Petar Drapšin

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Petar Drapšin (November 15, 1914 - December 2, 1945) was a Yugoslav Partisan commander.

Petar Drapšin was born in a family of farmers in Turija, near Bečej. He was in Belgrade high school when he got in touch with Communists through school's literary group. He joined SKOJ and in 1937 he went to study in Prague. Soon after that he went to fight in Spanish Civil War on Republican side. He excelled in combat, earning the rank of Captain in the process. After the end of Spanish Republic he was interned in France. From there he escaped to Zagreb in 1939.

In 1941, following Axis invasion of Yugoslavia, he was entrusted by CPY to organise armed uprising in Herzegovina. His conduct later got him sharp criticism from Party leadership but in 1943 he received a second chance. In January 1943 he was appointed for commander of 1st Slavonian Division of Yugoslav National Liberation Army (YNLA). Two months later he received a rank of Major General. In May of 1944 he became commander of 6th Corps of YNLA. In Summer of 1944 Drapšin became deputy commander of NOVH (Croatian National Liberation Army), Croatian branch of YNLA.

In December 1944 Drapšin was sent to Dalmatia to command 8th Corps of YNLA. In January 1945 he received the rank of Lieutenant General. Units under his command halted German offensive in Dalmatian hinterland in January 1945 and liberated Herzegovina during Mostar Operation.

Soon after that 8th Corps was transformed into 4th Army, which began offensive against remaining Axis forces in Yugoslavia in late March 1945. Despite difficult terrain and need for complicated amphibious operation, Drapšin's force scored spectacular success by piercing through enemy lines in Lika, defeating German forces in Battle of Rijeka, landing in Istria and entering Trieste before Allied forces. This Partisan offensive was arguably the most important in the history of Yugoslavia, because it allowed Istria, Rijeka and Maritime Slovenia to become part of SFR Yugoslavia, later Croatia and Slovenia.

After the war Drapšin was elected in Yugoslav National Assembly.

There are contradictory accounts about his death. Official version attributes cause of death to accidentally discharged pistol. Other stories tell about Drapšin being criticised on Party meeting and committing suicide afterwards.

In 1953 he posthumously received title of People's Hero of Yugoslavia.