Operation Kugelblitz ("
ball lightning") was a major anti-
Partisan
Partisan may refer to:
Military
* Partisan (weapon), a pole weapon
* Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line
Films
* ''Partisan'' (film), a 2015 Australian film
* ''Hell River'', a 1974 Yugoslavian film also know ...
offensive orchestrated by German forces in December 1943 during
World War II in Yugoslavia. The Germans attacked
Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz ( sh-Cyrl, Јосип Броз, ; 7 May 1892 – 4 May 1980), commonly known as Tito (; sh-Cyrl, Тито, links=no, ), was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman, serving in various positions from 1943 until his deat ...
's
Partisan
Partisan may refer to:
Military
* Partisan (weapon), a pole weapon
* Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line
Films
* ''Partisan'' (film), a 2015 Australian film
* ''Hell River'', a 1974 Yugoslavian film also know ...
forces in the eastern parts of the
Independent State of Croatia in an attempt to
encircle and destroy them, thereby preventing the Partisans from entering the
Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia. Operation Kugelblitz was followed up immediately by Operation Schneesturm (Blizzard) which sought to capitalise on the initial success of Operation Kugelblitz. Both operations are associated with the Sixth Enemy Offensive ( sh, Šesta neprijateljska ofenziva/ofanziva) in
Yugoslav historiography.
The offensive
Operation Kugelblitz
Operation Kugelblitz, the first of the two offensives, was executed by the
5th SS Mountain Corps __NOTOC__
V SS Mountain Corps was a Waffen-SS formation that existed in later periods of World War II.
The Corps fought against Yugoslav Partisans in the Balkans as part of 2nd Panzer Army from October 1943 to December 1944. At this time it rarely ...
. The aim of this operation was to dismantle and consequently destroy Partisan units in eastern
Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and He ...
. The operation ultimately was unsuccessful because the German forces were unable to completely destroy all the Partisan troops. Because of the terrain, large area, and lack of Axis man power to adequately cover the encirclement, Partisan forces evaded complete destruction by slipping through large gaps in the narrowing encirclement. However, the partisans still suffered severe casualties.
Operation Schneesturm
Operation Schneesturm was initiated immediately upon the completion of Operation Kugelblitz. This operation included twin drives from the Bosnia area. One drive headed westwards towards the Adriatic Sea. The other, headed to the northwest and towards the border with Italy. While this operation ended late in December and the Partisans once again survived, the cost was high. The Partisans suffered about 2,000 additional casualties. Though badly battered, the majority of the Partisan units retained their cohesion. Tito's army, in the opinion of some, could still be considered an effective fighting force.
Results
References
Sources
*
See also
*
Military history of Bulgaria during World War II
*
Seven anti-Partisan offensives
The Seven Enemy Offensives ( sh-Latn, Sedam neprijateljskih ofanziva) is a group name used in Yugoslav historiography to refer to seven major Axis powers, Axis military operations undertaken during World War II in Yugoslavia against the Yugoslav Pa ...
*
Resistance during World War II
*
Anti-partisan operations in World War II
Axis forces were involved in counter-insurgency operations against the various resistance movements during World War II.
During the Second World War, resistance movements that bore any resemblance to irregular warfare were frequently dealt with ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kugelblitz, Operation
Seven Enemy Offensives
Battles and operations of World War II
Yugoslavia in World War II
Anti-partisan operations of World War II
Military operations of World War II involving Germany
Military operations of World War II involving Bulgaria
Battles involving the Yugoslav Partisans
1943 in Yugoslavia
1944 in Yugoslavia
Conflicts in 1943
Conflicts in 1944