kingdom yugoslavia formation commanded german led axis invasion april world war consisted army group reserve responsible defence northwestern yugoslavia defending western sector yugoslav hungarian border 7th army defending eastern sector italian borders weakened fifth column activities major units chief staff chief operations headquarters aided 4th 7th army sectors respectively germans seized bridges river sectors mountain passes 7th army sector day 4th army sector formation expansion german facilitated fifth column elements sympathetic units paramilitary civic peasant guards revolts soldiers broke divisions days causing significant disruption deployment revolts great concern commander 7th army permit withdraw border areas night april followed german capture continued expand began withdraw southwards april april quickly ceased exist operational formation face determined armoured captured evening italian offensive operations began adriatic coast capturing yugoslav troops near april german armoured column linked italians near adriatic coast remnants withdrawing 7th army fifth column elements arrested effectively ceased exist remnants 4th army attempted establish defensive positions northeastern bosnia quickly brushed aside german armour drove yugoslav high command surrendered april background formed world war army kingdom country created december defend new kingdom army formed nucleus victorious combined armed formations raised parts austro hungarian empire joined form new state austro hungarian officers soldiers members new army beginning army like aspects public life new kingdom dominated ethnic serbs saw army means secure new kingdom development army hampered poor economy kingdom continued 1920s king alexander changed country time army army budget remained tight tensions rose europe 1930s hard secure weapons munitions countries consequently time world war broke september weaknesses included reliance draught animals transport large size formations example infantry divisions wartime strength men compared contemporary british infantry divisions half strength characteristics resulted slow formations inadequate supply arms munitions meant large yugoslav formations low firepower older generals better suited trench warfare world war combined army equipped trained resist fast moving combined arms approach germans poland france weaknesses strategy structure equipment mobility supply exacerbated significant degree lack unity yugoslavia resulted decades attendant lack political legitimacy achieved central government attempts address lack unity came late ensure cohesive force fifth column activity concern croatian nationalist ethnic german minorities country structure commanded consisted commanded 7th army commanded consisted divisions brigade strength infantry detachment cavalry regiment infantry regiment supported artillery anti aircraft artillery border guards air reconnaissance elements troops included high percentage 7th army consisted divisions divisional strength mountain detachment brigade strength mountain detachment brigade strength infantry detachment supported artillery anti aircraft artillery air reconnaissance support control additional support units planned deployment deployment plan saw 4th army deployed formations centred towns 7th army deployment plan saw formations placed border region adriatic coast near north border formations mountain detachments infantry detachment 7th army largely infantry division partly remaining infantry divisions commenced right 2nd right flank 2nd army 2nd army group boundary running east left flank adriatic coast defended operations april sector german_army headquarters wanted capture bridges intact april issued orders conduct preliminary operations aimed seizing bridge railway bridge northeast coup main result limited objective attacks launched line despite fact expected launch offensive operations april similar operations occurred extreme left flank raiding parties patrols seized high ground south early hours april units 4th army located region marching hungarian border seized intact bridge bicycle mounted detachment captured encountering resistance evening clear germans resisting border ordered begin seizing bridges local attacks sufficient dissent largely refused resist germans considered serbian oppression interwar period april reconnaissance units crossed attacked afternoon german dive bombers escorted fighters caught 4th ground destroying elements 27th infantry division unsuccessfully attacked day nightfall resolved counter attack morning april april remaining mounted attacks bridge afternoon april german units began cross near established second fifth column activities units croatian fascist organisation facilitated german establishment resulted number significant revolts units regiments battalions revolted refused deploy allocated positions similarly marching positions night april regiment revolted arrested officers non commissioned officers soldiers regiment marched joined rebellious units noon april april located communist_party croatia sent delegation headquarters 4th army urging issue arms workers help defend member went headquarters twice able speak briefly convince day leader returned briefly joining post yugoslav coup état government agreed send urging obey officers respond appeal germans began expand rebel troops contact began withdraw southwards april night april remained units began desert turn commanders 27th infantry division suffered similar revolts eased german capture 7th army sector border yugoslavia unsuitable operations short notice invasion elements invading 2nd army assembled france germany nearly encountered difficulties reaching assembly areas interim germans formed special force code magic fire force initially intended merely reinforce manning border evening april aggressive detachment commanders led having secured bridge began attacking yugoslav positions high ground sent patrols deep yugoslav border fortification system lack yugoslav counter attacks positions remained german hands april tasked attacking driving capture force crossing day invasion captured bridges opposite undamaged captured prisoners bicycle mounted detachment reached extreme left flank striking resistance pushed south valley late day mountain pioneers destroyed isolated yugoslav area penetrated day governor met representatives major political parties created aim establish independent yugoslavia heard news fifth column led revolts alarmed proposed withdrawal border areas rejected border italy relatively quiet patrol clashes occurring ordered 7th army capture river order soon rescinded days held lead elements divisions rest division way border elements divisions april afternoon april german dive bombers escorted fighters caught 6th ground destroying result revolts night april ordered 7th army begin withdraw line river bridge right bank river subsequently moved line april orders led south crossed river boats leaving unit vehicles evening force entered unopposed taking prisoners ordered return spent rest invasion guarding border meantime forward elements divisions consolidated securing pushing past activities council continued day invasion commenced soon ordered arrest chief staff headquarters general head operations staff carry orders april 6th airfield attacked german aircraft april sector early april left post visited senior leader returned headquarters units cease operations deploy positions actions reduced eliminated armed resistance german advance day germans broke established 14th division supported dive bombers crossing driving southwest snow covered roads extremely cold conditions initial air reconnaissance indicated large concentrations yugoslav troops divisional axis advance troops proved withdrawing paramilitary civic peasant guards disarmed captured staff units including 4th 7th armies effectively ceased exist formation soon 14th commenced attack main thrust consisting 8th leading 16th crossed turned southeast rivers meeting resistance reached evening april colonel went radio station proclaimed creation croatia april despite initial resistance lead elements 14th division reached outskirts having covered nearly kilometres miles single day time entered met cheering crowds captured yugoslav troops generals including held freezing weather snow storms april following day approaching north bicycle mounted troops turned east capture entire yugoslav brigade including commanding general day german installed interim croatian government called stop fighting evening entered relieved 14th division face assault quickly ceased exist operational formation caused largely fifth column activity involved little fighting 7th army sector night april lead elements consisting 1st mountain division trained crossed border near advanced southeast reaching point kilometres town evening luftwaffe reconnaissance sorties revealed main body 7th army withdrawing leaving light forces maintain contact german received information headquarters ordered form columns pursue 7th army south extreme weather conditions flooding april slowed german pursuit april push south lead elements exiting mountains northwest city evening day 1st captured hard marching difficult fighting newly formed approached commander general der ask april italian 2nd army commenced offensive operations pushing advancing direction strong formations attacked south stage 7th army withdrawing units took advantage existing fortifications resist assist italian advance luftwaffe attacked yugoslav troops region 14th division captured april drove west withdrawing 7th army italians faced little resistance captured yugoslav troops waiting surrender near fate april situation increasingly desperate country prime minister yugoslav chief broadcast following message troops engage enemy encountered means disposal don wait direct orders act guided judgement initiative conscience april 14th linked italians closing ring remnants 7th army southeast remaining elements organised defences towns 14th division quickly broke captured april captured wake pushed capture april 14th division closing arrested 4th 7th armies effectively ceased exist formation delay locating appropriate signatories surrender document yugoslav high command surrendered belgrade effective april books journals papers web
1st Army Group (Kingdom of Yugoslavia)