Operation Winterende

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Operation Winterende
Part of World War II in Yugoslavia and World War II in the Slovene Lands

Map of operation
Date10 March – 6 April 1945
Location
Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral
Result
  • Axis victory
  • Partisans are forced to withdraw
Belligerents
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
Chetniks Chetniks
Italian Social Republic Italian Social Republic		 Yugoslav Partisans Yugoslav partisans
Italian partisans
Commanders and leaders
Schutzstaffel Odilo Globočnik
Nazi Germany Erwin Rösener
Chetniks Momčilo Đujić		 Yugoslav Partisans Josip Broz Tito
Units involved
Schutzstaffel SS police units
Government of National Salvation Serbian Volunteer Corps
Serbian State Guard
Chetniks Dinara Division
Slovene Home Guard
Hellenic State (1941–1944) Greek collaborationist forces		 Yugoslav Partisans 9th Corps
Yugoslav Partisans 31st Division
Italian Partisan Division
Strength
23,000 soldiers[1] Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy

The Operation Winterende was the last operation conducted by Germans and Chetniks against the Yugoslav partisans in Slovenia. It was carried out between 10. March and 6. April 1945.

The German offensive was conducted in two sectors: the first–"Operation Frühlingsanfang" which goal was to clear the western part of Upper Carniola and the Cerkno area and the second–"Winter Ende" which objective was to clear partisans from Littoral.[2]

Background

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By the spring of 1945, it has become clear that German forces in northen Italy, southwestern Hungary and Dalmatia could no longer defend against Soviet, Yugoslav and Anglo-American armies. The Germans also excepted Allies to land in Istra and the Gulf of Trieste, which would make defense very difficult if Partisans forces remained close to German positions. Therefore, the police leaders of Operational Zone of the Adriatic Littoral, Odilo Globočnik and Erwin Rösener launched the final offensive against the 9th Corps of NOVJ.[2]

Forces involved

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Very strong forces were concentrated for this offensive, the units who engaged in the offensive were various Serbian formations (Chetniks, Serbian State Guard, Serbian Volunteer SS Corps), Slovene units, Italian forces, Greek collaborationists forces and SS police units.[3]

Operation

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After forming a wide encirclement around the Trnovo Forest, German, Italian and Chetnik forces launched attack on partisan units on 28 March. Under the pressure of superior and stronger enemy, the partisans were forced to retreat after three days of fighting. The 31st Division, in order to avoid further encirclements by the enemy withdrew from Pivka area, the Italian Partisan Division retreated to Banjšice Plateau, while 30th Division fell back to the Šentviška Plateau.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Operation Winterende".
  2. ^ a b The Last Enemy Offensive
  3. ^ ZBORNIK NOR-a, Vol. VI – Battles in Slovenia – Book 19 – 1 March–15 May 1945.
  4. ^ Report of the Headquarters of the Dinaric Chetnik Division of 30 March 1945 to Corps Commanders on the Plan of Attack on the Yugoslav Army Forces