Zagreb Offensive
The Zagreb offensive was one of the last key operations carried out by the Yugoslav Partisans during World War II in Yugoslavia. It ended in the liberation of Zagreb from the NDH
In early May 1945, Zagreb was defended by parts of the 1st Division of the Army of NDH and the 41st and 181st German Divisions, deployed along the unfinished fortified "Zvonimir line" between Sveti Ivan Žabno and Ivanić-Grad. The fierce battle with the 1st Army of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia lasted from 5 May to 8 May. The 7 May was the single bloodiest day in the 1,240-day long history of the 1st Proletarian Brigade, with 158 killed and 358 wounded in the fighting for Vrbovec.[1]
| Zagreb offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of World War II in Yugoslavia | |||||||
 10th Zagreb Corps officers entering Zagreb on 9 May 1945 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Independent State of Croatia |
 Yugoslav Partisans | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
1st Division 41s Infantry Division 181st Infantry Divisions |
1st Proletarian Brigade 28th Slavonia Division 39th Krajina Division 10th Zagreb Corps | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
10,901 killed 15,892 captured | Unknown | ||||||
In the last days of the war, the city had nearly 500,000 civilians.[2] On 6 May 1945, the collaborationist government of the Independent State of Croatia fled Zagreb. On 7 May 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied powers, marking the formal end of World War II in Europe.[3]
The offensive and the Zvonimir line
On 7 May, brigades of the 45th Serbian Division, 28th Slavonia Division and 39th Krajina Division of the 2nd Army were on the outskirts of Zagreb.[4] First Partisan units from the 45th and 28th Division entered the deserted streets of Zagreb on 8 May at 11 AM.[5][6] There were relatively few skirmishes and casualties in the city itself. There were groups of soldiers that surrendered or were captured, many of which were immediately shot. The 1st Army reported to the General Staff that 10,901 enemy soldiers had been killed and 15,892 captured in taking Zagreb.[7] Partisan radio broadcast about the continuous street fighting. The 2nd Army had many Serbs and Montenegrins in its ranks and former Chetniks that were granted amnesty, so most of the population of Zagreb stayed in their homes.[5] The commanders of the 10th Zagreb Corps were disappointed that the 10th Corps was not the first one to enter Zagreb. Colonel Ivan Šibl wrote about it in his diary:[8]
"We felt tricked and cheated. We are still not real soldiers and none of us were satisfied with the knowledge that the battle for Zagreb was already won, in many battles and skirmishes in which our brigades also participated. We were supposed to get there first, but we arrive last to a peaceful, free city. They simply tricked us!"
A few days later, when forces of the 10th Zagreb Corps arrived to the city, people gathered in the Jelačić Square and gave them a triumphant welcome.[5] Journalist and historian Josip Horvat observed the liberation of Zagreb in May 1945:
"I walked through Tuškanac. While walking I laughed like a child - for four years and one month you couldn't go through there. On this little thing I felt that freedom came, that we are entering into a new life. It's so weird at the heart, man with his brain does not realize that fear is gone. (...) Newly arrived army still goes through town, all torn up, but excellently armed, real fighters."[9]
Aftermath
After the liberation of Zagreb, the commanders of three Yugoslav People's Army armies (1st, 2nd and 3rd) convened a meeting in the city with a representative of the Army General Staff to plan how to continue their march towards the enemy forces who were fleeing towards Dravograd and Celje in Slovenia.[10] The pursuit of the Ustaše-led column continued through Slovenia, and ended at the border with Austria, resulting in the Bleiburg repatriations, and a death march back.[11]
See also
- The Belgrade Offensive, a similar operation which ended the Serbian collaborationist government
- Battle of Odžak, the battle that ended the Independent State of Croatia
- Bleiburg repatriations
Category:Yugoslavia in World War II Category:Independent State of Croatia Category:Battles involving the Independent State of Croatia Category:Croatia in World War II Category:Zagreb in World War II Category:Battles involving the Yugoslav Partisans
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- ↑ Miladinović 1991, p. 1187.
- ↑ Lengel-Krizman 1980, p. 53.
- ↑ Tomasevich 2001, p. 755.
- ↑ Dželebdžić 1989, p. 356.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Tanner 2001, p. 168.
- ↑ Dželebdžić 1989, p. 357.
- ↑ Dizdar 2005, p. 134.
- ↑ Šibl 1966, p. 421.
- ↑ "znaci.net" (PDF). znaci.net. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ↑ Dizdar 2005, p. 136.
- ↑ Dizdar 2005, pp. 137–144.
