The German Operation Autumn storm
Operation Autumn storm (Ger. HERBSTGEWITTER) was a Wehrmacht military operation against partisans in the area of Dalmatia in the fall and winter of 1943. It took place in several stages. Autumn storm I started on 23 October 1943. Autumn Storm II was conducted from 20 to 27 December 1943. After that, the operation was extended named Morgenwind ("Morning wind").
The operation "Autumn Storm" was conducted for taking the group of south dalmatian islands: Korcula, Mljet, Hvar, Brac and Solta, which defended parts of the 26th NOU division. The goal of the operation was to be taking these islands provide part of the Adriatic coast on a section of Split - Dubrovnik from possible Allied unloaded in cooperation with units of the NLA.
This operation was part of the sixth enemy offensive.
The goal of the operation "HERBSTGEWITTER I" was taking the Peljesac peninsula. Commanding the operation had the SS Div. "Prinz Eugen". The forces will perform the operation: 2 reinforced battalion. Time the operation: 22-25. 10th
Command of the 5th SS-mountain Corps issued on 13 December 1943, the order which was provided to carry out a landing in Korcula on 16 December under the code "Herbstgevitar II" on Mljet on 24 December 1943 under the code "Herbstgeviter III", on Hvar January 3, 1944 under the code "Herbstgeviter IV", on Brac on January 9 under the code "Herbstgevitar V" and the island of Solta, also on January 9, code-named "Herbstgevitar VI".
The operation, according to the stated commands, provided for the participation of the following units: 750th Regiment 118. hunting division with 3 Battalion, the mountain artillery battalion 668 ap, 1 Eng. troop 118. Eng, 2 platoons 118, 5 armored car first F 105 SS TB, 2 battery 7. SS, Battalion coastal hunters "Brandenburg", the first piston. 738. mere 118 hunting division, naval parts (2 scaffolding, 8 combat boats, two torpedo boats, cruisers "Cattaro", 1 gunboat, 1 steamer) and Air Force: 1 air reconnaissance squadron, Squadron 1 ground-attack aircraft "štuka" and 1 Fighter Squadron.
Partisan navy |
The operation began on 23 October 1943 with two reinforced battalions of the 7th SS Division. Their task was to take the peninsula where it was the 13th Dalmatian Brigade, while other parts of the 7th SS Division simultaneous operation landsturm had a task to occupy adjacent positions on the mainland. However, after the initial success of the progress was stopped by a strong resistance from the partisans. Due to the importance of this position, both sides have brought reinforcements.
Power 118 hunters were introduced in stages in the attack as part of Operation landsturm and HERBSTGEWITTER. The arrival of the 264th Infantry Division in northern and central Dalmatia, starting from the last day of October allowed the release of 114 parts hunting Division for Operation Haifisch, and the remaining parts of the 7th SS Division Operations landsturm and HERBSTGEWITTER.
Germans on the Adriatic Sea in the autumn in 1943. |
Due to the increasing concentration and growing pressure from the Germans, Eighth Corps was forced to after three weeks, 13 November abandon the defense of Peljesac, which was evacuated. Thirteenth Dalmatian Brigade moved to the island of Korcula, the first Dalmatian ashore in Podbiokovlje, which was still ongoing operations landsturm. According to the report of the Fifth Corps of the SS Germans were fighting on the peninsula had 348 killed and wounded (7 officers, 26 NCOs, and 315 soldiers). Thirteenth Dalmatian suffered losses of 45 dead and 185 wounded.
Peninsula was possessed by the 750 Fighter Regiment, which began preparations for an attack on Korcula (HERBSTGEWITTER II). The Germans, according to their own report, they had 52 dead (three officers and seven noncommissioned officers), 264 wounded (3 officers and 18 NCOs) and 32 disappeared (one officer and one NCO).
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