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

Dates: 26 – 27 September 1943. (1)

Objective: To capture Split on the Dalmatian coast, which had fallen under the control of Partisans and Italian soldiers who refused to surrender after Italy capitulated on 8 September.

Enemy Forces: 1st Dalmatian Assault Brigade, 4th Dalmatian (Split) Brigade and several thousand Italian troops. Total strength estimated at 6,000.

Axis Forces:
Approximately 2,500 troops with strong Luftwaffe air support provided by Fliegerführer Kroatien.
German
7. SS-Freiwillige-Gebirgs-Division “Prinz Eugen”
Grenadier-Rgt. (mot.) 92
Croatian
XXVII Ustasha Battalion (from Sinj)

Conduct of Operations and Results: This tough assembly of motorized German veterans with armor quickly overran the enemy at Klis, a suburb on the east side of Split and took the city with ease. No German loss figures have been found, but the postwar Partisan literature claims the German-Croatians had 176 killed and missing, and 557 wounded. No figures for the Partisans have been found.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.553; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-313 roll 189/7448735).