Part of the Anti-Partisan Operations in Croatia series by H.L. deZeng IV

Dates: 23 – 25 January 1944. (1)

Objective: To open and secure a key supply road by destroying Partisans in the area between Knin and Kistanje/20 km WSW of Knin.

Enemy Forces: 5th Dalmatian Brigade/19th Division NOVJ and the North Dalmatian NOP Detachment.

Axis Forces:
German
264. Infanterie-Div. (elements)
Grenadier-Rgt. (mot.) 92
Croatian
Few if any

Conduct of Operations and Results: The first two days of “Frühlingswetter” ran according to plan. On the last day of the operation, the Partisans ambushed a German column on the Knin – Kistanje road and reported the destruction of 14 trucks, 3 cars, 2 tanks and 4 artillery guns. German records to substantiate this claim have not been found.

Losses (from German records)
Germans: 1 killed and 3 wounded.
Partisans: 66 counted dead, 60-70 additional killed and wounded, and 35 captured.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.659; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 561/287).