 The first Ustaše atrocity in the Knin area occurred on 29 May, when a group of Serbs were killed.Around the same time, a group of Ustaše surrounded Strmica with the aim of capturing Đujić, but he was forewarned and escaped to Kistanje in Zone I where he sought Italian protection.Between late May and 27 July, the Ustaše killed more than 500 Serbs in the Knin district.