Professional paper
Actions and Operations of the National Liberty Army of Yugoslavia (3 rd Yugoslav Army) in Liberation of Osijek in the Years 1944/45.
Živko Sekulić
Abstract
As an important economic and traffic centre, one of the biggest hostile garrisons on the territory of Slavonia, headquarters of the district, insurgent cantonment and staff, Baranja district of a »župan«, headquarters of numerous offives of the German National bunch for Independant State of Croatia (NDH) as well as other enimies occupying the country and quisling institutions, durins the period of occupation, Osijek had significant role in the scone of inimical plans and interests. Its location between the rivers Sava, Vuka, Drava and Da¬nube, has been decisive for its being out of reach of National Liberty Army and Partisan detachments of Croatia, until late autumn of 1944.
Only upon successfully performed operation on the Batina bridge. Head in November 1944 by parts of the 57th unit of the arms of the 3rd Ukraine front of the Red Army (64th and 75th shooting corps) and 51st elite work division of Vojvodina of National Liberty Army of Yugoslavia, and liberation of Baranja, units of 7th and 8th brigade of the 51st division of Vojvodina, has extruded on the left bank of the river Drava. Twice in earlv December of the 1944, there have been done certain efforts as to conquer Osiiek from the position of appro¬achable directions. In the sectors Bistrinci—Belišće and Sarvaš—Bijelo Brdo, units have tried to cross the river Drava. The fact is that units of the 7th and 8th brigade have been crossing freezing and swollen river under dramatic cir¬cumstances.
Indeed, enemy hase been aware of the importance of Osijek, being its biggest fulcrum in the back of the Srijem front and important supporter of its deffence in the complex of newlyopened front of the river Drava, Therefor, enemy wan¬ted to keep it by all means. Aiming to this, enemies had dislocated on strait and wide territory of Osijek, the units of 11th German aviation dioision. These divisions have been used as reinforcement of the quisling crew of Osijek, Val- povo, Nasice and other places in the sphere of the Drava front. Thereupon Drava became an demarkation line in the course of next five months.
Upon the fights on Virovitica and Bolman bridge—heads, in the period winter 1944—spring 1945, units of the 16th, 36th, 51st elite work divisions and Osijek elite work groups in the composition of the 3rd Yugoslav Army, based on the plans of synhronised actions and operations of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Yugoslav Army, for final liberation of the country, have been getting ready for the river Drava front breach, as well as for expulsioning, breaking and destroy¬ing of the enemies on the territories of Slavonia and Podravina. Upon thorou¬ghly military—political and psyhological preparations, April 11, 1945 at 11.00 p. m. had started crossing of the river Drava and fights for liberation of Osijek, Valpovo and other places in the sphere of action of the Drava front.
Upon two days of incessant fights, the enemy deffence has been broken. The units of 5st elite work divisions of Vojvodina and Osijek elite work groups, Osijek has been liberated as of April 14, 1945.
A big nember of enemy soldiers have been killed and/or captured, signifi¬cant quantities of the weapon, emunition and other war material and military equipment have been distrained.
Upon its liberation, Osijek became military—political centre of Slavonia and Baranja. At the same time, it was the headquarters of numerous military institutions and services during the fights of 3rd Yugoslav Army units in final operations.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
237434
URI
Publication date:
18.5.1987.
Visits: 1.066 *