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

Dates: 19 – 28 October 1942. (1)

Objective: To comb the Kozara Mountains between Banja Luka and Prijedor and destroy the Partisan bands that had reestablished themselves there following Operation “West-Bosnien” during June and July.

Enemy Forces: 5th Krajiški NOU Brigade.

Axis Forces:
German
714. Infanterie-Div.
Artillerie-Abt. 661 (elements)
Pionier-Kp. 714
Nachrichten-Kp. 714
Croatian
IV Bn./3d Mountain Brigade
I and II Bn./5th Infantry Rgt.
10th Infantry Rgt. (elements)
11th Infantry Rgt. (elements)
II and IV Artillery Groups
IV Ustasha Bn.
Volksdeutsch Bn. “Ludwig von Baden”
Chetnik auxiliaries

Conduct of Operations and Results: The operation ran according to plan, but the Partisans managed to evade the enemy and slip through the lines on 21 and 24 October with few losses. Furious at being unable to bring the Partisans to battle, the Axis forces (i.e., Chetniks and Ustasha) carried out reprisals on the civilian population. In just the villages of Palančište and Jelovac near Prijedor, an estimated 620 men, women and children were massacred.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.355; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2258/1128).