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

Dates: 3 – 13 November 1943. (1)

Objective: To destroy Partisan forces and their supply camps in the mountains northeast of Tuzla bordered by the rectangle Brčko – Gračanica - Bijeljina – Tuzla and to prevent the formation of a new enemy brigade believed to be taking place there.

Enemy Forces: 16th Assault Division NOVJ.

Axis Forces:
An estimated 6,000 troops.
German
173. Reserve-Div. (elements)
187. Reserve-Div. (elements)
Panzer-Spähzug/LXIX. Armeekorps (armored car platoon with 6 armored cars)
Panzerzug 206 (armored train)
Croatian
I, II and III Bn./5th Jäger Rgt.
I and III Bn./8th Jäger Rgt.

Conduct of Operations and Results: The main clash occurred on 7 November, and the Partisan accounts claim they stood their ground and drove the enemy back toward Brčko with an estimated 500 casualties while losing only 17 of their own plus 48 wounded. The German account tells a different story. While there were several lively skirmishes during the combing out of the area, the main Partisan force evaded battle and slipped away as usual.

Losses (from German records)
German: 11 killed and 58 wounded.
Croatian: 0 killed and 29 wounded.
Partisan: 210 counted dead plus another 150 estimated dead, and 300 – 400 wounded.

Footnotes
1. [Vojnoistorijski institute] - Hronologija oslobodilačke borbe naroda jugoslavije 1941-1945 (Belgrade, 1964), p.596; NARA WashDC: RG 242 (T-313 roll 189/7448822); (T-315 roll 1556/35-58, 61-62 and 65-72).