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Showing posts from October, 2017

April war from the German perspective

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The April war (official name Operation 25) was attacked on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers that began on April 6, 1941, during the Second World War. As a reason for the invasion was a coup detain Belgrade, on 27th March 1941, which ousted the pro-axle government (Cvetkovic-Macek) and substituted it with pro-British officers headed by General Dusan Simovic. The German forces quickly launched an attack and, by using technological superiority, favorable strategic position, and the doctrine of blitzkrieg, easily defeated the demoralized and disorganized Yugoslav forces, forcing them to capitulate. The king and the government fled to exile. The victorious Axis powers decided to divide Yugoslavia, taking over a part of its territory and forming satellite states such as NDH (Independent State of Croatia) and Nedic's Serbia. Map of the Axis attack War diary of the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht March 27: Coup in Belgrade. This morning the Yugoslav go...

Light Tank M3 Stuart in Yugoslav army

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The 1st Partisan Yugoslavian tank brigade The M-3 Tank Series (The British service name "Stuart" came from the American Civil War Confederate General J.E.B Stuart and was used for both the M3 and the M5 Light Tank derivative.) Is probably the best light tank in World War II (produced over 20,000 copies). This tank model was built on the basis of the previous model M-2. Serial production started in mid-1941, under the designation M-3. After 5,810 copies produced and based on war experiences, in June 1942, the production of the new version of M-3A1 began. Stuart M3 A1 American Car and Foundry have produced around 4,600 M3A1. In some instances, embodied both diesel engines, due to shortages of the basic Continental engine. In December 1942, the production of the new version began - M3A3. This version had a different armored body (similar to the version M-5, which had a different drive and transmission). Stuart M3 A3 The British Army was the first...

The 3rd Shock Division onslaught to death

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Monument in Valley of heroes, Tjentisre The Battle of Sutjeska (known as the Fifth Enemy Offensive in the Yugoslav historiography) was a German operation against Partisans Main Operational Group in the Second World War. The German code name for this operation was „Operation Case Black“ (German: Fall Schwarz). This operation took place between15th of May and 16th of June 1943 and was aimed at destroying the main Yugoslav Partisan force, near the Sutjeska River in the southeastern Bosnia. The failure of the offensive marked a turning point for Yugoslavia during World War II. The 3rd Shock Division was formed by the order of the Supreme Staff of NOV and POJ, consisting of the 5th Proletarian Montenegrin shock brigade, the 10th Hercegovina Shock brigade, and the 1st Dalmatian Shock brigade on November 1, 1942, in Ticevo. Considered to be one of the elite units of the NOVJ Map of Case Black . During the Battle of Sutjeska was part of the South Operative Group. The ...

Bosnia produced its first rocket launcher RPG-7 MX2

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 RPG-7 MX2 The Technical-Overhaul Institute Hadžići presented the first domestic rocket launcher. Under the symbol RPG-7 MX2, which is modeled on the Soviet RPG-7, possibly the most popular for fire support and anti-armor weapons at the lowest tactical levels. The Bosnian-Herzegovinian RPG-7 MX2 has retained all the features of its predecessor, above all the reliability and ease of manipulation and maintenance, but it has also applied some modern solutions that reduce weight and increase resistance and durability in field conditions anti-tank telescopes RPG-7 MX2 can fire all kinds of missiles developed worldwide for this weapon, so this weapon serves to solve an increasing range of fire-fighting tasks on the battlefield and increase the firepower of infantry units to the extent that until a few decades ago was unthinkable. RPG-7 MX2 gone through rigorous checks and testing, which confirmed that these weapons successfully be used in the hars...

Interesting facts and figures on the Balkans in September 1941

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The 1st Serbian Volunteer Detachment (Ljotićev) was formed. 1. 9. - Partisan-Chetnik coordination agreement in eastern Bosnia. Serbian Volunteer Corps on parade 1 - 6. 9. - The offensive Ustasha, Domobrans, German in Bosanska Krajina, fires Mrkonjic, Sipovo, Mliništa. During the offense committed the crimes. 3. 9. - Valjevo NOP detachment and Chetniks Zecevic and R.Martinovic captured Krupanj. 3. 9.  - The official date of establishment of the Ustasha Black League. Black Legion 5. 9.  - Cooperation Chetniks with Nedic government agreement Milan Nedic and representatives of Draza Mihailovic - together against the Communists, helping create Chetnik units in Bosnia and Montenegro. 6. 9. - All Jews over the age of six years in the territories under German control must wear the Star of David. 9. 9. - British established contact with Draza Mihailovic. 15. 9. - Germany 342nd Infantry Division sent from France to Serbia. Germ...