Operation Heiderose
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| Operation Heiderose | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War II and the Yugoslav Partisan War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Yugoslav Partisans | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2 Regiments, a Battalion | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
24 killed More than 150 wounded | More than 900 killed | ||||||
Operation Heiderose (German: Unternehmen Heiderose, "Operation Wild Rose") was a German-led anti-Partisan operation conducted in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina during World War II. The operation was carried out primarily by the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS "Handschar" (1st Croatian) against Yugoslav Partisans operating in the area around Šekovići in July 1944.
Background and operation
Operation Heiderose was planned as part of the German campaign against Yugoslav Partisan formations operating in eastern Bosnia. The operation followed the cancellation of a larger planned operation, Operation Rose, after several units of the V SS Mountain Corps became unavailable. The commander of the Handschar Division, SS-Brigadeführer Desiderius Hampel, subsequently organized an operation against Partisan positions in the Šekovići area. The operation was conducted during a period of intensified German anti-Partisan operations in eastern Bosnia. The region was of strategic importance because of its mountainous terrain and its supply chains and numerous formations as a base of movement.
The operation began on 17 July 1944. The 27th SS Volunteer Mountain Regiment of the Handschar Division, reinforced by a Chetnik battalion cooperating with the German forces, advanced towards Šekovići. The 28th SS Volunteer Mountain Regiment operated to the south, while a battalion from the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division "Prinz Eugen" was used as a blocking force to the north. SS-Sturmbannführer Erich Braun, chief of staff of the Handschar Division, was placed in command of the main force of the 27th Regiment. The Partisan forces began withdrawing southwards from the area on 23 July. German and collaborating forces subsequently searched the area for Partisan bases and installations. According to German reports, more than ten Partisan bases were discovered during the operation. [1][2][3][4]
Casualties and aftermath
Reports described Operation Heiderose as a success. German reports claimed that more than 900 Partisans were killed. Captured equipment reportedly included one anti-tank gun, two mortars, 22 machine guns, more than 800 rifles and approximately 500,000 rounds of small-arms ammunition. The Handschar Division reportedly suffered 24 killed and more than 150 wounded. Operation Heiderose was followed by further fighting between the Handschar Division and Yugoslav Partisan forces in eastern Bosnia during the second half of 1944.[1][2][3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lepre, George (1997). HIMMLER'S BOSNIAN DIVISION. Schiffer Military History. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bernwald, Zvonimir (2012). Muslime in der Waffen-SS. Ares Verlag. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Burak, Çınar (2015). "İkinci Dünya Savaşı'nda Alman 13. SS Dağ Tümeni 'Hançer".
- ↑ "Sa prostorije Vlasenica-Sekovići otpočelo povlačenje snaga nemačke 13. SS divizije -Handžar- na prostoriju Majevice, Posavine i Semberije".
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