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Operation Kugelblitz

Operation Kugelblitz was a massive counter-insurgency operation by the German 2nd Panzer Army conjunction with collaborationist forces against the Yugoslav Partisans around the eastern Bosnian region of the Independent State of Croatia during World War II. Launched on 3 December 1943, the objective of Kugelblitz was to encircle and destroy Partisan positions around the eastern part of the NDH, who were planning to regroup in occupied Serbia. The events of Operation Kugelblitz are associated with the Sixth Enemy Offensive.

Battle
Operation Kugelblitz fire their 7.5 cm Pak 40 at remaining pockets of insurgents in a village in eastern Bosnia, December 1943|180px Operation Kugelblitz, the first of the two offensives, was executed by the 5th SS Mountain Corps. The aim of this operation was to dismantle and consequently destroy Partisan units in eastern Bosnia. The operation ultimately was unsuccessful because the German forces were unable to completely destroy all the Partisan troops. Because of the terrain, large area, and lack of Axis manpower to adequately cover the encirclement, Partisan forces evaded complete destruction by slipping through large gaps in the narrowing encirclement. However, the Partisans still suffered severe casualties. Operation Schneesturm crossing the Drinjača, December 1943|180px Operation Schneesturm was initiated immediately upon the completion of Operation Kugelblitz. This operation included twin drives from the Bosnia area. One drive headed westwards towards the Adriatic Sea. The other headed to the northwest and towards the border with Italy. While this operation ended late in December and the Partisans once again survived, the cost was high. The Partisans suffered about 2,000 additional casualties. Although badly battered, the majority of the Partisan units retained their cohesion. Tito's army, in the opinion of some, could still be considered an effective fighting force. == Results ==
Gallery
File:Destroyed german tank in Bosnia 1943.jpg|A German Beute tank (Somua S35) knocked out in operations in eastern Bosnia is inspected by partisans, December 1943 File:Čajniče 1943.jpg|Shortly before Operation Kugelblitz, 11 November 1943 German troops of the 1. Gebirgs-Division mounted on (flak armed) half-tracks in front of the former partisan HQ (Hotel "Čajniče") in Tuzla after the city's capture. The partisan slogan "Death to fascism – freedom to the people" is written on the hotel facade. File:Partizani u okolini Prijepolja 1943.jpg|Fighters of the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Sandžak Brigade fighting with the Germans near Prijepolje during the counter-insurgency, late 1943 File:Stevan Damjanović.jpg|Chetnik leader Stevan Damjanović conversing with German mountain troops during the operations File:Kolumna motocyklistów niemieckich w górach Bośni (2-541).jpg|German motocycles traverse rough terrain during 'Kugelblitz' File:Kladanj seized by muslim brigade.png|A December 15, 1943 London News Report on the capture of Kladanj by the 16th Muslim Brigade of the Yugoslav partisans from the Germans during Operation 'Kugelblitz', as published in The Indian Express == References ==
Source: Wikipedia ↗
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