World War II Croatian Legionaries by Vladimir Brnardic

Author:Vladimir Brnardic
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472817693
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

392nd (CROATIAN) INFANTRY DIVISION

The last German-Croatian division was formed on 17 August 1943; like its predecessors, the 392. Infanterie-Division (Kroat.) was established at Dollersheim. Nicknamed Plava ('Blue') by its men, the division was commanded until its final weeks by GenMaj Johann Mickle, a former officer of the Austro-Hungarian Army in World War I. Most of its officers and NCOs and the core of its rankers were German; 3,500 Germans were joined by 8,500 soldiers of the ISC Domobranstvo, giving a total strength of about 12,000 all ranks. One infantry regiment and the artillery regiment were formed in Döllersheim, the other infantry regiment in Zwettl, with the signal battalion based in Stockerau and the pioneer battalion at Krems. Aside from the three German/Croatian divisions, around 100,000 recruits from the ISC passed through the Döllersheim military area, whose two biggest training camps were at Kaufholz and Kirchenholz, with smaller specialist camps elsewhere. A Special Croatian Training Brigade established there existed until the end of World War II.

The ‘Blue' Division was structured in the same way as the other two. Its two Kroatisches Infanterie-Grenadier regiments were numbered 846th and 847th, and all the other units and elements 392nd. Training lasted until the final days of December 1943, and as 1944 began the 392nd Div was transported to Zagreb and Karlovac, to be assigned an operational area running from southern Slovenia, along the Croatian Adriatic coast, to the city of Knin. Placed under XV Mountain Corps as part of Second Panzer Army, the division was initially headquartered in Karlovac. Fearing an Anglo-American landing from Italy, the German High Command gave the division the first task of securing the Adriatic coastline between Rijeka and Karlobag, including all islands except Krk, and a zone extending 60km (37 miles) inland, including the protection of the crucial supply route between Karlovac and Senj. The 392nd Div also took over responsibility for the security of the Zagreb-Karlovac railway from 1st Cossack Division.

Baptism of fire

These areas had been heavily infiltrated by the Partisans since the Italian capitulation, particularly the key port of Senj, and from their first night in their garrison areas the new division came under attack. Even before it was fully deployed, it was ordered to march on 13 January 1944 to relieve the ISC garrison at Ogulin. Led by the 847th Regiment, in their first engagements the Croat soldiers panicked and most of their German leaders soon became casualties. Nevertheless, Ogulin was relieved on 16 January, and the division’s advance could continue south to Skradnik to secure the local villages.

Operation ‘Drežnica’ (a village near Ogulin) was a drive through to the coast, forcing the passes through the Velika Kapela massif and the Velebit range at more than 1,750m (5,750ft) above sea level, in snow up to thigh-deep. Though delayed by mines and roadblocks, the division took the Kapela and Vratnik passes with minimal casualties. A series of engagements along the road to the coast followed, and after some close-quarter fighting with the Partisan 13th Assault Div the

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