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

Dates: 6 – 8 March 1945. (1)

Objective: To cross the Drava River and create bridgeheads on the eastern side at Donji Miholjac and Valpovo, and then advance toward Mohács in South Hungary.

Enemy Forces: 12th, 16th, 36th and 51st Assault Divisions JA.

Axis Forces:
German
1. Kosaken-Kav.Div.
11. Feld-Div. (L)
104. Jäger-Div.
297. Infanterie-Div.
Croatian
- none -

Conduct of Operations and Results: “Waldteufel” was the “Croatian” part of a larger offensive involving 2. Panzerarmee in Hungary because it was launched from Croatian soil and took place there. After crossing the river in small boats, both bridgeheads were established to a depth of up to 8 kilometers but then came under intense attack in the afternoon by Soviet ground-attack aircraft. Consequently, both bridgeheads were withdrawn and the operation called off. No casualty reports have been found.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.1085; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Oslobodilački rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, 2 Vols (Belgrade: 1965), pp.513-15; Schramm, Percy E. (ed.) - Kriegstagebuch des Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht, 1940-1945, 4 vols., (Frankfurt: Bernard & Graefe Verlag für Wehrwesen, 1961-1963), 1944-1945 Teilband II, p.1148.