(10. lovački zdrug)
by H.L. deZeng IV

Formed on or about 1 December 1944 in Skočaj/10 km S of Bihać from the remnants of the 2d Jäger Brigade, which and been reduced to just two battalions by this date. (1)

Operational History

1944

(see 10th Croatian Infantry Division for further information)
Dec 44: Brigade attached to the German 373. Inf.Div. (kroat.) and secured the 40 kilometer stretch of supply road running from Bihać south to Donji Lapac, the same assignment that had been held by its predecessor, the 2d Jäger Brigade. Armament consisted of captured Italian weapons and this, together with the troop’s low morale, made it a unit of dubious fighting value.

1945

6 Jan 45: in a rare offensive operation, the Brigade attacked elements of the 20th NOU Division around Gornji Lapac and Donji Lapac killing and wounding about 60 Partisans.
Jan – Mar 45: very little action as the Brigade’s sector fell into a lull.
20 Mar 45: Partisan forces began a major offensive around Bihać during which the Brigade’s II Bn. was destroyed in the Gornji Lapac and Donji Lapac area.
Apr 45: what was left of the Brigade began withdrawing along the Una Valley toward the end of March and by 25 April its HQ was located in Bos. Novi. A few days later it began moving toward the Sisak area where the 10th Croatian Infantry Division was to reassemble. The reassembly did not occur and the Brigade dissolved during the first few days of May.

Commanders

Pukovnik Dušan Rajković (Dec 1944 - Mar 1945)

Subordination

10th Croatian Infantry Division (Dec 1944 - May 1945)

Order of battle (Dec 1944)

Brigade HQ with support and service elements in Skočaj
I Bn. (1st – 4th Co.)
II Bn. (5th – 8th Co.)
During December a new III Bn. and IV Bn. were reportedly formed and added to the Brigade using stragglers and the remnants of other units.

Footnotes

1. Arhiv VII, kut. 134a, reg.br. 4/1; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945, pp.1086; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata I podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom V/37, p.676 [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Oslobodilački rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945; NARA WashDC: RG 331 (roll 447-B); Strugar, Vlado - Jugoslavija 1941-1945.

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -