadna pretpostavljenuhold in Kon|c ltaliandivisionMurge'wasdefeatedsustainingheavy partizansku liniluobraneodredene su postrojbe 7 SSbrdske divizije, casua/tiesTheoperationgroup of the paftisandivisionsreachedthe 369 legionarske divizije, 717 i 718 pjeiaikedivizijeOiekujuii NeretvaRiveron a frontlineB0 km wide je svojimpostrojbama ThispromptedGermanheadquarlers obrambene borbe,njemadko zapovjedniitvo to abandonthe plan'Weisll' odredilo desetodnevni odmorza sredivanje stanjau njima Nekeod on 19 Februaryand to starlprepanngto stop anticipatedpaftisan navedenih divizija su bilezauzetezavr5nim borbamau okviru thrusttowardsimpoftantareawith bauxiteminesin Herzegovina 'Weissl' loi :h -^ t --^rA ' pothvata Dueto /'n 55 Dtvtston and369tnLegionary Division in beingengaged je Medutimprodorpartizanskih divizijapremaNeretviporemetio padizanske oveplanoveOd 9 do 26 veljade postrojbe su u svom 'Anackel pravcunastupanja garnizone uniStile svetalijanske u dolinirijeke towardsProzorand makecontactwith the battle group and reachedKonjicThesebattle Ramei kanjonuNeretve, osimtalijanskog uporiSta u KonjicuTe5ko that wasadvancingfrom Sarajevo postrojbe su i uz velikegubitkepotudene talijanske divizije'Murge' groupshad the taskto preventthe mainpaftisanforcefrom evading the encirclement and to hold them until the mainbodyof 369th grupadivizija Operativna izailaje na rilekuNeretvu u du)iniod oko Leqionarv Divisionand 7h 55 Divisionarrives.The unitsof 7181h B0 km tnlantry'Division wereorderedto reinforce the battlegroup 'Vogel' Naovajuspjeh iurno1ereaglralo njemaiko zapovjedni(tvo kojeje vet of 369thLegionary Divisionrecerved 19 veljateshvatilo plana at GornjiVakuf.Commander da moradjelomltno odustati od provedbe ordersto disengagefrom lst BosntanCorpsNOV and to advance pretpostavljani pokretpartizanskih Weissll' te zaustaviti divizijau towardsthe NeretvaRiver.TheVh 55 MountarnDivisionwasordered vaznuzonurudnika boksita u Hercegovini to staft rapidrelocattontowardsthe WesternHerzegovina areaand Budu(ida su postrojbe 7 SSbrdske divizije i 369 legionarske divizile to securebauxitemines bilezauzete borbama s postrolbama 1. bosanskog korpusa NOV-a, Fuftheradvanceof the OperationGroup of paftisandivisionwas 'iz sastava grupi"Vogel je borbenoj 718 ple5aike divizije naloZeno halted becauseof the inabilitvof the CentralHospitalwith some da seiz pravca Gornjeg Vakufa5tohitnijeprobije do Prozora te spoji grupom"Anacker', s drugomdivizi.lskom borbenom kojaje napredovalaiz pravca Sarajeva te doilado KonjicaZaciatak ovihborbenih d e n o t i n ou n i t st h e s i z eo f o l a t o o nt o b a t t a l i o n 84

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tionsnearGornjiVakufagainstthe battlegroup 'Vogel'from 2Vh bruaryto 5tnMarch. Topreventbreachof the defenselineand to gain sometime the SupremeHQ NOV decidedto masstheir forceson a very small frontagenearGornliVakufand to counterattack Germanforces. Nineparlisanbrigadesweregatheredfor the counterattack together No daljnji prodor Operativne grupe preko Neretveu istoinu with all of the availablepaftisanartilleryand the SupremeHQ Tank je Centralna Hercegovinu zaprijetila bolnicas tri do ietiri tisuie Company.By the orderof the SupremeHQ NOVall the bridgeson ranjenika i tifusnihbolesnika, kojanijemoglapratititemponapada the river /Veretyawere destroyedas part of a plan to deceivethe Germans parlizanskih and to leadthem to believethat the wholegroupof the brigada.Zbog obranebolnice,od 27 veljaiedo 5. is turning into oppositedrrectronGermanforces oZujkapartizanske brigade vodete5keobrambene pozicijske borbe partisandivisrons kod GornjegVakufas njemadkim postrolbama iz sastava borb-one were stoppedafter two daysof fighting and pushedaway from GornjiVakufwhichwastakenby the paftisans. grupe'Vogel Believing that the paftisans aregoingto turn westwardthe Germans Da bi sprijetioprobojobranei dobio na vremenu, Vrhovniitab odluiujeda na jednom relativnous m prostorukod Gornjeg shiftedto the defensive,the move that gave the SupremeHQ Vakufaprikupiglavninu svojihudarnih agate da izvriiprotuudar NOV time to reorganizeforcesand the CentralHospitaland to facilitatethe NeretvaRivercrossinqand fuftheradvanceinto eastern postrojbe nanjemaike Herzegovina protunapad Za devetpartizanskih brigada, svapartizan1eprikupljeno skaartillerija i Tenkovska detaVS NOV-a.Premazapovjedi Vrhovnog Staba poru5eni na rijeciNeretvi susvimostovi kakobi sestvorio privid from vaious antrdasecjelokupna grupaokreieu suprotnom operativna pravcu. Dana Theymanagedto gatheraround20000 chetniks 3. oZujkaoperativna grupaprelaziu ontalninapad.Njematke communistunits, territorialnrlitiasand units under the command of DrazaMihallovicThemajorityof theseunitswerepoorly ledand su postrojbe zaustavljene te u dvodne im borbamaodbaieneiz organrzedln an attemptto impressthe ltalianswith sheernumbers Gornjeg Vakufa, u kojisu uSlepartizanske postrojbe. Chetnikcommanders were ftllinqtherrunitsbv a methodof forced Smatraluci da se cijelagrupacija namjerava vratitipremazapadu, mobilizationThe consequencebf that practiiewaslow moraleof postrojbe njematke prelaze u obranute ostavljaju Vrhovnom 5tabu the Chetnikunitsthat often fell apartduringfrrstcombats vremena da prikupii organizira postrojbe i Centralnu bolnicuza Duing the night 617March 1943 the majorityof partisanforces prilelaz rijekeNeretve u istoinuHercegovinu crossedthe NeretvaRiverusingimprovisedcrossingneara demolje zapovjedni5tvo Napodrudju istotneHercegovine talijansko inten- ishedbridgein the vrcinityof JablanicaUpon crossingthe riverthe zivnoprikupljalo postrojbe detniike s namjerom da ih ubaciu borbu paftisansdispersedthe Chetniksguardingthe river.ln the clashes prorvpantzana that lasteduntil 22 March 1943most of the Chetnikunitswere 85

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gotovo20 000 tetnika eitherdestroyedor driven into the ltalian garrisons.Most of the sakupiti Talijani su uspjeli Naovomprostoru postrojbihercegovaikih i crnogorskih paftisanunits including the Central Hospitalwith around 4000 iz raznihantikomunistitkih DraZe wounded crossedthe NeretvaRiverusing the improvisedbridge milicijai detnitkepostrojbepod zapovjedniitvom teritorijalnlh nijebiladobrovodenani orga- nearJablanica MihailoviiaVeiinaovih postrojbi veiina Onlyon 17 March 1943did the Germansarriveat the crossingsite niziranaNastojeti brojemvojnikaostavitiutisakna Talijane, popunjavala prisilnom mobilizaci- Later,during the trial for war crimes,GeneralLohr statedwith disdetnitkih vodaje svojepostrojbe jom,5toje za posljedicu kojesuse moralpostrojbi imaloslabborbeni gust that "therewas no booty,no prisoners,not a singlewounded pri malojaioj borbiraspadale samepo sebi paftisan,not eventhe deadones,despitethe fad that,iudging by had to havesignificantlosses". grupepreSle su Neretvu our own bloody losses,the partisans udarnepartizanske U no(is 6 na 7. oZujka detnitku Paftisan prekoporuienogmostakodJablanice tamo5nju te razbile lt is estimatedthat duringthe vvere in fact significant. /osses sufferedaround do22 olujkaveiinatetnitkihsnagaZestokole fightingbeforeandat the Neretva Riverthe paftisans straZuU borbama garnizone. or exhaustion potutenai stjerana u talijanske killed,woundedor diedfrom disease, 5000 casualties, je Neretvu prekoimproviziranog veiina exposureto bitter cold Civilianpopulationsufferedgreatlyas well. mostapre5la KodJablanice partizanskih bolnicas oko 4000 Accordingto the Germanforcescommandelup to 31 March 1943, borbenihpostrojbite Centralna I and ll' hisunitssufferedthe followinglosses: in operations'Weis i bolesnika ranjenika Croatianunits 4 wounded and 158missingsoldiers. 514 killed, 121 postrojbe tek 17.oZujka njemadke su pristigle Namjestoprolaza had126 killed,258woundedand218 missingsoldiers pukovnika generala Lohra, Alexadnera izjavu Nijenaodmetspomenuti suffered11915killed that the partisans kojije na poslijeratnom Thesamesourceestimated trupanaJugoistoku, zapovjednika njemaikih it was only an estimate.By Luters that remark from General with a gortinom poiinjene s ratnezloiineo ovimdogadajima sudenju za attachedto variousGermanunits616 'Nijebilonlkakvog plijena, nijednog ranjenika, the ordersof court marshals ni zarobljenika, izjavio: prisoners 490 menand 285 wereexecuted. Out of 2506 prisoners gubicima prema pa dakni poginulih na5ih iako su krvavim nijebilo, to the Zemunprisonercamp, the rest were were taken women postrojbi, moraliI parlizani imatigubitkeu veiembroju'. handedoverto the NDHauthorities gubiciu borbamabili su znatni.Procjenjule se da je u Partizanski The GrmecMountain areasufferedgrosslyduring the fighting in poginulo, prijei oko Neretve hladno(e i umrlood bolesti, borbama February. Accordingto the listingscreatedafter the war German preko5000partizanskih boracaGubiciciviliscrpljenosti te ranjeno troops killed3370 and interned1229civiliansin that area nogstanovni5tva takoder su biliznatni The ltalianssufferedheavylossesln the Likaareathey lostaround do njematkihtrupa u Hrvatskoj Premaizvjeitajuu komandanta 1500 soldiers(dead,woundedand missing)and additional2500 in u pothvatu"Weiss the NeretvaRivervalley. 31 oZujkapod njegovimje zapovjedniStvom je vojnikaRanjeno l, l, ll' poginulo5'14 njemaikihi 126 hrvatska During the next two monthsthe majorityof the paftisandivisions je nestalo'158 i 258 hrvatskih vojnika. U borbama 1214njemaikih undercommandof the Supreme QH NOVoperatedin the areaof i 218 hrvatskih volnika njemaikih Sandjakand Montenegro eastHerzegovina, se na 11 9'l5 Premaistomizvjeitajugubitcipartizanaprocjenjuju Lutersa da se radio procjeni samoggenerala mrtvihs napomenom gubitakaPo njematkimpostrojbama, odlukamaprijekihsudova, je 616 zarobljenika 490 muikaraca Od 2506'zarobljenika, streljano je u zarobljenitki logoru ZemunuOstale i 285 )enaotpremljeno je vlastima predala NDH. njematka vojska zarobljene je stradalo podruijeokoplanine tijekomveljateposebno U borbama popisima njematke trupesu samona Grmei Premaposlijeratnim jo51229osobe. osobai internirale tom podrutjuubile3370civilnih (oko pretrpjeli gubitke 1500mrtvih,ranjenih su velike u Lici Talijani (oko2500 mrtvih,ranjenihi I nestalih) te u dolinirijekeNeretve nestali h). divizijapod vetina operativnih Tijekomsljedeiihdvaju mjeseci, VrhovnogStabadjelovatie na podrutjuistodne zapovjedniStvom SandZaka i CrneGore. Herceoovine.

175 Njematka motorna vozila u Posuiju U prvom planu je osobni a u t o m o b i l s a z v u t n i c i m a p r e k o k o j i h s u n j e m a d k iv o j n i c i z a d u i e n i z a i a r t i z a n en a p r e d a j u ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) p s i h o l o i k od j e l o v a n j ep o z i v a l p German vehicles in Posuije ln front is the German psychological warfare unit car equipped with loudspeakers Those vehicles were used to call the partisansto surrender. (HPM, Zagreb)

' P r i n z E u g e n " s n i m l l e n an a 176 Kolona kamiona 7 SS brdskedivizije R i p a i k o m k l a n c u k o d B i h a i a R i p a i k i k l a n a c z a u z e t j e 2 v e l j a d en a k o n p o s t r o j b a m a( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) Z e s t o k i hb o r b i s p a r t l z a n s k i m A truck column of the 7th SSMountain Division Prinz Eugen" photographed in the Ripat gorge near Biha( The Ripat gorge was taken on 2nd February after heavy fighting with partisan forces (HPM, Zagreb)

Prateii situaciju u ltalijii bojeiisemoguinosti saveznidkog iskrcavanja Followingthe development of the situationin ltalyand anticipating naBalkanu, njematko priprema zapovjedniStvo planove za novipoth- possiblealliedlandingon the Balkans the GermanHQ waspreparing vatprotivoperativne grupedivizija Vrhovnog 5taba. plansfor a new operationagainstthe SupremeHQ NOV Groupof Divisions, plan underthe codename 'schwartz'waspreparedby Operational the GermanHQ in utmostsecrecy.Preparations for the operation were revealedneitherto the ltaliansnor to the NDHauthorities. Accordingto the plansthe main partisanforceswereto be pushed towards the mountainplateau in Montenegroand subsequently destroyed. Dueto the fact that the maincombatoperationswereto takeplaceon veryruggedandmountainous terrainthe Germanunits Glavne udarnesnagesu 1. njemadka brdska divizija, kojaje povuiena involvedwerecarefullychosen 'PrinzEugen". s istoinogfronta,i 7 SSbrdska divizija The units of the main assaultqroup were lst MountainDivision U pothvatu su sudjelovale broughtfrom the easternfront and Vh SSMountainDivision"Prinz sljedeiepostrojbe: nasjeveru su prostorod Zelengore do Foiezatvarale 118.lovaikadivizila, 4. brdskadomo- Eugen'. branska brigada grupa'Anacker" te borbena iz sastava 1i8. lovaike

by 61stBulgarianlnfantry Regiment,elementsof ltalian'Taurinesse' Divisionand 724thJaegerRegiment from 104thlaegerDivision.East end of the encirclement was securedbv the Germanlst Mountain Divisionand 4thBrandenburgRegiment.paft wasqivento Southern 'Peruqia"and the elements of ltalianDivisi-onsnFerrara". "Maihe'. Vh SSDivision"PrinzEugen"was in the south ln totalaround57,000 German,33,000ltalianand 4000 Ustachiand Domobarnsoldiers wereinvolvedin the operation

177 Kolonatenkova7 SSPanzerAbteilungau prvojfazi pothvata"Weisl" U prvom planutenk HotchkissH 39 RoseMarie" pojedinitenkoviove postrojbeimali su imena koja su im dali tlanovi posade Tenkoviove postrojbeimali su ietvoroznamenkaste brojevekoji su poiinjali ru ,nur"niuru SO 1HeV, lagreO) The 7th 5S PanzerAbteilung column seen here during the first phaseof the operation Weiss" tn the front is Hotchkiss H 39 tank RoseMarie" Someof the crews from this unit gave namesto their tanks Tanksin this unit wore four digit numbers with first two being 50 (HPM, Zagreb)

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i askirnu 1 7 8 D v a t e n k a H o p t c h k i s sH 3 9 s n i m l j e n au l i p n j u 1 9 4 3 g o d i n e t i j e k o m p o t h v a t a" S c h w a r z "T i j e k o ma k c i j et e n k o v io v e p o s t r o j b es u p r o m i l e n i lm r b t e iu n g u s h e m u ,5 t o s e d o b r o v i d i n a o v o l s l i c i B u d u i i d a s e n a b o k u p r v o g t e n k a n a z i r eb r o j 5 0 3 2 , r a d i s e o 7 S S P a n z e A Two HotchkissH 39 tanksphotographed in June 1943 during the Operation"'Schwarz"Faintlyvisibleon the tank bow is the number 5032 whtch tells us that tanks belonged to the 7thSS PanzerAbteilung Sometime durtng the operation this unit changed camouflagepattern on thetr tanks That is very well illustrated on this photograph (?)

Vh BanijaDivisionNOV (Vh, Bthand 16thBantlaBrigade).The group of Divisions NOV was composedof 2nd Dina Operational ProletailanBigade, 6thEast BosniaBrigadeand MajevtcaBngade NOV.lt is estimatedthat 15000combatcapablesoldiersweretn togetherwith the CentralHospitalNOVburdened the encirclement with 4500 wounded Paftisanforceswere exhaustedby constant weakened unitswereseverely fightrngsinceJanuary1943.Paftisan by typhusepidemicthat took3500 livesin between1't Marchand 15tnMay 1943.

1 7 9 i 1 8 0 P r i j e l a zt e n k o v a H o t c h k j s sH 3 9 p r e k o n a b u j a l o g p o t o k a u z i m s k i mu v j e t i m a P o s t r o l b jae 7 5 S P a n z e A r b t e i l u n g ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) HotchkissH 39 tanks of the Vh SSPanzerAbteilung negotiating rain-swollen stream (HPM, Zagreb)

group of Divisions was 1943 the SupremeHQ NOV Operational pushedto the MountainDurmitorarea,the areain betweenthe Taraand PivaRivers a weak point in the German The SupremeHQ NOV discovered paft of the frontlinein the directionof formationin the north-east River.TheGermanunitsin thispaft of the front were the Sutjeska advancingslowly and cautiously.Germancommanddid not pay areawith no communtca enoughattentionto this mountainous tions Forthe samereasonpaftisanforceswereavoidingthat area did not deployany and in the f rrst10daysof fightingthe Germans significantforcesthere On 26thMay the SupremeQH NOVnade a decisionto breachthe encirclementin that paft of the front Two brigadesfrom the DrinaOperationalGroupbrokecontactwith the enemyand enteredthe areaof VucevoMountainand the Sutjeska RiverCanyon Themajorityof the OperationalGroup of Divisions was not able to follow immediatelysincethey had to wait for the Allied MilitaryMissionthat arrivedonly in the night of 27/28 May. Displacingof the paftisanbrigadesto Vucevowas noted by the the seriousness of thissituationthe German GermanHQ.Realizing HQ sent additional units from 1 18thJaeger Division towards VucevoMountain Heavyfighting for the SutjeskaRiverCanyon staftedon 1'tJune 1943 Despiteall the effons the partisanforceswere unableto expand the bridgeheadnear Tjentistevillageby 3'dJune Thesamedaythe SupremeHQ NOV dividedthe paftisanforcesinto two groups In

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were1nand2'd to thebridgehead, bolnicaNOV-a thefirstgroup,thatwas closer boraca.U okruienjuse na5lai Centralna sposobnih Group.Almostall of postrojbe Brigadeand theDrinaOperational bile Proletarian Parlizanske bolesnika i osoblja. s oko4500ranjenika, dugimnizomborblod siletnja1943.godine.Posebno thewalkingwoundedwere sentbackto theirunits.Theyfollowed su iscrpljene jakaepidemila eche/ons je postrojbe pjegavog the unitsasseparate tifusakoja1epo optere(ivala '1 '1 oko procjenama od . oZujkado 15.svibnja943.godineodnijela The secondaroup that was fuftherawav from the breachwas NOV. Division NOVandVh Baniia Division 3500Zivota o{3'd Assault composed "schwartzzapoteoje 15 svibnja1943 godine U prvih The CentralHospitalwith 2500 woundedand the hospitalstaff Pothvat postrolbe borbena svim formedpart of thesecondgrouptoo vodeobrambene desetdanaparlizanske grupaVrhovnog NOV-a The first group was orderedto break out of the extstingbndgepravcima. Staba Dana25.svibnja operativna (2522m) izmedurijeka headon the Sutyeska je na prostore of Durmitor in the dtrection okoplanine sabijena Riverand startadvancing Tarei Pive the ZelengoraMountain massif.Thesecondgroup was ordered njematkog rasporeda to breakout of Montenegroto the nofth towardsthe Sandzak Stabuotioslabost Prateii tijekborbi,Vrhovnije Na area.Theplan was for both groupsto meet in easternBosnia. dijelubojiiniceu pravcurijekeSutjeske. na sjeverozapadnom wasthat the actronsof the firstgroupwill attract dosta Theassumption su postrojbenapredovale njemadke ovom dijelubojlSnice zemljiStu attentionof the majorityof Germanforcesand that the second mlitavoI oprezno.Ovomteiko prohodnomplaninskom movrng pothvata nijepos- group with the CentralHospitalwill meet/essreststance njemaika stranapri planiranju bezkomunikacija postrojbe iz istihrazloga towards the Sandzakarea. On 5thJune the secondgroup HQ vetilaveiu paZnju.Poitosu partizanske prvihdesetak danana njemunijebilovetih reportedthat the breakthroughtowardsSandzakwas impossible ovopodruije, izbjegavale and that they weregoing to follow the firstgroup in the direction postrojbi. Stabdonosiodlukuda Vrhovni Stoga26.svibnja njemaikih woundedwas tzv. of Sutleskatt wasdecidedthat a part of the he.avy Dvijebrigade na ovomodsjeku boliinice. seprobojobrudaizvrSi crossed grupeizvlaieseiz borbei ulazena platoplanine to be left behindand hidden.The firstqroupof divisrons Drinske operativne grupe the Sutjeska Riveron 6thJune.Duringthe nextfew daysthepar Glavnina Operativne Vutevote ulazeu dolinurijekeSutjeske iekati tisanunitsfought in bitter defensivebattlesto securethe flanks odmahza njimajer je prisiljena divizija ipak ne napreduje RiverbridgeheadThe of the columnsmovingout of the Sutyeska vojnemisijekojaje stiglatek u no(is 27 na 28 dolazak savezniike 2ndDalmatianBrigadewasinvolvedrn particularlyheavyfighttngin svibnja GornjeBare.During threedaysthe brigadelosthalf of itssoldiers. partizanskih brigadapremaVuievu ipak nije proPremjeitanje waspushedinto an areaonly 13 km long Uoiivii opasnost,njemaiko Thegroup of divisions maklo njematkomzapovjedni5tvu by 7 km wide. Onlyone trail ledfrom the PivaRiverto the Sutjeska usmjerava u tom pravcudodatnepostrojbe118 zapovjedniftvo borbeza osiguranje Rivercrossingand only two trails led from the SutieskaRiverto Vei od 1 lipnjatrajuZestoke lovatkedivizije. ZelengoraMountatn.All trailswere under constantshellingand kanjona Sutjeske aviationattacks postrojbe do 3, lipnjane borbamapartlzanske UnatoiZestokim ln spiteof that the first group of divisionspassedthrough the Tienti5ta. lstoga dana proiiriti kod sela osnovumostobrana uspijevaju Rivercanyon.At the samettme the units of Vn Banila Sutjeska u dvilegrupe.U prvoggrupikoja Vrhovni Stabdijelisvojepostrojbe je bliZemjestuprobojanalazile 1 i 2 proleterske DivisionNOV staftedto arrive to the river crossinqpoint. ln the su se postrojbe Division of lst Proletarian grupebrigada ranje- afternoonhoursof 9th Junecommander NOV-aGotovosvipokretni drvizije i tzv,Drinske izakojihsu se kretalikaoposebni NOV orderedhis units to staft movingnorth. Duringa powersu u svojepostrojbe niciposlani of 369thLegionary ful attackthe Divisioncrushedtwo battalions eialoni su se3 U drugojgrupikojaje biladaljeod mjestaprobojanalazile preuzela i 7 banijska divizija NOV-aDrugagrupadivizila udarna 1ena i bolnitkog osoblja bolnicu s oko2500ranlenika sebeCentralnu da se probijaprekopostojeieg Prvagrupa dobilaje zapovijed Druga u pravcumasivaplanineZelengore mostobrana na Sutjesci grupadivizija da se probileiz CrneGorena sjever MountainDivision dobilaje zadatak Premaplanuobje su se grupedivizijanakon u pravcuSandZaka. River control over the SutTeska The Germanunits established seda proboja trebalenaii na podrutjuistoineBosnePretpostavlialo commander djelovanla canvonon lOthJune 1943 On 12 June German prvegrupedivizija na sebeprivutiglavninu ie djelovanje

s 39 1B 1 S i k at e n k aH o t c k i sH o b l a v l j e n au d n e v n o m t i s k u NDH tijekom proljeia 1943 g o d i n e ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) Photo of the Hotchktss H 39 tank published in NDH newspapers in the sprtng of 1943 (HPM, Zagreb)

{

RATUU I4RVATSKSJ OKLOPNAVSZII-,4[ OKtfiPNE PSSTRNJEH U DRUfi&IW5IJjETSKOIX{

a o t o r a , p o k l o p c im o t o r n o g p r o s t o r at e n k a 1 8 2 K o l o n at e n k o v aH o t c h k i s sH 3 9 s n i m l l e n at i j e k o m l l e t a 1 9 4 3 g o d i n e u B o s n i Z b o g v r u i l n e p r e g r i j a v a n jm s u o t v o r e n i ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i t ) The column of Hotchkiss H 39 tanks photographed in Bosniaduring the summer of 1943 To factlitate better cooling tn the summer heat crew left engine hatches opened (Dinko Predoevi( collection)

drugojgrupidivizijai Centralnoj njemaikihpostrojbi te omoguaiti bolnicilak5iproboju pravcu SandZaka. izvjeitava Vrhovni Stabdaje Dana5. lipn.la Stabdrugegrupedivizija proboju pravcuSandZaka neizvediv te da kreieza prvomgrupom je odlukada se dio Centralne divizija u pravcuSutjeske. Donesena bolnice s te5kimranjenicima ostavii sakrije PrvegrupedivizijaizaSlasu na drugu stranuSutjeske 6 lipnja bokova Sljedetih danaposebno teSkeborbevodese na osiguranju kolonekojaseizvladi iz kanjona Sutjeske Posebno teSke borbevodila je 2 dalmatinska brigadaNOV-ana GornjimBaramaU trodnevnoj je na je izgubilapolasastava, sabijena bitclbrigada Grupadivizija prostoru13 x 7 kilometaraOd rijekePiveprekoVutevado Sutjeske je samojednasIaza, naZelengoru dvijeSvetri staze vodila a Sutjeske artiljerijskom vatromi djelovanjem avijacije bilesu podneprestanom Unatottome,predveier 9 lipnjaprvagrupadivizijaizvuklase iz na podrutleplanineZelengoreU istovrijemeu kanjonaSutjeske 7. banidolinuSutjeske s Vutevasu se podelespuitatipostrojbe jskedivizijeNOV-aU poslijepodnevnim satima9. lipnjavlastitom NOV-apokreiesvoje inicijativom zapovjednik 1 proleterske divizije brigadeu pravcusjevera i odludnimnapadomrazbijadvijebojne prostorza probol 369 legionarske divizije te timeotvaraslobodan cijelegrupacije, Tijekom noii s 9 na 10 lipnjaiz kanjona Sutjeske sepremaZelengori izvukla i 7 banijska divizija NOV-aNa Zalostiz kanjonanisuizaili ranjenicima kojisu pratilidivizijuVeiidio ranjee5aloni s pokretnim i 7 SSdivizije nikaiosobljapoubijale su postrojbe 118.lovadke preuzele su u potpunosti konDana10 lipnjanlemaikepostrojbe rijekeSutjeske trolunadkanjonom pokuiavaprikupljanjem Dana l2 lipnja njematkizapovjednik postrojbina odsjekubojiSnice svih raspoloZivih 369, legionarske postrojbi premasjeveru, divizije zaustaviti daljnjiprodorpartizanskih 'Schwartz", pothvata general Luters Zapovjednik bo1nik osobnoizlazi na bojiinicupokuSavajuii autoritetom spasiticijelipothvat.Unatod

1 8 3 G r u p a t e n k o v ah o t c h k i s sH 3 9 u B o s n it i l e k o ml j e t a ' 1 9 4 3 g o d i n e ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i t ) Group of HotchkissH 39 tanks rn Bosnraduring the summer of 1943 (Dinko Predoevi( coIlectron)

lfilw f! DLrR!ruG UVCFo.ATTA .ARfl4guftso{,/{wrsAr$DWEHICI.E5 njemaiku brigadeprobijaju borbamapartizanske tomeu Zestokim pjeiatkei oklopnepostrojbe njemadke i odbacuju blokadu je 3 udarnadivizi.la te kolonelakiih NOV-a Vuievaostala Naprostoru s podrutjaCrneGore i civilnih izbjeglica ranjenika

attemptedto stop partisan units by deployingall of the availof able inits in the 369thLeqionaryDivisionsector.Commander went to the Luterspersonally the operationSchawartz'-Geneial of all in an attemptto savethe wholeoperation.Despite frontliine and Germaneffortsthe partisanunitsbrokethroughthe blockade rebuffedGermaninfantryand armoredunits The3'd AssaultDivisionand columnswith the woundedand the from Montenegroremainedin the Vucevoarea Between refugees S aid tZ June,duringsystematicsearchof the terrain,the unrts from 1't MountainDivisionand 61stBulgarianlnfantryRegiment found the hiddenwoundedand medicalstaff from the Central was Hospital Majoity of 750 woundedand medicalpersonnel executedon the spot River of 3'd AssaultDivisionNOVarrivedto the Sutieska Elements

je doSla NOV3. udarnedivizije i glavnina Dana13.lipnjado Sutjeske te su borbeni nijebilo branjeno Sutjeske a. Samomjestoprijelaza preiliprekorijeke.Uz mjestoprilelaza dijelovidivizijenesmetano i izbieglica. su gruperanjenika ostale postrojbe sredenom partizanske sudotekane Odmahnakonprijelaza iznad Sutjeske poloZaiana uzvisinama vatromiz pripremljenih pokuiavajuii postrojbe su upornou valovima napadale Partizanske

izvriepokret divrzijama..da Dana14. lipnjaVrhovniStabzapovijeda na podruije istotneBosnete se u pravcusjeverai sjeveroistoka od ceste na prostorsjeverno odvojeod njemaikihpostrojbii prebace objavzapovjedniStvo dananlemaiko Sljedeieg SarajbvoVi5egrad. zavrSen ljuleda je pothvatSchwarlz'

i 1. brdskadivizlja240 (43119512)

pruguSlavonski Brod- Sarajevo Kakanj kaoi Zeljeznitku razvojadogadajana Srpanji kolovozpro(l ie u osluikivanju kaoi u nizuborbi poluotoku i otekivanog slomaltalije, ApenLnskom za komunikacile

to the GermansAround1200 surrendered woundedand refugees of them were executedon the sPot On 14thJune 1943 the SupremeHQ NOV issuedan order for from Germanunitsand start the partisandivisionsto dis,engage directiontowardseastBosnra, movingin the nofth and north-east road. north of the Sarajevo-Visegrad that the operationSchwartz' Nextdaythe GermanHQannounced was over. repoft dated 20thlune Accordingto the Germancommander's 194 to[al German/ossesvvere2768 officersand soldiers(583 KlAl1760WtA/425MIA) The NDHforcesinvolvedin the operation (4011661205). of /osses Distribution lost41 1 officersand soldiers throuqhoutGermanunits was as follows: 11BthJaegerDivision 7thSSMountain Division613 (1201460133), 1479-(302/8421335), and 1st Mountain 369th LegionaryDivision5BB (9212631233) Division240 (43119512) groupof diu,isionseasternBosniathepaftisanoperational Reaching ableto maneuverin the wideareafreeof finaltyfound themselves the strongerenemyunits GermanHQ was under the impressionthat the paftisanunits

sureon industrialcenters,Tuzla,Zenica,Varesand Kakaniaswell as to interdicttraffic on the SlavonskiBrod-Saraievorailway. July andAugustwent by in waiting for the newsfrom ltalianfront anidin anticipationof ltaliansurrender.

kolonana brzinukretanjapjeiaitvakoje vr5i botno osiguranje ondasemotorpje5aika nestojena raspolaganju, osiguranja Ukoliko s tim date vlastitim od 2 do 3 kilometra, nakolonakreieu skokovima terenas objestranecestekojomnapreduje. vehiclesto the speed of the infantryprovidingflank security. vriitiizvidanje snagama skokovi semorajutakobiratida senasvakinadinizbjegne lf infantryforcesare not availablea motor vehiclecolumnwill Pripokretu dijelova.' izvidniikih izvriinapadkrozmeduprostore da protivnik advance'in2-3 kn long movesprovidingflank securitywith its Themoveswill haveto be plannedin the manner own personnel. that will preventenemyfrom attackingin the spacebetweenthe securityelements

BRZISKLOPPOGLAVNIKOVOG TJELESNOG SDRUGA MOTORIZEDGROUPOF POGIAVNIK BODYGUARD SDRUG- PTS) prvihmjeseci Tijekom 1943.godineu opremanju i sastavu oklopnih BRIGADE(POGLAVNIKOVTJELESNI Therewereno significant changes tn the organization or equipmentof postrojbi usta5ke vojnicenijedoSlodo nekihizrazilth promjena. ArmyArmoredunitsduring1943 postrojbe Oklopne sei daljenalaze u sastavu Brzog sklopa Poglavnikovogthe Ustasha tjelesnog zdruga.U sastavu Sklopau Zagrebunalazese dvijesat- The Ustashaarmoredunits were stillpart of the MotorizedGroup of Poglavnik Bodyguard Brigade(MotorizedGroup PTS)Paftof the nijelakihbornihkola tanketa1.3,kojepo potrebiizlazena tereni Groupwasa companyof L 3 tankeffes basedin ZagrebWhenneeded protivpartizanskih sudjeluju u pothvatima postrojbi. Postrojba kojase the Companywasusedin anti-paftisan actions.ThelJnit,mentioned u dokumentima naziva 3. satnija Brzogsklopa nalazi seu Gospiiu, in documents as the 3rdCompanyof MotorizedGroup,was basedin Prema fotografijama i dokumentima, postrojbe osnovno naoru)anje su GospicAccordingto the availabledocumentsand photographsthe i daljetankete 1.3talijanske proizvodnje. i madarske of ltalianand Hungarian prvepolovice Tijekom 1943godineoklopne satnije Brzog sklopa PTS-a Companywas equippedwrth L 3 tanker?es ongtn izZagreb upotrebljene su u nizupothvata i borbi. of theMotorized Podetkom 1943.godinetalijanske i ustaikei domobranske postroj- Duringthe firsthalfof 1943thearmoredcompanies in the be u nizu pothvatapokuiavaju uspostaviti kontrolunad podrutjem Groupwereengagedin the operationsand battlesdescribed text that follows Zumberka te Zeljezniikim pravcima i cestovnim prema od Karlovca andDomobranunitsconducted ZagrebuU ovim pothvatima sudjeluju dvijeoklopnesatnijeBrzog At thebeginningof 1943 the Ustasha a seriesof operationsto establish controlover the Zumberakarea sklopa PTS-a, as well as the rarland road communications from Karlovactowards Dana9. sijeinja, zajednos ostalimustaSkim postrojbama, oklopna Zagreb TwoarmoredCompanies fromthe MotorizedGroupPTS were vozilaBrzogsklopaPTS-a ponovnozauzimaju Kraiii, kojije u ruke involvedin theseoperations partizana pao1. sijeinja, Ovonaselje ie tijekomsijetnjau viSenavrata Thesmalltown of Krasic changedhandsseveraltimesduringJanuary prelaziti iz rukeu ruku. 1943 On 1 Januaryft fell in the partisans'handsbut on 9 Januaryit Diooklopne satnije Brzog sklopa nalazi sekrajem veljade u Pokuplju na wasagaintakenoverby Ustasha unitsreinforcedby armoredvehicles podrudju SvJanei Okiia. from theMotorizedGroupPTS '1 Dana26.vellatepostrojbe3 brigadeNOV-a i slovenske brigadeNOV- DuringFebruary 1943a paft of thearmoredcompanyof theMotorized a 'lvanCankai' izvrSile posaduu seluStojdraga su napadna ustaSki Group PTS was based in the areaof Sv,Janaand Okic nedaleko Samobora. Posada se je uspjelaodrZatitijekomnoinog Two partinn brigades,the 13thBrigadeNOV and Slovenian'lvan napada te je sljedeieg danaselodeblokirano zahvaljujuii intervenciji Cankaf'Brigade, garrisonin the smallvillageof attackedan Ustasha pjeiadkih postrojbi usta5kih i dijelova BrzogsklopaPTS-a. Premaparti, StojdraganearSamobor.Thegarrison heldthroughthe night assault zanskim izvjeitajima u borbisuoiteienajednabornakola and wasconsequently relievedwith thearrivalof Ustasha infantryand elements of the MotorizedGroup PTS. Accordingto partisanrepofts onearmoredvehiclewasdamagedduringthe fighting (Home DefenseArmy) The l't lnfantryDivisionof Domobranstvo conductedthe operation'Mirko' in the areaof Kalnikand Bilogora Theoperationlastedfrom 27 bruaryto 8 March 1943and itsgoal was the destructionof partisa forceson both sidesof the KrizevcrKoprivnica railroad.TheDomobranforceswere reinforcedwith one armoredcompanyof the MotorizedGroupPTS commanded by Major Oreskovic. Theunit with B tanketteswas broughtto Cazmaby rail prior to the beginningof the operation'Mirko'.Whenthe operation wasoverthe unit wasgatheredin Krizevci and loadedonto a trainto Krajem travnjaBrzisklopPTS-a sudjeluje u borbamana Zumberku. be transpoftedto Zagreb Theoperationwas considered to be suc'1 Dana23.travnja kodselaTomaievca u borbiizmedu3. bataljuna3. cessful and a few membersof the companvwererecommended for brigade NOV-a iustaikekolone, kojase kretala iz pravca Stojdrage i decorations Samobora, uniStene sudvijetankete Brzog sklopa. Posada u tanketama Theend of April foundthe Mechanized group PTSengagedin fightu bliskojborbiubijena, a oklopnasuvozilaspaljena .1enajvjerojatnije ing in the Zumberakarea.On 23 April 1943duringfightingwith the '1 U lipnjuse dio Brzogsklopanalaziu Virovitici pri postrojbama 3d Battalionof thel3thBriqadeNO;Vthe unit lostiw6 tanfuttes.The Orvrzue. 90rSKe lJstachicolumnwasadvanZing from Stojdraga andSamobor.ThetanOd8. do 25.srpnja cijeliBrzisklops 12 bornihkolasudjeluju u poth- kefteswereburnt and the crewmostlikelykilledin closecombat. 'Paola' vatu na podruijuKalnika. Throughout Junesomeelements of theMotorizedGroupPTSwerein Dalekovi5eborbenihdjelovanja i naprezanja u izrazitonepovoljnim Viroviticawith the lst MountainDivision uvjetima ima3. satnija oklopnog sklopa PTS-a u Gospiiu The whole MotorizedGroup PTSwas engagedin the operation 'Paola'in the Kalnikareafrom 8 to 25 July 1943 The '15 Januar' Talijanska vojska u skladus planomrazmje5taja 3'd companyof napu a ll.zonute je prepuita Motorizedgroup PTSbasedin Gospicexperienced oruZanim snagama far morecombatin NDHkojezato uopien u unfavorable spremne conditions thanthe restof the qroup ln accordance with theplan' 15 Januaq/the ltalianArmy teftzohetl'and handedit overto Ve( u oZujkui travnjutrajuvdojakeborbeoko Gospiiau kojima'1. the NDHarmedforcesthat wereentirelyunprepared for the task korpusNOV-aHrvatske nastojipotisnutioruianepostrojbeNDHu Duringheavyfightingin MarchandApril 1943the ln CorpsNOVwas samgradGospiis namjerom da ih tamoopkolii na krajuuniStitiU pushingthe NDHforcestowardsthe town of Gospicwith the intent borbamatijekomsvibnjai ljetausta5ke i domobranske postrojbe su of encirclingand eventually destroyingthem once insidethe town. unatotnepovoljnim okolnostima garnizon uspjele odriaiigospi(ki te Despiteunfavorable conditionsduring the summerthe Ustashaand proiiritisvojutjecajna prostorLidkog suiak uspjele polja. U borbama od 16 do 20 oZujka, istotnood Gospiia u pravcu Medaka Domobranforcesmanagedto defendthe Gospicgarrisonand whatis moreto expandtheirareato Lickopolje i Lovinca, sudjeluju tetiri tankete.Premaparlizanskim izvjeitajima u tim borbama su dvijetankete naletjele na mine,a jednaje pogodena Fourtanketteswere involvedin fightingeastof Gospic(the Medak and Lovinacarea)in the periodbetueen 16 and 20 March 1943 iz protuoklopnog topa.Za svatri vozilase navodida su izvutena i otpreml1ena u Gospii.Borbena ovom pravcujenjavaju20, oZujka Accordingto paftisanrepoftstwo tanketfesweredisabledby mines andone washit by an anti tankgun.AII threevehicles wererecovered postrojbi evakuacijom ustaSkih i stanovniStva iz Lovinca. and sentto Gospic.Wtththe evacuation of the ustashaunitsandcMilDana18. travnjzapotinju borbeza nizutvrdenih selavanjske obrane ian populationfrom Lovinacthe fightingin thisareastoppedon 20 Gospiia. Premaapovijedi za napadzapovjedniitvo 1. korpusa NOV-a March1943 racuna da seu Gospitu pettanketa nalazi Battlesfor the stringof fortifiedvillages on the outer defensering of Dana20. travnjau prihvatuustaikihpostrojbi, kojesu nakonborbe Gospic beganon lB April 1943 TheHeadquafters of the lst Corps napustile utvrdeno seloSiroka Kula,sudjeluju tri tankete iz Gospiia. NOVestimated that 5 tankettes werein Gospicat thattime Threetan-

,ARMOU

{,/Jvitrs if\$cFsAffA 0UFrruGww Jf "A}UFt/EfdtcI"ES ketteswereengagedassisting the rJstasha unitsthat were retreatino towardsthe Gospicgarrisonfrom the villageof Siroka Kula Fivetankeffs wye ery9ged,intightingaToundtheforlifiedvillageof the.Gospic-Karlobag communication from 2g to 3}"Aprit ?1t9rl|e^on t94i. Dunngheavyfightingthe villagechangedhandsseveral times. une tanKettewasdamagedby machrnegun fire. Tle l't,.CorpsNOV initiatedan attackon Gospicon I May 1943. to combatrspoltsno rankeneswere involved in ?ignling 4::lr-{rq lankettes -were probablykept as commande(sreseveto Uieusda tn caseof derensebreach..One1.3 tankettewhichbelongedto the ArmoredCompany of thelstCorpsNOVwasfoundon the ipproacies

HATL N.tI"|H\/AT5K#"! M fi]HtJSffi$M SlJJmTSKfitM oK[-opFJAlfSUtLq I trKtOpS,iHpffiSTRSJffig

AF,W0{/RED{,rrvrrsAfVDt/E{tc{.fs fIS CRo.AHAn{./BflVGm/Wft obrane GospiiapiSedaje ovatanketa u rokudvadanau potpunosti to Gospicafterthebattle Commander of the Gospicdefensestatedrn popravljena i stavljena u uporabuu sastavu hisreportthat the tankeltewasrepairedwithin two daysand put to 3, satnije postrojbe gospiikigarnizondrZati seruicewith the 3'd Company. Tijekom svibnjapartizanske nastoje u blokadi. Jediniizvoropskrbljivanja streljivom, sanitetskim materi- DuringMay the paftisanforceskept Gospicunderblockadeso that jalomi hranomu tom je razdoblju the only methodof supplyingthe city was by airilft AircraftsbringzradniprijevozAvionikoji su ing supplieswere landrngon a smallimprovisedairstripnearthe city pokrajgrada dopremali opskrbu slijetali su na improvizirano uzletiSte U vi5enavrata vodile. su seZestoke borbeza kontrolutim prostorom Heavybattleswerefought for controloverthat area Everymorning Uglavnomsu..,u-.Jutarnlim satimausta5kepostrojbepod zaititom the Ustashatroopssuppoftedby tankettesand anillerywouldpush partisans away from the landingstrip Duringone of thesebattles, podr5kutanketanastojale potisnuti partizanskepostrojbe artiljerry:-+-uZ on 23 May,one of the tankerteswasdamagedwhenit ran overthe je 23. Slod5ljeod mjestana kojemsuslijetali avioni.U ovimborbama nnomtne jednatanketa svibnja naletjela na minu Potetkom lipnjauz pomoitanketai talijanskih oklopnih automobila Theroad from Karlobagto Gospicwas clearedby the beginningof andarmoredcars je i cestovnl pravac deblokiran kojije povezivao Gospiis moremi tali- Junehelaedbv ltaliantankettes janskim Thetankettes usedin fightingfor of the3rdCompanywere intensively garnizonom u Kadobagu thelandingstripat the beginningof .June Potetkom lipnjatankete 3. satnije intenzivno sekoriste u borbama za potpunukontrolu Accordingto thele CorpsNOVintelligence reporlsthe NDHforcesin uzletiSta '1 tankettes andfour non-operational oneson podacima priustaSko- Gospichad sixoperational Prema obavje5tajnim korpusa NOV-a Hrvatske '1 11luly 1943 garnizonu domobranskom u Gospi(u1 srpnja Sest tanketa nalazi se Fromthe descrrptions that the four of the fightingit couldbe assumed u ispravnom stanju,a detirisu neupotrebljive. duringthe combatandthatthe unitsuffered pretpostaviti S obziromna opiseborbi,moZemo da je dio od detirilu tankelfesweredestroyed tosses neupotrebljivih tanketauni5tenu borbamate da je postrojba u ovom somepersonnet Not a singledocumentexplicitlystatingwhich armoredvehicleswere razdoblju imalagubitkeu ljudstvu that the paftisan Nitiu jednomdokumentu nespominje sepodatak kojiizrititonavodi usedin the unit hasbeenfoundso far.Considering documentsoften usethe word tankeffeand that na tip oklopnog vozilau postrojbiUzimajuii u obzirda se u parli- as well as Ustasha the combat reportsmentionmachinegunfire from the tankettesit zanskim i ustaikimdokumentima uiestalopojavljuje rijeitanketate wouldbe reasonable to concludethat thesetanketteswereof ltalian je paljbis vozila, postrojba da seu opisima borblgovorio strojnitkoj L 3 type najvjerojatnije bilaopremljena talijanskim tanketama L3 Armored units of Domobranstvo (Home Defense)during OKLOPNE POSTROJBE DOMOBRANSryA U 1943.GODINI 1943 postrojba Potetkom 1943.godinejedinaoklopnaoperativna domoAt the beginningof 1943 the only operationalarmoredunit of branstva bilaje Lakaoklopna satnijaOd sredine 1942,godineovase '1 wasthe LightArmoredCompany. As of mid 1942this postrojba pri '1 pjeiaikojdiviziji, nalaziu Daruvaru odnosno gorskoj Domobranstvo unit was basedin Daruvarwith the li lnfantryDivisionand the lst divizili '1 Tijekomproljeta 943 godineMinistarstvo domobranstva namjera- MountainDivision plannedto reorgaje preustrojiti ln thespringof 1943theMinistryof Domobranstvo valo u sklopuplanova razvola i preustroja domobranstva and formthe lstArmoredCompany. lakuoklopnu satte postrojiti 1. oklopnu satniju te osnovati Doknadnu nizethe LightArmoredCompany Companythat satnijuoklopnih ieta domobranstva u okvirukojebi se vr5ilaobuka Anotherpaft of theplanwasto form the Replacement wouldbe usedasthetrainingandreplacement corefor all thearmored potrebn ih kadrovaoklopnepostroj be domobra nstva ln line with the plannedformingof the four postrojavanjem U skladu s planiranim ietirijulovaikihi gorskih zdru- unitsof Domobranstvo riflesand two mountainbrigadesthe armoredunitswere reformed gova24 svibnja, oklopnepostrojbe domobranstva su preustrojene u Headquarters and eight independent Zapovledniitvo oklopnih tetai osamsamostalnih vodova oklopnih koje into the ArmoredCompanies su trebalepripasti lovadkim i gorskim zdrugovima. Premaplanovima platoonsthat were supposedto be attachedto the mountainand 'l riflesbrigades.Thefirst priority (before25 July)was to form armored Zurnoje do 25 srpnjatrebaloustrojitioklopnevodove , 3 i 4. platoons Brigades for the 1't,3rdand4thRifles aswellasfor the lstand '4th lovaikogte 1 i 4 gorskogzdrugaOklopne vodoveza 2. lovaikite 2. MountainBrigades. Thearmoredplitoonsfor the2ndRifles brigade je ustrojiti i 3 gorski zdrugtrebalo najkasnije do 25 rujna to be formed je po njemaikom and the 2ndand 3'dMountainbrigadeswerescheduled Reorganizacija lovadkih i gorskih zdrugova radena 1943 uzorute su oklopnivodovizdrugova u svomsastavu trebaliimati by 25 September Changes in the organization of the riflesand mountainbrigadeswere tri srednja i dvalakatenka.Premanjematkoj shemito su trebalibiti basedon a Germanmodeland all the platoonswere supposed to srednji tenkoviPz.Kpfw lll i lakitenkoviPzKpfrrv ll Prema dogovorima o je trebaoosigurati opremanju nedostajat ie oruZje i opremu njemadki havethreemediumand two light tanks Accordrngto the German organizational schemethey were to be the mediumtanksPz,Kpfiw generalu Hrvatskoj opunomoieni iz njemafkih izvora je najvjerojatnije planovima povuiena lll and light tanksPzKpfiull Accordingto the agreementthe lacking Sukladno iz Daruvara u svibnju generalfrom equipmentwasto be suppliedby Germancommanding Lakaoklopnasat te je popunjavanje oklopnihvodovazapoietos Germansources postojeiim tanketama TKS-a i lakimtenkovima PzKpfvr.t S obziromna brojispravnih vozila, a uzimaju(i u obzirdinjenice izne- TheLightArmoredCompanywasmostlikelywithdrawnfromDaruvar govori seneu izvjeitajima u kojimase o tehnitkojispravnosti tanketa at thebeginningof Mayandtheequippingof theplatoonsbeganwith existingvehicles, TKStankettes and PzKpfiw I light tanks (16-18ispravnih TKS-a vozila) te gubicima kodVoiina(dvije tankete) i vehicles(16-1B TKS Takinginto accountthe numberof serviceable (dvijetankete), Kamenske moZesezakljuiitidaje na raspolaganju bilo tankettes) mentioned in various repofts and considering the /ossesrn postrojavanje pet po dovoljnooklopnihvozilaza oklopnihvodovas tri (two tankettes) and Kamensko vozilau rokudo 25 srpnjaOd njemadkog oklopna opunomoienog the battlesnearVocin(tuvotankettes) that theavailable numberof vehicles wassufficient generala u Hrvatskoj seodekivalo dado 25 rujnadobavi oklopna vozila it canbe assumed to equipfivearmoredplatoonswith threevehicles each TheGerman zajoi tri oklopna voda Zapovjedni5tvo oklopnihdetadomobranstva nalazilo se u Zagrebu generalin Croatiawas expectedto provide vehiclesfor three more U sklopuzapovjedniStva najvjerojatnije seskrbiloo novaienjui obuci pErcons TheHQ of the Domobranstvo ArmoredCompanies was in Zagreb kadrova za postrojbe te tehnitkomodrZavanju oklopnihvozila for recruitingand trainingof new je da su,premaizvjeitaju Zanimljivo Mjesnog komitetaKPH-a izsvibnja Mostlikelythe HQ wasresponsible soldiers aswellasfor maintaining the vehicles o raduu domobranskoj vojci,od ietirijuvojnihodborailanovai simto notethat out of fourmilitarycommittees of Croatian patizera KPH-a, dvaorganizirana od dlanova tenkista kojinajvjerojatnije It is interesting who CommunistPafty(KPH)tvvowere composedof armor soldiers pripadaju zapovjedniStvu oklopnih detaili pripadajutim slu)bama mostprobablybelongedto theArmoredCompanies HQor associated LAKA OKLOPNASATNIJA units 'l Potetkom943 godineLakaoklopnasatnijaje joi uvijeku Daruvaru je smjeStena pri postrojbama 1 gorskedivizijePostrojba u centru LIGHTARMOREDCOMPANY grada,a kaogara)ui tehniikuradionicu koristigradsko vatrogasno At the beginningof 1943 the LightArmoredCompanywas strllin Daruvarattachedto the ln MountainDivisionTheunit was based je u opiinskom spremiSte. Diooklopnih vozila smjeiten dvoriStu in the centerof the town and useda FireDepartmentbuildingas a garnizon postrojbe U no(i s 1 na 2 utvrdeni u Pakracu napalesu workshopSomeof thevehicles werein thetown 12.brigade NOV-aUz ostalepostrojbe 1 gorske iz Daruvara garageandtechnical divizije hallyard 95

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danapremaPakracu kretei LakaoklopnasatsaSesttanketa Thefoftifiedgarrisonin Pakracwasattackedby the 12thBngadeNOV sljedefeg Amongthe otherunitsof the 1'tMountain zasle- on thenight 112February. u 5estosatnim Zestokim borbamas partizanskim te sudjeluje Duisionthat were sentto relievethe Pakracgarrisonwas the Light nanagaznu minuteje oiteiena naiSla damaU borbijejednatanketa Steta ArmoredCompanywith sixtankeffes.Duringthe ensuingsixhour znaiajna Prema naknadnom izvjeitaju natanketinijepoiinjena one of the tankeffesran overthe land Dana23 veljaieutvrdenomjestoGareinicunapalesu postrojbe battlewith partisanambushes '1 thistanketteasslightlydamaged. mine.Thecombatrepoft presented zasjede kod mjestaZdeniacna putu 7 brigadeNOVa Parlizanske - GareSnica wasattacked Hercegovac doiekujukolonukojaide u pomoi napad- On 23 February1943the fonifiedgarrisonat Garesnica preparedan by the units of the lVh BrigadeNOV The partisans koloneje Sestdo sedamtanketai 600 nutomgarnizonuU sastavu pripadnika 1 gorskedivizijeKolonaje doiekanana pripremljenim ambush nearthe villageof Zdencacon the Hercegovac'Garesnica jakomstrojnitkom any reltefforcesentto Garesnica poloZalima vatromte ruinimbom- roadwith the intentof ambushtng i puStanom probojapremaGareinici dana A columnof six tankettesand 600 soldiersfrom the l't Mountatn bama.Poku5aj 1epropaoSljedeieg ovognapada divisronran into an ambushand met with heavymachinegunand na istommjestuponovnoje pokuianproboj,Trlekom alisuI ovajputbileodbryene. rifle fire coming from well preparedpositionsaround the road. The supoku5ale izvriile botninapad, tankete fatled Another attempt to reach da senapadnaGareinicu breakthroughtowardsGaresnica s obzirom Sljedeieg danaborbesu prestale wasmadethe nextdayon the vetysameplace Duringthis 1. gorske divizije u borbama Garesnica Prema izvjeStaju danaprekinut. sljedeteg but theattackwas je pje5aikom attemptedto outflankthepaftisans vatromi ruinim bombamaranjenoiest pripadnika attacktankettes suspended repelled.Fightingstoppedthe nert dayafterthe paftisans postrojbe, oklopne Accordingto the combatrepoftfromthe 1't their attackon Garesnica. i Papuka domoPsunja Krajem oZujkai potetkomtravnjana podrudju par- MountainDivisionthearmoredcompanyhadsixwoundedsoldiers provodepothvat"Braun'Pojedine i njematkepostrojbe branske the Domobran,Ustasha postrojbe uspjeinimizbiega- At the end o Marchand beginningof April'Braun' u prvojfazipothvatauspijevaju tizanske Avoidingfrontal postrojbi and German nitsconductedthe operation prileiiu pozadinu domobranskih vanjem borbei manevrom to ih < rrcniahnm nnir tii someof thepaftisanunitsmanbattlesand usingskilfulmaneuvering '1 behindtheDomobranunitsandto attack aaedto positioi themselves suistoinood Buija NOV-a Dana21.i22 olujkapostrojbe7 brigade On 21 and 22 March the unitsfrom the lVh jednatanketai t\em wtth success. je zarobliena zarobile detirikamionaKodKamenske kamionu pratnji BrigadeNOVcapturedfour trucksnearthe villageof Bucevo.OneTKS te sanitetski tanketomTKS-a kamions natovarenom pa su spaljena. tankette,a truck with a loadedtankette,a medicaltruckand escort vozilanisumoglabitiizvuiena motocikla. Zarobljena couldnot pothvata'Braun'potvrduju motorcyclewerecapturednearKamensko ince partisans lzvjeitaji1 gorskedivizijeo rezultatima useor recoverthe capturedvehiclesto a fe location,the vehicles gubitak i kamiona dvijetankete of the operarepofton results wereburned.The1stMountainDivision 22 ustaikihi niematkihpostrojbi domobranskih, Premapregledu and a truck two tankettes the /oss of Braun' confirms tion vi5 se podruiju zone NOV-a lll. operativne Daruvaru i na svibnja u Accordinqto the overviewof the Domobran,Ustashaand German vrii preu rol ne nalaziLakaoklopnasat.Buduiida se u to vriieme wasno longerin Daruuat preraspodjela oklopnih unitson 22 MaytheLightArmoredCompany postrojbi domobranstva te seplanira oklopnih at that units wasin progress of armored reorganization that Considering sat gorske laka oklopna najvjerojatnijeje i zdrugove, vodovaza lovaike to Zagrebandplaced ZapovjedniStvu oklopnih timeit is verylikelythat the unit wastransferred povuiena naraspolaganje i stavljena u Zagreb of theArmoredCompanies. of theHeadquarters at thedisposal tetadomobranstva ARMOREDPLATOONOF THEgh MOIJNTAINBRIGADE ZDRUGA OKLOPNIVOD V GORSKOG Theth MountainBrigadewasformedout of the unitsthat wereoPer Petigorskizdrugpo rojenje 27. sijeinjaiz postrojbikojesu od lisundercommandof the od BanjeLukedo rijeke atinoon theareaof BaniaLukaand Banovina na podrudju topada1941. godin djelovale pukovnika lvana air f"orcecolonellvanMiak sinceOctober1941. Duing 1942the unit pod apovjedniitvom zrakoplovnog Unei Banovine pod nazivom Mraka,Tijekom1942 godinepostrojba 1edlelovala godinedobilanazivPetrinjski zdrug. Mrakovzdrug,da bi sredinom i utjecaj, ito se ogledai u Zapovjednik zdrugaimao1eiirokeovlasti zratniodjelkojije neovisno iinjenicidaje ovajzdrugimaoi svojvlastiti koristio u borbi.MoZemopretpostavzrakoplovstva od ZapovjedniStva Mrak zdrugapukovnik svomulecajuzapovjednik iti da1ezahvaljuju(i

192 Sveianm i i m o h o dn a d v o g o d i S n j i cpur o g l a i e n j aN D H l z m e d ud v a j um o t o c i k l i s t va d i m o t a n k e t uL 3 p r o z v e d e n uu M a d a r s k otjv o r n l c lG a n zp o t a l i j a n s k o j l i c e n c iT a n k e t aj e n a o r u Z a n am a d a r s k i ms t r o j n l c a m a( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) TheI f tankerte seendtrino the parade held in anent of secondanniversaryof NDH statepromulgation Thisvehiclewas of Hungartanorigtn produced in Ganz factory under the ltahan license,Tankettewas armed with Hungarran machtnegun as well (HPM archives,Zagreb)

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1 9 3 P o s t r o j b ak o j a p r o l a z i s p r e dp o g a v n i k aj e d i o B r z o gs k l o p ap r S - a ( H p M ,Z a g r e b ) Unit passing in front of the NDH state leader (Poglavnik)is paft of the Motorized unit of the poglavnik Bodyguard Brigade" (HpM archives,Zaqreb)

3 or 4 armoredvehicles for hisunit lt is unknownwherethesevehicles weretakenfrom lt is alsounknownif thiswastheL 3 tankettetaken from the MotorizedGroupPTSor the polishTKStankettetakenfrom theLightArmoredCompany of Domobranstvo. A confusing document 6 a/sothe one issuedon 12 February1943.lt is a requeitsubmitted by theGerm.an group'West'commandfor theunitwhichtheycalled the armoredplatoonof the 1'tMechanized Battalion fron Gliia to be placedat therrdrsposal.

U razdoblju od 15 do 17.sudleluju u pothvatu V gorsrogzoruga protivpaftizana na podrutjuKordunaI ovomprilikoriseizv]eitava-o suojerova nJucettr|Ju tanKeta Dana12 svibnja upotrebom je partizanska tanketaraspriena kolona kodselaKihalec na Banovini. Dana21. lipnjaponovno segovorio pothvatima V gorsr<og zorugana podrutjuVeiikeKladuie. Ovomprilikom parliza nskiizvjeStil spo-minle sudjelovanje desetmalihtenkova.

Dana27. kolovoza iz Glinesu upuienedvijetanketei pjeiaitv da izvukudomobransku pjeSaiku satnijuuhva(enu u zasjedikod ela Prekope.

operation Betvveen the 19hand llh the unit wasactivewith thegh Mountain Bigadern actionsagarnstpaftisans in the Kordunarea,and four tankeffesrverementionedin reports.On 12May thetankerTes were used to disperse a partisancolumnnearthe villageof Kihalec (theBanovina area).

On 27 August two tankettesand infantrywere sentto help the Domobranstuo lnfantryCompanycaughtin a partisanambushnear the vrllage ot Prekopa.

II202 PANZERABTEILUNG (BATTALION) to the 71Vhlnfantry Main bodyof the 11202 PzAbt was attached divisionsincethis unit was assignedto executedecisiveand swift advanceacrossthe paftisanheld territory from SanskiMost, to Petrovacand preventthe escapeof the paftisan capture Bosanski forcesretreatingundertheattacksof Germanand ltanforces.The battalion'scommanderwith itscommandplatoon well as the lst and 2'd Platoonformedpart of the 71VhlnfantryDivision Moston of the71VhlnfantryDivisionleftSanski Theattackelements alongthe SanaRivervalleytowardsKliuc 21 January1943advancing TheDivisionadvancedalmost30 km a dav causinqthe unitsof the NOVto retreatOnecompanyol thet/202P, Abt Vh KrajinaBrigade column. formedpaft of the advancing Realizing that the fastpenetrationof Germanunitswould leadinto the encirclement of partisanforceson the Lika,Kordunand Banovina NOV orderedthe lst Bosnian territory,the SupremeHeadquarters CorpsNOV to stopthe Germanadvanceat all costs Heavybattles werefoughtin thisareain the nextdays The71VhlnfantryDivisionadvanced,albeitslowly,onlybecauseelementsof the l/202 PzAbt were transpoftedfrom one criticalpoint to another. On 25 lanuary 1943 the 71VhlnfantryDivisionconducteda strong Krupa in three columns The attackadvancingtowards Bosanska tanksof the 11202 PzAbt. advancedalongthe roadwith the infantry coveringthe flanks.Theright flankwassecuredby the 73VhInfantry Regimentof the 71Vh lnfantry Divisionwhile the left flank was reinforced securedby the 2ndMountainBrigadeof Domobranstvo with two GermancompaniesDurrngthe night paftisanbrtgades

194 -195 Tenk HotchkissH 39 broja 222 iskliznuo1e s ledeneceste u jarak i 0 2 P z A b I S l i k aj e s n i m l j e n au B o s n ti i j e k o mv e l j a t a T e n kp r i p a d a2 s a t n i j 2 1 9 4 3 g o d i n ez a v r i j e m ep o t h v a t a W e i s " ( B A , K o b l e n z ) Photographed during the Operation Weiss" this Hotchkiss H 39 tank, '222' number slid off the rcy road into the ditch Tank photographed in Bosniaduring February 1943 belonged to the 202nd Pz Abt (BA Koblenz)

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V2O2PANZERABTEILUNG Buduiidaje postrojbama 717. pjeiadke divizije danzadatak da brzim i odlutnimudaromiz pravcaSanskog partizanski Mostapresijeku teritorij, zauzmuBosanski Petrovac i sprijete partizanuzmakglavnini skihpostrojbi koje(e sepovlatiti podudarima njemaikih i talijanskih joj 1estavljena divizija, na raspolaganje glavnina I l2O2pz. Abt. je zapovjednik Pridiviziji Abteilunga sazapovjednim vodomte 'i i 2 satnija l,/202Pz,Abt Dana21 sijednja 1943.godinenapadnakolona749. pjeiadkog puka717. divtzi)e izlaziiz Sanskog Mostate dolinomrijekeSane premaKljutu,Tijekom napreduju danakolonanapreduju gotovo30 postrojbe kmodbacuju(i 7. kraji5ke brigade NOV-a. U sastavu kolone jednasatnija djeluje t./202.pz.Abr.

Samozahvaljujuii tome5tozapovjedni\Ivo 117.divizije neprestano prebacuje dijelove l./202.Pz.Abt. s jednognadrugipravac, napredoje uspjeino, vanladivizija alivrlosporonapredovalo, Dana25.sijeinjapostrojbeTll. divizije jak napadtrima poduzimaju pravcem Kolonama premaBosanskoj Krupi.Cestomnastupaju tenkovil./202Pz.Abt,, postrojbe a pjeSaike napreduju botno.-Desno

je i odbijenatenkovska U.lutro 26. sijefnjazaustavljena kolonana cesti.Tenkovska kolonapomaieizvlaienje ostataka 2, brdske domobranskebrigadete se povladipremaSanskom Mostu,Njemadke postrojbe uspjele su se odriatisamona podrudju uz cestuprema Sanskom Mostui to ponajviSe zbogtenkoval./202pz. Afi. Desnakolona737. pukaje,ne obaziruiise na stanjelijevekolone i povlaienje tenkova, uspjeinonastavila napredovanje. Zahvaljuluii tome,tijekomnocis 27. na 28. sijetnjau potpunosti suje opkolile partizanske postrojbe kodselaBenakovca.

completely destroyed the left flankheldby the 2ndMountainBrigade. Over450 Domobranstvo officersand soldiers werekilledor captured duringthe fighting Thetankcolumnadvancingalong the roadwas stoppedon the mornrngof 26 lanuary1943.Thetanksassrsted the remainingelementsof the 2,d MountainBrigadeand pulled back towardsSanskiMost. The Germanforcesmanagedto controlonly the areaalong the road to SanskiMost and that was onlv due to the presence of the 11202 Pz.Abt.tanks.The73Vhlnfantry-regiment on the right flankdecidedto continueto advanceregardless of the eventson the Ieft flankand the withdrawalof the tanks.Thisresulted

PzAbt.fufthersouth to help the 749thlnfantry Regiment that was attackingtowardsBosanski Petrovac. After thesuccess of thefirstday theadvanceof the 749thlnf.Reg.wasstoppedandthe regimentwis exhausted in fierceinfantrybattleswith thepartisanbrigades. During the day the partisans left one half of their soldiers to restand used the otherhalf to hold the lineand then usedthe restedunitsdurinq thenight attacks on Germanlines.Duringthenightof 3l Janll Feb the paftisans attackedon severalsections of the front.A niqht attack on the elements of the71Vhtnf.Div.in thevillageof Ramici surprised the commandcompanyof the l/202 Pz.Abt.Paftisans brokeinto the encampment area Dunngthe surpriseattackthe Pz.Abt was overrun and sufferedheavy/osses rn men and equipmentTheunit commander,Iieutenantcolonelvon Geysowaskilledand four tankswere captured.Howeversincethe partisans did not expectto find tanksin the villagethey had no meansto destroythem.ln addition,owing to the fact that therewere stillabout ten tanksnearbvand that the other Germanunitscontinuedto attack,the partisans were forced to abandonthe village.Whilepullingout the partisans burnedsome vehicles but the tankswereleft almostintact On 8 February, the tanksand the elements of the 71Vhlnf.Du.were movedto an areasouthof Kljucto protectthe rearof the Tl Vh tnf. Div. Onlythree tanksfrom the l/202 Pz.Abt werein SanskiMost on l2 February1943

'196 M o s t j e j e d n o s t a v n op u k a oi s p o d p r v o gt e n k a H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 D r u g ad v a t e n k a r i j e k us a v l a d a v a jgua z o m ( B A , K o b l e n z ) Victimof the overlyenthusiasticengtneers,bridge collapsedunder the weight of the first HotchkissH 39 tank The other two tanks forded the river instead BA Koblenz)

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1 9 7 O v a j t e n k H o t c h k i s s H 3 9 p r i p a dSaSTP a n z e r A b tuenrg u S i k aj e s n i m l j e n a u v e l j a1t9i 4 3 g o d i n e u B o s nzia v r i j e m e p o t h v aW t ae i s " ( B A , K o b l e n z ) T h e H o t c h k i s s H 3 9 t a n k f r o m t h e T t h S S P a n z e r A b t e i l u n g t n O p e r a t r o n ' W e t sP s "h o t o g r a p h w a s t a k e n d u r r n g F e b r u a r y l 9 4 3( B A K o b l e n z )

pukasu punihosamdanatrpjeleuzastopne Tofulfillassignments Postrojbe 737 pjeiatkog duringoperation'Weisll andattackthepaftisan noine napadekrajiSkih brigadaOpskrbapostrojbe vrsenaje avi- main group of divisionsin the riversRam and Neretvavalleysthe postrojbe Germanheadquafters formed two battle roups out of the 71Vh onimaDana4 veljaiepostrojbe 737 pukasu deblokirale lnfantryDivisionBothgroupswerereinforcedwith armoredvehicles 369 legionarske divizije from the 11202Pz.Abt.The battle group "Vogl'was composedof Uvidjev5i da divizijaneie moii izvriitipostavljeni zadatakte zatthe reintorced739tnlntantryRegiment and the ln UstashaBrtgade. voritiobrua,zapovjednik 717 divizijeizvladicijeli| 1202Pz AbI s alongthe Bugojno-Gorn| juZnijeda pomogne749 pjeiadkom puku Thegroup'Vogel'was taskedto advance ovogpravca te ga Salje VakufJablanica route. The the second was battlegroup "Annackel' u napaduna pravcupremaBosanskom PetrovcuNakonuspleha composedof the 750thlnfantryRegimentand the Vh Domobranstvo prvogdananapadna kolona749 pukanijeviSenapredovala te se groupwasorderedto advance alongtheroute pjeiadkim iscrpljivala u Zestokim borbama s partizanskim brigadama lnfantryRegimentThe Taracin lvan Sedlo Konjic-lailanica Accordingto the unit disposition postrojbe Partizanske sujednimdijelompostrojbi tijekomdanadrZale Pz.Abtwas still listings of 18 February 1943one companyof 11202 postrojbi crtuobranedok bi drugupolovicu tijekomdanaodmarale with the 73Vh lnfantry Regrment while the Command Company postrojbe Kroznoi odmorne suvriileiznenadne napade na njemaike togetherwith one othercompanywas stillin Kljucpreparingfor the poloZaje upcomingoperation'Web ll' Tijekom no(is 31 sijeinjana 1 vellatepaftizanske brigade na neko- A paft of the Pz.Abt with 10 tankswassupportingthe battlegroup prelaze likoodsjeka bojiinice u napad 'Vogl advancingtowardsGorn| Vakuf.On 25 February1943paftiU noinomnapaduna dijelove 749 pleiatkogpukau seluRamiti sansrepelleda combrnedarmorand rnfantryattackon the roadfrom partizaniupadajuizravnou tabor | 1202Pz Abt koji 1etijekom GornjiVakuftowardsProzor.Thetankswerestoppedby an anti tank veteristigaou seloTamoje najvjerojatnije zatetenozapopv.ledniitvo ditchon theroadwherethevcameunderanti tankqunsfireandone juriSupostrojba tankwashiL postrojbe. ovenjemadke U Zestokom iznenadnom je pretrpjela teikegubitkeu ljudstvuU borbije ubijenzapovjed- Theotherpaft of the Pz.Abt was with the battlegroup "Annackel' potpukovnik nik postrojbe von GeysoZarobljena su aetiritenka that took overlvanSedloon 22 Februarv1943and proceededwith Medutim, kakoni partizani nisuratunali da seu selunalaze tenkovi, the advance towardsKonjicAccordingto the battlegroup"Annackel nitkonijebio pripremljen da ih uniiti Buduiida je u blizinibilojoi combat report the tanks were stopped due to the road betng desetak tenkovate uslijedintervencije drugihnjematkihpostrojbi, destroyed and underheavypartisanfire partizani su bili prisiljeni napustiti selo Pripovlatenlu zapaljena su Both combatgroupsadvancedsuppoftedby aviationand aftillery zarobljena motorna vozlla, a tenkovi su ostavljeni neoiteieni pushingback the paftisanunits that were forcedto acceptfrontal Dana8 veljade tenkovisu s dijelovima 737,pukaprebadeni u zonu combatin orderto protectthe CentralHospitalwhichwasunableto juZnood Kljuiazbogspretavanja postrojbi napadapartizanskih na movefastdueto a largenumberof the wounded On 3 March1943 p o z a d i n7u1 7 d i v i z l l e theSupremeHQNOVconcentrated 10paftisanbrigades in the Gornji The Germanbattle group 'Vogel Dana12 veljade u Sanskom Mostusenalaze samotritenkaizsastava Vakufareaand counterattacked. was pushedaway from GorryiVakufsufferingheavylossesin the | 1202PzAbt processThearmoredgroup attachedto the combatgroup 'Vogel' 'Weiss postojeiih Za lzvr5enje zadataka u pothvatu ll' i napadna returnedto GornjiVakufonly after main body of the partisanunits glavninupartizanskih postrojbi u dolinamarijekaRamei Neretve, crossedthe Neretvariveron 8 March 1943 ln the c/ashes with the je grupe njematko zapov.ledniStvo ustrojilo dvijeborbene iz sastava partisanrearguardone tank wasdamagedby an ATgun hit 718, pje5adke dlvizijeObjegrupepojadane su oklopnimvozilima

100

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198 Najutinkovitije p r e p r e k eb i l e s u u u s l e c i m an a c e s t ik o i e t - ' n k o v in i s u m o g l i z a o b i i i U k o l i k oj e p r e p r e k ab i l a b r a n l e n a ,n j e m a d k op j e i a i t v oj e n a l p r i j e m o r a l or a s t 1 e r azt a i 5 t i t up a t e k o n d a u k l o n i t ip r e p r e k u ( B A , K o b l e n z ) The most effectiveroadblockswere the ones createdon the placeswhere tanks could not bypassthem tf the roaclblock was defendedthe Germaninfantry had to dispersethe partisansbeforeremoving the roadblock (BA Koblenz)

1 9 9 T e i k o o i t e i e n i t e n k H o t c h k i s s H 3 g i z s a s t aSvSaPTa n z e r A b t e i l u n g a Sudeiipostanjuceste,tenkjenajvjerojatnijenaiiaon m,iKn ou b l e n z ) ( Ba A Heavilydamaged Hotchkiss H 39 tank of the vh sS PanzerAbteilung Judging by the appearanceof the roadthis tank hit an antt-tank mine (BA, Koblenz)

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iz sastava l./202Pz.Abt Borbenagrupa Vogl',sastava ojadani The 3'd Companyof the 11202Pz.Abt was assignedto the 369th route in prav- LegionanlDivisionwhich was north of the Glina-Kostainica puk I 5 ustaikizdrug,trebalaje napredovati 738 pjeSadki - GornjiVakuf Prozor Jablanica, grupa the Banovinaareaon 20 January.Thedivisionwas advancingon a a borbena cemBugojno areaandpushingthe paftisanunits pjeiatkipuk, wide front clearingthe Banovina 750 pleiaikii 7 domobranski Annacker', sastava - Konjic - Jablanica towardsBihac.Duringthe advancethe divisronfoughtseveralfierce, pravcem Tariin* lvanSedlo consecutive battlesagainstthe Vh BanijaDivisionNOV. jednasatnija postrojbi | 202 Pz.AbI Prema rasporedu od 18 veljade The battles in the Banovinaareaactuallystaftedat the beginningof joi se uvijeknalazipri 737 pukudok je zapovjedni vod postrojbe za potetakpothvata January1943 On 12January1943the Vh BanijaDivisionNOVcars jednomsatnijom u Kljuiu,gdjese prlprema ried out several bold attackson a senesof garrisonsalongthe line " W e i sl ls' , Division.Thegarrisonin Blinla of the 369thLegionary of deployment Sredinom veljatepostrojba mjenjanazivi oznakute se u daljnjim 14 1943 was savedonly due to the that was attacked on lanuary pojavlluje Abteilung(202 PzAbt ) izvjeitima kao202 Panzer interventionof tanks The partisanunits,being engagedin combat ('10 tenkova) podrZava grupu for almostten days,were well preparedfor the upcomingattack od 2'1 veljade Jedandio postrojbe 'Vogl'u borbama premaGornjem napravcu Vakufu. Dana25 veljaie Battlesragedon until 24 January1943.With the advanceof the Vh postrojbe SSMountainDivisiontowardsSlunjandin orderto avoidencirclement na cestiod GornjegVakufapremaProzorupartizanske napadTenkovi su zaustav- the Vh BanijaDivisionNOV retreatedtowardsBihac Two German odbijajukombinirani tenkovsko-pjeSaiki topovimaJedan H 39 tanksweredestroyedduringa combatin the Banovina ljenina prokopanoj cestite gadaniprotuoklopnim areaon je tenkpogoden, 24 January1943. Drugidio grupenalazise uz borbenugrupu'Anackelkola1e22 Thel/202 PzAbt was withdrawnfrom combaton 14 March 1943 premaKonjicuPrema to be preparedfor a new seriesof operations.The lst Companywas veljaieovladalalvan Sedlomi napreduje grupe"Anacker' and the 2ndCompany Konjica sentto Bugojno,the 3'd Companyto Saralevo izvjeitaju borbene napadtenkovima u pravcu je zaustavljen those kojesu podjakompartizan- went to TarcinAccordingto the officialtableof organization zbogruienjana cestama of the territorialheadquafters to the respective unitsweresubordinate sKomvatrom Pz.Abtheadquafters wasin Saraievo potiskujuii 718thlnfantrydivisionThe11202 grupenapreduju uzpomotavijacije iatiljerije Objeborbene and deploy the unit waswiththe right to command while exclusive prihvatiti partizanske prisiljene frontalni nadinborbe zaititnice kojesu of the Germantroopsin Croatia i bolesnika u Centralnoj bolnici, heldwith the Commander zbogzaititevelikogbrojaranjenika premaJablanici kojasporonapreduje i rijeciNeretviDana3 oZujka The l't and 2ndCompanvof the il202 Pz.Abt.wereattachedto the of the 11?ihQl8th)JaegerDivisionon 10April 1943to premaGornlem Vakufuprikuplja deset headquarters Vrhovni StabNOV-a napravcu againstpartrsans partizanskih borbenagrupa be involvedin the upcomingoperations brigadate prelaziu napad Njemadka Vogl je uz teikegubitkeodbaienaod GornjegVakufaOklopna ln the preparationsfor operation"Schwartz'the 369th Legionary to Gorazdetogetherwith the 3'd Company grupe'Vogl" glavnine Divisionwas transferred grupau sastavu borbene teknakonpovlaienja partizanskih snagaprekoNeretve ulazi8 veljaieponovnou Gornji of the 11202PzAbt that arrivedfrom SarajevoOn 20 May 1943 je ledan the 369thLegionaryDivisionwas near Gotovusaand Bolianic.The Vakuf U borbis partizanskim za5titnicama onesposobljen headquartersThe 11202 Pz.Abt.3'd Companywaswith the divisional tenkpogotkom iz protuoklopnog topa. group 'Ludwigeron 6 June to the battle was transferred Company je pri Trecasatnija202 PzAbt rasporedena 369 legionarskoj com' alongthe Meteljka-Gotovusa pjeiatkojdivizijikojase 20 sijeinjanalazisjeverno od linijeGlina 1943and deployedin strongholds munrcatton - Kostajnica frontom zbog na BanoviniDivizijanastupaSirokim attemptedto counterthe prema On 12June1943theGermanHeadquarters partizanske postrojbe ii5(enjapodruijaBanovine te potiskuje NOVwestof Foca Groupof Divisions of theOperational BihatuPritomdivizija vodinizteikihuzastopnih bojeva sa7 banijs- breakthrough (along mounted a strongrnfanroad). The Germans the Foca-Miljevina komdivizijom NOV-a try attackcommittingtwo tnfantrybattalionsfrom the 724thJaeger Borbena Banovini zapravo se vodevet od podetka sijeinja1943 (104thJaegerDivision)and the l/202 Pz.Abt.3'd Company. Regiment godineSedma banijska divizija NOV-a 1eod 12 sijeinja1943 godine Thetanksadvanongalongthe roadmanagedto breakthroughthe garnizona na liniji defensesof the lst Proletarian u nekoliko drskihnapadanapalaniz utvrdenih DivisionNOV but as the supporting je postrojbi razvoja 369 legionarske divizileDana14 sijeinjanapala infantrywascut off the tanksproceededand captureda ford across garnizon kojije spaienzahvaljujuii intervenciji tenkova the RiverBistrica u seluBlinja, at the villageof Rataj.Layingdown the machinegun Buduiida su sedo 20 sijeinja1943 godineborbevodilevei dese- andartilleryfirethe tanksblockedall approaches to the villageaswell postro.lbe Do tak dana,parlizanske su za napadbilepripremljene BrigadeNOV astherivercrossingAt the sametime the2ndProletarian vodese neprestane iestokeborbeZbogprodora7, SS was movingtowardsthe rivercrossinglgnoring the order to destroy 24 sijeinja premaSlunjui izb.legavanja postrojbe, 7 divizije allheauyweapons(issued divizije opkoljavanje duringthe heaviestbattleson the Sutjeska povu(ise s Banovine NOV-a ipaksu prisiljene na bihaikipravac. U rive) a group of soldiersfrom the 2'd proletarianBrigaderetained tenka and carrieda 47mmAT gun and 5 roundsof ammoon theirbacks borbama na Banovini 24 sijetnjauniStena su dva njemaika Hotchkiss H 39 surprisedthe tank crews Theappearance of the AT gun completely and one damagedwith porntblankshots Twotanksweredestroyed Dana14 olujka202 PzAbt povlatise iz borbezbog pripremaza novicikluspothvataPrvasatnijaupuiujese u Bugojno, 3. satnila Sincethe tankswerewithout infantrysuppottthe crewsdecidedto pull backtowardsFocaDuringthenightof 12113 June1943,maiority pogledupostrojbe su u Sarajevo i 2 satnijau TartinU sluZbenom nearthe from the Germanencirclement unitsescaped poddinjene teritorijalnim zapovjedniitvima 718. pjeiaikedivizije of the partisan je smjeitenou SarajevuPravozapovije- villageof Ratajin theJahorinaMountarnarea postrojbe Zapovjedniitvo postrojbe njemaikih trupau The369 Legionary Divisionwasin Cajniceon 15 June1943together danjai upotrebe zadr\ava zapovjednik backto Pz.Abt.3'dCompanywasreassigned with six nks.The11202 Hrvatskol, '1 positions 1943 and moved to the Legronary Div. on 17 June the 369th pothvata protiv partizana 1 1 Dana 0 travnja za noviciklus stoZeru 8 area in thePodgrab-Stanbulcic (718.)lovadke podreduju 202 Pz AbI divizi.le se 1 i2 satnila from the 11202 PzAbt 3'dCompanywerestuckin marshy Three tanks priprema zapothvat'Schwartz' 369 legionDana11,svibnja u sklopu on 10July 1943 Attemptsof terrainduringthe combatnearZivinrce je u GoraZdeDiviziji je podiinjena pristlgla divizija 3, arskapjeSatka to the lackof fueland close to recover the tanks failed due the crew je u Gora)de pristigla satnija 202 Pz Abt Satnija iz pravca Sarajeva proximrtyof partisanposittonsTheydestroyed the tankweaponsand Dana20 svibnja divizija nalazise kod Gotovuiei 369 legionarska abandonedthe tanksthat were promptlytaken over by partisans Bollani(a PrizapovjedniStvu divizije nalazi se3 satnija 202.Pz.AbL recoveredsomemedical Beforesettingthe tanksablazethe paftisans 369 legionarske supplies,two machineguns, Dana6. lipnja3 satnija 202Pz,Ablizlaziizsaslava 60 roundsof tank gun ammo, 10000 set divizije te se prebacuje borbenojgrupi 'Ludwige/iz 104 lovadke roundsof machinegun ammoand one wireless - GotovuSa kojasenalaziu uporiStima duZcesteMeteljka divizije Div.reportedon 30 July1943that the unitsof the The3691h Legionary '1 after heavy poku5ava proboj 1Vh AssaultDivisionNOVwerethrown out of Gradacac Dana 2 lipnjanjemaiko zapovjedniStvo zaustaviti Pz.Abt3rdCompanywasinvolvedin battlesuntil grupedivizija Operativne zapadno od FoteduZcesteFoda Miljevina fighting The11202 3 August1943 jakimpjeiadkim napadomu ko.1em uz dvijepje5aikebojne724 102

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2 0 0 2 1 o ? u j k a1 9 4 3 g o d i n e n a a e r o d r o m u Rajlovac kraj Sarajeva smotru njematkrh p o s t r o , b i L o e > u u c e s t v o v a l eu p o t h v a l " W e i s " i z v r S i oj e d r i a v n i t a j n i k u M i n i s t a r s t v u l k o B e g i cU z g e n e . a l a d o m o b r a n s r vg a e n e r aV B e r g i i au v o z i l uH o r h 15 0 0 j e I z a p o v j e d n i3k6 9 e g i o n a r s kdei v i z i j eM o t o r n av o z i l al e g i o n a r s k i h d i v i z : i : s r . r . n h i i a i o n nn a h l a t o b r a n uv o z i l a i m a l a h r v a t s kgi r b ( H P N /Z, a g r e b ) On 21 March 1942 the NDH general Vtko Begi( reviewed units rnvolved in the Operatton "Weiss" lined up on the Ratlovacatrport near Sarajevo He revtewed units from Horch 1500 that belonged ta the commander of 369th I egionary Division Vehtcles oI legtonarl Divisions usually had Croatian coat of arms painted on the mudguard (HPM Zagreb)

2 0 1 T e n k S o m u a S 3 5 z a p o v j e d n i k a2 0 2 P z A b t i i e t i r t e n k a H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 o d k o j i h p r v a t r p r i p a d a j u z a p o v j e d n o mv o d u p o s t r o j b e ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) Somua S 35 lanl thal belonged to the commander of 202nd Pz Abt And four Hotchkiss H 39 tanks Three of four Hotchkiss tanks belonged to command platoon (HPM Zagreb)

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lovatkogpuka104 lovatkedivizije sudjelule 3 satnija202 PzAbI je u prvomnaletu Kolona tenkovakojaje napadala cestomusplela '1 proleterske pje5aitva brigadeNOV-aNastojanje razbitiobranu zaustavljeno da se probijeza tenkovima 1etakoda su tenkovisami produZili prijelaz prekorijekeBistrice u seluRataj naprijed te zauzeli sveprilazeselui Vatromiz topovaistrojnicatenkovisu blokirali prijelaz prekorijekeBistriceU istovrijemepremaprijelazu se krekojaje talakolona2. proleterske brigadeNOV-aUnatotzapovijedi, da sesvete5konaoruZanje izdana tijekomnajle5iih borbina Sutjesci, brigadeje na vlastitimledima uniSti,grupa boraca2 proieterske iznilela iz obrudaprotuoklopni top 47 mm s pet granataTopje posadenjemadkih iznenadio iznesen na polo2aj te je u potpunosti pogodcima dvatenkadokje tenkovalz blizine supreciznim uniStena pratnje, bilabezpjeSaike trecioitecenBuduiida je kolonatenkova noii s 12, su nazadu pravcuFodeTijekom ostalitenkoviuzmaknuli n a 1 3 .l i p n j ak o ds e l aR a t aj ej n ap o d r u ! ep l a n i nl ea h o r i niezz a d n j e g postrojbi glavnina partizanskih nlemadkog obrutaizaSla nalaze seu Cajnicu Dana15 lipnjadijelovi 369 legionarska divizija nalazi sei Sest tenkova S ovimpostrolbama je vraiena369 legionarskoj diviziji te se Dana17, lipnja3 satnija n a l a zni a p o l o Z a j i m P ao d g r a bS t a n b u l i i i Dana10 srpnjakodZivinica tri tenkaiz 3 satnile202 Pz Abt su zemljiStu Posada djelovanja zapela suu moivarnom tijekom borbenih je pokuiala goriva no u tomeihje sprijedio nedostatak izvuiitenkove, je napustila polo2ajaPosada tenkovenakon te blizinapartizanskih Partizani su tenkove zauzeli te ito je prethodno uniStila naoruZanje pronaSli koliiinusaniih zapaliliPritomesu u tenkovima odredenu top, oko tetskogmaterijala, dvijestrojnice, 60 granataza tenkovski l 0 0 0 0m e t a kzaas L r o j n i icj ue d n ur a d i os t a n i c u navodiseda Dana3O srpnlau izvjeStalima 369 legionarske divizije je 3 satnija postrojbe 17 202 PzAbt nakonZestokih borbiistisnula NOV-a iz Gradadca Treiasatnija sudjelule u borbama udarnedivizije do 3 kolovoza, seizvjeitajima spominle samo3 satTijekom kolovoza u nlemadkim divizijiNema nija202Pz Abt kojajeyoiuvijekpri369 legionarskoj podataka idjelovanju u kojimasenavode1 i2 satnija o razmje5taju 202Panzer Abteilunga

Pz.Abt. Germanreportsdurrnqthe month of Auqustshow the 11202 3'dCompanyas stilla{tachedto the369tFlegionaryDivision.Thedata Pz.Abt1i and 2'd Companies. regardingthe disposition of the11202 are non-existentTherepoftson combatactionsin Bosniadated21 Pz.Abt. August listedhalf of the armoredcompanyfrom the 11202 assuppoftingthe3'dJaegerBrigadeNDHdurrngthe fightingaround Brod BijellinaTheotherhalf of the companywas sentfrom Bosanski on 24 August1943 lt ismostlikelythat mainbody towardsDerventa of rhel/)02 PzAht snentthesummerin theareaof Bosanski Brod and Slavonski Brod.Twotanksweredamagedby AT guns fire near Deventaon 25 August 1943 Onetank wasdamagedby AT rifle fire west of Kostainicain western On of the 373'dlegionaryDivisron. Bosniain thezoneof responsibility adtonsdunng 17August 1943the tankswereinvolvedin defensive a partisanattackon the 369thLegionaryDiv.aftrllerybatteryrn the vicinityof Busovaca PANZERABTEILUNGz.b.Vl2 (Panzer Baltalion) At the beginningof 1943the Pz.Abtz.b.V.12 hadthe followingunits on the telritory-ofNDH:Vh Platoon(at Turbe),8thPlatoon(at Tuzla), and 14th 9thPlatoon(ai oijeliinal,1}th Platoon(withthe 7l BthDtvision) Platoonht Ruma) of Germanforces Croatiaon 14 By an orderof the Commander se to Zenicaand March1943the Vh, Bthand 10thPlatoonswere After the reorto the HQ of the 718thlnfantnlDivision. subordinated ganization of the 7lBthlnf.Div.intothe llBth JaegerDiv the tanks remainedundercommandof the newlyformedunit. Repoftslistthis for groupof tanksas'GroupSteet'ln the wakeof thepreparatrons wereloadedon rail the 2nd,4thand th Platoons operation'Schwaftz on 12 May 1943 These carsand movedfrom Beogradto Sarajevo to the HQ of the 1l BthJaeger armoredplatoonsweresubordinated thesethreenewlvarrivedtank platoonsthe division DivisionBesides had one moreplatoonunderitscommandThelistingof the units availablefor operation'Schwartz'issueda day after the platoons arrivedto Sarajevolistedfour platoonsbasedat AlipasinMost A dailydispatchof 1B May 1943 listedonlythreetankp oons.Two to thebattlegroup 'Anackeland onew the battle assubordinated group 'Geftlel Onetank wasdisabledthe verynextday duringthe fightingnearFoca

h o s t r o j b ib i l o j e z a p r e t a v a n j eU p o j e d i n i mi z v j e S t a j i mzaa b l j e Z e n o1 ed a s u 2 0 3 l t : o g n e d o s t a t k ap r o t u o k l o p n o go r u Z 1 an, a j u i i n k o v r t i loer u Z j ep a r t i z a n s k i p p a r t i z a nni a p o l e d i n i md i j e l o v i m ac e s t ev r i i l z a p r e d a v a n jgeo t o v o s v a k i h10 0 m e t a r a ( B A , K o b l e n z ) Having no anti-tank weapons, paftisanshad to rely on improvisedtank obstacleson the roads Some of the combat reports state that paftisansplaced roadblocks every 100 meters (BA Koblenz)

104

ARMAUREDU'U'TsANP IlEHICLES,iVCROAr'g BUR,ruGwIiI' J,

U izvje5taju o borbama nateritoriji Bosne od 21 kolovoza navedeno je da postrojba jatinepolaoklopnesatnijeiz sastava 202, pzAbt, zajednos 3. lovaikombrigadom oruZanih snagaNDH,sudjeluje u borbama okoBijeljine, ada1e24. kolovoza izpravca Bosanskog Broda u pravcuDervente upuienapolovica oklopnesatnije. Najvjerojatnije je veiina202. Pz.Abt. tijekomljetabila smje5tena na podrudju Bosanskog i Slavonskog 12 weremovedfromBeograd Broda.Dana25. kolovoza to su kod Dervente new platoonsof the Pz.Abt.z.b.V platoonswerenot engagedin operations SaralevoThese vatromiz protuoklopnih on the NDH topovaoiteienadvatenka territorybefore.Germanpracticewasto namebattlegroupsafterthe je zabiljeZeno Osimtoga u kolovozu da je zapadnood Kostajnice namesof theircommanders so it is possible that the sameofficertook u Bosnina podruijudjelovanja 373. legionarske divizijepogocima overthecommand of theseplatoons iz protuoklopne puSkepogodenjedantenk,a 'l7 kolovoza kod quiteprobablethat the Vh, 8thand 1}th platoonsdid notparticije do intervencije Busovade doSlo tenkovaprilikom napadana lednu It is patein operation'Schwaftz'. artiljerijsku bitnicu369.legionarske divizije. The1l BthJaegerDivisionsituational reportissued on 1June1943lists PANZER ABTEILUNG z.b.V.'t2 5 tanksof the armoredgroup Steelas non serviceable, undergoing repairsin a mechanical shop. Potetkom 1943.godinena podrudju NDHnalaze se7 vod(Turbe), 8 after 5 June 1943 the 2d and 4th platoonsof the v o d( T u z l a ) ,v9o d ( B i j e l j i n1a0) ,v o d( 7 1 8d. i v i z i j a ) i 1v4o d( R u m a ) Somewhere armoredgroup 'Stee/'uvereassigned to theHQof the369thLegionary Pz.AbLz.b.V.12 Divisionto replacethe11202 Pz.Abt.3rdCompanvthat wastraisferred Dana14. oiujkazapovjednik njemaikih trupau Hrvatskoj upuiuje to thebattlegroup 'Ludwig'attachedto the 104thJaeger Drvision. The 7., 8. i 10. tenkovski vodu ZenicupodzapovjedniStvo 718. pjeiatke 'diviziju armoredplatoonswerestationedin Gorazde. '1 divizije. Preustrojem 718. pjeiadke divizileu 18. lovadku 'j tenkovski vodoviu Zeniciostaiupod nadleZnoiiu sada 18,lovaike divizijeU izvjeitajima ovugruputenkovskih vodova naziva sei 'Grupa Stee/'. U sklopupriprema za pothvat'Schwartz' 12 svibnla Zeljeznicom suiz pravca Beograda prebateni u Sarajevo 2 , 4. i 5 tenkovski vodiz sastavaPz.Abt.z.b.V12. Ovioklopnivodovipodredeni suzapovjedniitvu 1.1 8. lovadke divizijeUz ovatri novopridoSla tenkovska voda,prl divizijise nalazijoi jedantenkovski vod. Dan nakonpristizania u 'Schwartz", Sarajevo, postrojbi u pregledu prijepothvata navodi seda seu Alipaiinom Mostunalaze detirioklopna vodaPzAbIzb.V.12 '1 U zapovijedi o nastupanju od 8 svibnja spominju sesamotri tenkovska voda:dvasu podredena grupi'Anacker', borbenoj a jedan

A Renault R.39 tank of the Panzer Kompanie zur besonderen Venuend g 12 (Pz.Abt.z.b.V12). This photo was taken in February 1943 during e Operation "Weis". (HPM Zagreol

105

I.JbRI,IGSNW sV,IETSKOMRATUU I.IRVATSKOJ OKLOPzuA VOZILA! OKLOFNEPOSTRO.XBE

'Steel'was movedto Palenear grupi'Gertler'Vei sljedeieg danau borbamakod Foie On 19lune 1943thearmoredgroup borbenoj je jedantenk Sarajevo to counterheauypressureof partisanunits.Thegroup was onesposobljen on 23 June 1943. Divrsion from the 369thLegionary divizile u sastavu released Premaizvje5taju od 20 svibnjakod 118 lovadke railroadrn the area the Zagreb-Beograd Platoon was securing The 15th i iedanneisoklopnegrupe"Stee/ukupnose nalazi12 ispravnih Jaruga(25June1943).The14tnPlatoonwas pravan vodovaU izvjeStajima of Okucani-Lipik-Banova tenkito odgovara snazitrijuoklopnih the sametaskin the Srtiemarea g r u p ui d a l j eu p o t r e b l j anvaaz i v ' b o r b e g n rau p a assigned s ez a o v uo k l o p n u 12platoonswereon theterritoryof NDHin 9 out of 15PzAbt.z.b.V i za grupuoklopnihvodovakoja se Steer',kojije upotrebljavan wereon securityduties midAugust1943.The14thand 1th Platoons su u ZeniciKaoStosmovldjeliu Sarajevu sredinom oZujkanalazila were railroad.The2nd,4thand5thPlatoons alonqtheZaqreb-Beoqrad prebadena vodaPzAbt.z,bV12, tri sasvim novaoklopna iz Beograda werein Tuzla TheBthand 9th Platoons na podruijuNDH U njemaikolpraksi witithe t I EthJaeaeiDivision. kojado sadanisudjelovala po svojimzapovjednicima whilethe Vh and 1)thPlatoonswerein Zenica. grupesu obitnodobivale nazive borbene i ovomgrupom zapoviledanje te je mogu(eda je istiiasnikpreuzeo vodova okloonih u nisusudjelovali Sedmi., osmii desetioklopnivod najvjerojatnije pothvatu"Schwartz' i gubicima borbama Dana1 lipnjau izvjeita.lu o petnaestodnevnim te stanjupostrolbi118 lovatkedivizijenavodise da je pet tenkova grupe'Steer' izvanupotrebe te da se nalazeu tehniikim okl-opne na 00oravKu raotonrcama N a k o n5 l i p n j a2 . i 4 o k l o p nvi o di z s a s t a voak l o p n ge r u p e ' S t e e / ' zbogzamjene divizije supodzapovjedniStvo 369 legionarske stavljeni grupl'Ludwiger' iz borbenoj 3 satnije 202PzAbI, kolaje dodijeljena vodovinalaze seu GoraZdu 104 lovadke divizije. Oklopni sastava 'l je zbogjakogpritiska grupa'Sterr'povuiena Dana 9 lipnjaoklopna postrojbiu PalekrajSara.leva parlizanskih iz zapovjedniStva Dana23 lipnjaoklopnagrupa'Steri'je otpu5tena 369 legionarske divizi.le pruge Zeljeznidke Dana25 lipnja15 vod nalazise u osiguranju - Beograd Jaruga, a 14 Zagreb na podruijuOkuian- Lipik- Banova na istomzadatku, sena podrudju Srijema oklopnivodnalazi '1 kolovoza na podrutjuNDHnalazise 9 od 5 oklopnih Sredinom su na 14 i 15 tenkovski vod postavljeni vodovaPzAbt.z.b.V12, o s i g u r a ni jeul j e z n i d pk reu g eZ a g r e-bB e o g r a d2 ,, 4 i 5 s u p r i 1 1 8 , 7 . i 1 0 ,u Z e n i c i l o v a t k o j d i v i zSi j i 9, j e u f u z l i a

2 0 6 T e n kH o t c h k i s sH 3 9 i z s a s t a v a2 0 2 P z A b t n a s v e t a n o mm i m o h o d u n j e m a i k i hp o s t r o l b iu B a n j o jL u c iu p r o l j e ( e1 9 4 3 g o d i n e ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) Hotchkiss H 39 tank of the 202'd Pz Abt durrng the parade of German forces in Banja Luka in the Sprtng of 1943 (HPM Zagreb)

2 0 7 T e n kH o t c h k i s sH 3 9 b r o l a 3 3 2 k o j i ,s u d e i i p o b r o j u , p r i p a d a3 s a t n i j ip o s t r o j b e( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) HotchkissH 39 tank with the number'332' According to the number the tank belongsto the third company of the unit (HPMZagreb)

106

-T

SSFreiwilligen divizijaPrinzEugen'(7 brdska SSdobrovoljadka Sedma je tijekom'1942.godine postroiena DivisionPrinzEugen') Gebirgs je u omjeru3:'1popunjena u Banatuna teritorijuSrbije.Divizija skupines teritorijaKraljevine pripadnicima njemaikenarodnosne Jugoslavije je premaorganizacilskoi shemipredvidenoostrojadivizrje U sastavu Abteilung podnazivom SSPanzer postrojbe vanjeoklopne 7 je u svomsar Abteilung Do4. travnja1942.godine7. SSPanzer lakim francuskim tavuimaosamojednuoklopnusatnijuopremljenu FT.1 7 tenkovima bojnedolazi oklopne divizijske ljetau sastav Tijekom loi jednaoklo-pna Char8.2. Renault teikimtenkovima francuskim sjtnijaopremljena je drastiina izvriena tenkovima Na ovim32 toneteikimfrancuskim promjenanamjene.Namjesto75 mm topa, koii se nalaziona ielnojploditijelatenka,na oklopnovoziloje ugradenmehanizam plamenobacata 7 se nalaziona podruiju Abteilung SSPanzer sastavu U ovakvom Srbije na 1943.godinedivizijase iz Srbileprebacule Nakon6. sijednja 'Weis'Budu(ida se u pothvatu zbogsudjelovanja podrutjeKailovia NDH na podrudju djelovanja borbenih te u opisima nafotografilama da suoni CharB.2,izgleda 7 i Renault FT.'1 tenkovi nigdjeriespominju Srbije ostalina podrudju

Division 'Prinz Eugen' Q SS The 7THSS VolunteerMountain 'PrinzEugen)was formedin Banat GebrigsDivision Freiwilligen (Serbia)-during 1922. TheGermannationalminorityfrom the ternwas includedin the Divisionat tory of the Kingdomof Yugoslavta a ratio3:1

wa mounted a flamethrower tainedsomemaior changesNamely, of themain75 mm gun. ThiswastheSSPzAbt structure instead whileon the territoryof Serbia

wereunsuitablefor the It is alsoundoubtedlytrue that thesevehicles of the Thereisno doubtaboutcombatuse/essness Operation'Weis'. CharB 2 on theother sidewasnot suited FT17tanks.The Renault

units slowingdown themovementof the otherdivisional to Karlovac, brought were 12 tanks Accordingto thepartisanreport and stationedat'the railwiy station.The samesourceexpressgd of thosetankssincethe vehicles doubtasto thecombatworthiness sluiajusamo 5tobi u svakom radova, opkoparskih camabezopselnih postrolbe ostaledivizijske i opteretivalo usporilo je u prosincudopremu Karlovac izvjeitaju Premapartizanskom postajiPartizanski na Zeljeznidkoj kojisu smjeSteni ljeno12 tenkova ovih sumnjuu ispravnost izralava u istomdokumentu obavjeitajac te nisuuop(epokretali da se oni nakonistovara tenkovanavode(i postaji. Neznamoje li razlo-g da sejo5uvijeknalazena Teljeznitkoj dijelatenkovaChar8.2 kojise poslije u Karlovac tomedopremanje ili samoratnavarkakolaje trebalaprikriti u pothvatunisukoristili i potetakpothvataWeis'. stvarnenamlerepostrojbe

7 Abteilunga Panzer

prifuvi divizijskoj napre7 55divizije 2O sijeinjaPostrojbe I'zapotinje Pothvat'Weiss NOV-a 8 divizile vodetiborbes postrojbama dujuoprezno

2 O B T e n k H o t c h k j s sH 3 9 b r o j a 5 0 5 2 S l i k aj e s n i m l i e n au e k s t r e m n t m

HotchkissH 39 tank with number 5052 Thisphotograph was taken dunng the gun barrel (Dinko Predoevi( collectian)

107

OKLOPNAVOZII.AI OKTOPI\IH FOSTRSJBEU ERUGOIMSVJETSKOMRATUU FIRVAT$KOJ

2 0 9 T e n kH o t c h k r sH s 3 9 b r o j a 5 0 5 3 i z s a s t a v a7 S S P a n z eA r b t e r l u n g a( z b i r k aD i n k op r e d o e vi ) Another HotchkissH 39 with the number 5052 of the 7thSS PanzerAbteilung (Dinko predoevit collection)

Nakonpetodn nih borbiprednjidijelovi divizije ulaze25 silednja u n a p u i t e nSil u n Uz podrikutenkovai avijacije postrojbe divizilske napreduju prema Bihafu.

KodsslaCvitoviikrajSlunjanjematketrupesu najvjerojatnije zbog tehnidke jedantenk. pri njpuiianjutenk5 neispravnosti napustile je s njegaodnijela njemadka posada svevitalne dijelove. Posljednji otpor pred Bihaiemdivizijske postrojbe svladale su 27. sijetnja, Uz sporadidne borbe s partizanskim zaititnicama 30 sijeinja, postrojbe divizijske ulazeu napuiteni Bihat. Dana31 sijetnja 7 SSPanzer Abteilung nalazi seu Bihaiu. 2 veljaie Abteilung sudjeluje u napadu poloZaje na 7. divizile Pllg NOV-ana Ripaikom Klancu. U poslijepodnevnim satima-ve(ina borbenegrupepraiena je osvojiti tenkovima uspjela seloRipaii osigurati prolazkrozRipatki Klanac. Dana6. veljatecijeladivizija je u napredovanju premaBosanskom Petrovcu

2 ' O M o t o c i k r sp . i l . o l i c o m i z s a s t a v 7a S Sd i v i z i j eN a p r i k o l i cj ar s n ov i d i m o z n a k d i v i z i l ek o j i s e u p r a v i l u n a l a z i on a s v r m m o t o r n r m v o z i lm a ( H p M , Zagreb) A sidecar combrnation of the Vh SS Division The Division insignia can be clearly seen on the sidecar This markrng was usually used on ill divisionat vehicles (HPM Zagreb)

108

wereoffloadedand nevermovedfrom therailwavstationsince.lt is unclearif thosewerethe Renault CharB 2 tanksthatwereunsuitable to be usedin the operationor was that a deliberatemoveto decetvethe enemy, Throughout the operation'Weis'the DivisionusedFrenchHotchkiss H 39 tanks Thereareno data on wherethosetankscamefrom Someindication exists thatthe Renault CharB 2 tankswerereturned to FranceTherefore it is possible that the H 39 tankswere sentback asreplacementBesides, it is alsopossible that the tanksweretransferredto the 7 55 Pz.Abt.from someof the otherunits. Fivearmoredplatoonsof the 7SSPz.Abt were mentionedin a divisionalorder of the battle and combatdispatchprior to the operat19n'.Wers' Oneplatoonwas assigned to the btattlegroup'West,. Thebattlegroup'Centel'was assigned threeplatooniand the 7 SS Pz.Abt.headquarters wasa/soset up with it. No armorede/ements wereassigned to the battlegroup'East"Oneplatoonwas keptas otvtstonat reserve.

ARMOUREDUNITSAND IIEHICLESIN CRAATIA DITRIT{G WIIVII

2 1 1 . T e n k H o t c h k i s sH . 3 9 7 . S S P a n z e rA b t e i l u n g as n i m l . l e nu z a p a d n o j H e r c e g o v i nP i . o l e d i n i mt e n k o v i m aH . 3 9 o v e p o s t r o j b ep o s a d es u d a l e i m e n j p a o v a jt e n k n o s i i m e L u m p " . ( H A D ,Z a g r e b ) Hotchkiss H.39 tank of the 7th SS panzer Abteilung photographed in WesternHerzegovina.Some tankscrews named their tanks, this one carries 'Lump'. (HAD, the name Zagreb)

Sljede(eg dana,predvodene SS panzerAbteilungom 7, divizijske postrojbe ulazeu Bosanski Petrovac, 5topredstavljalkrajnjiciljnairedovanja divizije u skladus planomWeiis| . Poku5aji dijelovadivizijeda uz dolinu rijekeUne napreou1e u prav,cu Lapcate da sespojes postrojbama talijanske divizije'Sassari, zavr5avaju neuspjeino.Njemadkepostrojbes pet tenkovakod Drenovate i Zeljezne Glavenailaze na ivrstuobranu5. kordunaike brigade NOV-a. Uslijedmaglei slabevidljivosti njemaikepostrojbe dodekane su Zestokom vatroms udaljenosti od nekolikodeseiakametara.pod pritiskom partizanskih postrojbi njemaike susesnagepovukle. Nakon

Theoperation"Weis'beganon 20 January1943 lJnitsof Vh SS Divisionwere advancingcautiouslyfighting with units of the gth DivisionNOV

Duringthe nightof 22 January1943thepaftisanunitsbrokeoff the contactand the Germancolumns proceededmovementtowards Slunj.Retreating,the partisanunits minedthe road nearBudacka Rijeka.Accordingto the partisanrepofts onearmoredvehiclewas destroyedat that locationduring the followingday. Fonuardelementsof the Divisionentered Slunjafter five daysof fighting AdvancecontinuedtowardsBihacsuppoftedby tanksa'nd aviation.

OneH.39 tank wasabandonednear the villageof Cvitkovic(vicinity of Slunj)due to mechanical problems.Leaviig the vehicleitscrew removedall vitalpafts. Lastpaftisandefenseson approachesto Bihacwere overvvhelmed by the Vh SS Div. on 27 January1943. Thedivisionenteredthe deseftedcity on 30 lanuary 1943havingonly sporadicencounters

2 1 2 T e n k H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 i z s a s t a v a7 S S p a n z e rA b t e i l u n g as n i m l l e nu M o s t a r ul j e t i 1 9 4 3 g o d i n e ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) Hotchkiss H 39 of the Vh SS Panzer Abteilung photographed in Mostar duilng the summer 1943 (HPM, Zaqreb)

109

r OKLOPNAVOZITAI OKLOPIUE POSTROJBE U DRUGSM SVJETSKOMBATUl,.IHRVATSKOJ

2 1 3 T e n kH o t c h k i s sH 3 9 i z s a s t a v a7 S S P a n z e rA b t e i l u n g an a s v e t a n o mm i m o h o d u p o s t r o j b id i v i z i j eu M o s t a r u S l i k aj e s n i m l j e n ap o t e t k o m l j e t a 1 9 4 3 g o d i n en a k o nz a v r i e t k ap o t h v a t a" s c h w a r t z " ( H P MZ a g r e b J Hotchkiss H 39 tank of the Vh SS Panzer Abteilung during the parade in Mostar. The photo was taken at the beginning of the summer 1943 after the 'Schwartz' operation (HPM Zagreb)

zavr5etka borbena bojlituje pronadenoite(enitenk NepaZnjom vozaaa najednojokucina cestitenkjepaou vrtaiuiz kojega posada nije moglaizvuii Posada tenkaje prilikomnapuitanja vozilasa sobomodnijela zatvaraitopate je u voziloubacilarudnugranatu kojaje pokidala komande upravljata tenka lstije ostaou rukama paftizana te je poslijekoriitenu sastavu'Oklopnedete1 korpusa NOV-aHrvatske". U jednojod poslijeratnih studijao borbamau pothvatu"Weissl" navodi seda sukodDrenovaie zarobljena dvatenkaod kojihjejedan bioispravan, a drugiuniitenu borbi. Dana8. veljatepostrojbe 7. SSdivizijepraienes osamtenkova hvatajukontaktna cestiBosanski Petrovac Kljuts dijelovima 202 Panzer Abteilunga i postrojbama 717 pjehfkedivizije. Do 17. veljaie divizija vr5iiiiienje zaposjednutog teritorija te nakontoga dobiva postrojbii pripremupothvata sedmodnevni odmorza sredivanje "Weiss ll". Prostorkojije divizijau mjesecdanaborbiosvojila, osimglavnih prometnihpravaca, uglavnomse ve( ponovnonalaziu rukama panrzana. postrojbiu pozadinidivizije27 veljaie Zbog pojavepartizanskih zapovjedniitvo izdvaja.ledan oklopnivod za praaenle opskrbnih kolonana pravcuod BihaiapremaBosanskom PetrovcuUnatoi tome napadlna opskrbnekolonese pojaiavaju.PoietkomoZujka postrojbe 4. krajiike divizije NOV-auniitavaju viie opskrbnih kolona 7 SSdivizije Dana1 oZujkakod selaVranjska doiekanaje u zasjedi opskrbna jedanoklopniautomobil, kolonasastava osamkamiona, dvaosobna automobila ijedantenk Svavozilaiz kolone su uniStena Ovajtenkje do 17. srpnjaostaona mjestugdjeje uni5ten kadaje olupinutenka pokupila njemaika vojska. Dana12 oZujka spaljeno.le osamkamiona s benzinom kodselaLipe Dana13.o)ujkaspaljena su tri kamiona 110

with the partisanrearguard The7 SSPz Abt was in Bihacon 31 January1943 On 2 February1943the 7 5SPz.Abt attackedthe partisandefense lineheld by the Vh DivisionNOVat RipackiKlanac.(RipacGorge). Thebattle group suppoftedby tanksmanagedto capturethe villageof Ripacand securethe passage throughRipacGorge.On 6 February1943the wholedivisionwas advancingtowardsBosanski PetrovacThenextday,the divisionledby the 7 SSPz Abt captured Bosanski Petrovac,which was the final objectiveaccordingto the 'WeisI' plan Theadvanceattemptalongthe UnaRivertowardsLapacto connect with the ltalian'Sassari" Divisionfailed.Germanunitssuppoftedwith five tanksmetfierceresrtanceof the 5thKordunBriqadeNOV near Drenovaca andZeljeznaGlava, ln the fog and low vbibilityconditionsthe Germanforcesmet witheringfire from point blankdistanceand fell backunderthe paftisan pressureAfter the battle the partisansfound one damagedand abandonedH.39 tank. Due to the driver'sinattentionthe tank slid into a sinkhole and got stuck Abandoningthe vehiclethe crew removedthe gun breachand threw a handgrenadeinto the vehicle whichseveredthe steerinqmechanismThe tank,remainingin the handsof the partisans, was laterusedin theArmoredCompany of the lst CorpsNOV. ln one of the post-warstudiesof the operation'WeissI' two tanks were listedas captured,one destroyedand the other intact, On 8 February1943the unitsof Vh SSDiv.established contactwith the 11202 Pz.Abt.and the 71VhlnfantryDivision.Theunits meton the Bosanski Petrovac-Kljuc road Upon completingof a mop-up operationon 17 Februarythe divisionwas awarded7 daysto rest andrefit for operation'Weis ll.

ARMOUREP U'UITs ,AJVBT/EfffCT,FS 'N' CROAT'A D{IRTAJGWKl/'I

kodBosanskog Grahova, a 15.oZujka kodselaOtokeiestkamiona i voziloekipesnimatelja njemaikih filmskih 2urnala. Premaplanunastupanja 7. SSdivizija trebanapredovati u pravcu Drvara i daljepremaLivnu. Raspored oklopnih vodovapri postrojbama ostajeisti.Jedanoklopni vod podupireborbenugrupu 'schmidhube/ (ranijegrupazapad), dokseostalioklopnivodovinalazepri grupi"Wagneri (ranije grupa centar).

Theareathat the Vh SSDiv.clearedduringa month long fighting was more or lessin the paftisan handsagain while the Germans retainedcontroloverthe main routesonly. With the appearance of the partisanunitsin the divisionalrearareas the headquarters the Vh SSDiv.assigned one armoredplatoonto the supplycolum for escortdutieson the Bihac-Bosanski Petrovac route. Despitethat, attackson transpoftationcolumnsincreased. At the beginningof March the 4th KrajinaDrvisiondestroyedseveral supplycolumns.A supplycolumn with eight trucks,one armored car, two passenger carsand one H 39 tank was ambushedon 1 March 1943 All vehicleswere destroyedwtth the tank wreck remaining in placeuntil 17July1943whenitwas recovered bVthe Germans.Eighttrucksloadedwith gasolinewere setablazeon l2 Marchnearthe villageof Lipe On 13Marchthreetruckswereburnt Grahovo.Sixtrucksand the Germanpropaganda Premaopisu,pme z9 zapredavanje cestebilesu iskopane na mjes- near Bosansko team vehicle were destroyednearthe villageof Otokaon 15 March tima kojenijebilolakozaobitite su bileSirine 6-8 metarai dub6ke 1943 Accordingto the plans the Vh SS Div was supposedto continue advancetowardsDrvarand Livno.Dispositionof the armoredplatoonsrematnedunchanged.Oneplatoonwaswith the battlegroup (exgroup'West")the otherswere with the battle Schmidhubet' group 'Wagnel (exgroup "Centet') te upozorava na dinjenicu da su tenkovipri tome bez potrebebili TheadvancetowardsLivnowas madedifficultbv extremeweather izloZeni opasnosti. (deepsnow)and obstacles conditions left by the'retreating paftisan units. According to the repoft of 26 February1943 the Division Uslijed visokog snijega i lakogvjetranjematke postrojbe napreduju jakosporo.Tenkovske prethodnice 7. SSdivizije tek5. oZujka ulaze-u Livno.Glavnina partizanskih postrolbi sesljedetih danaprebacila na istoinuobalurijekeNeretve.

SSDiv. was dated at the time of the advancetowardsLivno The orderregulatedthe usageof the 7SSPz.Abt and instructedtheunit commanders to usethe armoredplatoonsunderthe protectionof

2 1 4 K o l o n ai z v i d n i i k em o t o c i k l i s t i i k e p o s t r o j b e7 S Sd i v i z i j eP r n z E u g e n ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i i ) Reconnaissancemotorcycle unit of the Vh SS Division Prinz Eugen" (Dinko Predoevit collection)

111

SKLSFf{A VOHI$-AI OKI-ffiPISE PSSTffiO.IEE i,I DffiL'GSIMSVJETSKSIfuI RAT{.II,"'HRUATSKSJ

dovalau prethodna dva mleseca nisuimaleoklopnihvozila,ostaje arlilleryand infantry(if possible),whtch had not alwaysbeen the pitanjekakva otvoreno su idijaoklopna vozilapostrojbe 7 SSdivizije case ln the samedocumentthe commanderexpressedhisregret zapr |jenile pointingout that severaltacticaloppoftunitieswerelost due to the postrojbe Divizijske smjeitaju se u zoni rudnikaboksitau zapadnoj deploymentof the armoredunitswithoutprotection,and that in this exposed je u Ljubuikom. Hercegovini. ZapovjedniStvo divizijesmjeiteno SS way theywereunnecessarily Panzer AbteilungT nalazt seu mjestuLisakrajSirokog Brijega u krugu Due to deep snow and hrgh winds Germanunits advancedvery tamoinjetvornice duhana slowly.Armoredadvanceelementsof the Vh 5S Div.enteredLivno primazapovijed Dana8 svibnja 7 SSdivizija o sudjelovanju u poth- only on 5 March 1943 Paftisanforcescrossedto the eastbank of je trebalaizvr5iti the riverNeretvaduringthe next few days vatu'Schwarz' te se priprema za pokret Divizita prijelaz rijekeNeretve te prekopodrutjaistotneHercegovine doii u Summarvof the ooeration'Weis' liststhat five armoredvehicles zonupothvata werecapturedduringthecombatoperationsup to 28 March 1943 Glavniproblemdaljnjegkretanjadivizile 1e prolazkroztalijansku One armoredcar without tires was reportedas capturedon | 2 okupacijsku zonu za koli njematkepostrojbe nisu imaledozvolu March 1943 near the villageof Lipa (betweenLivnoand Prozor) Sincethe paftisanunitsin that areadid not possessany armorit is talijanskih vojnihvlasti jednakolona7 SSdivizije Dana15.svibnja predvodena tenkovima unclearwhat kind of the vehiclethat wasand who it belongedto ulaziu talijansku okupacijsku zonuizpravca Ljubu5kog te prolazi kroz The divisionalunits were deolovednear bauxite minesin eastern Capljinu u pravcu StolcaDrugakolonas osamtenkova na ielu ulazi HerzegovinaTheHQ was in Ljubuskiwhile the 7 SSPzAbt was u Mostarteprodu)uje u pravcu Nevesinja. U viSenavrata izmedu tali- in Lisanear SirokiBrijeg,campingin the localtobaccofactoryyard i njematkih trupadolazigotovdo oru2anog sukobaU te5kom Upon receivingthe orderto parttcipatein the operation'Schwaftz lanskih poloZaju su sena5le detniikepostrojbe kojeNijemci ne priznajuBez on B May 1943the divisionpreparedto moveout Thedivisionwas postrojbi, obzirana prisutnost talijanskih u kojimasu ietnicitretirani supposedto crossfhe tVeretvariver and to marchacrosseastern Herzegovina to the areaof operattons kaopomoinetrupe,Nilemci ih razoruZavaju i zarobljavaju '1 problem The main for fufther advancewas the passagethrough Dana B svibnja kolonapredvodena tenkovima dolazido talijanskog garnizona u BileiiBuduiida tamo5nji garnizona zapovjednik odbija Italianoccupationalzone as the Germanunits did not have the Italianmilitarycommandpermissionto do that propustiti njemaiku kolonu,onasedaljeprobijana silOn 15 May 1943one columnof the Vh SSDiv.with tanksentered U opisudogadajakaie se da se ledantalijanski dasnikpopeona the ltalianoccupatic:nal zone Thecolumnarrivedfrom Ljubuskiand prepreku putu na kakobi vlastitim tijelomsprijeiiodaljnjekretanje je na telo koloneisturiodva proceededthrough CapljinatowardsStolac The secondcolumn njematke koloneNjemaiki zapovjednik tenkakojasu krenulaparalelno cestomte poruiilaZiianeprepreke with eight tankspassedthrough Mostaron the way to Nevesinje ne obaziruiise na talijanskog tasnikaBuduiida u tom izvorno TheGermanand ltalianforcesalmostclashedon severaloccasions in particularLy difficult positalijanskom izvjeitaju nemapodataka da je njihoviasnikstradao, The Chetnikforcesfound themselves najvjerojatnije se predtenkovima u zadnjiias sklonioKolone7 SS tion, not recognizedby the GermansUnlikethe ltalianforcesthat prelaze divizile iz istotneHercegovine na teritorijCrneGore Dana treatedChetniksasauxiliarytroopsthe Germansweredisarmingand 2'1 svibnla Abteilung se nalazis ostalimpostrojbama u dolinirijeke capturtngthem Thecolumnled by tanksreachedthe ltaliangarrisonin Bilecaon 18 PiveS obziromda su se borbeu pothvatuSchwartz' vodileu planinskom bespuiuna nadmorskim visinama i do 2000metara, 7 SS May 1943 Although the ltaliancommanderrefusedto allow the Panzer Abteilung pratnlei osiguranja Germansto passthey madetheir way by force ln a descriptionof bioje rasporeden n zadacima pojed ih pravaca opskrbnih kolonate zatvaranju u ciljuspredavanja the incidentit was saidthat an ltalianofficerclimbedthe roadblock in an attemptto stop furthermovementof the column TheGerman partizanskih izvlaienja postrolbi iz obruia commandersenttwo tanksthat clearedthe obstacledisreaardinq pothvata Nakonzavrietka "Schwarz', 7 SSdivizija se premjeita na of the ltalianofficer.Sincethe originalltaliaireporl podruijecentralne Bosne. Zapovjedni5tvo divizije dolaziu Sarajevo the presence contains nothing about casualties it is reasonable to assumethat the postrojbe Ostale divizijske razmjeitene su u nizgarnizona i sjeverno Italianofficerremovedhimselfbeforethe tanks istotnood grada Herzegovina rntoMontenegro U ovomperrodu divizija dobivanovamaterijalna sredstva i naoruZanje The7 5SDiv.crossedfromthe Eastern je lsporuieno Drviziji 500 novihstrolnica MG42, 9 protuoklopnih and on 21 May the 7 Pz Abt was in the PivaRivervalleywith the restof the units Dueto the fact that mostof the combattook place je primilai topovaPAK40i 8 teikih protuzradnih topova,Divizija in a mountainous areaup to 2000 m abovesea/eye/the PzAbt odgovarajufi brojmotornih i vuinihvozila was taskedwith providingsecurityfor the supplycolumnsand as podataka je lakonema o prijamu novihoklopnih vozila, divizija najvje- a blockingforce to preventthe escapeof paftisanunits from the primilaodredeni rojatnije brojoklopnih automobila kojije biodovo- enctrctement jednoglakogok pno-izvidniikog ljanzapostrojavanje Prema sklopa. pri postrojbama fotografijama divizijse pojavljuju oklopniautomo- Upon the end of the operation Schwartz'the Vh 5S Div. was in was in Sarajevowhile the other bili ADGZPolizei-Panzerkampfwagen, SchwerePanzerspahwagencentralBosnia The Headquafters (7 5cm) Sd.Kfz.233 (B-Rad)i LeichtePanzerspahwagen (2cm) units werespreadin a seflesof garrisonsto the north and eastof SdKfz222 Prvitrag o postojanju postrojbe s izvidadkim oklopnim the city. automobilima nalazimo ve( 17.vellateu borbenol zapovjedi o osigu- ln this period the Divisionreceivednew weaponsand equipment - Kljudu kojojseuztenkovski The Divisionwas suppliedwith 500 new MG 42 machineguns, ranjuopskrbnih 9 linijaBosanski Petrovac PAK40 ATgunsand t heavyantiaircraftgunsaswellas with various vodnabraja i vodizvidatkih oklopnih automobila. new vehiclesand tractors Althoughthere are no data about new U ovomrazdoblju vodise niz borbiuglavnom do razinebojneuz pojedinih sudjelovanje divizijskih oklopnihvodovaRazniizvjeitaji armoredvehiclesthe Divisionmostcertainlyreceivedsomearmored unit Accordtngto photopostrojbe biljeZe nizborbiu kojimauz pjeSaike sudjeluju ioklopna carsand formedlight reconnaissance graphsthe DivisionusedADGZPoilzei-Panzerkampfwagen, Schwere vozrla (7 5 cm),SdKfz (8 Rad)and SdKfz 233 Letchte Panzerspahwagen Od 11 srpnja7 SS Panzer Abteilungsudjeluju u pothvatuna (2 cm) Frrstevidenceabout existenceof the - VlasenicaZvornik podruijuSokolac protivpostroj- Panzerspahwagen u istotnojBosni unit with reconnaissance vehicleswas a combatdispatchfrom 17 bi 1 proleterske i 16 udarnedivizile NOV-a Februaryregardingsecuritydutiesalong the Bosanski Petrovac-Kljuc Tako oklopni road Besides 1e1B srpnjau napadunacestiKiseljakVisokouniSten a tankplatoonthe ordermentroned a reconnaissance automobil iz sastava 7 SSdivizijeDana23.srpnjana cestiKiseljak carplatoon je kolona Busovaia napadnuta od 11 kamiona izsastava 7. divizije. armoredplatoonswereinvolvedin a seriesof je pratenatrimatenkovima. Kolona Dana24 srpnjana c i Kakanj Someof the Divisional clashes supporling infantry battalions Thisis confirmedby various - Laivavodena je borbas kolonomiz sastava 7 SSdivizijeU pratnji repoftslistingarmoredunits involvedrn combatalong with infanje kolonebiloje osamtenkova. Prema izvj ajimanaovompodrudju trl. 26.srpnja5. krajiSka brigada NOV-a un lajedantenk. From11July 1943the 7 Pz.Abt.was volvedin actionsagainstthe Krajemsrpnjadio divizijskih postrojbipremjeiten podruije na 1e zapadne i istotneHercegovine U oiekivanju kapitulacije talijanske lst Proletarianand 16thAssaultDivis ns NOV Theoperatronwas condudedin the Sokolac-Vlasenica-Zvornik areaof EasternBosnra armije, dijelovi 7 SSPanzer Abteilunga nalaze seu Nevesinju 112

A,RMOUREDUIVJISAfVO VEHICLESIN CROANA DURINGWW I'

POSTROJBE SS OKLOPNEPOLICIJSKE g o d i n eo d l u k o mR a i c h f u r e5rS a - aH e i n r i c h a D a n a2 1 l i p n j a1 9 4 3 H i m l e r ac j e l o k u p n od r Z a v n op o d r u t j e N D H p r o g l a i e n oj e ' s k l a d us o v o m o d l u k o m "podruijem b o r b i p r o t i vp a r t i z a n aU SS-aza Hrvatskudodjeljujuse za Raichfurere opunomo(eniku postrojbe. Vet tijekomlipnjana upotrebudodatneSSpolicijske postrojbe pristiZunovepostrojbe. podruijeHrvatske SSpolicijske pravcu na va)nomkomunikacijskom bit te uglavnomrazmje5tene pravceod Zagrebana zapadudo prateciZeljeznidke i cestovne i D H ,o s i g u r a v a j uvtai Z a np r o m e t n i Z e m u n an a i s t o i n o g j r a n i cN pravacpremaistokuEurope je tijekomlipnjana podrutjeNDHpristigao 14 SS lzlulneFrancuske lipnja Tijekom policijski puks 13.SSpolicijskom satnijom. oklopnom potinjepristizati i 6. SSpolicijska u Osijeki na podrutjeSlavonije oklopna satnija policijska osimzapovjedsatnija u svomsastavu, Trinaesta 55oklopna stoZera, ima pet oklopnihvodova.U prvomi nog i opskrbnog Treti Steyr. automobila nalaze sepo tri oklopna drugomvodusatnije je sa SestlakihtenkovaPz.Kpfw.ll VK.1601.Cetvrti vod opremljen PzKpfwlVFl U petom tenkovima vodje opremljen ietirimasrednjim polugusjenitara S Kfz251116 opremsedvaoklopljena vodunalaze llenaplamenobacatima. sudjeluju u nizuborbiprotivpartizana Postrojba u ljetnimmjesecima i Papuka Kalnika, Bilogore zagor)a, na podruijuHrvatskog upuiujeda sena podrutjuNDHnalazinovanjemadka Prvitragko.1i nalazimo u partiteZimtenkovima opremljena oklopnapostrojba '1 od 1 srpnjaU nlima izvjeitajima o borbamana Papuku zanskim te polavi i domobranima se govorio borbamas "gestapovcima" 17.brigadeNOV-agovvetegbrojateZihoklopnihvozila.lzvje(taj a d k o j i h1 ei e s t o r io b o r b a mu a kojima 1 es u d j e l o v a1l o8 t e n k o v o je procijenjena na oko 15 tona.Navodi Teiinatenkova biloteSkih. o d b i j a ndio ks us e t e i k i ' s ed a s u n a p a dl ia k i ht e n k o v sa u s p j e h o m

Onearmoredcar of the 7 SSDiv.was destroyedduring the attack roadon 1BJuly1943.A columnof 11 trucks on the Kiseljak-Visoko road escorfedby threetankswasattackedon the Kiseliak-Busovaca by eight on 23 luly 1943.On24 luly 1943anothercolumnescofted road.The5thKraiinaBrtgade tankswa| attackedon theKakani-Lasva in thisareaon 26 July1943 NOVclaimedonetankdestroyed to the Western By theendof luly paft of the Divisionwastransferred The elementsof the 7 SSPz.Abt werein Herzegovina. and Eastern awaitingthe capitulationof ltaly. tVevesrnTe ARMOREDSS POLICEUNITS SSHeinrichHinler of 21 June 1943the By the orderof Reichfurher whole territoryof NDHwas declaredan "anti parlisanarea'.ln line s assrgneefor Croatiawas issued wtth this order the Reichfurher with additional55 Policeunitsthat arrivedduringJune 1943 TheSS policeunitsweredeployedalong the roadand railwaycommunicationsfrom Zagrebon the westernto Zemunon the easternborder routetowardsthe Eastern of NDHsecuringimpoftanttransportation Europe The 14thSS PoliceRegimentwith the 13thSSPolicearmoredcompany arrivedfrom FranceduringJune. The 6th55 PollceArmored Companybeganarrivingto Osiiekin Slavoniaregionduringlune. Besrdesthe commandand supply e/ementsthe 13th55 Polrce

partisans in the HrvatskoZagorie,Kalnik,Bilogoraand Papukareas canbe Thefirstevidenceof the new Germanarmoredunit presence foundin oneof thepaftisanreportsdated11July1943 Thereport soldiers is about the fightingwith the "Gestapo'and Domobranstvo

i o m p a n i es n i m l j e n an a u l i c a m aZ a g r e b at i j e k o m l e t a 1 9 4 3 g o d i n e ( z b i r k aD i n k oP r e d o e v i f ) 2 1 5 K o l o n at e n k o v aP z K p f w l l V K 1 6 0 1 1 3 S SP o l i z aC A column of Pz Kpfw. ll VK 1601 tanksof the 13thSS PolizeiCompaniephotographed in the streetsof Zagreb durrng the summer 1943 (Dinko Predoevic collection)

113

OKTSPNA\fOZItA I SKL*PSIEPSSTROJES U BRUGfiM 5V,IETSKSffIRATIj I-IF.IRI'ATSKOJ

and the appearance of heavyarmoredvehiclesThe lVh Bigade NOVreporl mentioneda battlethat involved1Btanks,six of which wereheavy.Theirweightwasestimatedto be 15 tons Accordingto thereportthe lrghttankattackswereeasilyrepelledwhilethe heavy tanksmovedfast,advancingthrough vineyardsand bypassingthe partisanpositions A combatrepoftof 1BJuly 1943mentionedencounters with the Germanand PTSinfantryand armorunitsas well asa heavyartillery Dana20 srpnjakod selaVisokona Kalnikupartizani vodeborbu bombardmentof Mahovljanivillage.The sameday one German armoredcompanyattackeda column of the 12thBrigadeNOV dispersingit and inflicting/ossesOn 20 July 7943 the paftisans engageda Germanarmoredunit composedof five heavyand four Irghttanksnearthe villageof Visoko(Kalnikarea) From22 June to 4 July the 14thSSPoliceRegimentwas involved in the "Battlefor the Harvest'at the Bilogora,Srilemand Fruska repoftson thoseactionsmentiontanksso it is Tretavojvodanska brigadaNOV-aizvje5tava o borbamas tenkovima Gora areas Partisan 31. srpnjate navodida je tijekomdanaprotutenkovskim topom quiteprobablethat one or moreplatoonsfrom the 13thSS Police Companywereinvolvedas well uniitila.1edan njemadki tenr,.. The3'd VolvodinaBigadeNOVreporteddestructionof onetankon 31 luly 1943 Thetankwasdestroyedwith an AT gun hit A paftisanrepofton Germanunitsin and aroundZagreblisted1500 'Gestapotroops'i.e.the SSPolicetroopsas beingin the suburbs westof thecity.Thelocationof the 13thSSPoliceArmoredCompany can be determinedbasedon a paftisanreport that mentioned450 seluStenjevac nazapadnom izlazuizZagreba Brojkuod 35 tenkova 'Gestapo'soldiers and 35 tanksas beingin Stinjevac, a villagewest u svakomslutajutrebauzetis rezervom of the city. Thenumberof the tanksis probablyunrealistically estimatedandshouldbe takenwith caution Dana30. kolovoza u lvaniiGradunalazise njemaikapostrojba s trimaoklopnim automobilima godi(njistoinisajami kojiosiguravaju On 30 August 1943 a Germanunit with threearmoredcarswas otkupstokeza potrebenjemadke vojske. providingsecurityduringthe annuallivestockfair at lvanicGrad The 6rnSSArmoredPoliceCompanyhad a commandplatoon, a supplyplatoonand threearmoredplatoonsThefirstand thesecond platoonswereequippedwith theSteyrarmoredcarswhilethe third had five HotchkissH 39 tanks Membersof the unit were first sent to Osijekon 1BJune 1943whilemainbodyof the unit arived most likelyin JuneandJuly. OKLOPNIODJELINJEMAEKIHLOVACKIHDIVIZIJA ARMORED ELEMENTSOF THE GERMAN JAEGER '1 Potetkom 943. godinenjematkaokupacijske pjeiaikedivizije, DtvtstoNs postrojene potetkom1941. godine,prevedene su u sastav i orga- TheGermanlnfantryDivisions werereorganrzed asleger Divisions at nizacijsku strukturu lovadkih divizija. the beginningof 1943 Dana'15veljate je 104 lovatka 704 pjeiatkadivizija postala divizija The704thlnfantryDivisionbecamethe 104thJaegerDivision on 15 je 117.lovatka Dana11.travnja 717 pjeiatka postala divizija divizija, February 1943.The71Vhlnf. Div.becamethe 11VhJaegerDivision je 718.pjeiadka divizija 30.travnjapostala 118.lovadka divizija,714. on 11 April 1943,the 718 lnf. Div.converted into the l1Bth Jaecter je 'l svibnja pjeiadka divizija postala114.lovatkadivizija. Divizije se Division'on 18 April 1943 white the714thlnf. Div. bec"am"ini"t-t"+L popunjavaju ubrzano iasnlcima i vojnicima mladihgodiSta. JaegerDivisionon 1 May 1943 Thedivisionswere rapidlymanned Premasastavuve( postojeiihlovatkihdivizija,pri stoZerusvake with officersand soldiers divizije trebalasu postojati dvavodaopremljena oklopnim vozilima Everydivisionwassupposedto havetwo platoonsof armoredvehiprvogvodatrebajubitilakitenkovi U sastavu ilioklopniautomobili, a c/esassrgned to the headquartersThefirst platoon was supposed u sastavu drugogvodaoklopnipolugusjeniiari to be equippedwith tanksor armoredcarsand the second platoon Sa sigurnoS(u se ne moZetvrditida je do rujnau sastavu ovih with armoredhalftracks postrojena divizija bilo kakvaoklopnapostrojba. U ovomje razdo- Existence of any armoredunitscreatedwithin)aegerdivisionsprior praksa bljuuobiiajena njemadkog zapovjedniitva bilada pojedinim to September1943cannotbe confirmed Standardpracticeof the divizijama naduZeili kratevrijeme podreduju dijelove 202.P2. Abt.ili Germancommandin thisperiodwasto assignelements of the11202 poledine vodove12 Pzb Vz. Com Pz.Abt or the 12thPz.bVzCompanyto variousdivisions. Jedini tragovikolibi nasmoglinavesti na postojanje oklopnepostro- Theonly tracethat might indicatethe existence of thoseunitsmay jbe u sklopulovaikihdivizija su izvjeitaji organaNDHipartizanskih be the NDHauthorityrepoftsand the partisancombatreportson p o s t r o j boi d o g a d a j i mi bao r b a m an a o p e r a t i v n opmo d r u d j u1' 14 . eventsalongthe operationalareaof the 174thJaegerDivisionin the lovadke divizije u razdoblju od svibnja do kolovoza. peiod from May to August 1943 lzvjeitaj u kojemizrititostojidaje u borbama s partizanima kodSunje Therepoft that explicitlymentionedthe fightingbetweenthe paftina Banovini sudjelovao oklopniodjel114.lovaikedivizije nosidatum sansandan armoredelementof the 114thJaegerDivision nearSunja od 4. srpnja. wasdated4 July1943 Nakon togaslijede dokumenti u kojimasenavodi daje 19.srpnjakod Otherdocumentsmentionan attackon a Germancolumnnear Sanskog Mostanapadnuta njemadka kolonasastavljena od vojnika Sanski Moston 19July1943 Thecolumnwascomposed of bicycle na biciklima, dvakamiona, tri motocikla i dvaoklopnaautomobila. soldiers,two trucks,three motorcycles and two armoredcars The protuoklopni je jedan U zasjedi top koji pogodio oklopni parlisans 1ebio i usedan AT gun that scoreda hit on one of the armored automobil. cars A column with four truckscarrvinqGermansoldiersand escorted by one armoredcar was amUishled at the Vrtoce-Bihac roadon 28 August 1943 Accordingto the parlisanrepoft the armoredcar speededup and left the trucks TheGermansrespondedby sending a rescuecolumnfrom Brhacescoftedby tanksAnotherGermanunit with 1500 soldiersand two tankswasin the areaof KulenVakufon podruilupremaKulenVakufunalazisejednanjematka postrojba s 29 August1943 oko 1500njematkih vojnika i dvamatenkovima. 114

Njematki i talijanski neuspjesi na bojiStima istoinogfrontai zapadne Afrikebitno su se odrazilii na poloZajViSekomandetalijanskih '1 (Supersloda) oruZanih snagaSlovenija-Dalmacija 12.studenog942 godinezapovjednik generalRoattauputioje talijansSupersloda komVrhovnom zapovjedniStvujedan dokumentu kojojje predlaZio preraspodjelu postrojbina podrutjimapod nadleZnosti talijanskih >upersooe Zbogpogorianja situacije u zapadnoj Africitalijanska Vrhovna komandaje iz sastava Superslode u studenom 1942.godineuzeladiviziju "Grenatieri di Sardegna" i ietiribojnepostrojbi fa5istidke milicije'Crnih ko5ulja". Procjenjujuii da ie se ovakvooduzimanje gennastaviti preraspodjelu eralRoattapredlaZe postrojbi talijanskih okupacionih u jedanu)i raspored obranekojebi seoslanjao najadransku obalu i omoguiioobranuobalei otoka.S obziromda je jadranska obala planinskim odjeljena od unutrainjosti masivima Velebita, Mosorai Biokova moZese pretpostaviti da je namjeragenerala Roattebilada povude svojepostrojbe izaovihplaninskih masiva i fizidkiih odvoji od podruijaborbis partizanima Talijansko Vrhovnozapovjedniitvo odmahje djelomice odobrilo ovajplankojije trebaostupitinasnagu 'l 5 sijetnja1943 godineUbrzonakontogaiz sastava Superslode uzetaje i divizija "Sassari" kojaje tijekomsijetnjatrebalabitiprebatena jednagranitna u ltaliju,Sestbojnifa5istitke miliclje "Crnihkoiulja", bojnate po jedantop iz sastavasvakebitnicedivizljske artiljerije. postrojbiotvorenaje stvarnapotrebada se Ovakvimsmanjenjem preustroj postrojbi provede talijanskih ito prije planutalijanske postrojbe Prema trebale bi uzjadransku obalustvoriti tri obrambena bloka Sjeverni blok, koji bi obuhvaiaopodruijeSlovenije, anektiranog podrudja okoRijeke, Gorski kotar,planinski masivMalei Velike Kapele (dlvizije'Re" i Karlovac s postrojbama iz sastava V armijskog korpusa

The Germanand ltalian defeatson the easternfront and North Africahad a significantimpacton thepositionof theSupremecom(Superslodal3) mand of the ltalian Forcesin Slovenia-Dalmatia On 12 November1942 the SuperslodaCommander,GeneralRoatta, senta proposalfor redistribution of the unitsunderhrscommandto the ltalianSupremeCommand. Due to the deteriorationof the situation on the North African front the ltalianSupremeCommandtransferredthe "Granatieridi Sardegna'Divisionand four battalionsof the "Blackshirts' fascist militiaout of the Supersloda command Foreseeing thisas becoming a trend GeneralRoattaproposedredistributionof the ltalian forcesand their relocationto the narrower,more defendablearea alongthe coast,alsoallowingfor easierdefenseof the islands.Since the Adriaticcoast 6 separatedfrom the mainlandby a chain of mountainsit canbe assumedthat GeneralKoatta'sideawasto pull the units to the coastphysicallyseparatingthem from the paftisan held area The ltalianSupremeCommandpartiallyapprovedthis Theplan wassupposedto be effectiveon 15 January1943 Soon after this more unitswere taken from the Superslodacommand, the "Sassari' Division,six battalionsof the "Blackshitts" fascistmilitia, one border battalionand one cannonout of everybatteryof the divisional levelaftillery.Thisreductionof unitscreateda realneedfor plan the quickexecutionof the reorganization Accordingto the plan the ltalianforcescreatedthreedefenseblocks alongthe Adriaticcoast The Northernblock areaincludedSlovenia, the annexedareaaround Rijeka,GorskiKotar,the mountainmassifs of Mala and VelikaKapelaMountainsand Karlovac.The unitsin the areawere the 5thArmy Corps1'Re"and 'Lombardia"Divisions 1 3S u p e r s l o d- at h i so r i g i n allt a l i a na b b r e v i a t i owni l l b e u s e dt h r o u g ht h e t e x tf o r t h e p u r p o s eo f s i m p l i c i tayn d c l a r i t y

2 ' 16 O k l o p n op r u Z n ov o z i l o" L i b l i "( t a l L i t t o r i n al i n d a t a ) O v o p r u Z n oo k l o p n ov o z i l op o s e b n o1 e p r o j e k t i r a n oi i z r a d e n oz a z a i t i t u Z e l j e z n i t k o g prometa Na v o z i l us u s e n a l a z i l ed v i j e o b r t n e k u p o l es p o j e d n i m t o p o m p r o m j e r a4 7 m m i s t r o j n i c o mB r e d a3 8 U z t o j o i s u p o s t o j a l ei e t i r i s t r o j n i c eB r e d a3 8 i d v a m i n o b a c a i ap r o m j e r a4 5 m m U z o s o b n o n a o r u Z a n j ep o s a d av o z i l a ,k o j a j e b r o l a l a2 2 t a s n i k ai v o j n i k a , n a r a s p o l a g a n jjue i m a l a i d v a p l a m e n o b a c a d a ( M N Z SL j u b l j a n a ) 'Libli' (after 'Littorina Photograph of blindata') armored railway car. Ihese cars were specifically designed and produced for railway protection Such cars had two revolving tunets with a 47 mm canon and a Breda 38 machine-gun each Apart form that, four more Breda 38 machine guns and two 45 mm moftars were listed as standard equipment Besidesthe individual armament crew of 22 officers and soldiershad two flamethrowers on their disposal (MNZS Ljubljana)

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OKTOPNAVOZITAI OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE I..IDRUGOMSVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

2 1 7 . G r u p at a l i j a n s k i m g o t o r n i hv o z i l as n i m l j e n a, 1 9 4 3 .g o d i n e u g r a d u C a b r u u G o s r k o mk o t a r u . L i l e v on a s l i c i s u t r i o k l o p n a v o z i l a z a p r a t n j u k a m i o n s k i hk o l o n a . T a l i j a n si u t i j e k o m o k u p a c i j en a s r e d i i n j i g r a d s k it i g p o s t a v i lsi k u p l t u r uv e n e c i j a n s k olga v ak a o s i m b o l as v o j eo k u p a t o r s k ev l a s t i . (MG Rijeka)

and the 14thCoastal Bigade)and the 9thArmyCorps('lsonzo'and "Macerata" Divisions) A group of the ltalianmotor vehiclesphotographed in the town of (abar TheCentralblockwasformedaroundthe annexedareaof Dalmatia in the Gorski Kotar mountain region during 1943. Left on the photo are includingKninand Drnis Theunitsin thisblockwerefrom the l Bth three armored vehiclesused for truck convoy escoti. During the occupation Army Corps (Bergamo"Division,"Zara"Division,1stMechanized the ltalianshave erectedsculptureof the VenetianLion as a symbol of their Division'Eugeniodi Savoia'and l Vh CoastalBrigade) dominion. (MG Rijeka) TheSouthblock was comprisedof the upperpaft of the Neretva river, Mostarmining basin,Herzegovina, Dibrovnik and Kotor.The i "Lombardia'te XIVobalnabrigada) (divizije i Xl armijskog korpusa unitsassigned 'lsonzo to that areawerefrom the 6thArmy Corps( Messina', i ' 'M a c e r a t a ' ) . 'Cacciatori delleAlpi', "Marche',"Murge'and "Emilia'Divisions) Centralni bloks anektiranim podruijemDalmacije, ukljuiujuiiKnin The ltalian units were able to finalizethe executionof this plan i Drni5s postrojbama iz sastava XVlll.armijskog korpusa(divizije only in April 1943,the reasonfor the delay was the involvementin 'Zara' "Bergamo', i 1. brzadivizija'Eugenio di Savoia' te XVll.obalna brigada). JuZniblok koji obuhvatagornji tok rijekeNeretve,mostrarsko podruije,Hercegovinu, rudarsko Dubrovnik i Kotors postrojbama r i' A l p i , ' , V l . a r m i j s k okgo r p u s a( d i v i z i j e ' M e s s i n a ' , ' C a c c idaet lol e ' M a r c h e " , ' M u ir'gEem' i l i a ' ) postrojbe Talijanske susepo ovomplanuuspjele rasporediti teksredi'l nomtravnja943.godine.Razlog zakainjenja provedbe planabilisu protivpartizana velikipothvati WeissI i ll.

2 1 8 . A u t o p r o t t e t oS 3 7 s n i m l l e nu D a l m a c i j i1 9 4 3 . g o d i n e U z t a l i j a n s k e v o j n i k eu v o z i l us e n a l a z i g r u p a t e t n i k a .( H p M Z a g r e b )

(HPM Zagreb)

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,ARMOUREDUAf,75AAJD VEHICLES'A' CROAilA D{JRfruGUY['V'T

'lsonzo' 'Cacciatori I' and 'Weisll" By the end of April graniinestraZe, u anti-partisan operations'Weis delleAlpl te Xl, grupa/brigada numerous commandwere 12 divisions, V grupa/ 1943underthe Supersloda "Macerata" i "Murge", sastavu V armijskog korpusa divizije u sastavu XVlll armi- otherArmy unitswith a total of 210000soldiersand around700 brigadagranitnestraZei XIV obalnabrigada, losttwo moredivijskogkorpusa theSupersloda aftillerypiecesBeforeSeptember i'Zara'teXVll obalnabrigadai 4 divizije'Bergamo puk,a u sastavu Vl armijskog korpusa divizije'Messina'i sionsThe 'Re'Divisronwent to Corsicaand the Emilia'Divisionwas bersaljerski 'Marche' transferredto the 14thArmy Corpsin Montenegro,TheSupersloda te XXVIIobalnabrigada Commandfilled the gapsthuscreatedby movingunits Thefollowpostrojbi podrutju na i talijanskih oklopnih Pratenje kretanjauporabe talijanskih NDHod poietka1943 godinedo 8 rujnai kapitulacile je ote)anozbog nedostataka postrojbina ovom ratiitu posebno poslije pisanih traizgubljeni 8. rujnaPismeni izvora kojisuuglavnom jatinearmijskog goviuglavnom korpusa i na postrojbama zavriavaju jernisudjelovale kaozasebne cjeline, nebaveiisepostrojbama divizije, pothvatima veaimpostrojbama biledodjeljivane te su u pojedinim podatke imamoiz oklopnihpostrojbl Zadnjepouzdane o djelovanju perioda pothvata 1943 godine "Weis', do poietkaoZujka od sijetnja armijazaposjela Nakontravnja1943 godine,kadaje talijanska tt is verydifficultto recreatethe movementand actionsof the ltalian podruijauz obalupo planu"15 sijedanj', zapa2ase ocitaopfa pasivnost postrojbi djelovanja na uskiobalni armoredunitson the NDHterritoryin theperiodbetweenthebegintalijanskih i ograniienje pojasJedini pojaskojije dubljezadirao u podruijeNDH ning of 1943and the ltaliancapitulationin Septembersincemost obrambeni of the documentswere lostafter I September1943 Theremaining je slijedio pruguod Rijeke Zeljeznidku do Karlovca writtendocumentsmostlydealwith the Corpsor Divisionlevel They nalazile susesl.ledeie do not containdataabout independentunitsor the unitsthat were Napodruijudjelovanja Superslode u Hrvatskoj oklopnepostrojbe talijanske armije assignedto larger formationsduring variousoperations.The last pjeia5tvasastava tri sat- reliabledataabout actionsof the ltalianarmoredunitsare from the 1. bojna 31. pukovnijemehaniziranog je 'Motorizirana Operation'Weis'(January nijetanketa L 3 ZapovjedniStvu ovebojnepodredena to beginningof March 1943) After April prosinca 1942,godinepostroj- 1943and execution Zara'stanketama L 3 Tijekom satnija of the plan '15lanuary'the ltalianforceswere prebadena u sastav V armi- mostlvpassive XVlll armijskog korpusa baje iz sastava and with actionsrestrictedto the narrowcoastalarea jskogkorpusaU izvjeStaju 23 Superslode navodiseda je postrojba Theontlydefensive areathatreacheddeeperinto the NDHterritory preSla prosinca korpusa te da se u nadleZnost V armijskog u cijelosti wasalonqthe Riieka Karlovacrailroad

2 1 9 D v a n j e m a i k a z r a k o p l o v n a i a s n i k a n a t a l i j atnasnkkoejtLi 3 s n i m l l e n a u p r o l j e t e l 9 4 3g o d i n e u o k o l i cKi a r l o v c a z a v r i j e m e p o t r a g e z a p r r s i l n o s p u i t e n r m n j e m a i k i ma v i o n o mF W 5 8 ( z b i r k aD t n k oP r e d o e v i t ) Two Luftwaffe officers on the ltalian L 3 tankette photographed in the spring 1943 in the vicinity of Karlovac Photo was taken during search operation for a FW 58 plane which made an emergency landing in the area (Drnko Predoevi( collectton)

117

OKTSPI\NA VOgItA I OKil.OPNf;PO$TfiSJBHL' MR{JGOIV! SVJSTSKOMHATU[J hIRVATSKOJ

je razmje5tena Thefollowingarmoredunitsof the ltalianSupersloda postrojbe zapov1edni5tvo nalaziu Karlovcu Postrojba commandin pri talijanskim garnizonima Karlovac, Ozalj,.Jastrebarsko, Vrbovsko i Croatiawere: OgulinUztitavnizpothvata nigdjesene biljeZe znaiajnigubiciove The 1't Battalion of the 31't Mechanized Infantry postrolbePostrojba uglavnom sudjeluje u pothvatima u grupama Regiment jadinevoda,a vrlorijetkokaosatnija. Diopostrojbe kojise nalaziu 3 companies of L 3 tankettesUnderthe Battalron Ogulinusudleluje u borbama u Gorskom kotaruPostoji moguinost TheBattalionhad'Mechanized CompanyZara'equippedwith the L 3 poietkomljetapodreden postrolbama HQ wasalsothe daje dio postrojbe i prebaten tankettes.DuringDecember1942the unit wastransferredfrom the Xl armijskog korpusa nateritoriju Slovenile 18thArmy Corpsto the 5thArmy Corps.TheSupersloda reportconll grupa (lakih) tenkova San Giusto sastava tetiri eskadrona firms that the unit was completely under the 5th Corps command on je iz sastava tanketaL3 Tijekomprosinca 1942.godinepostrojba 23 December1942with headquafters in KarlovacVariouselements prebaiena V armijskog korpusa u sastav XVlll armijskog korpusa u of the units were basedin the ltaliangarrisonsin Karlovac,Ozalj, Dalmaciji lakotalijanski izvorinavode daje 3 eskadron ovegrupevet Jastrebarsko, Vrbovsko and Ogulin Theunit conductedseveraloper1942 godineopremljen lakimtenkovima L 6, vrloje vjerojatno da je ations but no /osses were recordedTheunit conductedmostof the to uiinjenotek u proljeie1943 godinenakongubitaka veiegbroja platoon actions in strength, veryseldomrn companystrength Parl 'Weis', tanketaza vrijemepothvata Prvenaznake o upotrebiveiih talijanskih tenkovanaoruZanih topomnalazimo u nizupartizanskih of the unit basedin Ogulinwastnvolvedin operationsin the Gorski Kotararea.Thereis a possibilitythat part of the unit wastransferred izvje5taja iz svibnja1943 godineu kojimasastavljati dokumenata to the 11thArmy Corpsin Slovenia. praverazliku izmedu'velikih" i 'malih'talijanskih tenkova. The 2nd Tank Group (Light) San Giusto je tijekomljetarasporedena pri pjehdkimdivizijama Postrojba V i XVlllarmijskog korpusa Thegrouphad four squadrons DuringDecember of 1.3 tankettes. 1942 the Group was transferredfrom the 5'h Army Corpsto the 2. bojna 4. pukovnijemehaniziranogpjeiaitva opremljena 1e tanketama L 3lf s plamenobacadima. Premaborbenimizvjeitajima 18thArmy Corpsin Dalmatia.Accordingto the ltaliansourcesthe iz prosinca 1942 isijetnja1943 godinena Sirempodrudju Kadovca 3'd SquadronreceivedL6light tanksduring 1942but it is more nalazise talijanska oklopnapostrojba tanketas plamenobacaiima Ikely that the new tanksarrivedin the springof 1943to replacethe L 3lf Tankete L.3lfspominju se 1 sijednja 1943.godineu borbenim lossesduring the operation Weis' Thefirst indicationof the presizvje5tajima o borbama za seloKraSiite u sklopupotuhvata kojeg enceof ltalian tanksarmedwith guns can be found in a seriesof of May 1943 Thoserepoftsmadea cleardistinction su talijanske divizije'Lombardia' i ' lsonzo'31 sijetnjapoduzele partisanrepofts 'Large'and "Small'ltaliantanks postrojbi na podrutjuZumberkaU rasporedu nabrojane su medu between postrojbama ostalim i dvijesatnije tanketaL 3lf Duringthe summerthe unit wasdeployedwith varrousinfantrydivisionsof 5thand l BthArmy Corps. Nakonovogpothvata, a do B rujna1943 godinenitiu jednomtalijanskom i parlizanskom uzvje5taju nespominje sedjelovanje tanketa The 2"d Battalion of the 4th Mechanized Infantry s plamenobacaiima, govoritio takoda se ne moZes pouzdanjem Regiment dallnlem djelovanju te postrojbe The battalionwas equippedwith the L 2lf tankettesarmed with I grupa (lakih)tenkova "San Marco"djelujeu pothvatuWeiss flamethrowersAccordingto the combat repofts the ltalian unit ll na podrudjuistoinei zapadneHercegovine i MostaraTijekom equipped with the flamethrowertanketteswas presentin the proljeianalazi povukla seu istoinojHercegovini da bi seu svibnju na KailovacareaduringDecember1942and January1943 TheL3lf prostor uzjadransku obalu lz pregleda stanjapostrojbi Vl.armijskog tanketteswere mentronedin the repoft on the fighting for Kasic korpusa iz sredine svibnja1943 godinevidise da Grupinedostaje and the operationof the ltalianLombardia' and'lsonzo'divisions in jedaneskadron te da zapovjednik Vl armijskog korpusa trali hitnu the areaof Zumberak Theunit listingsmentionedtwo companies popunu Grupe. of the L.3lftankettes 2. samostalnasatnija tanketa sa plamenobacaiimaL.3lf After the Operation'Weiss'all the way to the ltaliancapitulation, kojase nalazipri Vl armijskom korpusuu juinoj DalmacijiOva no documents, partisanor ltalian,evermentionedthe flamethrower postrojba sudjelovala priduva. tankettes,thereforeit is verydifficultto speakabout fufther usage 1eu pothvatuWeissll' kaokorpusna postrojba Tijekom svibnja sespominje u dokumentima o talijanskom of thisunit povlaienju iz istoineHercegovine The lst Tank Group (light) San Marco Samostalnivodovi oklopnih automobila48.41 V. i Vl. armiLhegroup operatedrn the areas jskom korpusu,te desetak oklopnihautomobila AB4'1pri raznim Duringthe'Weissll operaLion and Mostar.Throughoutthe zapovjedniStvima armijei korpusa uglavnom sudjeluju u borbenim of Easternand WesternHerzegovina springthe unit was in Eastern Herzegovina but at the beginningof pratnjekamionskih djelovanjima kolonai vaZnijih dasnika '1 May it wrthdrew to the The Army unit listingfrom costal area 6th Dana 2 travnja1943 godinepri povlaienlu postrotalijanskih jbi iz Otodca rom iz jednogili vi5eoklopnihautomobila 48.41 mid May 1943showsthat the unit was missingone squadronand requested urgentrefittingof pogodena su ri oklopna vozila1.oklopne ieteVSHrvatske Jedna that the 6LhArmy Corpscommander group the tanketa L 3 je zapaljena i u potpunosti uniStena Teikosuoite(enejo5 dvijetanktete 1.3i jedantenkHotchkiss H 39 istepostrojbe The 2"d tndependent Platoon of L.3lf Flamethrower Priarmijskim pjeiaikim korpusima i pojedinim divizijama nalazi seviSe tankettes manjihpostrojbi u iijemsastavu senalaze oklopna vozilaza prijevoz Thisunit attachedto the 6thCorpsin southernDalmatiawasinvolved pje5a5tva in the operation'Weissll' as the CorpsreserveTheunit wasmenpostrojbi U pregledu talijanskih od 1 kolovoza 1943 godinepo prvi tionedin the documentsreaardinaltalianwithdrawalfrom Eastern putasespominje postrojba oklopna latinegrupeilibojnekaopostroj- Herzegovina prituvepod nazivom ba iz armi.lske OklopnagrupaAllessandria sa The independent platoons of 48.41 armored cars with praienjacestovnih podatkeo sastavu zadatkom kolonaPotpune i the 5thand the 6th Army Corps podacima postrojba opremidiviziona nemamo, Prema neprovjerenim The lndependent Platoons togetherwith aboutten AB 41 armored s a1 3 l a k i ht e n k o vLa6 i d e v e st a m o h o d nt iohp o v a .1b e i l ao p r e m l j e n carsattachedto the variousArmy and Corpsheadquafterswere 47132Buducida je 8 kolovoza u Karlovcu zarobljenizvjestan broj pretpostaviti lakihtenkova L 6 moZemo daje grupau to vrijeme bila mostly used in escortduties,providingsecurftyfor convoysand VlPs u Karlovcu. On 12 Aaril 1943durinothe withdrawalfrom Otocacthe AB41 Za zaititu ieljezniikog prometa talilanska armijana ovom cars were engagedin a \attle with thelstArmoredCompanyof the podruijudrii 10 oklopnih vlakovaPoietkom1943.godineoklopni SupremeHQ NOV Croatia During the engagementfour partisan vlakbr.3 je pri V armijskom korpusu, oklopnivlakovibr.4 i 7 pri XVlllarmijskom korpusu, oklopnivlakovi br.9 i 10 priVl armijskom armoredvehrcleswere hit One L 3 tankettewas set ablazeand '1 k o r p u siuo k l o p nvil a k o v ,i 2 , 1, 5 , 6 i B p r iX l a r m i l s k okmo r p u s u . completelydestroyedwhile two other L 3 tankettesand an H 39 tank weredamaged Uzoveoklopne vlakove na prugama senalaze dvijesatnije s po dva

118

ARMOUREDUilJTs AAID I{EHICLES'AI CROAT'ADI'fi"VG Kl/WT'

vodaod po pet oklopnihautomobilaAB40141i osamoklopnih Severalsmallerunitsequippedwith the armoredpersonnelcarriers p r u Z n ivho z i l aL' i b l i " , were attachedto the Army Corpsand some of the infantrydiviPremazbirnimizvieitaiima diverzantskih odredaNOV-aHrvatske 5/OnS je od potetka1943.godinepa do Theltalianunit listingof 1 August 1943 containsthe f irstinformaprugaSuiak'-Karlovac Zeljezniika tion about a battalionsizeunit namedArmoredGroupAllesandria 8 rujna1943.godinenapadana 122pula U Sestnavrata napadisu to duttesof convoyescort vrSeni izravno na talijanske oklopnevlakove. S obziromda partizani and listedas the Army reserveassrgned nisupoznavali sluZbene talijanske oznake oklopnih )eljeznidkih vozila Completedataabout the unit arenonexistentAccordingto unconthe unit was equippedwith 13 L6 light tanksand prave firmedsources tipa Libli i A8.40/41, u izvjeftajima o borbenim djelovanjim - Liblii 'malogili blidiranog nine47132selfpropelledguns Thecaptureof severalL 6 tanksin pruinogtenka" razliku izmedu'velikog - oklopniautomobil pruZnog Karlovacon 8 August 1943 leadsus to believethat the unit wasin automobila' AB 40141 the Karlovacareaat that time Dana l2 veljaiena postavljenu minu izmeduGornjihDubravai Forprotectionof the railroadtraffrcthe ltalianArmy kept 10armored je oklopnopruinovoziloopisano Tounja naletjelo kao'pruZni tenkod train in thisarea.Disposition of the trainsat thebeginningof 1943 poginula 25 tona'. Od posljedica eksplozije sudvatalijanska dasnika i jedanvojnik.Deset je ranjeno was s follows: armoredtrain number3 was with the th Corps. talijanskih vojnika Dana22 veljatenedeleko od Ogulinana minuje naletjelo oklopno armoredtrains4 and7 with the 18thCorps.trains9 and10 with the the pru)novozilokojeparlizanl pruZni 6thCorpsandtrains1,2,5,6andB with the 1lth Corps.Besrdes u izvje5taju opisujukao'blindlrani (with two 5 vehicle two armored trains the ltalians had companies automobil' platoonseach)and eight "Libli'rail capablearmoredvehiclesThe Dana23 veljatena postavljenu minu izmeduSkradai Kupjaka platoonswereequippedwith theA8.40141armoredcars ' je oklopnopruZno naletjelo voziloopisano kao pruZnitenk' Prekid railroadwas je teiko ranjen Accordingto the paftisanreportsthe Susak-Karlovac prometa Zeljeznidkog trajaoje 11 sati Od eksplozije werethe 22 1943 The ltalian armored trains attacked 1 times during jedantalijanski iasnik target sixtimes Thepar-tisans unfamiliarwith the ltalianvehicledesDana22 oZujkana postavljenu minuizmeduZveiajai Generalskog ignationsweredescriilngtheir targetsas largerailroadtanks- Libli' pruZni pruZni and smallor railroadarmoredcar- AB 40/41 armoredcar. Stolanaletjeli sujedan'mali"ijedan"veliki" tenk 'Veliki' prepolovljen po pola. tenk1eod eksplozije mine PremapartizansOn 12 February1943an ltalianvehicledescribedas "25 ton railroad komizvjeitaju u voziluje poginula cijelaposada ukljudujuii ijednog tank"ran overa mine on the railroadbetweenGornjeDubraveand visokog talijanskog tasnika TounjeTheexplosionkilledtwo ltalianofficersand onesoldierwhile Dana8 kolovoza na postavljenu minu izmeduOzljai Zorkovaca 10 soldiers werewounded 'talijanski je pruZnitenkod 15 tona'.U eksploziji naletio i pjeiakom A railroadvehicledescribedas'armoredrailroadcal' ran overa mine je talijanska posada. napaduna voziloubijena nearOgulinon 22 February 1943. '1 Dana kolovozana podrutjuV armijskogkorpusakoji pokriva Partisans planted a mine on the railroadbetweenSkradand Kupjak pruguSu5ak- Karlovac Zeljeznitku nalazese oklopnivlak br. 10 and a vehicledescribedas'railroadtank'activatedit on 23 February 'Re (Ogulin)u sektorudivizije i oklopnivlakovibr. 2 (Hrvatske 1943 The explosiondisruptedrailway traffic for 11 hours and Moravice), 5 (Karlovac) i 9 (Delnice) divizije "Lombardia u sektoru woundedone ltalianofficer.

2 2 0 O k l o p n ia u t o m o b i lA B 4 0 O v i l a k io k l o p n ia u t o m o b r l u i g l a v n o mn i s u d j e l o v a lsi a m o s t a l n oU o b i i a j e n os u p r i d o d a v a noi k l o p n i mv l a k o v i m ai l i o k l o p n i m p r u Z n i mv o z i l i m a L i b l i k a o i z v i d n i t k ov o z i l o ( M N Z SL j u b l j a n a ) 'Libli' carsand AB 40 armored car. Theselightly armored cars were generally not used individually.More often they were added to armored trains or armored used as reconnarssancevehtcles (MNZSLjubljana)

119

OKLOPTTA \'OZIIA I OKTOPNEPOSTROJBE I,! FRUGOM sV,'ETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ

je bio slab i napadi On22 March1943one'small'andone"largerarlroad Na podrudjuDalmacije Zeljeznidki saobraiaj tank"ranover na njeganisu bili testi Premazbirnimizvjeitajima diverzantskih a mineplantedunderthe railroadbetweenZvecajand Generalski odredaNOVHrvatske u perioduod sijednja do rujna1943 godine Stol ln the ensuingexplosionthe larger vehiclewas completely jetridesetak destroyedAccordingto the paftisanreportthe wholecrew includprugama naZeljeznitkim iobjektima u Dalmaciji izvrSeno pritalijanskom diverzija Dana1 kolovoza XVlll armijskom korpusu ing one high rankingofficerwaskilled n a l a z si lui s eo k l o p nvil a kb r 4 i 7 ( K n l nt )e n e k o l i kook l o p n iphr u Z n i h Theltalian'25ton railroadtank ranovera minebetweenOza[and vozila"Libli'Jediniozbiljnigubitakpotjeiejoi iz 1942 godinekada Zorkovacon 8 August 1943 Thecrewwaskilled,somein the exploje 8 listopada pruZnooklopnovozilo'Libli' siort,someduringthe infantryattackthat followed kod KaitelKambelovca uniitenoeksplozijom mine Thefollowingarmoredtrainswerein the 5thCorpsareaof responsibilityon 1 August1943:armoredtrain 10 in Ogulinwith the'Re' TALIJANSKE OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE U POTHVATIMA 'wEtss I i il" and Division,armoredtrarns2 (in HrvatskeMoravice),5 (in Karlovac) 9 (in Delnicdwith the "Lombardia' Division '1 Od 20 sijeinja 943 godineu pothvatu"Weissl" dvijesatnijeI pjeiaitvadodijeljene bojne3'1 pukovnije mehaniziranog su postroj- Railroadtrafficin theDalmatiaareawasinfrequentandattackswere paftisanreporls On 1 bamadivizije "Lombardia", kojaje oslguravala desnokrilo7 SSdivizije rare,onlyabout30 during 1943accordingto 'PrinzEugen'u prodoruod Karlovca August 1943 the 1 Army Corps had two armored trains(4 and 7 8th premaSlunju.Premaplanu in Knin) Libli' armored vehicles The only srgnificantloss and several je nakonzauzimanja divizija Slunjaimalazadatakobavitidi5ienje was recordedon 8 October1942when'Libli'was destroved rn a podrutjaplaninaMala i VelikaKapelate zauzimanje kotlinesela Kambelovac mine explosion near Kastel partizanskih Jasenak i DreZnica kaopretpostavljenih baza postrojbinalazile U centrurasporeda talijanskih su se postrojbe The ltalian Armored Units in the Operations "Weiss l" and "Weiss Il" pjeiatkedivizije'Re', koje su bile razdijeljene u dvijekolonesa zadatkom da seiz pravca OtotcaprobijupremaKorenici U daljnjem Twocompanies of the 31stMechanized lnfantry of the 1't Battalion napredovanju koloneovedivizije sutrebalenastaviti u pravcu Biha(a Regiment wereassigned to the'Lombardia'Divisron on 20 lanuary jednasatnija Ovojje diviziji dodijeljena tanketaL 3 iz sastava 1 bojne 1943duringthe Operatio 'Weisst. The"Lombardia' Divisions task pje5a5tva 31 pukovnije mehaniziranog was to securethe Vh SS ivision'PrinzEugen"sright flank during from Kailovacto Slunj After the captureof Slunjthe je bila'Motorizirana the advance Jednaod satnija dodijeljenih divizijiLombardia" Division'Lombardia'was assignedwith mopping up the Veilka satnija Zara'Uzovusatniju u pothvatu su sudjelovale 1 i 3 satnija and Mala KapelaMountainsand takingthe villagesof Jasenakand Zavrijeme borbinapodruijudjelovanja ovedvijepjeiadke divizije nisu Dreznicathat werebelievedto be the parlisanbases zabiljeZena nekavetavojnadjelovanja vozilima, oklopnim Postrojbe 'Re'lnfantryDivistonthat was prokrstarile prometni- Thecentralpositionwas takenby the divizije'Lombardia' navedenim su teritorijem postrojbe camai zaposjele zadane ciljevePartizanske i stanovniStvo dividedin two columnsand taskedto advancefrom Otocactowards ovih krajeva se ispredtalijanskih kolonasklanjalo u nepristupadna KorenicaFurtheron the unitsof thisdivisionweresupposedto continue their advancetowardsBihac One comlanv of L 3 tankettes podrudja Sumska from the lst Battalion infantryRegiment was of the 31'tMechanized Postrojbe divizije "Re'uspjele sudo(ido Korenice, aliuslijed iestokog assignedto thisdivision gubitaka otporaparlizana i velikih nisunastavile daljnje napredovanje The 'Lombardia"Divisionhad the |st, 3rd and 'ZaraMotorized p r e m aB i h a i u Company'assignedasarmoredsupport Postrojbe ovedivizije su unatottome zabilje2ile u ovompothvatu Duringthe battlesrn the sectorsof thesetwo divisionsthe armored visokegubitkeod ukupno115 mrlvih,420 ranjenihi 44 nestala units were not extensively engaged The units of the 'Lombardia' je da je 1 veljaiejednatanketaL 3 iz iasnikai vojnikaZabiljeZeno Division went through the area, mostlyalong the communications postrojbe pridivlziji'Re'naiSla oklopne na nagaznu mtnuna cesttte paftisans populattonfellbackto the woodedand while the and local je te(koo5teiena 1^-- ---^--;Lt^ ^-^-Najuguglavnije zadatak u sklopucijelogpothvata dobilapjeiatka Theunitsof the'Re'Division reachedKorenica but fuftheradvance je premjeitaj was divizi.la "Sassari' . Radiizvrienja ovogzadatkazaustavljen stoppeddue to the stiff partisanresrtance ln spiteof thisthe divizije u ltalijukojijebiou punomtijeku.Postrojbe ovedivizije trebale divisionsustained veryhigh /osses of 115dead,420 woundedand su prekuBruvna i DonjegLapca napredovati u pravcuBihaiate prav- 44 missingofficersand soldiersOnetankettefrom the unit supporlcemSrb KulenVakufu pravcuBosanskog Petrovca Glavni zadatak ing the Re'Divisionwasheavilydamagedby a landmrne je bio da se spojis njemaikimpostrojbama ovepostrojbe kojesu Tothe south the main taskduring the operationwas givento the pravca napredovale iz suprotnog te takoizvrii,u ito kra(emroku, "Sassari' lnfantryDivisionDue to that the plannedtransfer(already glavnegrupacijeparizanskih opkoljavan.le divizilaZa izvrSenje ovog underway)of thisdivisionto ltalywasput on hold Thisdivisionwas zadatka diviziji su dodijeljene tri eskadrona lakihtenkovaL3 iz sas- supposedto advancetowardsBihacvraBruvnoand DonjiLapacand tavall grupe(lakih) tenkova L3 SanGiustoPothvatje zapoieo20 towards Bosanski Petrovacvia Srb-KulenVakuf.The main task of sijetnja1943 godineu ranimjutarnjimsatimapo vrlonepovoljnim thisdivisionwasto makecontactwith the Germanunitsadvancing je postrojbi i loSim vremenskim uvjetimaKretanje naterenuometao from the oppositedtrectionand facrlitatethe quick closureof the vdovisokisnijegi nisketemperature encirclement aroundthe main group of partisandivisionsFor the postrojbe partizanski Talijanske su uz povremenl otpornapredovale completionof thista the divisionwasgiventhreesquadrons of 1.3 dostasporo Kolonesu se uglavnom dr)aleprometnica i naseljenih tankettesfrom the 2 TankGroup(Light)SanGiusto.Theoperation mjesta te senisuupuitaleu borbeizvannjih beganin earlymorninghoursof 20 lanuary1943underverybad due Dana24 sijeinjaispredUdbinekolonadivizijeSassari sa sedam weatherconditionsTheunit movementwasseverelyrestrtcted tanketeL 3 naiilaje najadiparlizanski otpor.Uslijed eksplozije mine to deepsnowand high winds je jednatanketa je jedantalijanski onesposobljena L 3 Ranjen iasnik, The ltalian units advancedveryslowlyencounteringonly sporadtc partizani lstogdanakodselaPlode postro- partisanresistanceTheirmovementand fightingwas more or less napadtalilanske odbijaju jbe iz sastava istedivizijeNapadu kojemsu sudjelovale tanketeL 3 restridedto the roads je pomoiuruinihbombii nagaznih odbijen mina Nakonpovlatenja The"Sassari' Divisroncolumnwith sevenL 3 tankettesencountered postrojbi partizani talijanskih su na terenuprona5li dvijeoSte(ene i thepartisanresistance nearUdbinaon 24 lanuary1943 Oneof the napu5tene talijanske tanketeL 3 tanketteswas disabledwhen it ran over a land mine One ltalian Dana31 sijeinja Prateta deta6 lltkedivizije NOVje kodselaMazina officer was wounded On the same day the paftisansrepulsed vatromiz protuoklopnog topaoStetila tri talijanske tankete L 3 Jedna the division'sattacknear the villageof Ploce Two tanketteswere '1. involvedin the attackwhichthe paftisans je ostavljena repulsedusingland mines tanketa na bojiStu te su je sljede(eg danapostrojbe and handgrenadesAfter the ltalians retreatedthe parlisans found lidkebrigade NOVpodborbomizvukle. L 3 tankettes je jo5jednatanketa1,3teikooitetena two damagedandabandoned Dana2. veljaiekod Mazina On 31 January1943the SupportCompanyof the 6th LikaDivision vatromiz protuoklopnog topa NOVdamagedthreeL 3 tankettes with theATgun hits Oneof the tanketteswasleft on the battlefieldnearthe villaqeof Mazin Next /EJJ

120

dLLCIJ/U/C

d/CdJ

Dana6 veljaieoklopnepostrojbe pri divizijiSasarinalazese u M a z i n u( 4 . e s k a d r o inn)a c e s tiiz m e d uG r a i a c aB, r u v n a iMazina premaGornjem Lapcu('1. eskadron) Dana 13. veljaiena sektorudivizije'sassarijedna tanketaL 3 je na minu.U voziluje te5koranjenporutnikCanestri naletjela iz sastava 4 eskadrona Dana15. veljade talijanske su postrojbe uspjele u(i u DonjiLapac. Daljnje kretanje biloje jakooteZano uslijednanosa snijega visokihi do dvametra.Talijansku kolonukojasepokuiala probltipremaKulen Vakufu,napalesu postrojbe je 1. litkebrigadeNOV-a. U borbama jednatanketa1.3,detirikamiona uniStena i tri motocikla. D o 1 6 .v e l j a i g e u b i t c4i . e s k a d r o nb ai l is u2 r a n j e ntaa s n i k a3, p o g i n u l ai 9 r a n j e n ivho j n i k a

je u ispravnom motornih trokolica i dvamotocikla. Zarobljeno stanju jedanosobniautomobil, pet kamiona, 23 motocikla i motornetrokolice, tri brdskatopa.Zarobljene su tri tanketeL 3, Jednaje bilau potpunorspravnom stanJU U b o r b a moad 1 3 .d o 2 2 .v e l j a t e d i v i z i j a ' s a s s iamr ia' l aj e g u b i t k e o d ' 16 9 m r t v i h , 6 9 r5a n j e n i h 4 1 s m r z n u t odga s n i ki va o j n i k aU. cijelomoperativnom ciklusu'Weiss l" talijanska armija1eu Liciimala g u b i t k eo d 3 3 5 m r t v i h1, 2 3 7r a n j e n iihs m r z n u t i h te 432 nestala dasnika i vojnika

U n 6i s 15. na 16. veljaiepartizanske postrojbe po prvi put su nap e utvrdenotalijansko uporiiteu Prozoru. Zestokeborbesu trajale cijelunoi i nastavile setijekomdana.Napad1eprekinut uslijed pristizanja i djelovanja talijanskih tanketakojesustiglekaopojadanja je doilapostrojba iz pravcaKonjica. jadineeskadrona U Prozor sas tava11 tanketa1.3.Poitosu u garnizonu Prozor svitalijanski dasnici biliiz priduve, je zapovjednik zapovjedniStvo obranegradapreuzeo eskadrona tanketa1.3kapetan Nenna.

U noii sa 16. na 17.veljaiepartizanske postrojbeu po drugiputa napaleProzor, te ga sljedeg danaujutroi zauzel U dvodnevnim borbamaubijenoje oko 220 talijanskih vojnika,a zarobljeno oko paloje pet tanketa1.3,tetiri haubice, 280. U rukepartizana dva p r o t u o k l o p nt a o p a , 1 1 m o t o r n i hv o z i l a t, e t i r i m i n o b a c a i a3,7 strojnicai 500 puiaka lz Prozora se izvuklooko 120 talijanskih vojnikaidio eskadrona sa Sesttanketa1.3.U vojnimskladiStima u pronadene Prozoru su velikezalihestreljiva, hranei ostalogvojnog matrijala.

Uz eskadron tanketaL 3 kolije uniSten u borbamakod Prozora i Ramedrugieskadron tanketaL 3 nalazise pri talijanskim postroj' M u r g e ' b a m ad i v i z i j e u Sirokom Brijegu. U razdoblju od'l 6. do 22,veljate1943.godinepartizanske postrojbe su u borbamaduZrijekeRamei Neretve preko ubileili zarobile 1 6 0 0t a l i j a n s ktiahs n i k a i v o j n i ktae p r it o m ez a r o b i liel i u n i S t i l1e3 talijanskih tanketaL 3

ARMOURED[,,UITsAfVP VETTICLES CRO"T',A DURINE WW II "U

daythe partisansfrom the lst LikaDivisionNOVrecoveredthat tank te (recoveryunder fire) Another tankettewas heavilydamaged o thesamelocationon 2 February 1943. n 6 February1943the armoredunitsof the "Sassari' Divisionwere Mazin(4thSquadron) and on the roadsGracac-Bruvno and MazinGornlilapac(1't Squadron) ln the'Sassari' Divisionsectorone tanketteran overa mineon 13 February1943 LieutenantCanestrifrom the 4th Squadronwas severelywounded TheltalianunitsenteredDon| Lapacon 15 February1943 Fur-ther advancewas extremelyslow due to up to 2 meterstallsnowdrifts The ltaliancolumn that attempteda breakthrouqhtowards Kulen Vakufwas attackedby units of the 1* LikaDivlsionNOV During the battle the paftisansdestroyedone L 3 tankette,four trucksand threemotorcycles {Jp to 16 Februarythe 4th Squadron/osseswere 2 wounded and 3 killedoffrcers and 9 woundedsoldiers. On 17 February1943the unitsof the 6thLikaDivisionNOVlauncheda counterattack towards the ltaliancolumnsstuckin deepsnow.Due to the heavypaftisan pressureth ltalianheadquarters decidedto withdraw theirtroops from Donji apac. Theretreatturned into a eatastrophe.Partisans managedto cut the retreatingcolumn on severallocationsand destroyed24 trucks,18 three-wheeled vehiclesand 2 motorcycles. At the sametrmetheycaptured5 trucks,1 passenger car,23 motorcycleswith sidecars, 3 gunsand 3 L 3 tankettes(one serviceable) During the combatfrom 13 to 22 February1943 the'Sassari' Divisionlost 169 dead,695 woundedand 41 frozenofficersand soldiersln operation'WeissI the /ossof ltalianArmy in Likawas 335dead,1237woundedand432 missingofficersand soldiers The ltalian "Murge' lnfantry Divisionwas deployedin a string of forlrfiedtownsalongthe valleysof the Neretvaand RamaRiversA breakoutof themaingroupof partisandivisionsfrom Bihactowards eastendangeredthe positionsof the 'Murge"Division Seeingthat as imminentdangerthe ltalianheadquarters reinforcedthispan of the front with two squadronsof L 3 tankettesand one companyof L.3lfflamethrowingtanketfes. Duringthenightof 15February paftisans attackedtheltalianstronghold in Prozorfor the first time Heavyfighting lastedthrough the night and continuedfor the most part of the nextday.The attack wasbrokenwith the arrivalof ltaliantankettesthat were sentfrom Konlicas reinforcementsThearmoredunit was of a squadronsize with 11 L 3 tankettesDue to the fact that ltalianofficersfrom the garrisonin Prozorwerethe reservists the commandoverthe Prozor defenseswastakenoverby the TankSquadroncommander, Capitan Nenna On 16 February1943the 2'd Proletarian DivisionNOV attackedan Italiansupplycolumnon the.Jablanica-Mostar road Tnecotumnwas escorted by the lstBattalion of the260thlnfantryRegiment from the 'Murge"DivrsronTheltalianssuffered 86 krlledand 286 captured soldiers, The partisans alsocaptured23 motor vehicles and two L 3 tankettes ThepartisansattackedProzorfor the secondtime on the night of 16 February 1943 Thecityfellin paftisanhandsbythe morningof the nextday.Duringthe two daysof fightrngltalianlosses were220 killed and 280 capturedsoldiersThe paftisansalsocapturedfive L 3 tankettes,four howitzers,two AT guns, 11 motor vehicles, four moftars,37 machineguns and500 riflesAround120ltahansoldiers with 6 tankettesmanagedfo escapefrom the town. ln the military depotsin Prozorthepartisansfound largeamountsof ammunition, food and the other war materiel The 1}th Herzegovina BrigadeNOV took the Ramagarrisonon 20 February1943aftertwo daysof heavyfighting A smallttalianforce of around130 soldiers with six 1.3 tankettes attemptedto escape from the town movingalong the railroad.The column was completelydestroyed in an ambush.Twoof the tankettesweredestroyed whilethe other four werecapturedrntact. Besrdes the squadronof the 1.3tankettesthat wasdestroyedduring the fightrngrn Prozorand Ramathe secondsquadronwaswith the 'Murge'Divisionin SirokrBijeg. ln the battlesthat ragedalongthe Ramaand Neretvariversfrom 16 to 22 February 1943the paftisans killedor captured morethan 1600 Italiansoldiers and capturedor destroyed13 L 3 tankettes

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TENKOVSKA CerA t. KORPUSA NOV-aHRVATSKE

TANK COMPANY OF THE lST CORPSNOV CROATIA Thebeginningof 'OperationWeis"found the TankPlatoonof the 1't CorpsNOVCroatiain Korenicawith verylittle fuel for the vehicles Heavywinter with temperatures below -20oC and deepsnow renderedthe usageof tankettesoutsideof clearedroads impossible Due to the numericalsuperiorityof the enemyany utilizationof the armorwouldbe ineffective svrsishod na Thecommanderof the TankPlatoonreceivedordersto destroythe Zapovjedniku je da tanketeuni5ti vehiclesand to join hismen to the infantryunit ThePlatoonHQ Tenkovskog voda zapovijedeno kakone bi paleu rukeprotivniku, a ljudstvo da prikljutipjeSadijskim decidedto keepthe tankettesand moved them to the villageof postrojbama naterenu. FarkasicThroughoutthe next day the vehicleswere being placed into thepreviously preparedholesin the stonewallssurroundingthe plough-fields and coveredwith rocksafter that Newsnowfallquickly hid all tracesltaliantroopspassed by the buriedand camouflaged tankettesseveraltimesin the next few dayswithout frndingthem. Thewinterconditionsthat were theproblemfor the paftisans were evenmoreof the problemfor the Germanand ltalianforcesltalian ' and 'Re' sustained divisions'Sassari heavycombat/osses as wel/as /osses due to the harshwinterconditionsltalianunitswere beaten Zimske prilike jo5 vremenske smetale su partizanima, ali viSeitalijanNOV. postrojbama. sko-njematkim NapodrutjuLikeposebno suu borbama in severalbattleswith the 6thLikaand the BthKordunDivisions At the beginningof FebruaryGermanforcessustainedsignificant i od zimestradale postrojbe talijanske iz sastava divizijeSassari i Re /o55e5 roo Postrojbe 6. litkei 8. kordunaSke divizijeNOV-au viSesu bojevakraThroughout thisperiod paftisanforcesseizedsignificantbooty that jem sijetnjapotukletalijanske postrojbe. Podetkom veljatei njematke includedarmoredvehicles postrojbe naovomterenutrpeosjetne gubitke, gthLikaDivisionNOVcapturedtwo 1.3 tanpartizanske U ovomrazdoblju postrojbe domoglesu se i znatnog On 24 January1943the kettesnearthe villageof Tusice.The 1't LikaBrigadeNOVcaptured patakoi oklopnih ratnogplijena vozila. on 30 January1943.OneH.39 je kodselaTuiice three1.3 tanketfesnearZalusevrca Dana24.sijednja 9. litkabrigada NOV-a zaplijenila tank was capturednearDrenovaca by the 5thKordunBrigadeNOV u Licidvijetankete 1.3.Dana30.sijednja 1. litkabrigada NOV-a zapli- on 6 February whileanotherone wasdamagedand abandoned by jenilaje na Zaluievici tri tankete1.3.Dana6. veljaie5, kordunaika the Germanforcesnearthe villageof Cvitkoviciin the Kordunarea je na Drenovati jednatenkHotchkiss brigada NOV-a zaplijenila H.39. KodselaCvitkovita naKordunu njemaike snage suu sijednju napustile Oncethe fightingshiftedto the territoryof Bosniaand Herzegovina the partisans in the Likaand Kordunareasbeganwith the reformoitetenitenkHotchkiss H,39 ing and refittingof their units Duringthis processthe HQ of the lst CroatianCorpsNV decidedto collectall capturedarmoredvehicles Thedecisionto createthe TankCompanyof the 1n CroatianCorps NOV using the existrngTankPlatoonas a kernelwas made on 7 March1943 The new companywas equippedwith eight L 3 tankettes(three capturedin Januaryand five from the earlierTankPlatoon) Only U sastavu detenalazi seosamtanketa1.3.:petzarobljenih u sijetnju four tanketteswere armed with machinequnswhile someof the itri iz prija(njeg sastava Tenkovskog voda.Strojnice su imalesamo tankefteswere inoperablerequiring ma.loirepairwork Besides the ietiri tanktete.Dioje bio i tehnidkineispravan te je zahtijevao veie fankettesthe Companvhad two HotchkissH 39 tanks The tank popravke. captured nearDrelnovaca was repaireddespitethe fact that the Uztankete L 3 tetaje imalai dvatenkaHotchkiss H.39TenkHotchkiss Germancrewremovedthegun breachbeforeabandoning the tank Paftisans managedto producereplacement in a fieldshop Thetank capturednearCvitkovicicouldnot be repairedand it was usedasa sourceof sparepaftsfor the other tank ln accordance plan the ltalians with the'15thJanuaDl' beganpulling out of Likaleavingthat areato the Ustasha-Domobran and Chetnik forces.The lst CroatianCorpsNOVhavinq severaldivisionson disposal(6thLika,BthKordunand 13thPimolsko Goranska) attempted to gaincontrolof that area With that intent paftisanforcesattacked severalChetnikstrongholdsin Lika The TankCompanywas intensivelyusedduringthesebattles Twotankettespafticipatedin the attackon Chetniksin the village GornjiBabinPotokon the night of 6thMarch 1943. Thetankettes were to be brought to the staftline by trucksbut due to the difficultieson the snow coveredroads they enteredcombatonly in the morninghours Movingthroughthe deepsnow the tank tracks got packedwith snow and one tanketteeven lost its track While repairingthe track one of the crew memberswas wounded The tankettesbypassedthe villageand approachedthe Chetniksfrom the rearforcingthemto abandontherrpositionsand retreattowards VrhovineA strongChetnikgarrisonin CrnaVlastwas attackedon 2 2 1 P a r l i z a n s kt ei n k H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 s n i m l j e nu s e l uB a b i nP o t o k2 1 o l u j k a 19 4 3 g o d i n e ,n e p o s r e d n op r i j e n a p a d an a i e t n i i k o u p o r i s t eu C r n o jV l a s t i ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) A Hotchkiss H 39 tank in Partisan hands photographed in the vtllage of Babin Potok on March 21, 1943 moments before the attack on Chetntk positions in Crna Vlast (HPM, Zagreb)

122

ARMOUREDUIV,TsAruD IIEI]ICLEsIN CRAATIA DURINGWW II

proljeiatalijanske Potetkom trupeu skladusasvojimnovimrasporepovlatenje domi planom'15 januar'zapoiinju postrojbi svojih iz Like i prepuStaju taj prostorustaSko-domobranskim i detnitkim snagama '1 preuzeti Kontrolu nadtim prostorom nastoje i parlizanske snage korpusaNOV-aHrvatske, kojena tom teritorijuraspolalus postroj'1 bama6 liike,8. kordunaSke i 3 primorsko-goranske divizije NOV-a postrojbe Stogapartizanske najprije napadaju nizdetnitkih upori5ta u LiciU tim borbama intenzivno sudjeluje i Tenkovska ieta U noiisa6. na7.oiulkadvijetankete izsastava tetesudjeluju u napadu nadetnike u seluGornjiBabinPotokNapoietnepoloZaje tenkete sutrebale bitidovezene kamionima Uslijed te5koia nasnje)nim litkim putovima tanketekasnete u borbuulazetek tijekomjutra Uslijed visokog punilesnijegom, snijega tenkovske susegusjenice a najednoj je i puklaPrilikom jedandlanposade taneketi gusjenice namjeitanja je ranjenTijekomposlijepodneva tanketesu zaobiSle selote doSle ietnicima izaleda,nagnavii polo)aja ih na napuitanje ipovlatenje k Vrhovinama je jakdetnidki Dana20 oZujka garnizon napadnut u CrnojVlastiSelo je bilodobroutvrdeno i pripremljeno za borbu U napaduiz sastava Tenkovske tetesudjeluju dvijetankete L 3 i jedantenkHotchkiss H 39. Tankete su na poietnepoloZaje stiglena vri.1eme, a tenk Hotchkiss H.39je kasnio zbogkvaranatopu Tijekom postrolbe noii partizanske uz pomoitanketauspijevaju uii u selote sabitiietniikesnageoko juriiana utvrdenu pje5adkih crkveNekoliko crkvunijeuspjeloU nekolikonavrata tankete su prilazile u neposrednu blizinucrkveidjelovale strojnicama, alizbogmalogelevacijskog po kutanisumogledjelovati prozorima i tornjucrkve. Tankete sutrpjelejaku vatrupjeiatkogoruZja te rutnihbombi U tanketama posada sezbogranjavanja vi5eputa izmjenjivala. TeZe su ranjena dvatenkista, a lakietetiri Okopodneva do CrneVlastije stigaoi tenkHotchkiss H 39 Nakonprvihispaljenih hitacaiz topau prozori toranjcrkveietnicisu se potelipredavati i bjeZati Dana6 travnjatalijanske i ietniikepostrojbe zapodele su napuitati mjestoi garnizon povlatenje, partizanski VrhovinePrimijetivii stoZer posadama nalaZe dvijutanketaL 3 i tenkaH 39 da krenuu Vrhovlne protivnidku i napadnu premaOtotcuOklopna kolonukojaje krenula vozilasu bez borbeuSlau prazneVrhovine. Kolonuu povlaienju sustigli su izmeduZaluZnice i Spilnika te odmahstupileu borbu.U borbisu utroiileoko950 metaka dokje tenkHotchkiss H 39 ispalio je natjeran granatai 500 metaka 7 topovskih za strojnicuProtivnik da uz velikegubitkenapusti vozilai komorute seu panicipovuieu Otoiac Talijanske trupe sredinom su travnjanaumilenapustitii mjestoi garnizon Ototac U gradusu se nalazile postrojbe talijanske iz sastavadivizije'Re',2ustaikalovatkabojna,dijelovi 12 domobranske pukovnije ioko 600ietnikaDana9 travnja postrodijelovi talijanskih jbi zauzimalu polo2aje dominantne na cestipremaSenju. pogonskog gorivaStab1 korpusa S obziromna nedostatak nalaie protivnitke da seza ulazaku Otoiaci gonjenje kolonepremaSenju pripreme ietiritankete L3 i tenkHotchkiss H 39 Tenkjenakonulaska

2 2 2 U n u t r a i n l o sp t a r t i z a n s ktee h n i i k e r a d i o n i c eu k o j o ls e u z o s t a l er a d o v e v r i i o i p o p r a v a ko k l o p n i hv o z i l a ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) The paftisan armored vehicles were repaired in this workshop (HPM, Zagreb)

20 March 1943 Thevillagewaswell forlifiedand readyfor combat The TankCompanvsenttwo L 3 tankettesand the H 39 tank to support the intfantryattackingthe village The tankettescameto the start positionson time while the H 39 tank was latedue to the gun malfunction Throughoutthe night the paftisans supportedby the tankettesenteredthe villageand pushedthe Chetnikforcesto the church Repeatedchargesto take the churchfailed.On several occasions the tankettesapproachedthe churchbut wereunableto bring their fire to the wrndowsand the tower due to the inability to elevatethe weaponssufficiently.During thoseencountersthe tanketteswere receivingheavy machinegunfire. The tankettes' crews were changedseveraltimes due to the sustainedinjuries Twotankerswereseverelyand four hghtlywounded TheH 39 tank arrivedat the villageof CrnaVlastaroundnoon After the first shells firedinto the windowsand the churchtower the Chetniks staftedto surrenderand retreat On 6 April 1943the ltalianand Chetnikunits startedto pull out of the Vrhovinegarrison Realizingwhat was going on the paftisan HQ orderedthe two L 3 tankettesand H 39 tank to movetowards Vrhovineand attack the enemvcolumntravelinotowardsOtocac Thearmoredvehicles entered'Vrhovine unopposed.Theycaught up with the retreatingcolumnand attackedit near the villagesof Zaluznica and SpilnikDuringthe battlethe tankettes usedup 950 roundsof MG ammo while the H 39 crew fired 7 main gun shells and about500 MG rounds Theenemywasforcedto abandonthe vehiclesand retreatto Otocacsufferingheavylosses The ltaliansplannedto withdraw from Otocacand its garrisonin April 1943.Theirforceswerecomposedof unitsfrom ltalian'Re' Division,the 2nd l/stashaJaegerBattalion,elementsof the 12th Domobran Regiment andabout600 ChetniksOn9 Aprilthe ltalians occupieddominant positionsalong the road towards Senl The headquarters of the lst Corpsorderedfour tankettesand the H 39 tank to enterOtocacand proceedwith the pursuitof the retreating columntowardsSenj Thetank was to remainin the city while the tanketteswereto proceedwith thepursuit ltalianunitshad several 47 mm ATgunsandAB 41 armoredcarswith 20 mm guns lnitially onlytwo tankettesproceededafterthe column NearKompoljethey 2 2 3 T e n k H o t c h k i s sH 3 9 s n i m l j e n 2 ' 1 o l u j k a 1 9 4 3 n a k o n o s v a l a n l a d e t n i t k o g u p o r i i t a u C r n o j V l a s t i P o s a d at e n k a r a z ge d a v a o i t e c e n j a n a v o z i l u ,n a s t a l ao d r u i n i h b o m b i ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) Another HotchkissH 39 photographed on the March 21, 1943 after the Chetnik stronghold rn Crna Vlast was taken by partisans The crew is examining the damage on the vehicle apparently made by exploding hand grenades (HPM, Zagreb)

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OKLOPNAVOZILA ! OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE |..ItrRUGOM SVJETSKOTUS RATUU HRVATSKOJ

u g.radtrebaoostatiu Otoicudok su gonjenje trebalepreuzetidetiri tankete. Talijanske postrojbe raspolagale sus odredenim brojemprotuoklopnih topovaAnsaldo 47 mm i oklopnim automobillma Ag +t s topomod 2 0m m .

Brlognailaze jednogiliviSetalijanskih na vjeitopripremljenu zasjedu protuoklopnih topovai oklopnih automobila AB.41.pogotkom'iz proje prvatanketa1.3.Voziloje zahvaieno tuoklopnog topapogodena plamenom pa su u njemuizgorjela oba ilana posadejer nakon pogotka nisuuspjeli otvoritipoklopce navozilu. Oklopniautomobil48.41 pogadai tenk Hotchkiss H.39.Tenkje najprijepogodenu bodnavratakojasu otpala,a zatimu vozaiev prorezza promatranje. U tenkusu ranjenaoba tlana posade.U je joi jednatanketa, daljnjem tijekuborbepogodena Obasu dana posade prilikom iskakanja lz tanketepoginula od pjeiadke vatre.Do kralaborbei pristizanja pje5aikih postrojbilakieje iz protuoklopnog topaoiteienajoi jednatanketa.

Tenkovska ieta L korpusaNOV-aHrvatske je borbe za predstojeie imalana raspolaganju samotetiriispravne tankete L .3.

jedanvods trimatanketa U nodis 22. na23 travnja ma 1.3sudjelule u borbama za selaBilaj,Ribniki Medak.pravogudjelau borbiipJk nisuimalejer su se ustaiko-domobranske postiojbe iz selaubrzano povlaiile premaGospi(u. Sljedeiih danaonesu napustile i LiikiOsik te Peru5ii. Dana28. travnjavod s trimatanketama 1.3sudjeluje u napaduna garnizon ustaSki u seluBru5ane. U meduvremenu u jastavTenkovske joi jednatanketeL 3 paje u sastavu tetestiglaje s popravka postrojbe sadabilopettankete 1.3. Od 1. do 3. svibnja postrojbe 6. liikei 8. kordunaSke divizije NOV-a napadalu ustaiko-domobranski garnizon u Gospiiu. Napadnu koloni6. lidke divizije predvodivod NOV-a s trima,a napadnu kolonu8 korduna5ke predvodi divizije vods dvjema tanketama 1.3. Zestoke borbeoko Gospiiatrajalesu tri dananakondegaje napad zbogvelikih gubitaka obustavljen. Telk ki vodovisudjelovali su u borbis malouspjeha, U prvom redu trebazahvaliti uvjetima borbena nepoznatom i otvoienom

2 2 4 G r u p ap a r t i z a n s k ibho r a c an a z a p l i j e n j e n ot aj l i j a n s k otja n k e t iL 3 S l i k a 1 es n i m i j e n ak r a j e mv e l l a t eu d o l i n i r i j e k eR a m e ( H p M ,Z a g r e o T Group of Paftisans on captured ltalianL 3 tankette Thisphoto was takenat the end of Februaryin the RamaRiver valley. (HpM, Zagreb)

124

encounteredand defeatedltalianrearquard.Thepartisantankettes continuedand caughtup with the Tolumn Ai first the ltalians thought thosewere their own tankettesuntil the paftisansopened fire creatingpanic among their troops The tankettescontinued towardsthe villageof Bilog where they met with the other two tanketfesand H.39 tank.ApproachingBrlog four tankettesand the H.39 tank ran into a skillfullypreparedltalianAT gunsambush. Thefirst 1.3 tankettereceivedan AT qun hit that setthe vehicleon fire Thecrew burnedto deathwithout evenopeningthe hatches. An ltalian48.41 armoredcar scoredone hit on the H.39 tank's sidedoor and blew it off while the secondhit damaqedthe driver's visionblock Bothcrew memberswerewounded Anothertankette was hit a little laterdurrnqthe battle.Thecrew was killedby small armsfire whileabandoniriqthevehicle.Bv the endof the baitteand beforethearrivalof the partisan infantryone moretankettewas hit and damaged Duringthisbattle the armoredunit chargedblindlyand sustained heavylosses. Thecrew'sbeliefthat they were safeunder thearmor contributedto this.Gravelosses duringthisencounterweresobering experience for mostof the soldiers. One1.3tankettewascompletely destroyedwhile two tankettesand the H.39 tank were oamaqeo and put out of commission for a longperiodof time. After taking Otocacthe only remainingenemystrongholdsin the area were Gospicand the surroundinggarrisonsin Licko polje. Gospicwasdefendedby sevenUstasha-Domobaran battalionswith two aftillerybatteries(onewasAT) ThePTSCompanvwith sevenL 3 tanketteswasin Gospic The TankCompanyof the lst CroatianCorpsNOV had only four tankettesservrceable for the upcomingbattle. Thebattlesfor Gospicbeganwith a partisannight attackon tJstasha garrisonat the villageof SrrokaKula Theattackwassupportedby three tankettesthat were taskedwith makingpassagesin barbed wire so infantrycouldadvanceinto the village.ln orderto preserve fuel the tankefteswere towed to the startpositions.Ihe tankettes completed that mission duringthenightand brokeintothe centerof the villageand enemydelensesOn severaloccasions the tankettes werehit by AP (armorpiercing)roundsfrom machineguns and two tankerswerernjured.Despitethe effortsof the tank platoon Siroka Kulawas not takenthat night. Mainlydue to the inadequate or nonexistent infantrysupportthe tanketteswereforcedto withdraw. Nextdaythe Ustashacrewof SrrokaKulaabandonedthe villaqeand withdrew towards Gospic. Oneplatoonwith threeL 3 tanketteswasinvolvedin battlesfor the villagesof Bilaj,Ribnikand Medak Tankettes did not havea chance to reallyparticipatein the battlessincethe {Jstasha-Domobran forces wererapidlyfallingbacktowardsGospic.Duringthe next few days the NDHforcesabandoned LickiOsikand Perusic On 28 April 1943 three 1.3 nketteswere deployedduring the attack on Ustashagarrison the villageof Brusanr.Meanwhile one more tankette was returned from repair bringing the Tank Company's strengthto fiveserviceable vehicles.The unitsof the 6th Likaand BthKordunDivisions NOVwereattackingGospicfrom I to 3 May 1943.The6th LikaDivisionNOVattackwas spearheaded by three1.3 fanketteswhile the 8thKordunDivisionNOVreceivedtwo

ARMOURED{/fiT'TsA'UO VEHICLESIN CROATIADURINGWW II

2 2 5 ) e d n ao d u n i 5 t e n i ht a l i l a n s k i h t a n k e t aL 3 u d o l i n i r i j e k eR a m e ( H p M ,Z a g r e b ) One of the destroyed ltahan L 3 tankettes in the Rama River valley.(HpM, Zagreb)

tankeftesfor support HeavyfightingaroundGospicragedfor three daysbeforethe attackwascalledoff due to heavylosses Thetank platoonsparticipatedin the battle with littlesuccessF/,rst of all that could be contributedto the fighting in the open and unfamiliarterrainas well as to the infantrythat was unpreparedto fight alongsidethe tanks.Almostas a rule any time the tankettes appearedon the battlefieldall enemy fire was concentratedon them. Thatforcedthe accompanying infantryto separate and leave the tanksunprotected.Theadditionalfactorthat contributedto the low operationalsuccess of the tanketteswasthe factthat theGospic defensewasverywellorganized, supportedwith a batteryof 47 mm AT guns and suppliedwith the AP ammunitionfor machineguns. Oneof theATgunswasmountedon the truck bedand transported to crrtrcalpositionsas AT reserue. One of the tanketteswas hit by an AT gun Thedriverwas instantlykilledwhile the woundedcommanderdiedseveraldayslater.Threeother tankerswere wounded in differentvehiclesDuringthe threedaysof fightingthe tankettes usedup 830 litersof fuetahd 5365roundsof iachiiequnammunttion Throughoutthesebattlesfhe TankCompanywasseverely weakened. Sixtankerswerekilledand fourteenwounded.Only105 litersof fuel remained at the unit'sdisposal. Out of thetwo H 39 tanksonewas operationalwhilethe otherwasusedasa sourceof spareparts.The unit hadeight1.3tanketfes but onlyfour wereoperationalAt that point the maineffort wasturnedtowardsvehiclemaintenance and

226 Zapovjednik3 udarne divizije NOV-a Sava Kovatevii snimjen ispred z a r o b l j e n et a n k e t e L 3 S a v aK o v a t e v i tp o g i n u t t e u l i p n j u 1 9 4 3 g o d i n e u p o k u i a j u 3 u d a r n e d i v i z i j ed a p r o b i j e n j e m a t k io b r u t n a r i j e c iS u t j e s c i ( H P M ,Z a g r e b ) The commander of the 3rdNOV Shock DivisionSavaKovatevit photographed in front of a captured L 3 tankette Sava Kovatevit died in June 1943 in the Division attempt to break out of the encirclement during the SutjeskaBattle (HPM, Zagreb)

125

I,I DRI,,IGOM SVJETgKOMRATU[J HRVATSKOj OKLOPNAVOZILA ; OKLSPIUEFOSTROJEE

crewtraining.Someof thepaftswererepairedin paftisanmechanical shops while the other more complexparts were purchased that workedin supplydepots.Theenginehead from ltalian soldiers block,carburetorand ignition mechanismfor the H.39 tank were smuggledinto Karlovac,repairedand returnedto the unit Thefuel purchasedfrom the lJstasha'Domobranor ltaltansoldierswaspaid with moneyand gold or exchangedfor coffeeand firewood. DuringJune the unit receivedonemore tankettethat wascaptured from ltaliansnearProkikain the Likaregion Because of the expectedlargerenemyoperationagainstthe partisansat the beginningof August all vehtcleswere buied and camouflaged.Fifteendayslater the vehicleswere dug out. ln the periodbetweenMay and September1943 the TankCompanywas not engagedin combatoperationsand the time was usedto trarn gorivate 5365komadastreljiva za strojnice and maintatnthe vehicles the personnel Poginulo On 1 Septenber1943the TankCompanyhad nine 1.3 tankettes, ieta je biladostaoslabljena. NakonovihborbiTenkovska je ostalosamo105 je 5est,a ranjeno ietrnaest tenkista. U postrojbi and two H.39 tanks,one of them eiahtof whichwereoperational goriva.Od dvatenkaH.39jedanje bio otpisani litarapogonskog had38 officersand soldiers. At thistime theCompany of,erational.

pje5aikih paftizanskih zemljiituuokologradate nepripremljenosti pojavila kadabi sena bojiinici postrojbi U pravilu za rads tanketama. i artiljerije bilaje usmjerena tanketa,svaprotivniikavalraiz strojnica tu vatru, premanjima.U tom sluiajaje pje5a5tvo, kakobi izbjeglo bezza5tite napuitaloblizinutanktetate ih ostavljalo

za i mehanizam sluZbama. Glavamotora,rasplin.lat i pozadinskim prebateni su u paljenle kanalima H.39 ilegalnlm tenkaHotchkiss popravljeni i vraieninazadU radionama Karlovac te su u tamo5njim j pogongarnizonima kupovano i ustaiko-domobranskim talijanskim d o. za kavui ogrjevno skogorivoza novaci zlatoili mijenjano joi jednatanketa Talijanima zaplijenjena U lipnju1eu tetudopremljena u Lici kodProkika akcijesvasuoklopna ve(eprotivniike zbognajave Podetkom kolovoza dana vozilasu Nakonpetnaestak vozilazakopanai maskirana. ponovno olKopana niti ieta od svibnja do rujna1943.god e viSenesudjeluje Tenkovska je uglavnom provedenu sredivanju i tehnike u jednojborbi.Vrijeme dete obucipripadnika teti biloje devettanketa1,3- osam Dana1. rujnau Tenkovskoj - te dvatenkaHotchkiss H.39,od kojih ispravnih i jednaneispravna je jedanbio ispravan, 38 Cetaje ukupnobrojala a drugineispravan. dasnika i vojnika TENKOVSKA CCTAVRNOVNOGSTABANOV-AI PO JUGOSLAVIJE 1943 prodorapartizanskih od 15. do 22 veljade divizija Prilikom vodenje niz godineu dolinurijekeRamei kanjonrijekeNeretve, postro1garnizonima. Talijanske talijanskim bitkls tamoinjim 2estokih 'Marchepretrplele gubitke suznaiajne divizije beiz sastava je 14.veljatekodselaDreZnice Neretve U u kanjonu Crninizzapodeo su divizije NOV-a svladali 2. proleterske borbama dijelovi dvodnevnim kolonukojaseiz pravca posadu opskrbnu mjesta te uniStili talijansku premaJablanici kretala Mostara a 286ih je zarobtasnika i vojnika, 86 talijanskih U borbi1epoginulo 24 s 560 granala, ietiriminobacaia ljeno.Ratniplijenje bioznatan: pleiatkog Uni5tena su23 streljiva. te petvagona strojnice, 260puSaka snagesu u Partizanske i dvijetankete1.3iz pratnjekolone. kamlona vojnika imalesamo12 ranjenih tim borbama '1 NOV-a su nakon)estokih 3. udarne divizije Dana 7. veljaiepostrojbe borbama ubijeno Prozor. U dvodnevnim borbizauzele dvodnevnih 1e ih je oko280 U rukepartivojnika, a zarobljeno oko220talilanskih topa47 mm, 100mm,dvaprotuoklopna zanapalesu ietirihaubice i 500pu5aka. 82 mm,37 strojnica ietiriminobacata pronadene su velikezalihestreljiva, u Prozoru U vojnimskladiitima Partizanske snagesu u borbama vojnogmaterijala. hranei ostalog vojnika. imalegubitke od 23 mrtvar 117 ranjenih '1 izvukla kolonas oko 20 setijekomdrugogdananapada lzProzora '1 od 1 eskadronom te cijelimtenkovskim talijanskih iasnikai vojnika tanketaL 3. je u zasjedi premaKonjicu doiekala izProzora Kolonu kojasepovlatila se samo brigadaNOV-a. Od cijelekolonespasila 10. hercegovaika probitislabukamenu grupaod iesttanketana ielu, kojaje uspjela je uni5teno 1'l kamiona. prepreku ili zarobljeno na cesti.U zasjedi ali su su sevratitipremaProzoru, Tankete na krajukolonepokuiale 126

TANK COMPANY OF THESUPREMEHEADQUARTERS NOVJ (PEOPLESLIBERATIONARMY of YUGOSLAVIA) Duringthe advanceinto the valleysof the Ramaand NeretvaRivers (15-22 February1943)partisandivisionsfoughtseveralfiercebattles 'Marche'Divisionsusagainstltaliangarrisonsin the area. ltaltan losses in thosebattles. tainedconsiderable 1943nearthe vrllage Drasterfor the ltaliansstaftedon 14 February of Dreznicain the Neretvarivercanyon Duringtwo daysof fight the garrison,and DivisionNOVovervvhelmed ing the 2'd Proletarian in- the processdestroyedan ltaliansupply column travelingfrom Italian losseswere 86 deadand 286 captured Mostarto Jablanica. officersand soldiersThewar booty was significant:four moftars 260 riflesand 5 tons of small with 560 bombs,24 machineguns, armsammunition The paftisansalsodestroyed23 trucksand two for the lossof 12 woundedonly. L 3 tankettes After two daysof heavyfightingthe unitsof the 3'dAssaultDivision 1942.Duringthe battle220 ltalian NOVtookProzoron 17February werekilledand 280capturedThewarbootywascomprised soldiers two 47 mm AT guns,four 82 mm morof four 100mm howitzers, 500 riflesand largeamountsof ammunition, rs,37 machineguns, od and the other war materialfound in the ltaltanArmy warehousesPariisan/osseswere 23 killed and 117 wounded soldters and a wholetank An ttaliancolumnwith 120officersand soldiers squadronof 11 tankettesmanagedto leave Prozorduring the secondday of fighting. ThecolumnretreatrngtowardsKoniicwas BrigadeNOV.Onlysx tankettes ambushedby the 1OthHerzegovina that wereat the headof the columnmanagedto escapebreaking througha stoneobstacleon the road.The11 trucksthat werein the columnwere eithercapturedor destroyed.Thetankettesthat were at theend of thecolumnattemptedto returnto Prozorbut theyrun without fighting intoanotherambushand surrendered On 18 February1943 the 5thMontenegroand the l't Proletarian BrigadeNOV attackeda whole string of isolatedltaliangarrisons railroad.During the combatthe ltalians atong the Sarajevo-Kon|c Thepartisans capturedone lost115 killedand 67 capturedsoldiers. Theirunitssuffered4 deadand motor vehicleand 20 motorcycles. 7 woundedsoldiers BrigadeNOVcapturedRamaon 19 February The 1}th Herzegovina 1943aftertwo daysof fighting.Accordingto the ltaliansourcesthey captured that werekilledor captured.Thepartisans lost193 soldiers and 120rifles Twomoretan22 machineguns four L3 tankettes, kettesweredestroyedduring the combat duringa combat lost33 killedand 164capturedsoldrers Thettalians on DivisionnearJablanica with the 4thBrigadeof the2ndProletarian 1943. 22 February the 1}thHerzegovina at theirdisposal With thisnumberof tankettes BrigadeNOVdecidedto form a tank company. Havingheardabout the numberof the capturedtankettesthe an orderfor allthe armored of NOV issued SuoremeHeadquarters to be gatheredat the villageof Gracaniin the RiverRama vehicles Valleyand for the TankCompanyof the SupremeHQ NOVJto be formed.TheCompanywascomposedof threeplatoonswith three tanketteseachplus the commander'stankette. The crews were from who knew about motor vehtcles of the paftisans composed previousexperience. Accordingto the paftisansourcesand recolthreeof the driverswere the ltalianswho lections of the paftisans

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Dana19.veljade 10.hercegovatka brigada NOV-a nakondvodnevnih borbrzauzimaRamu.Prematalijanskim izvorima poginulo -pale je ili je zarobljeno 193 talijanska vojnikaU rukepartizana su ietiri tankete1.3,22 strojnice i 120 puiaka.U borbisu uniitene jo5dvije T a n K e t eL . J .

Dana2-r.^veljade u borbikodiablanice 4. brigada 2 proleterske divizije ubilaje 33,a zarobila 164talijanska vojnika. RaspolaZuii s ovolikimbrojemtanketa,10. hercegovadka brigada odmahje postrojila jatinetenkovskle vlastitupostrojbu tete.

2 2 7 S l i k a u n i 5 t e n i ht a l i j a n s k i ht a n k e t a L 3 k o d J a b l a n i c e p a r t i z a n s k e p o s t r o j b eu n i S t i l e s u t a n k e t ej e r i h n i s u m o g l e p r e b a c i tpi r e k or i j e k eN e r e t v e ( H P M ,Z a g r e b )

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Destroyed ltalian L 3 tankettes near Jablanica lJnable to take tankettes over the Neretva River paftisansdestroyed them near Jablanica (HpM, Zaqreb)

volunteeredTherrnameswere rememberedas Mario, Ninoand Marino During the night of 24 February1943 the TankCompanyparticipated in an attackon Konjic.Theenemyknew about the partisan tankeftesand was adequatelyprepared.Theterrainconfiguration limitedthe possible approachoptionsto the roadsthat were-blocked Nemapodatakakolikoje ukupnotanketaiz sastava tenkovske iete with obstaclesmadeof rocksand logsand defendedwith AT guns sudjelovalo u napadu.Premaizvjeitajima o rezultatima borbejedna Theattackfaileddue to the stubborndefense.Thereare no data uni5tena. Jednatanketa seu borbiprevrnula about how Jetanketau potpunosti many tankettes wereinvolvedin the attack Thecombat te se nigdjeregovorije li ona nakonborbeizvuiena ilije ponovno reporl listed one tanketteas total lossand oneas overturnedwithp a r au r u K et a t r j a n a , out anyindicationabout itsfinal fateor whetherit was recovered or recaptured by the ltalrans

Nakonovih borbiTenkovska ieta dobivazadatakda pomognepri prilenosu ranjenika iz sastava 7. banijske divizijeNOV-aod Vikljena je iskoriSten'za do Jablanice. Diotanketa prijevoz ranjenika.

killedwhilethe othersweredrivenacrossthe NeretvaRiver.TheTank Cgmpa,ny remainedtn lablanicauntil the arrivalof theinfantryfrom the 2ndDalmatiaBriqadeNOVand after that returnedto Gracanica without losses TheTankCompanywasmovedto the GornliVakuf-prozorline,the areaof heavyfighting,with the unitsof the German71Vhlnfantrv Divisionthat waspart of the BattleGroup'Vogel'. ln orderto relieie pressurein thissedion and protect the CentralHospitaland large numberof refugeesthe SupremeHQ NOVJdecidedto counterat, tack and push the Germanforcesas far as possible at the same trmebuyingtime to organizethe crossingof the NeretvaRiver.Ten paftisanbrigadesand the TankCompanywere gatheredfor that purpose.On 3 March 1943the TankCompanvattackedthe German positions on Makljen.Theterrainon that sectron of thefront wasflat thus veryfavorablefor the usageof tankettes.Throughoutthe day the tankeftesand infantrythrew the GermansI 5 km back. Theie wasno mentionof the TankCompany/ossesrn the report After thisbattle the TankCompanvwas directedto ass6twith the transportof woundedsoldiers fri:n the Vh BaniiaDivisionNOV Someof the tanketteswere usedto transpottthe woundedfrom Makllento Jablanica. TheNeretvaRivercrossingwas over the improvisedbridgeand on B March 1943 the TankCompanywas orderedto destroythe tankettesand return its soldiersto the infantryunits.Accordingto the memoriesof the unit membersthe tanketteswere thrown into the NeretvaRiveroff the mainsupportpylonof the destroyed Jablanica bridge. 127

DO SADA IZDANOI ALREADYPUBLISHED BorisGreguriti VojislavJereb VOZILAHRVATSKE VOJSKE1991.-1995. L dio - bojanje i oznaiavanje Foto album Hrvatskaje poietak agresije 1991. doiekala bez prave vojskekoja nije raspolagalasa pravim vojnim vozilima Uz viie od 340 crno-bijelihi kolorfotografija u prvoj knjizi na ovu temu prikazanoje kako su se civilnai zarobljenavojna vozilabojala i maskiralaod samih poietaka, te kojim su se i kakvim oznakama sluiile hrvatskesnage Meko ukoriteno,44 format, 96 stranaod iega 32 u boji, preko 340 fotografija. CROATIANARMY VEHICLES1991-1995 PARTI - Colors and markings - A pictoral history C r o a t i a nb e g a nt h e w a r o d 1 9 9 1 w i t h n o a r m y a n d h a d n o m i l i t a r yv e h i c l e s . The first of the seriesdiscusseshow the early civilianand captured military vehicleswere paintedand camouflaged,together with the insigniaand identificationmarkings lllustratedwith more than 340 black and white and color photographs,96 pages(32 in colod, softbound,A4 format VojislavJerebi DavidSpancer IMPROVIZIRANA OKLOPNAVOZILA,1991.-1995. Pored nepostojanjavojske, poietak sukoba 1991. godine Hrvatskaje doiekala bez ikakvih oklopnih vozila. Vet su prvi okriaji pokazali nedostatak i osjetljivosttakvog stanja te se samoinicijativnona gotovo cijelom zaratenom podrudju priilo izradi improviziranihvozila koja te viie ili manje posluZiti sredstva,izracfena toj svrsi S obzirom na raspoloZiva vozila imala su vrlo skromne borbene mogufnosti, ali njihovaje pojava fantastiino djelovalana moral i utvrstila vjeru i odluinost u konainu pobjedu U knjizisu prikazanasva takva vozilaza koje su autori, nakon dugog istraiivanja,uspjeliprikupiti bilo kakvepodatke Meki uvez,44 format, 96 strana CROATIANMAKESHFT AFVS,1991-1995 Without an Army, the Croatianswent to war in 1991 with no armored vehicles.When the Croatianssufferedheavylossesin the earlyclashesdue to improvisedarmoredvehiclesbegan lack of protection,almost srmultaneously to appearon the battlefieldacrossthe country.Becauseof the relativelypor aualityof availablematerials,the combat valueof theisevehicleswas modest, but their appearancewas a great boostto moraleas well as a symbolof determ i n a t i o nt o w r n . I n t h i b o o ka l o f t h e k n o w ni m p r o v i s evde h i c l easr es h o w n ,a s well asthe data the authorshavemanagedto collectover 10 yearsof research 96 pages,softbound,44 format. Dinko Predoevif U OKLOPNAVOZILAI OKLOPNEPOSTROJBE DRUGOM SVJETSKOMRATUU HRVATSKOJ l. dio - Savezniikaoklopna vozila Ova knjigatematiziraratni put i opisebrojnihpostrojbi na samom krajuDrugogsvjetskograta u Hrvatskoj, i treie je izdanjeu BiblioteciHrvatskaratna povijest lzdavaike kute Adamif i Digital Pointa iz Rijeke Dinko Predoevifpile na zanimljiv i studiozaindokumentaristitko-povijesni naiin o konainim operacijama koje su oznaiile kraj Drugog svjetskograta u nas,te kako je i u samom naslovuknjigezadano,o oklopnim postrojbamai vozilimakoja su bila kljuina za obavljanjetih zadataka Naravno,tekst je ilustriranbrojnim autentiinim fotografijamakoje govore o tim operacijama.Ova knjiga predstavljaprvi dio dvodjelnogizdanja,naglaiavajuiiona oklopna vozila i njihoveoperacijekoja se odnosena savezniikesnagena prostoruHrvatske ARMOREDUNITSAND VEHICLESIN CROATIADURINGWWII Part I - Allied armored vehicles The topic of this interestingbook refersto the wartime coursesof action and descriptions of numerousunits during the very end of World War ll in Croatia, publishedas the third edition of the CroatianWartime HistoryBookCollection writes by PublishingHouseAdamicand DigitalPointin Rijeka.Dinko Predoevic in an interestingand meticulouslydocumentaryand historiographicmanner about the final operationsthat markedthe end of World War ll in our country and, as stressedin the book'stitle, about the armoredunits and vehiclesthat were crucialfor executionof theseoperations.This book is the {irst part of a two-part edition and laysemphasison the armored and operatronsof the alliedforceson the territorvof Croatia. J." 44, 110 str/pages,meki uvez/paperback

ZvonimirFreivogel BOJNIBRODOVII. SVJETSKOG AUSTROUGARSKI RATA Osnovu ove knjige predstavljaniz ilanaka o austrougarskim bojnim brodovima, koji su objavljeni u dasopisu"Hrvatskivojnik" poietkom devedesetih godina, ali je u mecluvremenuotkrivenopuno novih podataka,stogaje bilo mogute i potrebno ponovno napisatipovijestveiine tih brodova. Meki uvez.44 format. 96 strana BATTLESHIPS OF WORLD AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN WAR ONE This book is basedon the seriesof articlesinitiallypublishedin the military vojnik" during the 1990s,but in the meantimenumerousnew review,,Hrvatski to write informationswere made available,and it was possibleand necessary a new the historyof severalship's classes Paperback, 44 format, 96 pages Z v o n i m i rF r e i v o g e l PODMORNICE U I. SVJETSKOM AUSTROUGARSKE RATU Poput vei objavljene knjige o austrougarskim bojnim brodovima i ovaj se rukopis oslanja na s e r i j u d l a n a k ao a u s t r o u g a r s k i mp o d m o r n i c a m a objavljenih prije desetak godina u tasopisu "Hrvatskivojnik", ali je 100 godi5njica prvog i d e j n o g p r o j e k t ap o d m o r n i c eu P u l ib i l a p o v o d o m p r e g l e d a t it e i l a n k e , n e k e p o p r a v i t i ,d r u g e i z n o v a n a p i s a t i ,t e d o p u n i t i p o g l a v l j a k o j a j o i n i s u b i l a n a p i s a n a R e z u l t a tj e o v a j s k r o m n i p r e g l e d s v i h austrougarskih podmornica, sagradenih, ali i nedovrienih, te njihovih operacija na Jadranu i Sredozemnommoru tijekom Prvog svjetskog rata Meko ukoriieno,44 format, 120 strana,16 u boji IN WORLDWAR I SUBMARINES AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN L i k et h e a l r e a d yp u b l i s h e db o o k o n A u s t r o - H u n g a r i abna t t l e s h i p st h, i s m a n u s c r i p ti s b a s e do n t h e a r t i c l es e r i e so n A u s t r o - H u n g a r i asnu b m a r i n e sp, u b l i s h e dm o r et h a n a n d e c a d ea g o i n t h e m a g a z i n e< H r v a t s kvio j n i b ( " C r o a t i a n S o l d i e / ' )a , n d t h e 1 0 0 t h a n n i v e r s a roy f t h e f i r s t s u b m a r i n ed e s i g na t P o l a was an motive to see thesearticlesover,to correctsome or to rewritethem, and to completethe chaptersthat were not put to paper earlier.The result i s t h i s m o d e s to v e r v i e wo f a l l A u s t r o - H u n g a r i asnu b m a r i n e sb,u i l t o r u n c o m p l e t e d ,a n d o f t h e i r o p e r a t i o n sd u r i n gt h e W o r l dW a r O n e i n t h e A d r i a t i ca n d Mediterraneanwar theatres 44 format, 120 pages. Paperback,

U PRIPREMI/ FORTHCOMINGTITLES KMUEVINE JUGOSLAVIJE POMORSKO ZMKOPLOVSTVO 1 9 1 8 - 1 9 4 1-. 1 . D I O Poteci pomorskog zrakoplovstva KralJevine Jugoslavijenastali su poslije I svjetskograta, a prije poietka formiranja ratne mornarice. U travnju 1921 u sastavu Ratne mornarice sluZbeno se formira Pomorsko zrakoplovstvo lspoietka naoruZanotrofejnim hidroavionima, tijekom dvadesetihi tridesetih godina proSlog stoljeia Pomorskozrakoplovstvou naoruZanje prima suvremenijezrakoplovedomafih i stranih konstrukcija U travanjskomratu 1941 godine izvriioje organiziradio pomorskihzrakoplovaca ni prelet borbenim hidroavionimau Egipat,gdje su uSliu sastavbritanskogratnog zrakoplovstva (RAF-a)i nastaviliborbu protiv Silaosovine. Knjigaje zbog vrlo opseZnegrade moralabitr podijellenau dva dijela.U prvoj knjizi prikazanisu trofejni hidroavioni,slijedi razvoj izvitlaikih i borbenih hidroavionakao ito su FBAType H, Fizi J,lzviclat obalni lO i Dornier Do-D, te na kraju zavriavaprikazomvelikih borbenih hidrovaionatipa DornierWal. Knjigaje bogato ilustriranafotografijama,tehniikim ilustracijamai profilima u boji. U drugoj knjizi biti ie prikazaniborbeni hidroavionitipa HeinkelHe-8, Letov , a n r i o t4 1 , 5-tg SmolikD , o r n i e rD o - 2 2t e S k o l s kt i p o v i 5 M , F i z i rM a r s ,F l e e t H SllvlXll-H,PW-H,FizirVegai GipsyMoth. Takotlersu opisanaratna djelovanja Pomorskogzrakoplovstvau Travanjskomratu 1941 i djelovanjepomorskih zrakoplovacau sastavubritanskogNo 2 SQN RAF-a.I ova knjigaje bogato ilustriranafotografijama,tehniikim ilustracijamai profilimau boji

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