croatian infantry division croatian infantry division german croatian division german_army world war formed june brigade croatia croatian addition german division commanded germans battalion company level nearly cases commonly referred division originally formed intention service eastern instead anti partisan operations territory end war fought mainly western areas involved attempt kill capture leader partisans severely depleted division withdrew border early months eventually surrendering partisans near modern day history formation axis invasion soviet_union june leader newly created axis puppet state croatia offered adolf_hitler volunteers serve eastern offer soon resulted formation deployment army air force naval detachments trained equipped germany committed fighting largest element croatian reinforced infantry regiment january croatian forces performed eastern germans continued support development forces aim raising divisions serve lack trained leaders staff divisions raised german croatian infantry division assembled trained austria commencing end january second croatian division raised service following sister formation croatian infantry division built german troops soldiers 7th regular army established infantry regiments battalions regiment allocated manpower battalions 7th formed command brigadier knight recipient colonel commanding croatian regiment commanding croatian regiment battalions commanded germans reconnaissance battalion commanded officer croatian divisions served commonly known divisions originally intended use eastern division deploy returned need combat communist led partisans territory division left training area austria period travelling train route vienna known croatian german general der lieutenant general initial tasks task division secure area north northwest contained important reserves needed german war effort divisional headquarters established regimental headquarters end battalion supporting artillery deployed replace italian forces weeks division minor contacts partisan forces mid june division began sending strong lightly armed mobile hunter teams company battalion strength break harass partisans operating divisional area responsibility early july search destroy operation conducted west road local units began division july summoned inhabitants village shot captured partisans division lost killed operation following conclusion sweep division moved north headquarters july august division patrolled constantly fought minor engagements area responsibility august major general divisional commander replacing transferred officers reserve pool german august lieutenant colonel replaced commander division placed command 2nd army balkans eastern period august muslim soldiers deserted later arrested range factors encouraging including partisan propaganda influence suffered germans north_africa eastern combat late august early september division time relieving adriatic coast difficult significant resulting numerous casualties loss vehicles guns september placed command newly formed led month division concluded collaboration agreement strong detachment control area included parts western bosnia division utilised protect railway lines key industries area scouting partisans attacks rear partisan formations worsened particularly capitulation italy early september example october men deserted division handled thousands italian prisoners aftermath surrender feeding marching guard october germans formally confirmed division utilised outside second half october partisan forces surrounded garrison relieved garrison conducted clearing operations town heavy week november december replaced commander regiment december division 1st participated aim operation partisan forces located forest area north operation achieved little immediately followed operation objective operation clear area south river objective operation destruction elements partisan 7th division intelligence indicated planning establish winter quarters vicinity village river protecting rear division committed reinforced tanks supported guns artillery regiment plan involved day operation commencing december following reconnaissance objective day thrust kilometres eastward secure heights east achieved light resistance following day saw heavy fighting german force secured objectives suffering wounded process december orders issued continue advance south village battalion ordered cross continue advance northern river morning december successfully advanced point kilometres west occupied advancing east lost formation suffered heavy attacks partisan forces companies attacked flanks rear entire force companies tanks remained north river consolidated heights south night fought large partisan assaults supported heavy mortar fire december german force fought way south bank evacuated casualties river main body fought way east covering fire provided companies tanks remaining northern bank majority arriving december costly division suffering casualties mainly mortar fire night december information local population indicated partisans lost dead operation battle late december tasked defence second largest city bosnia partisan pressure days headquarters divisional replacement battalion divisional support troops police tanks elements 4th brigade city december deployed bolster defences day heavy artillery mortar bombardment started followed partisan attack quickly overran outposts engaged divisional units heavy fighting light new year day crucial power station evening partisans renewed assault hospital german sick wounded capturing railway station point defenders concentrated blocks town centre partisans metres away desperate unsuccessful counterattack mounted city appeared lost force relieved regiment partisans quickly withdrew subsequently executed armed personnel captured city killed battle included germans partisans following battle division cleared secured area february replaced commander major end march deployed responsibility road regimental commander designated commander garrison task assisted 7th volunteer mountain division division participated morning star region west southwest elements sister formation croatian infantry division regiment 1st regiment units operation significant success killing partisans capturing large quantities arms ammunition vehicles supplies operation division formed significant ground force launched objectives killing capturing partisan leader destroying headquarters division responsible coordinated partisan stronghold area thrust consisted croatian infantry regiment referred commander group advance east village primary responsibility relieving taking command land parachute regiment attack direction second thrust consisted battalion group division set drive east capture crossroads necessary advance north west open road ground forces able advance quickly expected unexpected resistance strong partisan forces axes advance poor communication elements resulted lack coordination movements subjected allied air attacks meantime key staff escaped south flown italy unable overcome resistance 2nd force way relieved midday stronger column attacking direction battalion group division attacked strong partisan positions east north northwest attack held lack ammunition attack renewed new orders issued division occupying area capturing partisan tanks failure principal headquarters staff escaped final months division deployed valley exception battalions area battalions reinforced 1st area reinforced 4th 2nd deployed garrisons fortifications protecting communication routes valley garrisons reinforced local detachments forces divisional command august garrison consisting 2nd battalion major repelled attacks partisan 6th 13th supporting forces surrendered shots fired detachment provided stiff defense allowed garrison hold summer communications division area responsibility constant partisan attacks attacks intensified early september operation coincided german transportation troops military material serbia eve belgrade operation september attacked damaged train carrying 2nd company september partisan 4th division attacked garrison main force garrison 7th reinforced units units affected intense offered little resistance morning september liberated strong mixed formation garrison headed defended 4th 6th battalion 8th total strength men reinforced mixed group fall remained isolated partisan attack spread commander captain decided evacuate try reach strong mixed group moving aside roads constant partisan heavy fire movement disorganized chaotic captain suffered nervous breakdown command captain smaller group reached suffered losses men auxiliary troops worse partisans days killed captured soldiers valley exposed pressure 4th west 5th east september 4th attacked defended 5th backing strong formations nearby spite proximity strong forces partisans september succeeded destroy battalion killing capturing garrison raided 1st 2nd brigade blocked relieve attempts partisan retreat new garrison established time reinforced elements november renewed attack units difference time 1st instead charged task closing road fighting lasted days concluded success partisans total destruction garrison germans suffered losses killed officers captured officer soldiers reinforced company completely destroyed men hidden friendly inclined civilians autumn division absorbed 2nd brigade regiment renamed croatian infantry regiment october der reserves replaced turn replaced november december division participated defence partisans suffered losses january promoted withdrew survivors division northwest withdrawal division assisted fought alongside accompanied attack 35th division later month large number division deserted join partisans trend continued companies soldiers division saw action partisans end war april large croatian manpower lost released croatian component reduced soldiers months war fought northern parts later partisans launched spring offensive march fought advanced division withdrew remaining croatian soldiers separated german elements probably dispersed remainder continued withdrawal modern day surrendered partisans village remaining soldiers left division division disarmed german troops allowed travel germany days prisoners war partisans tried yugoslav authorities hanged history initial composition division croatian regiment iii battalions croatian regiment iii battalions iii battalions autumn division absorbed 2nd brigade created infantry regiment croatian regiment commanding officers following officers commanded division april january august august october der reserves october november january november books journals web
373rd (Croatian) Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)