german occupation of yougoslavia
german occupation of yougoslavia
how manny divisions dit the axis needed for the occupation of yougoslavia?
A actuak figure would be dependent upon a certain date, but on average the Axis had around 20-30+ Divisions on occupation duties within the old Yugoslavian borders. This changed somewhat as the frontline fighting occured within that area.
Most of the occupation forces were supplied by Italy and other minor Axis countries
Andy H
Most of the occupation forces were supplied by Italy and other minor Axis countries
Andy H
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David Thompson
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German Antiguerrilla Operations in the Balkans (1941-1944)
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/a ... BALKAN.HTM
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/a ... BALKAN.HTM
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G. Trifkovic
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Beware though-Operation Schwarz was indeed aimed at disarming chetniks,but since their back was broken by the Partisans during the Operation Weiss,the operation was carried out against the "shock" group of partisan divisions under Josip Broz Tito himself.Some 80-90 000 german and axis soldiers took part in the battle.David Thompson wrote:German Antiguerrilla Operations in the Balkans (1941-1944)
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/a ... BALKAN.HTM
Cheers,
Gaius
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Allen Milcic
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G. Trifkovic
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I beleive that by summer 1943 they became more of a liability than an asset.Post war Yugoslav works on the topic stated that operation Schwarz was originaly aimed against Partisans.And most of the "western" resources (primarily on the Web) that I read,suggest that Weiss was aimed at eliminating NOVJ and Schwarz at eliminating the Chetniks. Since Weiss failed to destroy Tito ,and he eventualy did the Germans a favour by destroying the main chetnik forces on the Neretva river,Schwarz was carried out aginst the only organised enemy left-Tito.
I could be wrong,though,your opinion and info on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Gaius
I could be wrong,though,your opinion and info on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Gaius
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Allen Milcic
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Hi Gaius:
There is a plethora of documentation supporting ongoing Cetnik-Italian and Cetnik-German cooperation in the fight against Tito's forces, as early as 1942 and, in the case of cooperation with the Germans, all the way up to the end of the war. At the Neretva, for example, the Cetniks served as a blocking force in the attempt to prevent the Partizans from crossing the river, and though soundly defeated, they continued to be a useable asset to Axis anti-Partizan operations. Any action post-Weiss to disarm the Cetniks would have been completely counter-productive to the German efforts, as the main Cetnik goal was the elimination of Tito - a goal completely identical to the German's. Note, for example, the Cetnik force present on the German side as late in the war as the assault on Drvar.
Will get back to you with some sources for research.
Best regards,
Allen/
There is a plethora of documentation supporting ongoing Cetnik-Italian and Cetnik-German cooperation in the fight against Tito's forces, as early as 1942 and, in the case of cooperation with the Germans, all the way up to the end of the war. At the Neretva, for example, the Cetniks served as a blocking force in the attempt to prevent the Partizans from crossing the river, and though soundly defeated, they continued to be a useable asset to Axis anti-Partizan operations. Any action post-Weiss to disarm the Cetniks would have been completely counter-productive to the German efforts, as the main Cetnik goal was the elimination of Tito - a goal completely identical to the German's. Note, for example, the Cetnik force present on the German side as late in the war as the assault on Drvar.
Will get back to you with some sources for research.
Best regards,
Allen/
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G. Trifkovic
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Try reading the above-mentioned link.As for chetniks,you know well that they were highly decentralised,unlike the partisans.Every local leader behaved differently,as he saw fit.I believe that precisely this kind of chetnik beahviour made Germans not to think of them as "solid". It was known that British were helping them,and in the case of allied landing,they could irreversibly choose sides-against Germans...Things were not that clear to Wehrmacht as they are now to us.
Cheers,
Gaius
Cheers,
Gaius
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Allen Milcic
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Hi Gaius:
Certainly, the German commanders were aware that the Cetniks were an "ally of convenience", and not hard-core supporters. The Cetnik-German cooperation rose out of desperation on the side of the Cetniks, who saw support for their cause dwindle as it rose sharply for Tito; and out of a almost equally desperate need for local assistance and "warm bodies" on the part of the Germans. Though neither side trusted the other much, the Germans knew that an Allied landing in Dalmatia was nothing but a pie-in-the-sky, and had little to worry about on that front. As for the Cetniks, they did try a kind of "double-play", cooperating with the Germans to destroy Tito while accepting Allied assistance as they, nominally, fought as the "anti-German guerilla". Especially after the surrender of Italy, however, Cetnik logistical existence was tied to German supplies - British aid was minimal, especially as it rose exponentially for Tito. I have no doubt that, had the Cetniks and Germans eliminated Tito, they would have fought amongst each-other; luckily, I say, this never happened.
Best,
Allen/
Certainly, the German commanders were aware that the Cetniks were an "ally of convenience", and not hard-core supporters. The Cetnik-German cooperation rose out of desperation on the side of the Cetniks, who saw support for their cause dwindle as it rose sharply for Tito; and out of a almost equally desperate need for local assistance and "warm bodies" on the part of the Germans. Though neither side trusted the other much, the Germans knew that an Allied landing in Dalmatia was nothing but a pie-in-the-sky, and had little to worry about on that front. As for the Cetniks, they did try a kind of "double-play", cooperating with the Germans to destroy Tito while accepting Allied assistance as they, nominally, fought as the "anti-German guerilla". Especially after the surrender of Italy, however, Cetnik logistical existence was tied to German supplies - British aid was minimal, especially as it rose exponentially for Tito. I have no doubt that, had the Cetniks and Germans eliminated Tito, they would have fought amongst each-other; luckily, I say, this never happened.
Best,
Allen/
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G. Trifkovic
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