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

Dates: 25 – 29 September 1943. (1)

Objective: To destroy Partisan forces in the Dilj Mountains within the area bordered by Našice – Djakovo – Donji Andrijevci – Slavonski Brod.

Enemy Forces: 12th Division NOVJ and the Dilj NOP Detachment.

Axis Forces:
German
187. Reserve-Division (major elements)
Infanterie-Btl. 939 (kroat.)
VI./Polizei-Rgt. Kroatien

Croatian
HQ and staff II Ustasha Brigade with XVI Ustasha Bn., XVIII Ustasha Bn., and a half-battery of artillery
VI Ustasha Bn.
II Bicycle Infantry Bn.
Three (3) platoons of Croatian military police from Sl. Brod

Conduct of Operations and Results: The Partisans in the Dilj Mountains had been causing the Germans and Croatians a great deal of trouble by sabotaging the main railway lines and derailing trains in South Slavonia. The operation was successfully concluded after 5 days of heavy fighting.

Losses (according to German records)
German and Croatian: 21 killed, 69 wounded and 25 missing.
Partisan: 320 counted dead plus an estimated 540 more probably killed, and 710 estimated wounded.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.553; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-314 roll 1544/055); (T-315 roll 1555/731-38 and 989).