Operation Blitz (v)

lightning

'Blitz' (v) was a German operation against the partisan forces of Marshal Josip Broz Tito in the puppet state of Croatia within German-occupied Yugoslavia (27/30 June 1944).

The undertaking’s objective was the destruction of a partisan force (18th Brigade of the 12th Division) in the area of Nasice and Ðakovo in Slavonia. The German force comprised elements of Generalleutnant Walter Jost’s 42nd Jägerdivision, elements of Generalleutnant Hellmuth von Pannwitz’s 1st Kosaken-Kavalleriedivision and the Panzergrenadiersturmbataillon of General Franz Böhme’s 2nd Panzerarmee.

This comparatively small operation achieved contact with the partisans on 30 June near the village of Levanjska Varos, and there developed a short but very intense firefight before the Germans then broke off the engagement and returned to their garrisons. The Germans admitted the loss of three men killed and 12 wounded, and claimed 95 partisans counted dead, 200 estimated dead, and four captured.