(9. pješačka pukovnija)
by H.L. deZeng IV

Formed 29 June 1941 with Rgt. HQ in Travnik. The Regiment was re-designated 6th Mountain Regiment (2d Mountain Brigade) on or about 1 August 1943. (1)

Operational History

1941

Jul 41: after the Regiment was formed, it generally remained in the Travnik area to the northwest of Sarajevo until the end of January 1943.
Jul 41: end of July two battalions transferred from Sarajevo and Travnik to Jajce to assist in putting down the resistance in that area.
5 Sep 41: a Partisan band attacked and smashed a battalion from the Rgt. near Kozilo in the vicinity of Jajce capturing two mountain guns, 5 heavy machine guns and 12 light machine guns.
10 Sep 41: one of the Regiment’s battalions was driven back to Jezero/13 km W of Jajce by a Partisan detachment, which then captured the village of Sipovo, 10 km to the southwest.
Nov 41: one company together with Italian units successfully defended Donji Vakuf against a probing attack by weak yet determined Partisan units.

1942

1 Jan 42: two battalions from the Partisan 3d Krajina Detachment smashed a battalion from the Rgt. in a 7-hour battle near Majdan/21 km NW Jajce, killing and wounding 35 and capturing 49, and then took possession of the village.
15 Feb 42: 2d Bn./3d Krajina NOP Detachment attacked and dispersed a force of 319 men from the Rgt. who were attempting to break through along the road from Jajce to Mrkonjić-Grad.
10 Apr 42: Regiment HQ still at Travnik.
25 Apr 42: elements of the Rgt. from Jajce broke through the lines of the Partisan 3d Krajina NOP Detachment around Mrkonjić-Grad, relieving a battalion of the Italian “Bergamo” Division which had been surrounded for several days.
23-24 Aug 42: Partisan 1st Krajiški and 2d Proletarian Brigades captured Mrkonjić-Grad after Domobrans and Chetniks responsible for defending perimeter positions outside the town abandoned them and withdrew across the Vrbas River, leaving elements of I Bn./9th Inf. Rgt. behind to be captured in the town.
25 Sep 42: II Bn., together with XVII Ustasha Bn. and a company of Gendarmerie, were overrun and destroyed in Jajce when the important town was attacked by five Partisans brigades and captured after an 18-hour fight.
Oct 42: III Bn. operating in the Turbe – Donji Vakuf area under the tactical control of German 718. Inf.Div.
1-6 Dec 42: Operation “Jajce III” - Rgt. took part in the recapture of Jajce together with 15th Inf. Rgt., V Ustasha Brig. and elements of German 718. Inf.Div.
26-27 Dec 42: two brigades from the Partisan 3d Assault Div. captured Turbe. smashing I Bn. and destroying the town’s water works, electrical plant and sawmill.
24-27 Dec 42: Croatian III Corps in Sarajevo notified the Germans on 24 December that the Regiment, which was made up almost exclusively of men recruited from the Travnik-Turbe area and was 75% Moslem, had been badly battered in the recent fighting and was now considered completely unreliable and subject to massive desertions because the men had many relatives and close friends among the largely pro-Partisan population. Accordingly, it was ordered relieved by the Zagreb Cavalry Regiment on 27 December and transferred to the Rogatica area east of Sarajevo to begin reorganization and training.

1943

Jan - Feb 43: transferred to the Rogatica area for reorganization and training.
18 Mar 43: Rgt. HQ now in Rogatica tactically under German 717. Inf.Div.
14 Apr 43: Regiment tactically under German 369. Inf.Div.
18 Jun 43: one company from the Rgt. was captured at the Renovica train station near Goražde by the Partisan 3d Krajiški Assault Brigade/1st Proletarian Assault Div. as the Partisans fought their way through the area.
1 Aug 43: Rgt. renamed 6th Mountain Regiment (2d Mountain Brigade).

Commanders

Pukovnik Artur Gustović (29 Jun 1941? - Nov 1941?)
Pukovnik Franjo Šimić (Nov 1941? - ?) Jan 1942, Aug 1942
Bojnik Jaroslav Schell, acting (? - ?) Dec 1942

Subordination

Bosanska Division (Jun 1941 - Aug 1941)
5th Infantry Division (Aug 1941 - Jul 1943)

Order of battle (1 Jan 1942)

Rgt. HQ in Travnik
I Bn. (1st – 4th Co.) in Jajce
II Bn. (5th – 8th Co.) in Jajce
III Bn. (9th – 12th Co.) in Travnik
13th Co.
14th Co.
15th Co.
Total strength: 2,476

Order of battle (15 Dec 1942)

Rgt. HQ in Travnik
I Bn. (1st – 4th Co.) in Turbe
II Bn. (5th – 8th Co.) in Donji Vakuf
III Bn. (9th – 12th Co.) in Jajce
13th Co.
14th Co.
15th Co.

Order of battle (14 Apr 1943)

Rgt. HQ in Rogatica
I Bn. (1st – 4th Co.) in Prača
II Bn. (5th – 8th Co.) in Trnovo
III Bn. (9th – 12th Co.) in Goražde
13th Co.
14th Co.
15th Co.

Order of battle (31 July 1943)

Rgt. HQ and support companies in Rogatica
I Bn. in Prača
II in Rogatica
III Bn. in Višegrad.

Footnotes

1. Arhiv VII, kut. 134a; Colić, Mladen - Takozvana Nezavisna Država Hrvatska 1941; Colić 1979; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945, pp.74, 123, 126, 147, 148, 407, 472; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda, Tom IV/9, p.490; V/11, p.346.

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -