Operation Föhn (ii)

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'Föhn' (ii) was a German and Croat operation against the partisan forces of Marshal Josip Broz Tito in the puppet state of Croatia in German-occupied Yugoslavia (20/23 March 1944).

The undertaking’s objective was the opening of the road between Bosanski Novi and Prijedor and the destruction of elements of the 4th Assault Division in the area west of Banja Luka in western Bosnia.

The German forces involved were two reinforced battalions of Generalleutnant Emil Zellner’s 373rd Division (kroatische) and the 2nd Panzergrenadiersturmbataillon of General Dr Lothar Rendulic’s 2nd Panzerarmee, and the Croat contribution the 1/13th Jägerregiment of Pukovnik Zvonimir Stimaković's 4th Jägerbrigade. There is little reference to this operation in war-time and post-war literature, but apparently went according to plan although the partisan main body avoided contact. The Germans admitted the loss of one man killed and claimed 89 partisans killed.