The Question of the Authenticity of 8th Dalmatian Corps’ 25 February 1945 Report to the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army on the Mostar Operation

Abstract

This paper examines the authenticity of the published document that, according to Yugoslav historiographical data, was sent by the 8th Dalmatian Corps to the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army on 25 February 1945. The document describes the Mostar Operation, which is thematically split into three phases (Operation Bora, the Battle for Široki Brijeg, and the Battle for Mostar). Yugoslav historiography treated this document as the basic historical source for the reconstruction of this military operation. However, there are five factors that put into question its authenticity, including not only its contents, but also the issue of the original document as well as its basic form.