Operation �umberak IV

(Yugoslav mountain range)

'Zumberak IV' was a German and Croat operation against the partisan forces of Marshal Josip Broz Tito in the Plesivica mountain region of the puppet state of Croatia in German-occupied Yugoslavia (22/24 June 1944).

The undertaking’s objective was the destruction of partisan groups (34th Division and elements of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the 8th Assault Division) concentrated in the Plesivica mountain region some 20 miles (32 km) to the west of Zagreb, especially around Gorica Svetojanska (18.5 miles (30 km) to the west-south-west of Zagreb.

The German forces committed to the operation were the 1st Jäger Reserve-Regiment and 4th SS Polizeiregiment 'Kroatien', and the Croat forces were elements of the 10th and 30th Ustase Battalions, and the 4/Domobran Garrison Brigade 'Zagreb'.

Closing on the partisan forces from Samobor, Jastrebarsko and Novaki, the attacking force brought the partisans to battle, but after a lively firefight the partisans split into small groups and slipped off in the direction of Samobor, Jastrebarsko and Petrovina while their rear guard delayed the German and Croat advance. The German record admits the loss of seven Germans (and possibly Croats) killed and 25 wounded, and claims 75 partisans counted dead plus 170 estimated dead, and 12 captured.