Sixth anti-Partisan Offensive

Sixth anti-Partisan Offensive
Part of the Yugoslav Front of World War II
Date Late 1943 and early 1944
Location Northern Montenegro, Sandžak, southern Dalmatia, and eastern Bosnia
Result Limited Axis success
Belligerents
Axis:
 Germany
 Bulgaria		 Allies:
Partisans
Commanders and leaders
Josip Broz Tito

The Sixth anti-Partisan Offensive (codenames Kugelblitz, Schneesturm, Herbstgewitter), known in ex-Yugoslavia as the Sixth Enemy Offensive (Serbian: Šesta neprijateljska ofenziva/ofanziva) was a series of major anti-Partisan offensives planned by the German forces for late 1943 and early 1944. The Germans attacked Josip Broz Tito's Partisan foces in northwestern Yugoslavia. This offensive was organized into three smaller offensives: Operation Kugelblitz, Operation Schneesturm, and Operation Herbstgewitter.

Contents

The Offensive

Operation Kugelblitz

Operation Kugelblitz, the first of the offensives, was executed by the 5th SS Mountain Corps. The purpose of this operation was to destroy the Partisan units in eastern Bosnia. But the plan was overly ambitious. The German troops committed to this action were tasked with covering too large an area. The bulk of the Partisan force slipped through the large gaps in the narrowing ring. However, the cost of Kugelblitz to the Partisans was staggering. They suffered approximately 9,000 casualties.

Operation Schneesturm

Operation Schneesturm followed immediately upon the completion of Operation Kugelblitz. This operation included twin drives from the Bosnia area. One drive went to the west and to the coast. The other drive went to the northwest and towards the border with Italy. While this operation ended late in December and the Partisans once again survived, the cost was high. The Partisans suffered about 2,000 additional casualties.
Though badly battered, the majority of the Partisan units retained their cohesion. Tito's army could still be considered an effective fighting force.

Operation Herbstgewitter

Operation Herbstgewitter, the last of the three operations, involved the clearing of the island of Korčula. This island is off the Dalmatian Coast. It offered an excellent stop for bringing supplies in by sea to Yugoslavia from Italy. Again, the Partisan army was mauled but not defeated. Tito lost another 1,000 men.

See also