| Third anti-Partisan Offensive | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Yugoslav Front of World War II | ||||||||
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| Belligerents | ||||||||
| Germany |
Partisans | Chetniks | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
| Jure Francetić (Crna Legija) | Josip Broz Tito | Jezdimir Dangić | ||||||
| Strength | ||||||||
| 1 German division, 3 Italian divisions, 3 battalions of the Ustaše "Crna Legija", Croatian Home Guard battalions |
1st and 2nd Proletarian Brigades (among other formations) | around 4,500 Chetniks | ||||||
The Third anti-Partisan Offensive (codename Operation TRIO) or Third Enemy Offensive (Serbo-Croatian, Croatian, Serbian: Treća neprijateljska ofenziva/ofanziva) was a battle during World War II between the Yugoslav Partisans on one side, German, Italian, and Independent State of Croatia forces on the second and Chetnik forces on the third side.[1] It took place in mountainous area of eastern Bosnia, northern Montenegro, Sandžak, and northeastern Herzegovina between March 31 and June 1942.[2] Certain sources mistakenly identify the Battle of Kozara as the Third anti-Partisan offensive.
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Axis generals planned a series of operations at a conference in Opatija, with the goal of crushing large regions liberated by Tito's Partisans after the failure of the winter offensive. The codename TRIO was given to the operation in eastern Bosnia and command was given to the staff of Kampfgruppe Bader.
The offensive didn't start as planned, although it took long preparation. Without knowledge of Kampfgruppe Bader, the Ustaše started their attack from Han Pijesak. While Italians were regrouping theirs divisions, the Ustaša "Black Legion" with three battalions started attacking from Han-Pijesak and captured Vlasenica on April 1, and eight days latter Bratunac and Srebrenica. On April 8 Black Legion units came into heavy fighting with Bosnian Chetniks near the Drina river.[3] The Germans started their advance on April 22 towards blocked Rogatica and pushed the Partisan forces back.
Only after five days of fighting the Germans entered Rogatica, and afterwards Prač and Goražde. The Italian 5th Mountain Division "Pusteria" captured Čajići on April 23 and soon reached Goražde. The 1st Mountain Division "Taurinense" captured Trnovo as well as reaching and blocking Kalinovik, where it made contact with elements of the 22 Infantry Division Cacciatori delle Alpi. However, due to the successful rearguard-actions of the Partisans, Italian forces didn't arrive into eastern Bosnia on schedule which allowed the former easier maneuvering and allowed for a possibility of retreat south of the Kalinovik-Foča line. Parts of the 5th Mountain Division "Pusteria" captured Foča on May 10, from where the Partisan Supreme Headquarters south with the 1st and 2nd Proletarian Brigade.[4]
The offensive resulted in the dissolution of the formations of the Partisan-controlled Volunteer Army of Yugoslavia, many units of which defected to the Chetniks by violent command-coups, resulting in the death of the Partisan commanders that didn't escape. The new Chetnik command quickly made treaties with the Germans promising aid against the Partisans in exchange for weapons and munitions. The Partisan Supreme Command therefore disbanded the Volunteer Army of Yugoslavia and formed the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia.
The strategic results were very significant as the Partisan troops were forced to march westwards, which resulted in the destruction of numerous Axis communication lines as well as allowing for the merge with the numerous Partisan units in western Bosnia, and with the forces of the main Croatian Partisan Headquarters.[5]
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