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

Dates: 29 November – 6 December 1942. (1)

Objective: To retake Jajce for the second time following its recapture by Partisan forces during the night of 25/26 November at high cost in casualties to both the German and Croatian defenders.

Enemy Forces: 3d Assault Division NOVJ, 3d Proletarian NOU Brigade and elements of the 3d Krajiški NOP Detachment.

Axis Forces:
German
718. Infanterie-Div.
10.Pz.Zug/Panzer-Kp.z.b.V. 12
Panzerzug 103 (Armored Train 103)
Croatian
III Bn./4th Infantry Rgt.
I and III Bn./5th Infantry Rgt.
I Bn./8th Infantry Rgt.
III Bn./9th Infantry Rgt.
I and II Bn./15th Infantry Rgt.
2 battalions of Ustasha (from V Ustasha Brigade)
VII, IX and XI Artillery Groups (elements)
3d Co./III Engineer Bn. (elements)
3d Co./IV Engineer Bn. (elements)
3d Battery/III Anti-Aircraft Bn.

Conduct of Operations and Results: Heavy fighting took place along the approaches to the town beginning on 1 December as German-Croatian forces under the overall command of 718. Infanterie-Division began advancing from Travnik and Donji Vakuf. In addition to retaking Jajce, the Axis advance also intended to clear Partisans from the valley of the Vrbas River that runs between Donji Vakuf and Jajce. The columns advanced slowly up the valley and the lead elements entered Jajce at noon on 6 December after the Partisan 3d Assault Division decided to forego a defense of the town and withdrew eastward across the mountains to the Ugar River. Both objectives were achieved by casualties were high, according to the German after-action report:
German losses – 60 killed, 95 wounded and 8 missing;
Croatian losses – 23 killed, 135 wounded and 149 missing;
Partisan losses – 431 killed, 60 wounded and 434 captured.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), pp.386-87; [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Oslobodilački rat naroda Juooslavije 1941-1945, 2 Vols (Belgrade: 1965), p.350; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-315 roll 2270/900-1000).