(I. žestra bojna)
by H.L. deZeng IV

Formed early 1942, probably in Zagreb, as one of initially three battalions established to guard the railway line between Zagreb and Karlovac, and in the Lika between Karlovac and Ogulin. Sometimes referred to as the I “Lika” Railway Security Bn., “Lika” being the region where it was deployed 1943-45. (1)

Nov 42: HQ in Zagreb with 1st, 2d and 3d Co., 4th Co. in Sunja to the north of Kostajnica.
Apr 43: deployed in the Lika between Karlovac and Ogulin; reportedly suffered heavy losses during April and there was talk of disbanding it.
Jun 44: HQ in Karlovac with 1st – 4th Co. deployed along the track section from Karlovac to Ogulin and under Operations Zone Pokuplje/I Corps; total strength 657.
20 Jun 44: possibly incorporated into the 2d Garrison Brigade this date; if not, then disbanded on 21 November 1944 and its assets incorporated into the new Croatian infantry divisions that were ordered formed this date.

Commanders

Pukovnik Jaroslav Šotola ( ? - ? ) Nov 1942

Footnotes

1. NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2270/1005-06); occasional references in other German documents and in the [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu jugoslovenskih naroda series and in [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945.

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -