Operation SCHWARZ - Battle of Sutjeska (original) (raw)

(Black) / Unternehmen SCHWARZ / Fifth enemy offensive: Sutjeska

History

Original Axis plans for 1943 called for operation WEISS I-III to eliminate partisans followed by SCHWARZ which called for disarming of Chetniks in Italian occupation zone which were completely enlisted in Italian Voluntary Anti-Communist Militia (Milizia Volontaria Anti-Comunista - MVAC), since during WIESS II partisans annihilated most of Chetniks and broken through into eastern Herzegovina and Montenegro, WIESS III was called off and SCHWARZ was redesigned to finish the job of elimination of partisans before anticipated allied landing in Balkans. Part of Chetniks were disarmed during operation SCHWARZ but they offered absolutely no resistance and some were even listed by German army as guides.

Operation Schwarz was largest anti-partisan operation yet and also the last big ones. With 117,300 axis soldiers facing only 19,700 fighters of Main Operation Group of NOVJ this was the closest Germans ever were of eliminating partisans and securing their communications and rear areas in anticipation of Allied invasion in Balkans.

1. Operations in Sandzak and Monte Negro before offensive
2. Offensive

• Tightening encirclement - operations from 15 to 20 May:
  * 15 May
  * 16 May
  * 17 May
  * 18 May
  * 19 May
  * 20 May
• First breakthrough attempt - operations from 21 to 26 May
• Second breakthrough attempt - operations from 27 May to 4 June
• Breakthrough at Sutjeska - operations from 5 to 9 June
• Breakthrough from Zelengora - operations from 10 to 16 June

1. Counteroffensive into Eastern Bosnia

Orders of Battle

On May 14th 1943 - at the start of the offensive:

• NOVJ Main Operation Group
• Axis Order of Battle

Casualties

• Yugoslav Partisans losses
• German losses (German report from 20 June 1943)
  • 583 killed
  • 1760 wounded
  • 425 missing
• Italian losses
  • 290 killed
  • 541 wounded
  • 1502 missing
• Croatian losses (German report from 20 June 1943)
  • 40 killed
  • 166 wounded
  • 205 missing
• Chetnik losses (German report from 20 June 1943)
  • 17 killed
  • 3764 captured

Aftermath

Partisan breakthrough would result in destruction of several NDH garrisons in eastern Bosnia.

• Operation Å EKOVIĆI

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